KINEMATIC PAIRS: NOVEL KINDS AND SCIENTIFIC CLASSIFICATION

This paper deals with kinematic pairs in the most general sense, and, in particular, with those used in gear design. The paper begins with a brief overview of the earlier performed research in the field. Different kinds of kinematic pairs are distinguished, namely, point-contact kinematic pairs, line-contact kinematic pairs, and surface-to-surface-contact kinematic pairs. Contact geometry of functional surfaces in kinematic pairs is involved into the analysis aiming more in detail analysis of design, and the development of a scientific classification of kinematic pairs. A scientific classification of all possible kinds of kinematic pairs is developed. All known designs of kinematic pairs are covered by the classification. Moreover, kinematic pairs of all notknown yet designs are also covered by the classification. This means that the proposed classification of kinematic pairs possesses predictive properties.