Gear
(Redirected from Gears)
Mechanical component used to transmit torque
A gear is a rotating machine part having cut teeth or, in the case of a cogwheel, inserted teeth (called cogs), which mesh with another toothed part to transmit torque. Geared devices can change the speed, torque, and direction of a power source. Gears almost always produce a change in torque, creating a mechanical advantage, through their gear ratio, and thus may be considered a simple machine.
History[edit | edit source]
The concept of gears dates back to ancient times. The earliest known gears were used by the Greeks in the Antikythera mechanism, an ancient analog computer. Gears were also used in ancient China, as evidenced by the South-pointing chariot, a device that used a differential gear system to maintain a constant direction.
Types of Gears[edit | edit source]
Gears come in several types, each serving different purposes and applications:
Spur Gears[edit | edit source]
Spur gears are the most common type of gears. They have straight teeth and are mounted on parallel shafts. Spur gears are used in a wide range of applications, from clocks to industrial machinery.
Helical Gears[edit | edit source]
Helical gears have teeth that are cut at an angle to the face of the gear. This allows for more gradual engagement of the teeth, resulting in smoother and quieter operation compared to spur gears.
Bevel Gears[edit | edit source]
Bevel gears are used to transmit power between shafts that are at an angle to each other. They are commonly used in differential drives, which can transmit power to two axles spinning at different speeds, such as those on a car.
Worm Gears[edit | edit source]
Worm gears are used to transmit power between non-parallel, non-intersecting shafts. They provide a high reduction ratio and are used in applications where space is limited.
Rack and Pinion[edit | edit source]
A rack and pinion is a type of linear actuator that comprises a pair of gears that convert rotational motion into linear motion. It is commonly used in steering systems of cars.
Applications[edit | edit source]
Gears are used in a wide variety of mechanical devices. They are used in everything from clocks to bicycles to industrial machinery. Gears are essential components in the automotive industry, where they are used in transmissions and differentials.
Mechanical Advantage[edit | edit source]
The mechanical advantage of a gear system is determined by the gear ratio, which is the ratio of the number of teeth on the output gear to the number of teeth on the input gear. This ratio determines the torque and speed of the output gear relative to the input gear.
Related Pages[edit | edit source]
See Also[edit | edit source]
Search WikiMD
Ad.Tired of being Overweight? Try W8MD's physician weight loss program.
Semaglutide (Ozempic / Wegovy and Tirzepatide (Mounjaro / Zepbound) available.
Advertise on WikiMD
WikiMD's Wellness Encyclopedia |
Let Food Be Thy Medicine Medicine Thy Food - Hippocrates |
Translate this page: - East Asian
中文,
日本,
한국어,
South Asian
हिन्दी,
தமிழ்,
తెలుగు,
Urdu,
ಕನ್ನಡ,
Southeast Asian
Indonesian,
Vietnamese,
Thai,
မြန်မာဘာသာ,
বাংলা
European
español,
Deutsch,
français,
Greek,
português do Brasil,
polski,
română,
русский,
Nederlands,
norsk,
svenska,
suomi,
Italian
Middle Eastern & African
عربى,
Turkish,
Persian,
Hebrew,
Afrikaans,
isiZulu,
Kiswahili,
Other
Bulgarian,
Hungarian,
Czech,
Swedish,
മലയാളം,
मराठी,
ਪੰਜਾਬੀ,
ગુજરાતી,
Portuguese,
Ukrainian
Medical Disclaimer: WikiMD is not a substitute for professional medical advice. The information on WikiMD is provided as an information resource only, may be incorrect, outdated or misleading, and is not to be used or relied on for any diagnostic or treatment purposes. Please consult your health care provider before making any healthcare decisions or for guidance about a specific medical condition. WikiMD expressly disclaims responsibility, and shall have no liability, for any damages, loss, injury, or liability whatsoever suffered as a result of your reliance on the information contained in this site. By visiting this site you agree to the foregoing terms and conditions, which may from time to time be changed or supplemented by WikiMD. If you do not agree to the foregoing terms and conditions, you should not enter or use this site. See full disclaimer.
Credits:Most images are courtesy of Wikimedia commons, and templates, categories Wikipedia, licensed under CC BY SA or similar.
Contributors: Prab R. Tumpati, MD