11.

Load calculation of gears

11.1 Calculation of loads on spur, The magnitudes of the forces P2, S2, and T2
helical, and double-helical gears applied to the driven gear are the same as P1,
S1, and T1 respectively, but the direction is
There is an extremely close relationship opposite.
among the two mechanical elements, gears and
rolling bearings. Gear units, which are widely Double-helical gear:
used in machines, are almost always used with
bearings. Rating life calculation and selection of P1=P2= 9 550 000H = 9 550 000H
bearings to be used in gear units are based on
the load at the gear meshing point.
n1 ( )
dp1
2
n2
dp2
2 ( )
The load at the gear meshing point is
calculated as follows: .............................................. (N)

Spur gear: = 974 000H = 974 000H ........ {kgf}

P1=P2= 9 550 000H = 9 550 000H

n1 ( )
dp1
2
n2
dp2
2 ( )
n1 ( )
dp1
2
n2
dp2
2 ( )
S1=S2= P1tanan Fig. 1　Spur gear
cosb
.............................................. (N)
where, P: Tangential force (N), {kgf}
= 974 000H = 974 000H ........ {kgf} S: Separating force (N), {kgf}
n1 ( )
dp1
2
n2
dp2
2 ( )

T: Thrust (N), {kgf}
H: Transmitted power (kW)
n: Speed (min–1)
S1=S2=P1tana dp: Pitch diameter (mm)
a: Gear pressure angle
The magnitudes of the forces P2 and S2 an: Gear normal pressure angle
applied to the driven gear are the same as P1 b: Twist angle
and S1 respectively, but the direction is Subscript 1: Driving gear
opposite. Subscript 2: Driving gear

Helical gear: In the case of double-helical gears, thrust of

the helical gears offsets each other and thus
P1=P2= 9 550 000H = 9 550 000H only tangential and separating forces act. For
n1 ( )
dp1
2
n2
dp2
2 ( ) the directions of tangential, separating, and
thrust forces, please refer to Figs. 1 and 2.

.............................................. (N)

Fig. 2　Helical gear

= 974 000H = 974 000H ........ {kgf}
n1 ( )
dp1
2
n2
dp2
2 ( )
S1=S2= P1tanan
cosb

T1=T2=P1tanb

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Load calculation of gears

The thrust direction of the helical gear varies Table 1

depending on the gear running direction, gear
Load
twist direction, and whether the gear is driving classification
Bearing A Bearing B
or driven.
From 　　　b 　　　a
The directions are as follows: PA＝─── P1　 　⊗ PB＝─── P1　 　⊗
P1 　　 a＋b 　　 a＋b

Radial load
The force on the bearing is determined as From 　　　b 　　　a
SA＝─── S1　 　扌 SB＝─── S1　 　扌
follows: S1 　　 a＋b 　　 a＋b
From 　　dp1/2 　　dp1/2
UA＝─── T1　 　扌 UB＝─── T1　 　➡
Tangential force: T1 　　 a＋b 　　 a＋b
Combined
F ＝　 PA2＋（SA＋UA）2 FrB＝　PB2＋（SB−UB）2
P1=P2= 9 550 000H = 9 550 000H radial load rA
n1 ( )
dp1
2
n2
dp2
2 ( ) Axial load 　　　　　　　　Fa＝T1　　➡

Load direction is shown referring to left side of Fig. 3.

.............................................. (N)

= 974 000H = 974 000H ........ {kgf}

( )
n1 dp1
2
n2
dp2
2 ( )
Separating force: S1=S2=P1 tanan
cosb

Thrust: T1=T2=P1 · tanb

The same method can be applied to bearings

C and D.

Fig. 4　Thrust direction

Fig. 3

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Load calculation of gears

11.2 Calculation of load acting on where, Dm: Average pitch diameter (mm)
straight bevel gears dp: Pitch diameter (mm)
w: Gear width (pitch line length) (mm)
The load at the meshing point of straight an: Gear normal pressure angle
bevel gears is calculated as follows: d: Pitch cone angle
Generally, d1+d2=90°. In this case, S1 and T2 (or
P1=P2= 9 550 000H = 9 550 000H S2 and T1) are the same in magnitude but
n1 Dm1
2 ( )
n2 Dm2
2 ( ) opposite in direction. S/P and T/P for d are
shown in Fig. 3. The load on the bearing can
be calculated as shown below.
.............................................. (N)

