Customized High Precision Spiral Bevel Gears

This is the most complex form of bevel gears. The teeth of spiral gears are curved and oblique, in contrast to the teeth orientation of straight bevel gears. This results in more overlap between teeth, promoting gradual engagement and disengagement upon tooth contact. This improved smoothness results in minimal vibration and noise produced during operation. Also, spiral bevel gears have better load capacities because of higher load sharing from more teeth in contact. This allows them to be smaller compared to straight bevel gears with the same capacity. A disadvantage of spiral bevel gears is the more enormous thrust load exerted, requiring more expensive bearings. A rolling-element thrust bearing is usually necessary for spiral bevel gear assemblies. Also, spiral bevel gears are made in matched sets. Different gear sets with the same design are not interchangeable unless purposely built to. Spiral bevel gear sets are made either right-hand or left-hand.

What makes Spiral Bevel Gear Unique?

Spiral bevel gears are often used to transmit power through a right-angle. They are well suited for heavy-duty applications and can be designed for high-speed operations. Relative to some of the alternative bevel solutions, they can reduce the cost of ownership by providing longer-lasting performance and minimal need for repairs or replacements. Due to the geometry of the gear teeth, spiral bevel gears are more compact relative to their load rating, as well as more efficient than other types of right-angle gears. As the quality of a spiral bevel increases, the efficiency increases, the noise produced decreases, heat generation is reduced and vibration from their operation is lessened. Under the right conditions, a higher quality spiral bevel gear set can reach 99% efficiency.

Benefits of using Spiral Bevel Gears:

• Higher Efficiency – The calculated efficiency of our spiral bevel gear sets are 96% to 98%, which is greater than that of other types of right-angle gear sets.  This means more of the power from the prime mover is used to perform work and not generate heat.  (The efficiency depends on the quality number, ratio, duty cycle, and other factors.)
• Greater Power Density – Spiral bevel gears are more compact for their rated power than the other types of right-angle gears.
• Smaller Space Claim (volume) –Their higher power density means the gearboxes that use spiral bevel gears can be designed to be smaller than transmissions that do not incorporate them.  This results in lower weight, less space and lower overall cost.

• Minimal Vibration – The shape of the spiral bevel gear teeth allow the gears to engage each other gradually and smoother than some of the alternative options.  Therefore, a spiral bevel gear set will generate less vibration than other right-angle bevel gear sets with the same rating and similar finishing of their teeth.

• Less Heat – The greatest source of power loss (efficiency) in a bevel gear set is from heat generated by the interaction of the gear teeth.  The lower relative heat reduces the need for cooling of the oil and improves the operating life of the lubrication.
• Higher Torque  – A spiral bevel gear has more surface area in contact than a straight or zerol bevel, for the same pitch diameter.  The larger contact area means more power can be transmitted without exceeding the allowable stress of the alloy steel.
• Better Life – By distributing the load over a larger area, the spiral bevel gear will result in a relatively lower contact stress in the gear teeth and lower bending moment at their root. This provides the spiral bevel with a longer design life (pitting and bending) than the other types of right-angle bevel gears of the same size.
• Higher Speed – The higher quality spiral bevel gears can be operated at relatively high speeds.