Analysis on Isothermal Elastohydrodynamic Lubrication of Orthogonal Face Gear

Face-gear drives have been applied in aviation transmissions, in particular, helicopter transmissions, and the lubrication characteristics are an important indicator for estimating the load-carrying capacity of face-gear teeth. In order to analyze the lubrication performance of the face gear under load, equations for the contact path of the face gear loaded tooth contact analysis (LTCA) were established on the basis of the load equivalent error of alignment (LEEA) and the load distribution among the teeth was calculated. Then a method for calculating the contact area and tooth surface velocity of face-gear drives was studied. Face-gear isothermal elastohydrodynamic lubrication (EHL) dimensionless equations are presented. A multigrid algorithm was used to complete the solution of the minimum film thickness and film pressure of face-gear drives. The lubricant film thickness and film pressure variation in the mesh cycle are expressed using example calculations that provide a theoretical basis for face-gear lubrication design.