Duplex worm

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fig.1
fig.1

Contrary to standard toothing of worm gear sets, the two flanks of duplex or dual lead worms and wheels are manufactured with slightly different modules and/or diameter quotients. As a result of this, different lead angles on both tooth profiles are obtained. With this the tooth thickness is continuously increasing all over the worm length, as well as the gap between two threads is decreasing.

At the worm wheel, the different modules are resulting in different addendum modification coefficients and rolling circle diameters at both flanks. With this the profiles are different at the front and at the rear flank. The thickness of each tooth and the tooth gaps are remaining constant at the circumference of the wheel.

Backlash adjustment will be done by shifting the worm axially, so that the section of the worm with the needed tooth thickness will be in contact with the wheel, giving the desired backlash (fig. 1).

This way, backlash can be easily adjusted to any desired value when mounting the gear, respectively even worn gears can be readjusted at any time delicately and continuously, without modifying the tooth contact or creating meshing interference.

[edit] Other Possibilities of Backlash Adjustment

fig.2
fig.2

Besides the above explained duplex method, there are various possibilities to adjust the backlash of worm gears:

  • variation of center distance, by rotating an eccentric hub, in which the worm shaft and/or the worm gear wheel are cradled
  • axial shifting of a conical worm (fig. 2a)
  • division of the worm in two halves (fig. 2b), to be shifted relatively to each other
  • division of the wheel in two disks (fig. 2c), to be rotated relatively to each other.

However all these methods demonstrate substantial disadvantages:

  • adjustments and/or readjustments are interfering with the geometrically accurate meshing.
  • they shift the contact profile zone and change its form and size.
  • with this they decrease the load-carrying capacity and deteriorate the efficiency.
  • each adjustment causes a tremendous amount of start-up wear.
  • the dangers of wrong assembly and destruction of the worm gear set are tremendous.


fig.3part of a duplex worm shaft in a rotary table
fig.3
part of a duplex worm shaft in a rotary table

Duplex gearings do not create these kind of problems.

They permit an always geometrically accurate teeth contact and beyond that, very delicate backlash adjustment. Neither the evolved contact area, the load-carrying capacity nor the actual efficiency are affected. In addition as duplex teeth are executed as involute gear they are insensitive in regards to modifications of the center distance, e.g. caused by worm shaft deflections.

[edit] Applications

Duplex gears are mainly utilized where any backlash is unwanted or can be harmful,

  • to maintain repeated high precision positioning in both directions
  • to prevent, in cases of sudden load changes, an impulse loaded damage,
  • when the contact flanks are alternating.

i.e:

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