SPUR GEAR

Spur gears are toothed wheels whose tooth elements are straight and parallel to the axis
of the supporting shaft. They are used to transmit motion and power between parallel
shafts.

Design Considerations:
1. INTERMITTENT SERVICE: FS  NSFFd
Static tooth load:
FS = Sb y ; lbs
KF Pd

Fs = static tooth load; lbs

NSF = service factor for spur gears; p. 373, Faires
S = design stress; psi
= Sn’ or Su /3 for steel and cast iron; p. 366
Sn’ = endurance strength of weaker element
Su = ultimate strength of weaker element
y = Lewis tooth form factor; Table AT 24, p. 601
machine design by faires
NOTE:
• If gear and pinion are made of similar material, the pinion teeth
are weaker.
• If pinion and gear are made of different materials, the weaker
element is the one with lesser product of S
b = face width; in.
recommended face width:
8  b  12.5 for cut teeth.
Pd Pd
Pd = diameter pitch
KF = strength reduction factor
= ranges from 1.2 to 1.70 load at tip
Dynamic tooth load:
a. Commercially Cut Teeth: m  2000 fpm
Fd = 600 + m x Ft ; lbs
600

1
 m = pitch line velocity of gears; fpm

m = Dpnp = Dgng
12 12
b. Carefully Cut Gear Teeth : 1000 fpm m< 4000 fpm
Fd = 1200 + m x Ft ; lbs
1200
c. Precision Cut Gear Teeth: m  2000 fpm
Fd = 78 + m1/2 x Ft ; lbs
78

Ft = tangential tooth load; lbs.

Ft = 33000 hp ; lbs
m
Dp = pinion dismeter; in.
Dg = gear diameter; in.
Np = rotative speed of pinion.
Ng = rotative speed of gear.

For commercially hobbed or shaved spur gear teeth, the AGMA recommends the use of
the following equation.

Fd = 50 + m1/2 x Ft ; lbs
50
In addition, a load distribution factor whose value ranges from 1.2 to 2.2 should be made
on the dynamic load aside from the service factor. For high precision shaved or hobbed
teeth, equation ‘c’ above should be used.

2. CONTINUOUS INDIFINITE SERVICE: FS  NSFFd (strength)

Fw Fd (wear)
Static tooth load:
FS = Sb y ; lbs.
KFPd

Dynamic tooth load:

Fd = Ft + .05m (b C + Ft) ; lbs
.05m (b C + Ft)1/2
C = tooth error factor, Table AT- 25
Wear Load Limit:

Fw = b Dp Q Kg ; lbs
Kg = wear factor, Table AT- 26
Q = velocity factor
Q = 2 mg ____
mg+ 1
mg= speed ratio

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Example: SPUR Gear
1. A pair of gears with 20 full- depth teeth are to transmit 5 hp at 1800 rpm of the
pinion; mg = 2.5, Np = 18 teeth; commercially cut teeth; intermittent service; K F = 1.45
and NSF = 1.1. The pinion is to be made of SAE 65 phosphor bronze and the gear class 25
cast iron. For the gears, determine the face width, pitch, and pitch diameters.

Solution:
For intermittent service: FS  NSF Fd
ASTM 25 CAST IRON : Su = 31250 psi
SAE 65 phosphor bronze : Sn = 24000 psi
Sp = 24000psi
p = .308 Table AT-24
Spp = 24000 x .308 = 7392
Sg = 31250 = 10417
3
g = 0.399 Table AT-24
Sgg = 0.399 x 10417 = 4156 psi : Gear is weaker than the pinion.
FS = 4156 x b = 2866.5 b ; lbs.
1.45 x Pd Pd

1. Pd = 5
Dp = 18/5 = 3.6 in.
m =  x 3.6 x 1800 = 1696.46 fpm
12
Ft = 33000 x 5 = 97.26 lbs.
1696.46
For commercially cut teeth:
Fd = 600 + 1696.46 x 97.26 = 372.25 lbs.
600
Thus: 2866.5 b = 1.1 x 372.25
5
b = 0.7142 in. bmin = 8/5 = 1.6< .7142
try a larger Pd.
2. Pd = 8
Dp = 18/8 = 2.25 in.
m =  x 2.25 x 1800 = 1060.28 fpm
12
Ft = 33000 x 5 = 155.6 lbs.
1696.46
for commercially cut teeth:
Fd = 600 + 1060.28 x 155.6 = 430.6 lbs.
600
thus: 2866.5 b = 1.1 x 430.6
5
b = 1.32. bmax =1.56 in. bmin = 1 in.

use: Pd = 8 Dp = 2.25 in.

b = 1.375 in. Dg = 5.625 in

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2. A 20tooth pinion, 20 FD drives a 100-tooth gear. The pinion is made of SAE 1035,
heat-treated to Rockwell C15; the gear is cast iron class 35 HT. The gears have carefully
cut teeth, module 8.5, face width of 65mm. The pinion speed is 870 rpm. Let KF = 1.20,
smooth load.
a. For intermittent service, what is the safe HP capacity?
b. For continuous service, what is the safe HP capacity?
Solution:

SAE 1035, heat-treated to Rockwell C15; Su = 95,000 psi

ASTM 35 cast iron: Su = 43,750 psi
Sp = 95000/3 = 31,667 psi
Sg = 43750 = 14,583 psi
3

p = .320 Spp = 10,133

g = 0.399 Sgg = 6,504 ; gear is weaker

Dp = 8.5 x 20 = 6.693 in.

