actuator

A component that directly helps convert hydraulic or

pneumatic energy into mechanical energy.

alignment

The accurate positioning of parts in a mechanical

system in relation to one another. Two shafts in
alignment are parallel to one another or form a straight
line.

American National Standards Institute

ANSI. A private, non-profit organization that

administers and coordinates voluntary standards and
systems.

angular gear train

A gear train composed of gears on intersecting shafts.

automatic transmission

A complex transmission that does not require the

operator to shift gears in order to change the speed and
torque of mechanical energy.

axis

An imaginary straight line that passes through the

center of an object. A gear may have an opening at its
axis in which a shaft can be inserted.

ball bearing

A rolling-element bearing containing metal balls placed

between two parts. A ball bearing allows machine parts
to move with little friction.

bearing

A friction-reducing device that allows one moving part

to glide past another moving part.

belt

A loop of flexible material used in a belt drive system

to transmit motion. Belts are made of various materials
and come in different types, such as flat belts, round
belts, and V-belts.

belt drive system

A system consisting of a belt and at least two fixed

pulleys that is used to transmit motion.

bevel gear

A type of gear with cone-shaped teeth cut at an angle.

Bevel gears are often used in angular gear trains.

block-and-pin U-joint

The most common type of U-joint. A block-and-pin Ujoint has two open-ended shafts that are connected to a
center block with pins.

brake

A type of friction clutch that is used to slow or stop the

transfer of energy from a shaft to a load, thereby
slowing or stopping the motion of a load.

chain

A device made of individual links that mesh with the

teeth of a sprocket. Chains are used in chain drive
systems to transmit motion.

chain drive system

A system consisting of a chain and sprockets that is

used to transmit motion.

clutch

A mechanical device used to gradually stop or start the

transmission of power, speed, or torque from a prime
mover to a load.

clutching

The process of transferring torque from an input shaft

to an output shaft.

cogged belt

A belt that has teeth molded directly into its surface,

which mesh with corresponding teeth in pulleys. A
cogged belt is designed to avoid slipping and is also
known as a timing belt.

connecting link

A link of chain used to connect the chain ends and form

a loop. A connecting link can be fastened with a cotter
pin.

contamination

The presence of damaging foreign materials such as

dirt or shop debris in a lubricant.

corrosion

The gradual chemical attack on a material by

atmosphere, moisture, or other agents.

coupling

A device that connects two shafts in a mechanical

system in order to transfer motion.

double-pitch roller chain

A roller chain with links spaced twice as far apart as a

standard roller chain. Double-pitch roller chains are
less expensive but cannot operate as quietly or as fast
as a standard chain.

drive gear

The gear that receives energy from a power source,

such as an electric motor. Drive gears transmit power to
an intersecting driven gear to perform work.

driven gear

The gear that receives motion from the drive gear on a

machine.

driven pulley

The fixed pulley in a belt drive system that receives

energy from the driver pulley via a belt.

driven sprocket

The sprocket in a chain drive system that receives

energy from the driver sprocket via a chain.

driver pulley

The fixed pulley in a belt drive system that receives

energy from the power source and transfers it to the
driven pulley.

driver sprocket

The sprocket in a chain drive system that receives

power from the power source and transfers it to the
driven sprocket through the chain.

electric motor

A machine that converts electricity into mechanical

energy or motion. An electric motor is a type of prime
mover for a mechanical system.

energy

The ability to perform work.

fixed pulley

A device consisting of a wheel rigidly fixed to a shaft

that is used in a belt drive system to transmit energy.

flat belt

A belt consisting of a flat loop of material used to

transmit motion between two pulleys. Flat belts can be
made of various materials, such as rubber, canvas,
plastic, or flexible metals.

flexible coupling

A type of coupling that can connect aligned shafts or

flex to accommodate shafts that are slightly misaligned.

fossil fuel

Any naturally occurring organic fuel formed in the

Earths crust, such as petroleum, coal, and natural gas.
Fossil fuels are burned to release stored energy.

friction

A force that resists motion between two objects that are

in contact with each other.

friction clutch

The most common type of clutch used in mechanical

systems. A friction clutch contains two discs, each
connected to its own shaft, that can be forced together

to transfer energy.

gear

A round or cylindrical mechanical component with

teeth, used to transmit power. Gears are designed to
mesh with one another and can alter the speed, torque,
or direction of mechanical energy.

gear shift

A mechanism that allows the operator of a manual

transmission to move the gears into various positions,
changing the speed and torque of mechanical energy.

gear train

A set of gears arranged to transfer mechanical energy

from one part of a mechanical system to another.

gearbox

An enclosed system of assembled gears that transmits

mechanical energy from a prime mover to an output
device. A gearbox can also change the speed, direction,
or torque of mechanical energy.

generator

A device that converts mechanical energy into

electrical energy.

grease

A semi-solid substance composed of oil and a chemical

soap or other additive, commonly used as an industrial
lubricant.

heat engine

A device that converts heat energy into mechanical or

electrical energy. A heat engine is a type of prime
mover.

helical gear

A type of gear with slanted teeth. Helical gears are

quieter than spur gears, but they are more expensive
and produce side loads.

herringbone gear

A type of gear that has angled teeth in the shape of a

letter "V." Herringbone gears resist side loading but are
expensive to produce.

horsepower

A unit of power used to describe machine strength.

