CHAPTER 4 Gear Trains Mrs. Noor H.

Gear Trains

1. Introduction
Sometimes, two or more gears are made to
mesh with each other to transmit power
from one shaft to another. Such a
combination is called gear train or train of
toothed wheels. The nature of the train
used depends upon the velocity ratio
required and the relative position of the
axes of shafts. A gear train may consist of
spur, bevel or spiral gears.

2. Types of Gear Trains

Following are the different types of gear trains, depending upon the arrangement
of wheels :
1. Simple gear train,
2. Compound gear train,
3. Reverted gear train, and
4. Epicyclic gear train.

1. Simple Gear Train

When there is only one gear on each shaft, as shown in Fig. 1, it is known as
simple gear train.
Speed ratio (or velocity ratio) = =

Sometimes, the distance between the two gears is large. The motion from one gear
to another, in such a case, may be transmitted by either of the following two
CHAPTER 4 Gear Trains Mrs. Noor H.

methods: 1. By providing the large sized gear, or 2. By providing one or more

intermediate gears idle gears.

Fig. 1. Simple gear train.

Now consider a simple train of gears with one intermediate gear as shown in
Fig. 1 (b).

Speed ratio for two gears 1 & 2 is = ……(i)

Similarly, speed ratio for two gears 2 & 3 is = ……(ii)

The speed ratio of the gear train is obtained by multiplying the equations (i) and
(ii).
× = × or =

i.e. Speed ratio = =

2. Compound Gear Train

When there are more than one gear on a shaft, as shown in Fig .2, it is called a
compound train of gear.
The speed ratio of compound gear train is =

i.e. Speed ratio =

CHAPTER 4 Gear Trains Mrs. Noor H.

Note: Since gears 2 and 3 are mounted on one shaft B, therefore N2 = N3.
Similarly gears 4 and 5 are mounted on shaft C, therefore N4 = N5.

Fig. 2. Compound gear train.

3. Reverted Gear Train

When the axes of the first gear (i.e. first

driver) and the last gear (i.e. last driven
or follower) are co-axial, then the gear
train is known as reverted gear train as
shown in Fig. 3.

Fig. 3. Reverted gear train.

CHAPTER 4 Gear Trains Mrs. Noor H.

Since the distance between the centers of the shafts of gears 1 and 2 as well as
gears 3 and 4 is same, therefore
r1 + r2 = r3 + r4
Also, the circular pitch or module of all the gears is assumed to be same
T1 + T2 = T3 + T4

Speed ratio =

Example: 1
The gearing of a machine tool is shown in Fig. 4. The motor shaft is connected to
gear A and rotates at 975 r.p.m. The gear wheels B, C, D and E are fixed to parallel
shafts rotating together. The final gear F is fixed on the output shaft. What is the
speed of gear F ? The number of teeth on each gear are as given below :
Gear A B C D E F
No. of teeth 20 50 25 75 26 65

Solution:

= = = 18.75

 NF = = = 52 r.p.m.

Fig .4

4. Epicyclic Gear Train

In this type of gear trains, the axes of the shafts, over which the gears are mounted,
may move relative to a fixed axis. A simple epicyclic gear train is shown in Fig. 5.
The tabular method may be used for finding out the velocity ratio of an epicyclic
gear train (see Table.1).
CHAPTER 4 Gear Trains Mrs. Noor H.

Let :
TA = Number of teeth on gear A, and
TB = Number of teeth on gear B.

NA = Velocity of gear A

NB = Velocity of gear B

Fig. 5. Epicyclic gear train.

Table .1. Table of motions

Revolutions of elements
Step No. Conditions of motion Arm C Gear A Gear B

1. Add (+ a) revolutions to all +a +a +a

elements
2. Arm fixed , gear A rotates through 0 +b – b
(+ b) revolutions

3. Total motion + + –

Assuming the anticlockwise rotation as positive and clockwise as negative.

According to the final results and the information given, we can find the values
of (a) and (b) and then, NA and NB.

Example: 2
In an epicyclic gear train, an arm carries two gears A and B having 36 and 45 teeth
respectively. If the arm rotates at 150 r.p.m. in the anticlockwise direction about
the centre of the gear A which is fixed, determine the speed of gear B. If the gear A
instead of being fixed, makes 300 r.p.m. in the clockwise direction, what will be
the speed of gear B ?
Solution:
CHAPTER 4 Gear Trains Mrs. Noor H.

Table : 2 Table of motions.

Revolutions of elements
Step No. Conditions of motion Arm C Gear A Gear B

1. Add (+ a) revolutions to all +a +a +a

elements
2. Arm fixed , gear A rotates through 0 +b – b
(+ b) revolutions

3. Total motion + + –

 Speed of gear B when gear A is fixed

Since the speed of arm is 150 r.p.m. anticlockwise, therefore from the third row of
the table,  a = 150 r.p.m

The velocity of gear A = 0 (fixed)

a+b=0 or a = – b = – 150 r.p.m

Speed of gear B, NB = – = 150 – 150 × = + 270 r.p.m

= 270 r.p.m. (anticlockwise) Ans.

 Speed of gear B when gear A makes 300 r.p.m. clockwise

Since the gear A makes 300 r.p.m. clockwise, therefore from the third row of the
table,

a + b = – 300 or b = –300 – a = –300 – 150 = – 450 r.p.m

NB = – = 150 + 450 × = + 510 r.p.m

= 510 r.p.m. (anticlockwise) Ans.

 CHAPTER 4 Gear Trains Mrs. Noor H.

Example: 3
In a reverted epicyclic gear train, the arm A carries two gears B and C and a
compound gear D - E. The gear B meshes with gear E and the gear C meshes with
gear D. The number of teeth on gears B, C and D are 75, 30 and 90 respectively.
Find the speed and direction of gear C when gear B is fixed and the arm A makes
100 r.p.m. clockwise.

