The rational use of the addendum modification coefficient is one of the topics better known by specialists of gears working in the metric system (ISO). This non-dimensional parameter, also well-known as rack shift coefficient x, allows gear designs with very good adaptability of the teeth profile in practical applications.
Unfortunately, the gear specialists with designs based on the AGMA system traditionally don’t appreciate the advantages of the addendum modification coefficient as an adjustment factor between ISO and AGMA systems. The publications of specialists [McVittie (1993), Rockwell (2001)] directed toward disclosing the generalities of the geometry calculation of gears with the application of this coefficient are welcome for experts.
The Working Group WG5, under the direction of Henry Deby, approved in 1981 a Technical Report ISO (ISO/TR 4467) with orientations about the value limits and distribution of the addendum modification of the teeth of external parallel-axis cylindrical involute gears for speed-reducing and speed-increasing external gear pairs. Although the recommendations were not of a restrictive nature, a general guide was finally published on the application of the addendum modification coefficient. These recommendations were important in order to avoid an incorrect use of this coefficient and to prevent designs of gears with very small tooth crest width, insufficient value of transverse contact ratio, or cutter interference. Unquestionably, ISO/TR 4467 showed the advantages of using the addendum modification coefficient in the design of gears and gives guided reasonable values of this coefficient for the geometric calculation of gears with more load capacity and better performance.
This article presents some basic definitions and recommendations associated with the correct application of the addendum modification coefficient. Additionally, formulae relating to external parallel-axis cylindrical involute gears to consider the effect of the addendum modification coefficient in gear geometry are discussed. The procedure for the solution of two cases — based on the authors’ experiences in the analysis, recovery, and conversion of helical and spur gears in the AGMA system to ISO standards — show the advantage of the application of the addendum modification coefficient in the solution of practical problems.
Tooth Profile Reference with No Addendum Modification on Cylindrical Gears
It is well known that when external parallel-axis cylindrical gears with an involute profile are in correct meshing the toothed wheels should conjugate with a corresponding rack. The profile of this rack-tool is denominated basic rack tooth profile. The shape and geometrical parameters of the basic rack tooth profile for involute gears are set by special standards (see Table 1) along with the rack shaped tool, such as hobs or rack type cutters, used in the cutting of gears by means of generation methods (see Figure 1).
One important definition in the basic rack tooth profile is the datum line corresponding with a straight line drawn parallel to the tip and root lines where the tooth thickness “s” is equal to tooth space width “e.” Most of the dimensions of the basic rack tooth profile are given with reference to the datum line and divides the basic rack tooth profile in two parts: addendum and dedendum. Figure 2 shows a typical shape of a basic rack tooth profile and the principal geometrical parameters used to establish the basic dimensions (see Table 2 for some values standards of basic rack tooth profile parameters).
The usable flanks in the basic rack tooth profile are inclined at the profile angle a to a line normal to the datum line. This angle is the same as the pressure angle “a” at the reference cylinder of a spur gear or the normal pressure angle “an” at the reference cylinder of a helical gear. The relation between pith of the basic rack tooth profile “p” and module “m” (in mm) is: p = π • m
The dimensions of the standard basic rack tooth profile are given in relation to module and identified by *, such as ha* (factor of addendum), hf* (factor of dedendum), c* (factor of radial clearance), and rf* (factor of root fillet radius). The module m of the standard basic rack tooth profile is the module in the normal section mn of the gear teeth. For a helical gear with helix angle b on the reference cylinder, the transverse module in a transverse section is mt = mn/cosb. For a spur gear b = 0 the module is m = mn = mt. As a reference parameter, the module m in ISO standards is similar to the normal diametral pitch Pnd in AGMA standards and can be converted by the following equation:
Most special standards for basic rack tooth profile — including ISO Standard 57-74 — recommend for industrial gears with general application the following values:
The principal methods for generating the tooth flanks on external parallel-axis cylindrical involute gears make use of a rack-shaped tool (such as hobs or rack-type cutters) with dimensions similar to the basic rack tooth profile shown in Figure 1. When gears are produced by a generating process, in the case of tooth profile without addendum modification the datum line (MM) of the basic rack tooth profile is tangent to the reference diameter of gear (see Figure 3).
