Bodies in Pure Rolling Contact
Pure Rolling Contact
Pure rolling contact is the motion of two bodies (consecutive points or
elements of one is in contact with the other through line of contact or
surfaces) where their motion is relative to one another. The two bodies in
contact with each other may be rotating on their own axes. One body may
cause other to rotate with an angular speed bearing a definite ratio to the
angular speed of the driver. This speed ratio may be constant or variable,
depending upon the forms of the two bodies, and the axes of the two bodies
may be in parallel, intersecting or neither of the two.
Examples of two bodies rotating in pure rolling contact
Contact between two cylinders Contact between two cylinders with Contact between two cylinders
with parallel axes intersecting axes with non-parallel and non-
intersecting axes
Cylinders rolling together without slipping – External Contact
We can see in the figure that the two shafts are in
parallel with each other and the cylinders at the ends of
both shafts are in contact with each other through its
surfaces. Assuming that the shafts are being held by a
frame in which the sum of the radius of both cylinders
is the distance between the center of each shafts and
the nature of the surfaces of the cylinders has no
slipping of surfaces as they turn in their own axes.
Cylinders rolling together without slipping – External Contact
Therefore, the surface speed of A = B and A and
B must rotate in directions relative to each other.
Surface speed of A = 2πR1N1
Surface speed of B = 2πR2N2
Sum of Radius, R1 + R2 = C
where:
R1 = Radius of cylinder A
R2 = Radius of cylinder B
N1 = Speed of cylinder A in rpm
N2 = Speed of cylinder B in rpm
Cylinders rolling together without slipping – External Contact
Since,
Asurface speed = Bsurface speed
Therefore,
2πR1N1 = 2πR2N2
or
𝑅1 𝑁2
R1N1 = R2N2 , =
𝑅2 𝑁1
Sample Problems
1. A cylinder 10 in. in diameter on Shaft A drives another cylinder on shaft B,
by pure rolling contact. Shaft A has a speed of 330 rpm. Shaft B turns 200 rpm
in opposite direction from A. Calculate the diameter of cylinder 2 and the
distance between the axes of the shafts.
2. Shaft A and B are 20 in apart from their centers and cylinder on shaft A is
turning 85 revs in a minute and B 220 revs in a minute. What must be the size
of the cylinders to connect them if they are turn in opposite directions?
1. A cylinder 10 in. in diameter on Shaft A drives another cylinder on shaft B, by pure rolling
contact. Shaft A has a speed of 330 rpm. Shaft B turns 200 rpm in opposite direction from A.
Calculate the diameter of cylinder 2 and the distance between the axes of the shafts.
2. Shaft A and B are 20 in apart from their centers and cylinder on shaft A is turning 85 revs in
a minute and B 220 revs in a minute. What must be the size of the cylinders to connect them if
they are turn in opposite directions?
Cylinders rolling together without slipping – Internal Contact
This is called internal contact because as you can
see in the figure, one cylinder is hollow and the
other cylinder is inside it, and the outer surface of
the smaller cylinder is in contact with the internal
surface of the hollow cylinder.
Cylinders rolling together without slipping – Internal Contact
Same concept from the previous topic is applied in this
scenario. The only difference is when finding the distance
of the center from each shaft. Instead of adding the radius
of each cylinder, we need to subtract the radius of the
cylinder inside to the inner radius of the hollow shaft.
R1 – R2 = C
Cylinders rolling together without slipping – Internal Contact
Similarly,
Surface speed of A = 2πR1N1
Surface speed of B = 2πR2N2
Since,
Asurface speed = Bsurface speed
Therefore,
2πR1N1 = 2πR2N2
or
𝑅1 𝑁2
R1N1 = R2N2 , =
𝑅2 𝑁1
Sample Problems
1. Two parallel shaft which are 3 ft apart and have a speed ratio of 4, are connected through
cylinders by pure rolling contact. Determine the diameters of the cylinders when they turn in
opposite directions and when they turn in the same direction.
2. Two shafts A and B are 5 ft from centers and are connected by rolling cylinders to turn in
the same direction, A is to make 50 rpm and B to make 150 rpm. Find the radius of cylinders
in ft.
3. Two parallel shafts, 1 ft apart and rotating at 60 rpm and 180 rpm, are connected by cylinders
in pure rolling contact. Determine the radius of the cylinders when they turn in the same
direction.
1. Two parallel shaft which are 3 ft apart and have a speed ratio of 4, are connected through
cylinders by pure rolling contact. Determine the diameters of the cylinders when they turn in
opposite directions and when they turn in the same direction.
2. Two shafts A and B are 5 ft from centers and are connected by rolling cylinders to turn in
the same direction, A is to make 50 rpm and B to make 150 rpm. Find the radius of cylinders
in ft.
3. Two parallel shafts, 1 ft apart and rotating at 60 rpm and 180 rpm, are connected by cylinders
in pure rolling contact. Determine the radius of the cylinders when they turn in the same
direction.
