Reduction of noise of loaded and unloaded misaligned gear drives Original Research Article

Transmission errors are considered as the main source of vibration and noise of gear drives. The impact of two main functions of transmission errors on noise is investigated: (i) a linear one, caused by errors of alignment, and (ii) a predesigned parabolic function of transmission errors, applied for reduction of noise. It is shown that a linear function of transmission errors is accompanied with edge contact, and then inside the cycle of meshing, the meshing becomes a mixed one: (i) as surface-to-surface tangency, and (ii) surface-to-curve meshing when edge contact starts. Application of a predesigned parabolic function of transmission errors enables to absorb the linear functions of transmission errors caused by errors of alignment, reduce noise, and avoid edge contact. The influence of the load on the function of transmission errors is investigated. Elastic deformations of teeth enable to reduce the maximal transmission errors in loaded gear drives. Computerized simulation of meshing and contact is developed for loaded and unloaded gear drives. Numerical examples for illustration of the developed theory are provided.