Addendum Modification on Cylindrical Gears
It’s possible to understand the use of the tooth profile without addendum modification to establish the first standards for the geometric calculation of cylindrical gears. When gears are generated with a rack-shaped tool and the reference cylinder of gear rolls without slipping on the imaginary datum line, the standard relationship to set up the tooth shape and geometric calculation are relatively simple.
For specialists involved with gear design based on ISO standards, it’s often true that the datum line of the basic rack profile need not necessarily be tangent to the reference diameter on the gear. The tooth profile and its shape can be modified by shifting the datum line from the tangential position. This displacement makes it possible to use tooth flanks with other parts of the involute curve and different diameters for gears with the same number of teeth, module, helix angle, and cutting tools.
Explained simply it can be said that the generation of a cylindrical gear with addendum modification, when concluding the generation of tooth flanks, that the reference cylinder is not tangent to the datum line on basic rack tooth profiles, and there is a radial displacement.
The main parameter to evaluate the addendum modification is the addendum modification coefficient x, also know by Americans as the “profile shift factor,” or the “rack shift coefficient.” The addendum modification coefficient quantifies the relationship between distance from the datum line on the tool to the reference diameter of gear Dabs (radial displacement of the tool) and module m. This coefficient is defined for pinion x1 and gear x2 as:
The addendum modification coefficient is positive if the datum line of the tool is displaced from the reference diameter toward the crest of the teeth (the tool goes away from the center of the gear), and it is negative if the datum line is displaced toward the root of the teeth (the tool goes toward the center of gear). To consider the effect of addendum modifications for a gear pair it is a good practice to define the sum of addendum modification coefficients as:
The manufacturing of the gear with addendum modification is not more complex or expensive than gears without profile shift, because the gears are manufactured in the same cutting machines and depend solely on the relative position of the gear to be cut and the cutter. The difference can be evident in the blanks with different diameters and tooth profiles on gears.
A positive addendum modification (x > 0) results in a greater tooth root width and, thus, in an increase in the tooth root carrying capacity; more effective in the case of small numbers of teeth than in the case of larger ones, including the possibility of avoiding or reducing undercutting on the pinion. Additionally, an increase of the addendum modification coefficient results in a decrease in the tip thickness of the teeth. A negative addendum modification (x < 0) has the reverse effect of positive addendum modification on tip and root thickness (Figure 4).
The choice of the sum of addendum modifications could be arbitrary and depends on the center distance or the operational conditions applied. Sums that are too high for positive values, or too low for negative values, may be harmful to the satisfactory performance of the gear pair. For this reason upper and lower limits are specified in the function of the number of teeth (or the virtual number of teeth for helical gears). In Figure 5, recommendations for limits of sum of addendum modification coefficients are given. For a sum of addendum modification coefficients Sx with a correct distribution of values between a pinion and gear, it is possible in a gear pair to realize favorable effects in the ability to balance the bending fatigue life, pitting resistance, or minimizes the risk of scuffing.
For a given center distance and gear ratio, the assembly of the gears can be adjusted with a convenient calculating of the addendum modifications. There are different criteria for distributing and applying the addendum modification coefficient depending on the effect required in the gear transmission.
Addendum modification coefficient for gears with a small number of teeth to avoid undercutting on the pinion.
< Total addendum modification coefficient.
Value of addendum modification coefficient inversely proportional to the number of teeth.
Value of addendum modification coefficient according to MAAG:
Where:
The basic geometry of the external parallel-axis cylindrical involute gears, taking into account the addendum modification coefficients that can be calculated with the formulas found in Table 3.
Sample Practical Cases
To illustrate the application of the addendum modification coefficient in the solution of practical problems in the adjusting gears from the AGMA system to ISO standards, two samples of practical cases are shown. These cases cover the most frequent geometrical problems faced by gear experts during the conversion to the ISO Standard of helical and spur gears manufactured with AGMA standards. Cases with spur gear are more difficult to adjust due to the fact that the helix angle is fixed and can’t be modified. Other cases can be taken into account by a similar approach.