Solution:
The reverted epicyclic gear train is shown in
Fig. 6.
TB + TE = TC + TD
 TE = TC + TD – TB = 30 + 90 – 75 = 45

Fig. 6
Table: 3. Table of motions.

Revolutions of elements
Step No. Conditions of motion Arm A Compound Gear B Gear C
Gear D-E
1. Add (+ a) revolutions to all +a +a +a +a
elements
2. Arm fixed , compound gear D-E 0 +b – – b×
rotates through (+ b) revolutions

3. Total motion + a+b – – ×

The arm A makes 100 r.p.m. clockwise, therefore a = – 100

Since the gear B is fixed, therefore from the third row of the table,

– =0 or – – =0

b = – 166.67

Speed of gear C, NC = – × = – 100 + 166.67 × = + 400 r.p.m.

= 400 r.p.m. (anticlockwise) Ans.

 CHAPTER 4 Gear Trains Mrs. Noor H.

Example: 4
An epicyclic gear consists of three gears A, B and C as shown in Fig. 7. The gear
A has 72 internal teeth and gear C has 32 external teeth. The gear B meshes with
both A and C and is carried on an arm EF which rotates about the centre of A at 18
r.p.m.. If the gear A is fixed, determine the speed of gears B and C.

Fig. 7

Solution: Table: 4. Table of motions.

Revolutions of elements
Step No. Conditions of motion Arm EF Gear C Gear B Gear A

1. Add (+ a) revolutions to all +a +a +a +a

elements
2. Arm fixed , gear C rotates 0 +b – – b×
through (+ b) revolutions
=–b×
3. Total motion + a+b – – ×

Speed of gear C
The speed of the arm is 18 r.p.m. therefore, a = 18 r.p.m.
and the gear A is fixed, therefore – × = 0 or 18 – × = 0 ,  b=40.5

Speed of gear C = a + b = 40.5 + 18 = + 58.5 r.p.m.

= 58.5 r.p.m. in the direction of arm. Ans.
Speed of gear B

dB + = 2 TB + TC = TA or 2 TB + 32 = 72 or TB = 20

 Speed of gear B = – = 18 – 40.5 = – 46.8 r.p.m.

= 46.8 r.p.m. in the opposite direction of arm. Ans.
CHAPTER 4 Gear Trains Mrs. Noor H.

Torques in Epicyclic Gear Trains

When the rotating parts of an epicyclic gear train, as shown in Fig. 1, have no
angular acceleration, the gear train is kept in equilibrium by the three externally
applied torques, viz.
1. Input torque on the driving member (T1),
2. Output torque or resisting or load torque on the driven member (T2),
3. Holding or braking or fixing torque on the fixed member (T3).

Fig. 1. Torques in epicyclic gear trains.

T1 + T2 + T3 = 0
 F1.r1 + F2.r2 + F3.r3 = 0

T1.ω1 + T2.ω2 + T3.ω3 = 0 (Kinetic Energy Balance)

But, for a fixed member, ω3 = 0
 T1.ω1 + T2.ω2 = 0

Example: 1 In the epicyclic gear train, as shown in Fig. 2, the driving gear A
rotating in clockwise direction has 14 teeth and the fixed annular gear C has 100
teeth. The ratio of teeth in gears E and D is 98:41. If 1.85 kW is supplied to the
gear A rotating at 1200 r.p.m., find:
1. the speed and direction of rotation of gear E, and
2. the fixing torque required at C, assuming 100 per cent efficiency throughout
and that all teeth have the same pitch.
Solution:
dA + 2dB = dC (pitch circle diameters)
 CHAPTER 4 Gear Trains Mrs. Noor H.

TA + 2TB = TC

TB = = = 43

Revolutions of elements
Step Conditions of motion Arm Gear A Compound Gear C Gear E
No. gear B-D
1. Add (+ a) revolutions +a +a +a +a +a
to all elements
2. Arm fixed , gear A 0 +b – – b× – ×
rotates through (+ b)
revolutions =–b×
3. Total motion + a+b – – × a– ×

Since the annular gear C is fixed, therefore from the table,

– × = 0 or – × =0

 – 0.14 b = 0
Also, the gear A is rotating at 1200 r.p.m., therefore
a + b = 1200
b = 1052.6, and a = 147.4
1. Speed and direction of rotation of gear E

NE = a– × = 147.4 – × = 4 r.p.m

= 4 r.p.m. (anticlockwise) Ans.

2. Fixing torque required at C

Torque on A = = = 14.7 N.m

CHAPTER 4 Gear Trains Mrs. Noor H.

Since the efficiency is 100 per cent throughout, therefore the power available at E
(PE) will be equal to power supplied at A (PA).

 Torque on E = = = 4416 N.m

 Fixing torque required at C = 4416 – 14.7 = 4401.3 N.m Ans.

Home Work: An over drive for a vehicle consists of an epicyclic gear train, as
shown in Fig. 3, with compound planets B-C. B has 15 teeth and meshes with an
annulus A which has 60 teeth. C has 20 teeth and meshes with the sunwheel D
which is fixed. The annulus is keyed to the propeller shaft Y which rotates at 740
rad /s. The spider which carries the pins upon which the planets revolve, is driven
directly from main gear box by shaft X, this shaft being relatively free to rotate
with respect to wheel D. Find the speed of shaft X, when all the teeth have the
same module. When the engine develops 130 kW, what is the holding torque on
the wheel D ? Assume 100 per cent efficiency throughout.

Answers:
Speed of shaft X, ωX = Speed of arm = a = 563.8 rad/s.

Holding torque on wheel D = 54.9 N-m.

Fig. 3.