What is a Worm Gear?

A worm gear is a gear transmission device composed of a worm and a worm wheel, belonging to crossed-axis gear transmission (the angle between axes is usually 90°). Its core principle is to achieve large transmission ratio, self-locking, and smooth transmission through the meshing of the worm's helical teeth with the worm wheel's tooth surface.

Structure and Working Principle

Worm: Similar to a "screw", it has continuous helical teeth on its surface and transmits power through rotational motion;

Worm Wheel: Similar to a "gear", its tooth surface meshes with the worm's teeth, converting the worm's rotation into its own rotation or linear motion;

Transmission Characteristics: The single-stage transmission ratio can reach 5-100 or even higher, and the worm wheel cannot be driven in reverse when the worm is active (self-locking), suitable for scenarios requiring "one-way transmission".

Materials and Manufacturing Process

Common Materials: Worm wheels are mostly made of copper alloys (such as tin bronze, aluminum bronze) because copper alloys have wear resistance, anti-friction properties, and corrosion resistance, suitable for heavy-load and high-speed transmission; worms are commonly made of steel (such as 45# steel) and undergo heat treatment (quenching, carburizing) to improve hardness.

Manufacturing Process: Requires high-precision processing (such as grinding, gear honing) to ensure the meshing accuracy of the worm and worm wheel tooth surfaces, reducing transmission noise and wear.

Application Scenarios

Industrial Fields: Machine tools (such as gear hobbing machines, precision machining machines), engineering machinery (such as excavator slewing mechanisms), wind power equipment (such as pitch systems);

Special Scenarios: Equipment requiring "self-locking" (such as the lifting mechanism of cranes) to prevent load reverse sliding.

Application Advantages of Copper Worm Wheels Produced by Yangzhou Yifeng Copper Products Co., Ltd. in the Wind Power Generation Field

As a Chinese copper worm wheel manufacturer, Yangzhou Yifeng Copper Products Co., Ltd. (Yangzhou Yifeng Copper Products Co., Ltd.) has application advantages in the wind power generation field due to material characteristics, technical accumulation, and industry adaptability, as follows:

Material Performance Adapted to Extreme Wind Power Environments

High Wear Resistance of Copper Alloys: Copper alloys (such as tin bronze) have high wear resistance: wind power equipment operates in high-wind-speed, dusty environments for a long time, and the wear resistance of copper worm wheels can reduce tooth surface wear and extend service life;

Excellent Anti-Friction Properties: Reduce friction loss during meshing of the worm and worm wheel, improving transmission efficiency (wind power equipment is sensitive to efficiency, and reducing loss can increase power generation);

Corrosion Resistance: Cope with salt spray and humid environments in offshore wind power, avoid component rusting, and ensure equipment reliability.

High-Precision Manufacturing Ensures Transmission Stability

The company has 20 technical experts + 7 intermediate professional talents, mastering high-precision worm wheel processing technology (such as grinding, gear honing), ensuring worm wheel tooth surface accuracy (e.g., tooth profile error ≤ 0.01mm), reducing transmission noise and vibration;

Adapted to Wind Power Pitch Systems: The pitch system requires precise control of blade angles, and high-precision copper worm wheels can ensure the accuracy of angle adjustment, improving wind turbine efficiency and safety.

Industry-University-Research Cooperation: Jointly established an industry-university-research base with Southwest Jiaotong University to develop new copper alloy materials (such as high-strength wear-resistant copper alloys), improving the fatigue resistance and impact resistance of worm wheels in the wind power field.

Cost-Effectiveness and Sustainability

Long Service Life: The long life of copper worm wheels (2-3 times longer than cast iron worm wheels) reduces equipment maintenance costs;

Material Recyclability: Copper alloys are environmentally friendly materials, meeting the wind power industry's "green manufacturing" needs and helping to achieve carbon neutrality goals.