= 974 000H = 974 000H ........ {kgf}

n1 Dm1
2 ( ) n2 Dm2
2 ( ) Fig. 1

Dm1=dp1–w sind1
Dm2=dp2–w sind2

S1=P1tanan cosd1
S2=P2tanan cosd2

T1=P1tanan cosd1
T2=P2tanan cosd2

Table 1
Fig. 2
Load
Bearing A Bearing B Bearing C Bearing D
classification
　 　　b 　 　a＋b 　 　　d 　 　　c
From P PA＝───P1　 　 ◉ PB＝───P1　 　 ⊗ PC＝───P2　 　 ◉ PD＝───P2　 　 ◉
　 　　a 　 　　a 　 　 c＋d 　 　 c＋d
Radial load

　 　　b 　 　a＋b 　 　　d 　 　　c

From S SA＝───S1 　 　 ➡ SB＝───S1　 　 扌 SC＝───S2　 　➡ SD＝───S2　 　 ➡
　 　　a 　 　　a 　 　 c＋d 　 　 c＋d
　 　　Dm1 　 　　Dm1 　 　　　Dm2 　 　　　Dm2
From T UA＝───T1 扌 UB＝───T1 ➡ UC＝────T2 ➡ UD＝────T2 ➡
　 　　2・a 　 　　2・a 　 　 2(c＋d)
　 　
　 　2(c＋d)
Combined
FrA＝　PA2＋(SA−UA)2 FrB＝　PB2＋(SB−UB)2 FrC＝　PC2＋(SC−UC)2 FrD＝　PD2＋(SD＋UD)2
radial load
Axial load Fa＝T1　　　➡ Fa＝T2　　　➡

Load direction is shown referring to Fig. 2.

Fig. 3

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Load calculation of gears

11.3 Calculation of load on spiral Driven gear

bevel gears Separating force

In the case of spiral bevel gears, the S2= P (tanan cosd2–sinb sind2)
magnitude and direction of loads at the meshing cosb
point vary depending on the running direction
and gear twist direction. The running is either Thrust
clockwise or counterclockwise as viewed from T2= P (tanan sind2+sinb cosd2)
the side opposite of the gears (Fig. 1). The gear cosb
twist direction is classified as shown in Fig. 2.
The force at the meshing point is calculated as (2) Counterclockwise with right twist or
follows: clockwise with left twist Fig. 1
P1=P2= 9 550 000H = 9 550 000H Driving gear
n1 Dm1
2( ) n2 Dm2
2 ( ) Separating force

.............................................. (N) S1= P (tanan cosd1–sinb sind1)

cosb

= 974 000H = 974 000H ........ {kgf}

n1 Dm1
2( ) n2 Dm2
2 ( ) Thrust
T1= P (tanan sind1+sinb cosd1)
cosb

where, an: Gear normal pressure angle

b: Twisting angle Driven gear
d: Pitch cone angle Separating force
w: Gear width (mm) Fig. 2
Dm: Average pitch diameter (mm) S2= P (tanan cosd2+sinb sind2)
cosb
dp: Pitch diameter (mm)

Note that the following applies: Thrust

Dm1=dp1–wsind1 T2= P (tanan sind2–sinb cosd2)
cosb
Dm2=dp2–wsind2

The separating force S and T are as follows The positive (plus) calculation result means that
depending on the running direction and gear the load is acting in a direction to separate the
twist direction: gears while a negative (minus) one means that
the load is acting in a direction to bring the
(1) Clockwise with right twisting or gears nearer.
counterclockwise with left twisting Generally, d1+d2=90°. In this case, T1 and S2
(S1 and T2) are the same in magnitude but
Driving gear opposite in direction. The load on the bearing
Separating force can be calculated by the same method as
described in Section 11.2, “Calculation of load
S1= P (tanan cosd1+sinb sind1) acting on straight bevel gears.”
cosb

Thrust
P Fig. 3
T1= (tanan sind1–sin b cosd1)
cosb

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Load calculation of gears

11.4 Calculation of load acting on Thrust The positive (plus) calculation result means
hypoid gears T1= P1 (tanan sind1–sinb1 cosd1) that the load is acting in a direction to separate
cosb1 the gears while a negative (minus) one means
The force acting at the meshing point of that the load is acting in a direction to bring the
hypoid gears is calculated as follows: Driven gear gears nearer.
cosb1 Separating force For the running direction and gear twist
P1= 9 550 000H = P2 ........................ (N) direction, refer to Section 11.3, “Calculation of
n1 D
2( )
m1 cosb2
S 2= P2 (tana cosd –sinb sind )
cosb2
n 2 2 2 load on spiral bevel gears.” The load on the
bearing can be calculated by the same method
as described in Section 11.2, “Calculation of
cosb1 Thrust load acting on straight bevel gears.”
= 974 000H = P2 ..................... {kgf} T2= P2 (tanan sind2+sinb2 cosd2)
n1 D
2 ( )
m1 cosb2 cosb2

(2) Counterclockwise with right twist or

clockwise with left twist
P2= 9 550 000H . ........................................ (N)
n2 Dm2
2( ) Driving gear
Separating force

S 1= P1 (tana cosd –sinb sind )

