Engineers are constantly trying to come up with new ways to transmit motion. However, one thing that may never change is the use of gears. Invented in the third century, gears were one of the first tools developed to transmit motion, and they are still in use today. This is because there are many types of custom gears available, and each one transmits motion in its own way.
1. Bevel gear. Bevel gears are shaped like cones that have their tips cut off. One unique and important aspect of bevel gears is that they are mounted on shafts that are 90 degrees apart, which means they can be used in differential drives, hand drills, and rotorcraft drive systems. These types of gears can even be customized by changing the amount of teeth they have, which alters their mechanical advantage and causes them to become more versatile.
2. Hypoid gear. Hypoid gears are similar to bevel gears, but their shaft axes do not intersect. Hypoid gears are designed to work with shafts at 90 degrees, and they operate via sliding action along rotating teeth. Although most hypoid gears must be lubricated with gear oil on a regular basis, they are commonly used in motor vehicle axles.
3. Worm gear. These types of gears resemble screws. Worms, which are the screw-like pieces, are always used to drive gears, and they are a compact way to achieve a low speed, high torque ratio. Since worm gears vary in size and shape, they are commonly used in numerous applications, such as rudders, rolling mills, presses, and mining industry machines.
Although gears have been used since the third century, they are still a helpful way to transmit motion. This is because there are many types of custom gears available, such as bevel, hypoid, and worm. By obtaining the specific gears you need from gear manufacturing companies, your machines will be able to work properly.