Optimal Tooth Modifications in Hypoid Gears

A method for the determination of optimal tooth modifications in hypoid gears based on improved load distribution and reduced transmission errors is presented. The modifications are introduced into the pinion tooth surface by using a cutter with bicircular profile and optimal diameter. In the optimization of tool parameters the influence of shaft misalignments of the mating members is included. As the result of these modifications a point contact of the meshed teeth surfaces appears instead of line contact; the hypoid gear pair becomes mismatched. By using the method presented in (Simon, V., 2000, “Load Distribution in Hypoid Gears,” ASME J. Mech. Des., 122, pp. 529–535) the influence of tooth modifications introduced on tooth contact and transmission errors is investigated. Based on the results that was obtained the radii and position of circular tool profile arcs and the diameter of the cutter for pinion teeth generation were optimized. By applying the optimal tool parameters, the maximum tooth contact pressure is reduced by 16.22% and the angular position error of the driven gear by 178.72%, in regard to the hypoid gear pair with a pinion manufactured by a cutter of straight-sided profile and of diameter determined by the commonly used methods.