Load Distribution in Hypoid Gears

A new approach for the computerized simulation of load distribution in mismatched hypoid gears with point contact is presented. The load distribution calculation is based on the bending and shearing deflections of gear teeth, on the local contact deformations of the mating surfaces, on gear body bending and torsion, on the deflections of the supporting shafts, and on the manufacturing and alignment errors of the mating members. The tooth deflections of the pinion and gear teeth are calculated by FEM, and the tooth contact is treated in a special way: it is assumed that the point contact under load spreads over a surface along the “potential” contact line, which line is made up of the points of the mating tooth surfaces in which the separations of these surfaces are minimal, instead of assuming an elliptical contact pattern. The system of governing equations is solved by approximations and by using the successive-over-relaxation method. The corresponding computer program is developed. The calculations, performed by this program, show that in the case of hypoid gears, the new approach gives a more realistic contact pattern and contact pressure than the usually assumed and applied elliptical contact approach, especially for the tooth pairs contacting on the toe and on the heel of teeth, and in the case of load distribution calculations made in misaligned gear pairs. By using this program the influence of design data on load distribution parameters is investigated and discussed. [S1050-0472(00)00504-3]