The main types of bevel gears include:

• Straight bevel gear: Teeth are straight and extend radially along the pitch cone.
• Spiral bevel gear (also called arc bevel gear): Features curved, oblique teeth.
• Zerol bevel gear: Has curved teeth but with a zero spiral angle, combining aspects of straight and spiral bevel gears.
• Hypoid bevel gear: Similar to spiral bevel gears but allows the shafts to be offset, not intersecting.
• Miter bevel gear: A specific type of bevel gear used to transmit motion between two shafts that intersect at a 90-degree angle, with an equal number of teeth, resulting in a 1:1 speed ratio.

With 23 years of experience in custom non-standard gear manufacturing, Kean primarily produces straight bevel gears and spiral bevel gears, achieving a precision level of GB11365-89 Grade 4 (approximately DIN 4-5 / AGMA 10-11).

The transmission efficiency of bevel gears (typically 98-99%) is influenced by several factors:

• Tooth profile accuracy & surface quality: Highly accurate tooth profiles and smooth surfaces (e.g., achieved through CBN grinding) optimize meshing, reducing friction and heat loss.
• Lubrication performance: High-quality gear oils or synthetic lubricants minimize wear and sliding friction, extending the period of efficient operation.
• Installation alignment: Deviations in shaft alignment or improper assembly increase loads on gears and bearings, reducing efficiency and accelerating wear.
• Operating conditions: Running beyond rated speed or under excessive loads exacerbates friction and wear, slightly reducing efficiency. It's recommended to operate within specified conditions.

The key advantages of bevel gears include:

• High power transmission efficiency: Reaching up to 98-99%.
• Compact and space-saving design.
• High torque handling capability.

Bevel gears are indispensable in numerous industries:

• In the automotive manufacturing industry, they are used as automotive differential bevel gears.
• In heavy equipment, they are utilized for propulsion (similar to automotive differential systems) and driving auxiliary devices.
• In the aviation sector, bevel gears are critical in power transmission systems for helicopters and aircraft accessory gearboxes.
• In the marine manufacturing industry, bevel gears are commonly found in ship propulsion systems, particularly in stern drive systems.
• They are also extensively used in hand tools and various other manufacturing industries.

Straight bevel gears have straight teeth that extend radially along the pitch cone. These are the simplest type of bevel gears and are typically used in low-speed applications, such as gears in printing equipment or bevel gears used in vehicle differential mechanisms.

Spiral bevel gears feature curved tooth surfaces. Compared to straight bevel gears, they provide smoother meshing and significantly lower noise operation.