Simple Spur Gear Mechanism
- Title:
- Simple Spur Gear Mechanism
- Title (German):
- Einfache Stirnräderkette
- Collection:
- Reuleaux Kinematic Mechanisms Collection
- Set:
- C. Simple Kinematic Chains
- Designer:
- Reuleaux, F. (Franz), 1829-1905
- Manufacturer:
- Gustav Voigt Werkstatt
- Date:
- 1882
- Country:
- Germany
- Voigt Catalog Model:
- C7
- File Name:
- C07.jpg
- Work Type:
- Mechanical model
- Materials/Techniques:
- cast iron and brass on wood pedestal
- Subject:
- Kinematics of Machinery
- Measurement:
- 200 x 88 (millimeters, width x depth)
248 x 124 x 210 (millimeters, width x depth x height) - Description:
- Before the 19th century, spur gears were usually made of wood, except in the case of clocks. These millwork gears had radial hardwood teeth or cogs, usually in the larger gear, called the spur wheel, and spindles or rounds between parallel discs in the smaller pinion gear. Willis credits Smeaton in 1769, as the first to use cast iron in large gear wheel pairs. However spur gears of brass have been found in a first century BCE, Greek calender device called the Antikythera Mechanism. Behind the two gears is a grounded link connecting the revolute joints on each of the gear centers. This model illustrates that a kinematic chain of three links can have one degree of freedom when one link is grounded, if one constraint between two links has a higher pair as in the gear tooth contact. The circular brass cylinders extending from the two gears on this model were designed to permit the user to ground either one of the gears using the pedestal model H-1. Fixing one of the gears would lead to a planetary motion of one gear rolling on another. Reuleaux designed this model to allow the instructor to illustrate three inversions of one kinematic chain. [Francis Moon 2004-00-00]
The 220 models in Cornell University’s Reuleaux Collection were built in the late 19th century to demonstrate the elements of machine motion, as theorized by the German engineer Franz Reuleaux. The University acquired the models in 1882 for use in teaching and research. The Reuleaux models are classified according to the alphanumeric schema employed in the catalog of the manufacturer, Gustav Voigt. The letter in a model's ID (e.g., B14 or S35) refers to a class of mechanism; the number is a specific instance of the class. This classification scheme is a simplified version of the taxonomy of machine elements elaborated in Reuleaux's work. - Repository:
- Sibley School of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering, Cornell University
- Format:
- Image
- Rights:
- Photography credit: Jon Reis (www.jonreis.com). Jon Reis Photography grants Cornell University Libraries and the Cornell College of Engineering the rights to display copyrighted images of the Reuleux collection of kinetic machines on the Cornell University and National Science Digital Library web sites and for unlimited use in Cornell University Library publications for education purposes only. Rights for all other uses, including but not limited to, editorial, commercial, advertising, web use and display by third parties not affiliated with Cornell University are reserved by the photographer. The written permission of any copyright and other rights holders is required for distribution, reproduction, or other use that extends beyond what is authorized by fair use and other statutory exemptions. Responsibility for making an independent legal assessment of an item and securing any necessary permissions ultimately rests with persons desiring to use the item. For questions about this item or other items please contact the Physical Sciences Librarians at pslref@cornell.edu.