Definition of Bevel Gear

An enormous example of a bevel gear

With their flexible angles of operation and adjustable force levels, bevel gears are the driving force of many of our most commonly used machines. Without bevel gears, we would be unable to drive our cars, fly in helicopters, operate printing presses or do many other mechanical tasks we take for granted.

Angle of Intersection

Bevel gears are mounted on shafts that intersect at the axes, usually at a 90-degree angle.

Teeth

Bevel gears are generally cone-shaped, their teeth pointing outward. Some have teeth pointing inward and are called Internal Bevel Gears. Others have teeth pointing parallel with their axis, and these are called Crown Gears.

Straight Vs. Spiral

A bevel gear's teeth can be straight and parallel to its face, or spiral-shaped and curving along the face. Spiral-toothed bevel gears experience a more gradual transfer of force and are thus quieter and smoother than their straight-toothed counterparts.

Flexibility

Unlike standard gears, bevel gears have an adjustable angle of operation. It's easy to tweak their force output, as well, by simply changing the number of teeth.

Practical Uses

In automobiles, bevel gears make it possible for the wheels of the vehicle to spin at different speeds, essential for turning corners. In hand drills, a vertical bevel gear in the handle spins the horizontal bevel gear attached to the chuck. Other bevel-based mechanical systems can be found in trains, cooling towers and power plants.

References

• Absolute Astronomy

Resources

• Read this Article in Spanish