Idler Gear

Description

Multiple gears can be connected together with one or more Idler Gears.

If there are an odd number of gears, the output rotation will be the same direction as the input. If there are an even number, the output will rotate in the opposite direction to the input.

Features and Applications

Note 1: Neither the number of idler gears nor the number of teeth on each idler gear affect the overall Velocity Ratio or Mechanical Advantage which are both governed purely by the number of teeth on the first driver gear and last driven gear.

Note 2: If both first driver gear and last driven gear has the same number of teeth, they will rotate at the same speed, however if they have different numbers of teeth then the gear with fewer teeth will rotate more quickly - i.e. the Velocity Ratio (or ‘Gear Ratio’) of a pair of meshing gears is given as the Number of Teeth of the Driver Gear divided by the Number of Teeth of the Driven Gear. The Mechanical Advantage (or ‘Torque Ratio’) similarly is given as No. of Teeth on Driven divided by No. of Teeth on Driver.

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Animations

• Examples from Nguyen Duc Thang's YouTube Channel 2100 Animated Mechanical Mechanisms

Windmill - the blue gear is driving and the orange one is driven. The two small gears are idlers. Use the pink arm to stop or reverse the orange gear's rotation.

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DT Online Buyers' Guide

Gears, whether of the same size or different diameters, will only Mesh together if the size of the teeth are the same. The size of Gear Teeth is measured along the circumference of an imaginery Pitch Circle but is more easily calculated by dividing the diameter of the Pitch Circle by the number of gear teeth. The Gear Teeth size is known as the Modulus or Module (m) and it must be the same for any meshing gears. Always check this before purchase - contact supplier if not stated.

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