Angular gears, also known as oblique gears, are designed to change the direction of rotation while maintaining constant speed. They come in spiral or straight cut configurations, with spiral gears being better for high-speed applications and straight cut gears for low-speed applications. Materials used depend on the intended use, and both gears in a set should be replaced together.
An oblique gear is a member of the family of bevel gears designed to work in pairs and with both gears having identical size and number of teeth. Angular gears are designed for applications where the rotational speed of the input and output drives remains constant but the direction changes. Typically the difference in drive/output orientation in angular gear sets is 90°, although sets are available that produce a selection of angular deviations. Bevel gears are available in straight or spiral tooth configurations. Spiral angular bevel gears are best suited for high-speed applications such as power tools and machine drives. Straight cut angular gears are suitable for low speed applications such as door openers and hand tools.
Angular gear sets are used in machinery designs that require changes in drive direction while maintaining drive speeds. These criteria are achieved by employing a set of cone shaped gears of identical size, profile and number of teeth. This design allows the gears to be placed in an opposite orientation while maintaining a constant speed relationship between the two drives. In most cases, the angular gear rotates the output unit at right angles to the input. Gear sets can, however, be designed to make almost any directional deflection.
These gears fall into two basic categories: spiral or straight cut. This terminology refers to the angle at which the gear teeth cut relative to the face or angle of the cone. Spiral cut gears are more appropriate for high speed applications because the curve of the teeth allows for smooth engagement. This reduces the amount of “clash” as the teeth of the two gears engage and makes the gear train stronger and quieter. This type of gear is commonly used in high speed applications such as lawn mowers where the motor and drive shaft are oriented at right angles to each other.
A straight cut angular gear is best suited for low speed applications such as manual door openers and hand tools. In these applications, the shortcomings of straight cut gears are less apparent and the low cost of production makes their use attractive. Angular gear materials are dictated by the intended end use with high carbon steel with a hard surface, appropriate for high load, high speed applications. Nylon and various injection molding resins are used for gears that don’t run as fast or as hard. The close relationship between the individual gears means that both gears in a set should ideally be replaced together even if only one is worn or damaged.
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