HYPOID BEVEL GEARS

Limit: 24” OD | Pitch: 4 DP - 32 DP

A hypoid is a type of spiral bevel gear whose axis does not intersect with the axis of the meshing gear. The shape of a hypoid bevel gear is a revolved hyperboloid (that is, the pitch surface of the hypoid gear is a hyperbolic surface), whereas the shape of a spiral bevel gear is normally conical. The hypoid bevel gear places the pinion off-axis to the crown wheel (ring gear) which allows the pinion to be larger in diameter and have more contact area. In hypoid gear design, the pinion and gear are practically always of opposite hand, and the spiral angle of the pinion is usually larger than that of the gear. The hypoid pinion is then larger in diameter than an equivalent bevel pinion.

A hypoid gear incorporates some sliding and can be considered halfway between a straight-cut gear and a worm gear. Special gear oils are required for hypoid gears because the sliding action requires effective lubrication under extreme pressure between the teeth.

Hypoid bevel gears are a type of bevel gear that is used to transmit power between two shafts that intersect at a non-90 degree angle. The term "hypoid" refers to the shape of the gear teeth, which are offset from the gear's axis.

Hypoid bevel gears are commonly used in automotive drivetrains, particularly in rear-wheel drive vehicles, as well as in industrial machinery, power tools, and other applications where high torque and speed are required. One of the key advantages of hypoid bevel gears is their ability to transmit power efficiently at non-orthogonal angles, which makes them well-suited for use in automotive drivetrains.

Hypoid bevel gears have several advantages over other types of bevel gears. First, they can transmit power at a greater angle than straight bevel gears, up to around 90 degrees. This allows for more compact drivetrain designs and enables more flexibility in vehicle design.

Second, the offset shape of the gear teeth creates a larger contact area between the gears, which allows for more efficient power transmission and reduces wear on the gears. Additionally, the offset shape of the gear teeth reduces noise and vibration compared to straight bevel gears.

One potential disadvantage of hypoid bevel gears is that they are more complex to manufacture than straight bevel gears, which can lead to higher manufacturing costs. Additionally, the offset shape of the teeth means that they require specialized lubrication to prevent excessive wear.

In summary, hypoid bevel gears are a specialized type of bevel gear that are well-suited for use in automotive drivetrains and other applications where power needs to be transmitted efficiently at non-orthogonal angles. They have several advantages over straight bevel gears, including the ability to transmit power at greater angles, reduced noise and vibration, and increased contact area between the gears.