25.4

Face width; b = 65/25.4 = 2.56 in.

m =  x 6.693 x 870 = 1524.4fpm
12
Ft = 33000 x hp = 21.65 HP
1524.4

a. For intermittent service: FS  NSFFd

Sb  = NSF x 1200 + m x Ft smooth load; NSF = 1
KFPd 1200 diametral pitch; Pd = 25.4/ 8.5
Pd = 2.99
6504 x 2.56 = 1.0 x (1200 + 1524.4) x 21.65 HP
1.2 x 2.99 1200

HP = 86

b. For continuous service: FS  NSFFd

FW Fd
Static tooth load, Fd = 6504 x 2.56 = 4640.5 lbs.
NSF 1.2 x 2.99 x1

Wear load limit, Fw = 2.56 x 6.693 x 1.667 x 205 = 5855 lbs

4640.5 = 21.65 HP + .05 x 1524.4 (2.56 x 1710 + 21.65HP)

.05 x 1524.4 (2.56 x 1710 + 21.65HP)1/2

HP = 75

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3. A 4.8 in. (approximate) pinion with 20 FD teeth is to transmit 40 hp @ 1000 rpm,
indefinitely continuous service with smooth load; mg = 3.5, carefully cut teeth to reduce
the dynamic load. To reduce the chance of an explosive spark, the pinion shall be made
of phosphor bronze and the gear ASTM 35 cast iron. What should be the pitch and face
width of the gears? KF = 1.30
Solution:
For continuous service: FS  NSFFd
FW Fd
Phosphor bronze: Sn = 24,000 psi Sp = 24,000 psi
ASTM 35 cast iron: Su = 43,750 psi Sg = 14,583 psi

1. Pd = 5
Np = 5 x 4.8 = 24t p = 0.337 Spp = 8088
Ng = 24 x 3.5 = 84t g = 0.4384 Sgg = 6393
For smooth load, NSF = 1
Fs = 6393 b = 983.5b
NSF 1.3x5x1
Fw = b Dp Q Kg
Dp = 4.8 in.
Q = 2 x 3.5 = 1.555
3.5 + 1
Kg = 234
Fw = b x 4.8 x 1.555 x 234 = 1747.2 b
Fw FS / NSF; strength is critical
Fd = Ft + .05m (b C + Ft)
.05m (b C + Ft)1/2
m =  x 4.8 x 1000 = 1256.64 fpm
12
Ft = 33000 x 40 = 1050.4 lbs
1256.64
C = 830 carefully cut teeth, e = .001in.
For Pd = 5; e =. 001in.
983 .5b  1050.4 + .05 x 1256.64 (830b + 1050.4)
.05 x 1256.64 (830b + 1050.4) 1/2
if b; bmax = 12.5/5 = 2.5; Fd = 2704 ; Fs = 2458.75

bmin = 8/5 = 1.6; Fd = 2389; Fs = 1573.6

Pd = 5, too high; select a lower Pd.

2. Pd = 4.0
Np = 4 x 4.8 = 19.2; Np = 19t

Use: Np = 20t so that speed ratio will be 3.5

Ng = 70t
p = .320 Spp = 7680
g = 0.429 Sgg = 6256 *

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 Fs = 6256 b = 1203 b
NSF 1 x 4 x 1.3

Fw = b Dp Q Kg

Dp = 20/4 = 5in.

Fw = b x 5 x 1.555 x 234 = 1819.35b

Fw  FS / NSF ; strength is critical

Fd = Ft + .05m (b C + Ft)
.05m (b C + Ft)1/2

m =  x 5 x 1000 = 1309 fpm

12
Ft = 33000 x 40 = 1008 .4 lbs
1309
C = 830 x .0012
.001
For Pd = 4; e =. 0012in.

1203b  1008.4 + .05 x 1309 (996b + 1008.4)

.05 x 1309 (996b + 1008.4)1/2

for b = 12.5/4 = 3.125; Fd = 3089; Fs = 3759

b = 8/4 = 2; Fd = 2641.8; Fs = 2406

b = 2 ½; Fd = 2846; Fs = 3007.5
use :
Pd = 4
b=2½
carefully cut teeth

Np = 20t
Ng = 70t
Dp = 5 in.
Dg = 17.5 in.