Computerized simulation of meshing and bearing contact for single-enveloping worm-gear drives

The thesis is a basic study of single-enveloping worm-gear drives. It is directed at the investigation of the generation and limitations of worm thread and gear tooth surfaces as well as computerized simulation of their meshing and contact.; The contents of the thesis cover the following topics: (1) Determination of the worm-gear tooth surface as an envelope of a family of worm thread surfaces. (2) Limitations of the contacting surfaces (avoidance of singularities and existence of an envelope of characteristics). (3) Determination of: (i) principal curvatures, (ii) orientation of the principal directions, and (iii) instantaneous contact ellipse. (4) Computerized simulation of meshing and contact for misaligned worm-gear drives: (i) theoretical lines of contact, (ii) transition from instantaneous line to point contact, (iii) transmission errors resulting from misalignment, and (iv) bearing contact (as a set of instantaneous contact ellipses). (5) Generation of worm surfaces by blades and peripheral milling cutters, modified methods for generation of the worm-gear surface.; The developed theory is complemented with computer programs, illustrated with numerical examples and applied to the investigation of involute worm-gear drives.