Herringbone gears: characteristics and applications

luglio 18, 2023

Herringbone gears are a type of spur gear with teeth arranged in a "V" shaped profile. These are also named double helix or double helical gear and are widely used in various industries.

What are herringbone gears?

Herringbone gears are characterized by the "V" shaped arrangement of their teeth, with the helixes wound in opposite directions. This configuration gives the herringbone gears a unique look and allows for smoother power transmission than with traditional gears. Their double helix structure offers significant benefits, such as increased load capacity and reduced vibration and noise.

Advantages of herringbone gears

Herringbone gears offer many advantages over other types of gears. Their double helix configuration balances the axial thrust forces, thus reducing wear and improving the efficiency of the bearings and gears themselves. This makes herringbone gears ideal for applications where reliable, quiet, high performance power transmission is required.

Fields of application

Herringbone gears find wide applications in different industries. Some examples include:

Machine tools: In precision machine tools, such as lathes and milling machines, herringbone gears are used to transmit power between motors and moving parts. This helps ensure accurate machining and reduces unwanted vibration.

Turbines: Turbines, both in the energy sector and in industrial applications, use herringbone gears for optimized power transmission. Vibration and noise reduction are particularly beneficial in high speed applications.

Gearbox: In gear drive systems, such as gearboxes, herringbone gears are employed to reduce rotational speed and increase torque. This improves system efficiency and stability.

Mining and quarrying: Herringbone gears find use in equipment and machinery used in mining and quarrying, such as mills and crushers. Their ability to handle high loads and reduce vibration is crucial in these demanding applications.

Marine Industry: In the marine industry, herringbone gears can be used in applications such as marine transmissions, marine propulsion systems, and offshore wind turbines.

Construction challenges

The design and construction of herringbone gears can present some challengescompared to traditional spur gears or single helix gears.

Some of the major challenges include:

Axial Alignment: Herringbone gears require precise axial alignment to ensure proper meshing of the teeth. Even a small deviation can lead to tooth collapse and shortened gear life.

Special Machining: Due to the complex shape of the herringbone teeth, the machining can be more complex than with spur gears. Specialized machines and equipment must be used to obtain the correct tooth geometries and ensure good gear quality.

Tolerances and Accuracy: Due to the complex interaction between herringbone teeth, it is essential to pay attention to tolerances and accuracy during design and construction. Varying tooth sizes or angles can affect proper meshing and gear life.

Manufacturing costs: Due to the construction difficulties and special machining involved, herringbone gears can be more expensive to produce than spur gears. However, the performance and reliability benefits often justify the investment.

Specialized suppliers

Given the difficulty of processing this type of gear, it is important to rely on specialized suppliers who know how to deal with them in their entirety. This is why at GSI we have decided to specialize in the production of herringbone gears for medium-light applications, including low noise pumps, special gearboxes and industrial applications. With extensive experience in the industry, we offer tailor-made solutions to meet specific customer needs, ensuring the quality and reliability of our products.