All About Car Gears: From Definition to Functions
11 July, 2023
If you talk about the transmission system on a vehicle, you definitely need to also discuss car gears. Gears are an important component in the engine that makes the vehicle move. Along with its development, the types of gears on cars are increasingly diverse. To find out more about the types and functions of car gears, see the explanation below.
Definition of Gears
Gears are machine components that function to transmit rotation or movement from one part to another. Gears will usually have a number of teeth that are in contact with their other gears.
Gears are useful for changing rotational speed and power by transferring the power generated by the engine to the differential. In a car transmission system, there are usually many arrangements of gears of various sizes.
Types of Gears
Along with its development, the types of gears are getting more and more diverse. Each type of gear has a different size and function. Here are the types of gears that you need to know.
1. Spur Gear
Spur gears or straight gears consist of a cylinder with teeth formed radially or shafted and can only be connected in parallel.
2. Outer and Inner Gears
This type of gear is located on the inside of the gear cylinder. The outer gear is able to change the direction of rotation of the wheel while the inner gear does not affect the direction of rotation.
3. Helical Gears
This type of gear is made to perfect the straight gears. Called helical gears because the teeth have a shape resembling a helix which serves to transfer the force from the two shafts that form an angle.
4. Bevel Gears
This gear is shaped like a cone or an umbrella and serves to transmit force between two shafts that intersect at one point.
5. Crown Gears
This type is included in the type of bevel gear but has a tooth profile that is parallel and not at an angle to the axis. Gears are similar in shape to crowns but can only be accurately paired with straight gears or bevel gears.
6. Screw Gears
This type of gear is a pair of helical gears that have a rotation angle of 45 degrees on a non-parallel and non-intersecting shaft. This type of gear has a low bearing capacity so it is not suitable for large power transmission.
In addition to the several types above, there are actually many other types with different gear functions. However, the most commonly used car components are listed above.
Gear Functions in Cars
Gears have a vital function in vehicle engine components. Here are some functions of the gears on the car that you need to know.
1. Set the Playback Speed
The main function of the gear is to regulate the rotational speed of a power. The way is to give a certain gear ratio. Thanks to the gears, you can increase or decrease the rpm of the motor to adjust its speed.
2. Transmitting Power
Another function of the gears can be used to transmit power with the gears that are interconnected without causing slippage. An easy example is the gears found on a lathe. The motor contained in the lathe cannot directly become the main shaft to move the chuck. Therefore a gear is needed to transmit from the motor to the shaft so that the chuck can move.
3. Changing Torque
Torque is the rotating force or force generated by the engine during acceleration. Gears might be required when setting the size of the torque. The larger the diameter of the gear, the greater the torque produced, and vice versa.
4. Changing Power Direction
Another function of the other types of gears is to change the direction of the power. With the presence of gears, you can change the direction of motion of the vehicle’s wheels with control via the steering wheel.
Although invisible, gears have a fairly important function in a car engine. Therefore, this component must be treated properly so that the vehicle’s performance remains optimal.
