MEE 421 PRACTICE QUESTIONS (PART 3 – SPUR GEAR DESIGN)

1. Calculate the power that can be transmitted safely

by a pair of spur gears with the data given below.
No.of the teeth in the pinion = 20
No. of teeth in the gear = 80
Module = 4mm
Width of the teeth = 60mm
Tooth profile = 20°involute
Allowable bending strengths:
Materials of the pinion = 20 kgf/mm2
Materials of the gear = 16 kgf/mm2
Speed of the pinion = 400 r.p.m
The Lewis equation , given below may be used:
Distances AB = 120 mm, BC = 400mm, CD
Un= σo b p y kv ks
= 125mm and an Input speed = 300 r.p.m.
Where Un = nominal tangential force

σb = bending strength
Ans.: FrB = FrA = 3.78 N
b = width of the teeth
FtB = FtA = 10.39 N
p = circular pitch
y = form factor=0.154—(0.912/z)
3. Mention the factors necessary for the design of spur
z = No. of teeth gears.
ky = velocity factor = 3/(3+v) Ans:
v = peripheral velocity in m/sec 𝒕𝟐
i) Lewis from factor , y = 𝟔𝒉𝒎
ks = service factor = 0.8
𝐦𝐚𝐱𝐢𝐦𝐮𝐦 𝐭𝐨𝐫𝐪𝐮𝐞
ii) Service factor , Cs =
Ans.:13.791 kW 𝒓𝒂𝒕𝒆𝒅 𝒕𝒐𝒓𝒒𝒖𝒆

iii) Velocity factor depending on the geometry of

the gear
2. Find the tooth loads and bearing reactions for the
shaft shown in figure used to transmit power (70 HP
from one point to another). All gears used are of 20° 4. A spur pinion is driven by an electric motor of
pressure angle with 8 module. Sketch the top and front power 15 kW running at 740rpm. Pitch diameter of
views of the shaft with bearings, indicating the loads pinion is 108mm and speed reduction is 3:1. Module
and reactions. Neglect frictional losses, and weights of is 6mm and pressure angle 20°. The pinion is mounted
gears. on a shaft located in symmetrical bearings over a span
of 300mm. The gear is overhanging by 50mm on the
left of two bearings 200mm apart. Calculate the
bearing reactions for the gear when the pinion rotates
clockwise.
Ans.: 2.6888 kN
5. spur steel pinion (So = 200 MN/m2) is to drive a spur Hint: The gear (weaker member) should be safe
steel gear (So = 140 MN/m2). The diameter of the pinion so that the pinion will be safe. This means the
is to be 100 mm and the center distance is 200 mm. The Fstrength must be greater than Ftransmitted.
pinion is to transmit 5 kW at 900 rpm. The teeth are to be
20° full depth. Determine the necessary module and width
of face to give greatest number of teeth. Design for 6. A pair of straight teeth spur gears having 20° full
strength only using Lewis equation. So is the endurance depth involute teeth is to transmit 20kW. The
strength corrected for average stress concentration. The pinion runs at 300 r.p.m and the speed ratio is 3:1
allowable stress S is given by
The following data are given:
𝟑
S = So(𝟑+𝒗)
Number of teeth on pinion =15
where v is the pitch line velocity in m/sec. Service factor Cs = 1
The following table gives the form factor y for use in 3
Velocity factor Cv = 3+𝑣
Lewis strength equation.
TABLE 1 -Form Factors y- for use in Lewis strength where v is the pitch line velocity in m/sec
equation 0.912
Tooth form factor 'y' = 0.154 -
𝑇
Number 𝟏
14𝟐 full- 20o full- 20o sub
of teeth depth involute Where, T = Number of Teeth
depth
involute
involute Face width = 14m,
composite
12 0.067 0.078 0.099 where m = module in mm.
13 0.071 0.083 0.103 Allowable static stress for pinion and gear
14 0.075 0.088 0.108 materials are 120 MPa and 100 MPa respectively.
15 0.078 0.092 0.111
16 0.081 0.094 0.115 Check the gear for wear if the surface endurance
17 0.084 0.096 0.117 limit is 600MPa and modulus of elasticity for
18 0.086 0.098 0.120 pinion and gear materials are 200GPa and 100 GPa
19 0.088 0.100 0.123 respectively.
20 0.090 0.102 0.125
21 0.092 0.104 0.127 Ans.: If the gear is to be checked for wear load
23 0.094 0.106 0.130 and in the absence of information about the
25 0.097 0.108 0.133 dynamic load, it is sufficient that the condition
27 0.099 0.111 0.136 Fw > Ft is satisfied for safe design.
30 0.101 0.114 0.139
Fw = 14.959 kN
34 0.104 0.118 0.142
38 0.106 0.122 0.145 Ft = 14.147 kN
43 0.108 0.126 0.147
50 0.110 0.130 0.151 Since Fw > Ft the strength design is safe
60 0.113 0.134 0.154
75 0.115 0.138 0.158
100 0.117 0.142 0.161 7. (Briefly explain the role of idle gears in a simple
150 0.119 0.146 0.165 gear train, with the help of neat sketches.
300 0.122 0.150 0.170
Rack 0.124 0.154 0.175
8. A 57 tooth spur gear is in mesh with 23 tooth 600N/mm2. The gears are heat treated for a surface
pinion. For the diametral pitch and pressure angle hardness of 400 BHN. The pinion rotates at 1450
given belowind the contact ratio. rpm and the service factor for the application is
1.75. Assume that the velocity factor accounts for
Tooth numbers (pinion) = 23
the dynamic load and the factor of safety is 1.5.
Tooth numbers (gear) = 57 Determine the rated power that the gears can
transmit, taking Lewis form factor as 0.32.
Diametral pitch = 6
Ans: 15.854 kW
Pressure angle = 25o
Ans: Contact ratio (mp) = 1.491
𝒁
Hint: (mp) = 𝑷𝒃

Pb = Pccos∅

Z = √(𝒓𝒑 + 𝒂)𝟐 − (𝒓𝒑 𝒄𝒐𝒔(∅))𝟐 +

√(𝒓𝒈 + 𝒂)𝟐 − (𝒓𝒈 𝒄𝒐𝒔(∅))𝟐 – Csin∅

Where
Z = length of action
Pb = base pitch
Pc = circular pitch
C = centre distance
a = addendum
rp, rg = pitch radius
dp, dg = pitch diameter
∅= pressure angle

8. A 20o pressure angle, 27 tooth spur gear has a

diametral pitch of 5. Find the pitch diameter,
addendum, dedendum, outside diameter and
circular pitch.
Ans: 5.400, 0.200, 0.250, 5.800, 0.628
respectively

9. pair of spur gears with 20° full-depth involute

teeth consists of a 20 teeth pinion meshing with a
41 teeth gear. The module is 3mm while the face
width is 40mm. The material for pinion as well as
for gear is steel with an ultimate tensile strength of