Meshing performance investigations on oblique worm drive

Abstract

This paper proposed an innovative approach to oblique worm drive by introducing a specific inclination angle. The investigation focused on the meshing performance of oblique ZA worm drive by varying the crossed axis angle. The meshing geometric models of oblique ZA worm drive are deduced, and the derivation of the lubrication angle along with the induced normal curvature calculation formula are proposed. The tooth-face contact conditions for different worm gears with various inclination angles are analyzed, and lubrication angles and induced normal curvatures are presented. To verify the numerical analysis, a simulation analysis was conducted for the oblique ZA worm drive with an inclination angle of 10°, and the results confirmed the conclusions drawn from the numerical analysis. A comparative test was performed between the transmission efficiency of the oblique and standard ZA worm drive reducer. The results demonstrated that the oblique ZA worm drive exhibited strengthened transmission efficiency and load carrying capacity.