Computerized design, manufacturing, and simulation of meshing of worm-gear drive with new geometry

Meshing and contact of misaligned worm-gear drive with conventional geometry has been simulated to investigate the influence of misalignment.; Computerized simulation of meshing and contact of worm-gear drives with new geometry has been developed. A new geometry of a worm-gear drive is proposed directed for localization and stabilization of the bearing contact and reduction of transmission errors.; The study shows that the worm-gear drive with conventional geometry is very sensitive to misalignment and requires the new geometry to provide stable bearing contact. The proposed methods of modification of worm-gear drive provide a localized bearing contact and a predesigned parabolic function of transmission errors for compensation of the transmission errors caused by misalignment.; The localization of bearing contact may be provided in longitudinal direction or in the direction across the worm-gear tooth surface and accomplished by the mismatch of the surface of worm with respect to the surface of hob that is used for the generation of worm-gear.; The proposed approach was applied for the K worm-gear drive but is applicable for all types of worm-gear drive with cylindrical worm.