Lubrication Characteristics and Thermal Behavior of Non-Orthogonal Face Gear Pairs in Point Contact

The thermal elastohydrodynamic lubrication problem of non-orthogonal surface gear pairs under point contact conditions was studied. Firstly, a mathematical model is established through a comprehensive contact and lubrication analysis. On this basis, the Reynolds equation, energy equation, film thickness equation, viscosity-pressure–viscosity-temperature relationship, and density equation are coupled and solved, and the finite difference method is adopted for numerical solution. The distribution characteristics of oil film pressure, oil film thickness, and temperature rise at different meshing points were systematically analyzed. The results show that during the meshing cycle, the maximum pressure of the oil film at the meshing point first increases and then decreases, while the minimum oil film thickness is the opposite. Near the point S3, the meshing state is close to pure rolling, with the lowest friction coefficient and temperature rise. Furthermore, the heat absorbed by the lubricating oil film through forced convection accounts for only approximately 1% of the total frictional heat, indicating that at the moment of gear meshing contact and in the microscopic region, frictional heat is mainly dissipated through heat conduction.