Dual Lead Worm Gears

Renold DL Series Dual lead worm gears are constructed with two leads. One flank of the worm thread and its mating sides of the wheel teeth are manufactured with one lead, and the other flank and its mating wheel teeth to a slightly different lead.

As far as the worm is concerned this has the effect of producing a worm thread which increases in thickness from one end of the worm to the other.

If the worm is therefore moved in an axial direction when in mesh with the wormwheel, backlash between the pair can be adjusted to the required amount.

In practice, the gears are manufactured so that the initial backlash is achieved at a certain distance relative to the datum plane on the worm.  The worm can then be adjusted from this point as and when necessary during the life of the gears.

The DL Series dual lead worm gear offers many advantages to the split worm gear design.  It provides a kinematically correct gear, which can run in either direction of rotation, and on which the backlash is infinitely adjustable from an acceptable maximum to zero.

Precision dual lead backlash adjustable worm gears are widely used in rotary tables, cutter drives and machine tool positioning mechanisms.