Study of the Tooth Contact Pattern for Double-Enveloping Worm Gear

This paper presents a comprehensive analysis of contact patterns in globoid worm gears with rectilinear axial tooth profiles. Two distinct methods are employed: a CAD-based simulation, and experimental techniques including two-sheet pressure measurement films. The CAD-based method for determining the contact pattern can be successfully applied to evaluate the form, size, and position of the contact pattern. Experimental results qualitatively confirm the theoretical predictions, although measured contact areas tend to be smaller due to incomplete filling and fabrication inaccuracies. The developed models offer reliable tools for evaluating tooth contact in worm gear design, potentially reducing prototyping costs. The proposed methods establish a solid foundation for further research and improvement of contact performance in double-enveloping worm gear systems.