Meshing Efficiency Analysis of Modified Cycloidal Gear Used in the RV Reducer

AbstractCycloidal gears play an important role in the performance of rotate vector (RV) reducers. In this article, numerical analysis of mixed elastohydrodynamic lubrication (EHL) is applied to establish a meshing efficiency model for a modified cycloidal gear. A theoretical efficiency formula is derived and the effects of modification amount and short-amplitude coefficient on efficiency parameters are analyzed, including contact load, relative speed, oil film pressure and thickness, and friction coefficient. The simulation results show that the meshing efficiency is almost unchanged when the modification amount changes, whereas it increases with an increase in the short-amplitude coefficient. Efficiency experiments for an RV reducer with different cycloidal gears are carried out to verify the simulation results. The meshing efficiency analysis in this article contributes to the optimal design of cycloidal gears used in RV reducers.