Ruuvipyörät

Ruuvipyörät, also known as screw gears or crossed helical gears, are a type of gearset where the shafts are non-parallel and non-intersecting. The teeth of ruuvipyörät are helical, similar to helical gears, but they are designed to mesh on non-parallel axes. Typically, the axes are perpendicular, meaning the shafts are at a 90-degree angle to each other, similar to bevel gears. However, unlike bevel gears, the axes of ruuvipyörät do not intersect.

The meshing action of ruuvipyörät is characterized by a sliding motion along the line of contact, which is a consequence of the crossed axes and the helical tooth shape. This sliding motion results in higher friction and wear compared to other gear types like spur or helical gears. Consequently, ruuvipyörät are generally less efficient and are not suitable for high-power or high-speed applications where efficiency is a primary concern.

Despite their limitations, ruuvipyörät find application in situations where a simple, compact, and relatively inexpensive solution is needed for transmitting motion between non-parallel, non-intersecting shafts. They are often used in low-torque, low-speed applications such as simple mechanisms, toys, or certain automotive components where the drawbacks are acceptable. The design and manufacturing of ruuvipyörät require precise calculation to ensure proper tooth contact and to minimize noise and vibration.