= 974 000H
n 1 1 1
. ..................................... {kgf} cosb1
n2 Dm2
2 ( )
Thrust
z1 cosb1 T1= P1 (tanan sind1+sinb1 cosd1)
Dm1=Dm2 · cosb1
z2 cosb2

Driven gear
Dm2=dp2–w2sind2 Separating force

where, an: Gear normal pressure angle P2

S 2= (tanan cosd2+sinb2 sind2)
b: Twisting angle cosb2
d: Pitch cone angle
w: Gear width (mm) Thrust
Dm: Average pitch diameter (mm) T2= P2 (tanan sind2–sinb2 cosd2)
dp: Pitch diameter (mm) cosb2
z: Number of teeth

The separating force S and T are as follows

depending on the running direction and gear
twist direction:

(1) Clockwise with right twisting or

counterclockwise with left twisting

Driving gear
Separating force
P1
S1= (tanan cosd1+sinb1 sind1)
cosb1

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Load calculation of gears
The next calculation diagram is used to
determine the approximate value and direction
of separating force S and thrust T.
[How To Use]
The method of determining the separating force
S is shown. The thrust T can also be
determined in a similar manner.
1. Take the gear normal pressure angle an from
the vertical scale on the left side of the
diagram.
236
2. Determine the intersection between the pitch
cone angle d and the twist angle b.
Determine one point which is either above or
below the b=0 line according to the rotating
direction and gear twist direction.
3. Draw a line connecting the two points and
read the point at which the line cuts through
the right vertical scale. This reading gives the
ratio (S/P, %) of the separating force S to the
tangential force P in percentage.
Calculation diagram of separating force S Calculation diagram of thrust T
237
Load calculation of gears

11.5 Calculation of load on worm gear an: Gear normal pressure angle
aa: Shaft plane pressure angle
A worm gear is a kind of spigot gear, which Zw: No. of threads (No. of teeth of worm
can produce a high reduction ratio with small gear)
volume. The load at a meshing point of worm Z2: No. of teeth of worm wheel
gears is calculated as shown in Table 1. Subscript 1: For driving worm gear
Symbols of Table 1 are as follows: Subscript 2: For driving worm gear

i: Gear ratio ( i= ZZ )
2

w
In a worm gear, there are four combinations
Fig. 1

of interaction at the meshing point as shown

below depending on the twist directions and
h: Worm gear efficiency [ h= tang
tan(g+y) ] rotating directions of the worm gear.

( g=tan )
dp2 The load on the bearing is obtained from the
g: Advance angle 1
magnitude and direction of each component at
idp1
the meshing point of the worm gears according
to the method shown in Table 1 of Section
y: For the frictional angle, the value obtained 11.1, Calculation of loads on spur, helical, and
pdp1n1 10–3 double-helical gears. Fig. 2.1　Right twist worm gear
from VR= ´
cosg 60

as shown in Fig. 1 is used.

When VR is 0.2 m/s or less, then use y=8°.

When VR exceeds 6 m/s, use y=1°4’.

Table 1
Force Worm Worm wheel Fig. 2.2　Right twist worm gear (Worm rotation is opposite that of Fig. 2.1)
9 550 000H 9 550 000Hiη P1 η P1
──────── …………(N) ────────＝─────＝──── ──
( ) ( )
　　dp1 　　dp2 tan γ （γ＋ψ）
tan
n1　─ ─ n1　──
　　　2 　　　2
Tangential …………(N)
P 974 000Hiη P1 η P1
974 000H 　 ───────＝─────＝──── ──
( )
　　────── …………{kgf} 　　dp2 （γ＋ψ）
( )
　　dp1 tan γ tan
n1　──
n1　─ ─ 　　　2
　　　2 ………{kgf}

9 550 000Hη P1 η P1 9 550 000H

────────＝─────＝───── ──────── …………(N) Fig. 2.3　Left twist worm gear
( ) ( )
　　dp2 tan γ （γ＋ψ）
tan 　　dp1
n1　─ ─ n1　──
　　　2 　　　2
Thrust …………(N)
T 974 000Hη P1 η P1
　 ────── ─＝─────＝───── 974 000H

( )
　　dp2 　　────── …………{kgf}
( )
tan γ （γ＋ψ）
tan 　　dp1
n1　─ ─
　　　2 n1　──
………{kgf} 　　　2

P1 tan α n P1 tan α a P1 tan α n P1 tan α a

Separating ─────＝────── ─────＝──────
sin（γ＋ψ） tan（γ＋ψ） sin（γ＋ψ） tan（γ＋ψ）
S Fig. 2.4　Left twist worm gear (Worm rotation is opposite that of Fig. 2.3)
　　　　　 …………(N)，{kgf} 　　　　　 …………(N)，{kgf}

238 239