PERSPECTIVES OF CYCLOID TRANSMISSION

In modern mechanical engineering, transmissions with the use of an involute tooth profile are widespread. However, one of the main disadvantages of these transmissions is that they exposure to wear. In this study, research on the cycloid profile is conducted as an alternative option. Cycloid profiles are one of the profiles applied to the teeth in order to transmit motion. Although cycloid profiles are mainly used in instrumentation, satellites are made of cycloid profile in planetary gears. Cycloid profile teeth are less exposed to wear during operation. Practically, the shape of cycloidal teeth does not allow them to break, so there is no bending deformation in the teeth. In planetary gear transmission, the satellites are usually made of a cycloid profile. Cycloid profile teeth are exposed to less wear. Currently, planetary gear reducers are widely used mainly in the oil industry, drilling equipments, in the lifting mechanisms, gearboxes, on chain conveyors, rotary tables, in robotics, manufacturing, mechanical and chemical engineering fields and so on. The increased load capacity of the cycloid pinion gears is due to the multi-pair contact surface and it has a superior adhesion profile than the involute profile. The loading schemes of cycloidal and evolvent profile teeth shows that the normal force in contact Fn and its dangerous section on the tooth of the cycloidal profile is much less than in the case when the tooth has an involute profile. This is due to the fact that with cycloid profile transmission the number of teeth simultaneously transmitting the load is significantly greater than when implementing the same transmission with involute teeth. Cycloid profile gear reducers can be considered as a modern solution to current requirements such as high efficiency, smooth and quiet work, ability to accept short-term maximum loads, small overall size, minimum technical requirements etc. The simulation of the real load conditions and interference generated during the rotation of the shaft was developed in Solidworks in order to determine the contact stresses and the contact areas resulting from these stresses of the teeth of the gear and satellites of cycloid profile planetary gear reducers. This simulation determines the values of the teeth involved in the contact, the interference of those teeth, the contact areas and the contact stresses generated in these areas, depending on the angle of rotation of the shaft. The profile of the proposed teeth allows to achieve the minimum size with the maximum transmission ratio. Keywords: cycloid profile, cycloid transmission, planetary reducer, interference, simulation, contact area.