Mathematical Modeling and Simulation of the External and Internal Double Circular-Arc Spiral Bevel Gears for the Nutation Drive

The purpose of this paper is to propose a pair of external and internal spiral bevel gears with double circular-arc in the nutation drive. Based on the movement of nutation, this paper develops equations of the tooth profiles for the gear set, leading to the mathematical modeling of the spiral bevel gear with a constant helical angle gear alignment curve, enabling the tooth surface to be generated, and permitting the theoretical contacting lines to be produced in light of the meshing function. Simulation and verification are carried out to prove the mathematical equations. Numerical control (NC) simulation of machining the external and internal double circular-arc spiral bevel gears is developed, and the spiral gears were manufactured on a NC milling machine. The prototype of the nutation drive is illustrated in the case study at the end of this paper. [DOI: 10.1115/1.4001003