Design of Space-Curve Meshing-Wheels with Unequal Tine Radii

In some recent papers a new gear mechanism named Space-Curve Meshing-Wheel (SCMW) has been proposed by the present authors. However the research there presented was limited in the equal tine radius case. This paper presents a method to solve the SCMW design with unequal tine radii. As a consequence, with a pair of contact curves, the tine radii of the driving and driven wheels can be selected independently according to actual need. A design example is illustrated in detail and testified in both simulation and practical experiment. This method provides a design fundamental for the SCMWs to optimize the tine shapes according to strength conditions, and therefore it can extend their application in industrial.