Investigation of the load transmission in the toothing of a flat wheel harmonic gear drive

Abstract

The function principle of the flat wheel harmonic gear drive is similar to the basic principle of the classical harmonic drives. The flexible and the rigid gear of the drive are coaxial flat wheels. The rotating wave generator deforms periodically and elastically different portions of an annular face gear on the flexible member in axial direction into engagement with teeth on an annular face gear on the rigid member. The numbers of teeth of the face gears are different. An analytical method is introduced, that investigates backlash conditions of flat-wheel harmonic drives. The tooth flanks were approximated by planes. The numbers of the connected teeth taking part in the load-transmission and the tangential component of the acting force on them in the range of tooth engagement are dependent on backlash. Finite element investigations were launched at different levels of torques even in case of preloaded flexible gear.