INFLUENCE OF LUBRICANTS ON POWER LOSS OF CYLINDRICAL GEARS

The total power loss of gears was measured in a back-to-back gear test rig. Test equipment, measuring principle and evaluation of the data a re described. The influence of different lubricant type, viscosity and temperature on mesh and churning losses was investigated. The churnin g losses depended mainly on the viscosity of the lubricant and on the operating conditions, not on the lubricant type. The mesh power lass d epended mainly on the type of lubricant, not on viscosity, temperature , or oil additives. Churning losses can be reduced by using low viscos ity lubricants. Mesh power loss can be reduced by as much as 50 percen t of the power loss of mineral oils by using polyglycol-type lubricant s. In wide application ranges, viscosity and oil additives do not infl uence mesh Power loss. An experimentally-based equation for the coeffi cient of friction in the gear mesh is given. Earlier derived equations for the mesh power loss of different gear geometry were confirmed