Elliptical EHL Contacts under Dynamic Loading Conditions in HERB Drive

Ball reducer (HERB Drive: High Efficient Wave Rolling Ball Drive) with waved grooves has many advantages over other types of reducers for high-reduction ratio, low noise and low energy loss, etc. The mechanism of force transmission is very similar to that of cam and follower in automobile valve train system especially in contact behaviors. In this study, we have investigated the traces of contact between ball and outer ring, and the dynamic contact behaviors of elastohydodynamic lubrication(EHL) with a certain reduction ratio. In order to verify the contact behaviors between ball and outer ring for the critical endurance lift, the contact velocity and load are computed for a cycle. During some intervals of a cycle, the contact velocity reverses its direction very suddenly. It is expected that changing the contact direction causes undesirable endurance performance because EHL film frequently col lapse at the moment of velocity reversal. From the computational investigation in this work, we hope to predict similar contact damages in other machinery due to this kind of contact behaviors, which is very typical in many contact phenomena.