Case 1: Setting gears from AGMA to ISO with determination of the sum of addendum modification coefficients for a given center distance and gear ratio.
• Statement of the problem — In the gearbox of the power transmission system of a heavy truck it was necessary to recover a spur gear transmission cut originally with tools based on AGMA standards. For the new manufacture cutting tools based on ISO standards should be used. The basic solution is as follows:
• Initial data
Center distance; aw = 203,2 mm (8 inch).
Gear ration (approximate), u = 4,13
Normal diametral pitch (original), Pd = 4
Pressure angle for the rack shaped tool, a = 20°
• Basic solution
a) Proposal of module (ISO).
b) Transverse pressure angle:
c) Number of teeth for pinion and gear.
Approximation is preferable by defect.
d) Pressure angle at the pitch cylinder.
e) Sum of addendum modification coefficients.
f) Addendum modification coefficients for pinion and gear (several criterions to distribute the coefficients can be used, but always keep the calculated sum).
g) Other geometrical parameters.
Case 2: Setting gears from AGMA to ISO with determination of the sum of addendum modification coefficients for a given center distance, keeping the same number of teeth and gear generation using a cutting tool with a smaller pressure angle than the original.
• Statement of the problem — In the final drive of earth-moving equipment it was necessary to manufacture a pair of spur gears originally manufactured under AGMA standards. Gear generation should be done by means of a cutting tool based on the ISO system and a pressure angle of 20°. The operator of the hobbing machine proceeded to cut the gears and observed an undercutting on the pinion not present in the original. During the study of the original pinion it was established that the original generation of the gear was made with a cutting tool with a 25° pressure angle. The challenge in the new design supposed engineering calculations with a cutting tool with a 20° pressure angle to guarantee the original center distance and number of teeth without undercutting on the pinion. The basic solution is as follows:
• Initial data
Center distance, aw = 11 inch (279,4 mm)
Number of teeth on pinion, z1 = 14
Number of teeth on gear, z2 = 41
Module in new design of gear, m = 10
Normal diametral pitch in original gear, Pd = 2,5
Pressure angle for cutting tool (original), a = 25°
Pressure angle for cutting tool (new), a = 20°
Factor of addendum, ha* = 1
• Basic solution
a) Proposal of module (ISO).
Standard module by ISO 54-77, m = 10 (mm)
b) Transverse pressure angle:
c) Pressure angle at the pitch cylinder.
d) Sum of addendum modification coefficients.
e) Addendum modification coefficient for pinion to avoid undercutting
f) Addendum modification coefficients for gear.
g) Other geometrical parameters.
Tip diameters: da1 = 168,8 mm ; da2 = 429,56 mm
Root diameters: df1 = 124,24 mm ; df2 = 385,0 mm
Summary
Based on experiences in the analysis, recovery, and conversion of helical and spur gears in the AGMA system to ISO standards, the main definitions and recommendations associated to the addendum modification coefficient have been presented. Examples with the application of the addendum modification coefficient in the solution to practical problems in relation to the geometry and manufacture of gears shows the application of the addendum modification coefficient as an adjustment factor between ISO and AGMA systems. Moreover, the calculation utilized in the two practical cases and formulae relating to basic gear geometry given in Table 3 can be taken as a base for solution in similar cases of geometrical conversion from the AGMA to the ISO system.
References
- McVittie, D.; The European Rack Shift Coefficient “X” for Americans. Gear Technology, Jul-Aug 1993, Pages. 34-36.
- Rockwell, P. D.; Profile Shift in External Parallel-Axis Cylindrical Involute Gears. Gear Technology, Nov-Dec 2001, Pages. 18-25.
- Technical Report ISO/TR 4467-1982; Addendum modification of the teeth of cylindrical gears for speed-reducing and speed-increasing gear pairs. ISO 1982.
- ISO 53:1998, Cylindrical gears for general and heavy engineering. Standard basic rack tooth profile.
- González Rey, G. Apuntes para el cálculo de engranajes cilíndricos según Normas ISO del Comité Técnico 60. EUP de Zamora. Universidad de Salamanca. 2001
Basic solution
