System for lubricating gear end faces

摘要

A micro-contoured surface is formed about a substantial portion of the edge of the end bearing face of each gear tooth of a gear having a plurality of circumferential gear teeth each with an end bearing face for carrying an axial thrust load against a flat housing bearing face or the like. The micro-contoured surface forms a wedge space between the bearing faces which when filled with a fluid establishes a hydro-dynamic film pressure distribution over the entire end bearing face of the gear tooth upon relative motion between the bearing faces.