Gear geometry of cycloid drives

According to differential geometry and gear geometry, the equation of meshing for small teeth difference planetary gearing and a universal equation of conjugated profile are established based on cylindrical pin tooth and given motion. The correct meshing condition, contact line, contact ratio, calculating method for pin tooth’s maximum contact point are developed. Investigation on the theory of conjugated meshing is carried out when the tooth difference numbers between pin wheel and cycloidal gear are 1, 2, 3 and −1, respectively. A general method called enveloping method to generate hypocycloid and epicycloid is put forward. The correct meshing condition for cycloid pin wheel gearing is provided, and the contact line and the contact ratio are also discussed. Supported by the National Science and Technology Supporting Program (Grant No. No. 2006BAF01B08) and Chongqing Science and Technology Key Task (Grant No. CSCT2006AA3010-6)