Cones rolling together without slipping – External Contact
Previously, shafts are connected through
cylinders and are positioned parallel to each other in
the same plane, but there are instances when we
need to position the shafts with an angle. To do this,
we make use of right cones as shown in the figure.
Cones rolling together without slipping – External Contact
The same logic applies to the ratio of speeds at
the base of the cones, which is
𝑅1 𝑁
= 𝑁2
𝑅2 1
However,
R1 = OP sinα
R2 = OP sinβ
Cones rolling together without slipping – External Contact
So,
OP sinα 𝑁2 sinα 𝑁2
= → =
OP sinβ 𝑁1 sinβ 𝑁1
We know from the figure that,
𝜃=α+β
N2 sinα sinα
N1
= =
sin(𝜃 −α) sin𝜃cosα−cos𝜃sinα
sinα
N2 cosα tanα
= sinα =
N1
sin𝜃−cos𝜃cosα sin𝜃−cos𝜃tanα
Cones rolling together without slipping – External Contact
Therefore,
sin𝜃
tan α = N1
N2
+ cos𝜃
Similarly,
sin𝜃
tanβ= N2
+ cos𝜃
N1
Sample Problems
1. Two shafts A and B, which are in the same plane makes an angle 𝜃 of 85 degrees with one
another. Cone A with an axis that is 20 degrees from the intersecting line of surface A and B is
to turn with a speed of 100 revs per minute. Using the values given, find the speed of the other
cone in rpm and the angle of its axis from the intersecting line in the surface.
2. Two shafts which are in contact with each other through a cone on the same plane rotates at
an opposite direction. If shaft A and B rotates at the speed of 120 rpm and 70 rpm
respectively, and the axis of the shaft A makes an angle with the contact line on the surface of
35 degrees. Find the angle between the two axes and the angle between the axis of shaft B
from the contact surface of the cones.
1. Two shafts A and B, which are in the same plane makes an angle 𝜃 of 85 degrees with one
another. Cone A with an axis that is 20 degrees from the intersecting line of surface A and B is
to turn with a speed of 100 revs per minute. Using the values given, find the speed of the other
cone in rpm and the angle of its axis from the intersecting line in the surface.
2. Two shafts which are in contact with each other through a cone on the same plane rotates at
an opposite direction. If shaft A and B rotates at the speed of 120 rpm and 70 rpm
respectively, and the axis of the shaft A makes an angle with the contact line on the surface of
35 degrees. Find the angle between the two axes and the angle between the axis of shaft B
from the contact surface of the cones.
Cones rolling together without slipping – Internal Contact
The same concept and methods are followed
from previous topic for internal contacts. However,
we do need to take note that the half angles for
internal contact will be different since the smaller
cone is now inside the bigger hollow cone.
Cones rolling together without slipping – Internal Contact
So take note that,
𝜃=α–β
Similarly,
𝑅1 𝑁2 sinα 𝑁2
sinβ = 𝑁1
=
𝑅2 𝑁1
However,
R1 = OP sinα
R2 = OP sinβ
Cones rolling together without slipping – Internal Contact
So,
N2 sinα sinα
= sin(𝜃 −α) = sinαcos𝜃−cosαsin𝜃
N1
sinα
N2 cosα tanα
N1
= =
sinα −sin𝜃 cos𝜃tanα−sin𝜃
cos𝜃cosα
Cones rolling together without slipping – Internal Contact
Therefore,
sin𝜃
tan α = N
cos𝜃 − N1
2
Similarly,
sin𝜃
tanβ= N2
− cos𝜃
N1
Sample Problems
1. Similar to figure shown above, cone B is rolling without slipping into the inner surface of
cone A, with cone A having the speed of 330 rpm and an angle from axis to contact surface of
50 degrees. If cone A and B is on the same plane and its axis makes 30 degrees, find the angle
between the axis of cone B from the contact surface of two cones. And also, find the speed of
cone B.
2. Shaft A is transmitting power to shaft B by means of two connected cones at the same
plane, with an angle between their axis of 60 degrees. The cone in shaft B rotates at the same
direction with A at a speed of 500 rpm with an angle between the axis and contact surface of
30 degrees. Calculate the power in hp being transmitted by shaft A it generates a torque of
1150 ft-lb.
1. Similar to figure shown above, cone B is rolling without slipping into the inner surface of
cone A, with cone A having the speed of 330 rpm and an angle from axis to contact surface of
50 degrees. If cone A and B is on the same plane and its axis makes 30 degrees, find the angle
between the axis of cone B from the contact surface of two cones. And also, find the speed of
cone B.
2. Shaft A is transmitting power to shaft B by means of two connected cones at the same
plane, with an angle between their axis of 60 degrees. The cone in shaft B rotates at the same
direction with A at a speed of 500 rpm with an angle between the axis and contact surface of
30 degrees. Calculate the power in hp being transmitted by shaft A it generates a torque of
1150 ft-lb.