Horsepower is abbreviated as hp.

hydraulic pump

A mechanical device used to move liquids in a

hydraulic system.

inverted-tooth chain

A type of chain with teeth on its links that mesh with

teeth in the sprockets of a chain drive. An invertedtooth chain operates quietly and smoothly and is also
known as a silent chain.

kinetic energy

Energy of an object that has been put in motion.

linear ball bearing

A type of rolling-element bearing that is cylindrical in

shape and used with linear motion systems.

linear motion

Motion that takes place along a straight line.

Mechanical energy can take the form of rotary or linear
motion.

load

The opposition to applied force, such as weight being

carried or moved.

lubricant

A substance used to reduce friction between two

surfaces in relative motion.

lubrication

The application of a substance to reduce friction

between two surfaces in relative motion. Oil and grease
are commonly used for lubrication.

manual transmission

A type of transmission that requires an operator to shift

gears manually to change the speed and torque of
mechanical energy.

mechanical advantage

The difference between the applied force and the work

accomplished. Mechanical advantage allows machines
to perform more work with less effort.

miter gear

A type of bevel gear used in pairs with intersecting

shafts at 90 angles. Both the drive gear and driven
gear in a miter gear pair have the same diameter, same
number of teeth, and a mechanical advantage of 1.

oil

A slippery fluid commonly used as an industrial

lubricant.

open gearing

Gears in unassembled form.

perpendicular

An intersection of two lines or objects at right angles.

Angular gear trains are used to transmit motion

between perpendicular shafts.

pitch

The measure of distance between chain links. The

larger the pitch, the larger the chain will be.

plain bearing

A bearing that uses sliding motion to support a load.

Plain bearings are the simplest bearing design.

point of use

The part of a power transmission system where work is

performed.

potential energy

Stored energy with the potential to do work. An

actuator converts potential energy to kinetic energy.

power transmission

The movement of energy from a source to an output

device that performs work.

prime mover

In a power transmission system, the device that

introduces energy into the system and converts the
energy into the appropriate form.

profile rail linear guide

A smooth surface that supports and guides the rolling

element of a linear bearing.

retainer clip

A fastener used to secure the parts of a chain link. A

retainer clip is also known as a spring clip.

revolutions per minute

The number of times a component rotates in a complete

circle in one minute. Revolutions per minute (rpm) is a
measurement of speed.

rigid coupling

A type of coupling used to connect shafts that are in

alignment. A rigid coupling is the simplest type of
coupling.

roller chain

The most common type of chain used in industry. A

roller chain can be used at high speeds.

rolling-element bearing

A bearing with rolling parts inside that support the

motion of a load. A ball bearing is an example of a
rolling-element bearing.

rotary motion

Spinning or turning motion that takes place around an

axis, without a change in linear position. Mechanical

energy can take the form of rotary or linear motion.

round belt

A belt with a circular tube shape, used to transmit

motion between two pulleys. Round belts can operate
at high speeds and are often used in serpentine belt
systems.

seal

A device used with bearings to retain lubricant and

prevent contamination.

serpentine belt drive

A belt drive system that includes more than two fixed

pulleys working in conjunction.

shaft

In a mechanical system, a cylindrical bar used to

support rotating components or to transmit power or
motion by rotation.

side load

A force that attempts to shift a component off its axis

of rotation. Side loads occur when gears are meshed
together at an angle and can lead to increased wear.

silent chain

A type of chain with teeth on its links that mesh with

teeth in the sprockets of a chain drive. A silent chain
operates quietly and smoothly and is also known as an
inverted-tooth chain.

sprocket

A sprocket is a gear or wheel with metal teeth that

meshes with the links of a chain. Sprockets are used in
chain drive systems to transmit motion.

spur gear

A type of gear that has straight, flat-topped teeth set

parallel to the shaft. Spur gears are the most common
type of gears used in industry.

timing belt

A belt that has teeth molded directly into its surface,

which mesh with corresponding teeth in pulleys. A
timing belt is designed to avoid slipping and is also
known as a cogged belt.

torque

A force that produces rotation.

transmission

A machine that uses a combination of gears and other

mechanical components to change the speed or torque
of mechanical energy.

turbine

A machine that uses the motion or energy of moving

water or wind to produce movement. A turbine
generates electricity through mechanical motion.

U-joint

A type of joint used to transmit power between shafts

that are too far out of alignment to be joined by a
flexible coupling. A U-joint is also known as a
universal joint.

universal joint

A type of joint used to transmit power between shafts

that are too far out of alignment to be joined by a
flexible coupling. A universal joint is also known as a
U-joint.

V-belt

A belt with a flat bottom and tapered sides, used to

transmit motion between two pulleys. Multiple V-belts
are often used together in order to increase carrying
power.

work

The result of a force applied to an object and the

distance through which the force is applied.

worm

A cylindrical, screw-shaped shaft that is used with a

worm gear to transmit motion.

worm gear

A gear with teeth that mesh with the screw-like threads

of a worm to transmit motion.

worm gear drive

A gear drive consisting of a long, cylindrical device

with a spiraling groove that intersects with the teeth of
a wheel-like gear. A worm gear drive is used to
transmit motion between nonintersecting perpendicular
shafts, and the cylindrical "worm" is always the drive
gear.