Cycloids 1
Cycloids 1
Cycloids 1
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Fig. 15/1
TANGENT
The tangent and normal to the cycloid (Fig. 15/2)
From the point P, where you wish to draw the normal and
the tangent, draw an arc whose radius is the same as the
rolling circle, to cut the centre line in 0.
With centre O, draw the rolling circle to touch the base
lineinQ.
PQ is the normal. The tangent is found by erecting a
line at 900 to the normal.
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Fig. 15/2
The epi-cycloid and the hypo-cycloid (Fig. 15/3) NORMAL
The epi-cycloid is the locus of a point on the circum-
ference of a circle when it rolls, without slipping, along the The main point to watch is that the locus of the centre
outside of a circular arc. is no longer coincident with the line P 3 Pe as it was for the
A hypo-cycloid is the locus of a point on the circum- cycloid:
ference of a circle when the circle rolls, without slipping, The epi-cycloid and the hypo-cycloid form the basis
along the inside of a circular arc. for the shape of some gear teeth, although cycloidal
The constructions for plotting these curves are very gear teeth have now generally been superseded by gear
similar to those used for plotting the cycloid. teeth based on the involute.
The circumference of the rolling circle must be plotted
along the arc of the base circle. It is possible to calculate The tangent and normal to the epi-cycloid and
this circumference and to plot it along the arc, but this is hypo-cycloid
fairly complicated and it is sufficiently accurate to measure The method of obtaining the- tangent and normal of an
1 /12 of the circumference of the rolling circle and step epi-cycloid or a hypo-cycloid is exactly the same as for a
this out 12 times, with dividers, along the base arc. cycloid.
The remaining construction is similar to that used for
the cycloid. Th~ techniqJe is still to plot the intersection EPI-CYCLOID
of the line drawn parallel to the base, in this case another
arc with centre C, and the radius of the rolling circle from
its position after 1 /12, 1/6, 1 /4 revolutions, etc .
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Fig. 15/3