Static Modelling and Analysis of a Novel Movable Tooth Drive with Logarithmic Spiral Tooth Profiles

Round 1

Reviewer 1 Report

The authors have written an interesting and well-structured manuscript.  It was a pleasure reading this. However, there are some aspects that require addressing to improve the quality of the manuscript and help future readers understand the manuscript better. Please see below some remarks. Once these are addressed in the manuscript, a reconsideration of the manuscript will be carried out.

 

Major

1.       Although the abstract, introduction and conclusion is well written, the novelty of the paper is obscured somewhat.

a.       The introduction gives good examples of alternative drive systems and where they are used. However, this paper does not explain what practical system is being benefited when using such logarithmic spiral tooth gears.

b.       Can the authors explain what systems in more detail that are trying to address

                                                               i.      i.e. A clear and succinct explanation in the abstract or conclusion on what logarithmic spiral tooth gears are advantages for.

                                                             ii.      Possibly more detail explanation in the introduction

2.       Can the authors provide valid reasoning on the chosen operating conditions please.

3.       Once the above 2 points are addressed in the manuscript the novelty of the paper should be more clear.

4.       Although a separate analysis is not entirely necessary:

a.       There does not seem to be mention on whether these gear teeth or under dry or lubricated conditions.

b.       The Reviewer is assuming these are dry conditions, can the authors justify why lubricated contact conditions was omitted and possibly what would they expect if lubricated conditions were used to update the friction.

Minor

·         Although, static models are very useful on first base principles, most gear related mechanisms always operate in a dynamic environment. Can the authors comment on this and if this is being considered for future studies?

·         Please add a nomenclature section

·         Slight formatting error throughout the manuscript

o   Most figures (e.g. Figure 11 and 11) appear to be left justified but the text is centred or right justified

o   Unsure if this was intentional, please try and keep a consistent formatting.

 

Author Response

Please see the attachment.

Author Response File: Author Response.pdf

Reviewer 2 Report

The paper is nicely organized and well written. Authors predicted the contact forces between the internal contact gear pair formed from the logarithmic spiral teeth. Several parametric studies were performed. However, the performance of the system in comparison with cycloidal and harmonic drives were not discussed.  Also, the tooth interference constraints during meshing may be discussed somewhere. Section-4 as well as paper title, it seems to be Static model instead of statics. The work is excellent for publication and I recommend the authors to go through few grammatical corrections in introduction part and try to write the conclusion part towards an application.

Author Response

Please see the attachment.

Author Response File: Author Response.pdf

Reviewer 3 Report

 

I consider the manuscript to be relevant in the given field. I consider the conclusions in the manuscript to be correct. I have formal comments on the manuscript:

1. On page 9, the same equation (formula) number "(22)" is assigned for two different equations.  Correct the numbering of equations from number 23 throughout the manuscript. Edit equation numbers in manuscript text as well. On page 12, the same numbers "(31B)" have two different equations. Change to 31B and 32C.

2. Unify the marking of units in tables. There are two different methods used, using "()" after the parameter name, or after the numeric value without parentheses.

Author Response

Please see the attachment.

Author Response File: Author Response.pdf

Reviewer 4 Report

Reviewer’s comments

Journal- Machines

Manuscript Number- Machines-1910371 

Title of Paper-   “Statics modelling and analysis of a novel movable tooth drive with

      logarithmic spiral tooth profiles”

The paper concerns with the develop theoretical model for a novel movable tooth drive with logarithmic spiral tooth profiles. Further, the proposed model is validated by the FEM simulation of a prototype.

Comments to the Author:

After going through the manuscript, the reviewer comes up with the following observation.

(1)   The author(s) should write all the symbols/ phrase used in the paper separately in the nomenclature. It will help to the better understanding of the articles.

(2)   The author(s) did not give references/citations of any mathematical expression in analysis section.

(3)   Nothing is mentioned about the solution procedure/strategy adopted for obtaining the theoretically simulated results. The numerical procedure should also be present in the form of a flow chart for ease of readers.

(4)   How the selection of the operating and geometric parameters has been carried out in the study? Do these parameters follow some standards?

(5)   It would be better to depict the FEM grids in a figure. Further, it should also be clarified in the paper whether numerical convergence as a function of grid has been checked or not. How was the number of elements selected and what number of element adopted in present analysis?

(6)   Whether, the author is validated the developed mathematical model for simulation analysis of tooth drive with the available published literature? How the author clarifies the validity of work? There is no information, on the authenticity and validity of the adopted methodology in the present simulation work?

In the opinion of the reviewer, the author needs to suitably incorporate all these major and mandatory changes in the revised manuscript.

 

 

Round 2

Reviewer 1 Report

The Reviewer understood authors response and appreciated the effort in applying recommendations.

Reviewer 4 Report

Reviewer’s comments

Journal- Machines

Manuscript Number- Machines-1910371 Revised Version 

Title of Paper-   “Statics modelling and analysis of a novel movable tooth drive with logarithmic spiral tooth profiles”

 In the opinion of the reviewer, the Author(s) has well addressed all the comments given by the reviewers. Hence the manuscript may be accepted in this present form after mentioned minor correction.