Epitrochoid / Epicycloid: Shape Variation for a transmission ratio of 4:3

The overview of shape variation is based on

To ensure that all forms of Epitrochoiden are shown depending on the same transmission ratio, the rotating wheel is replaced by rings with points, which produce similar Epitrochoids - Epitrochids with nearly the same shapes.

The circles are known, which borders the rings. They are called

The outermost ring is not dyed, because it occupies the entire area outside the outermost circle (and this ring extends thus to infinity)

The epitrochoid is created by a point, and if this point moves from the inner edge of the ring on the ring-shaped surface, then the shape of the epitrochoid changes. The same applies when switching from the ring-shaped surface to the outer edge. If the generating point varies its location within the ring-shaped surface, then the epitrochoid itself varies, but there is no qualitative modification of the epitrochoid (the verbal description does not change).

The following table describes alternately the shape of an epitrochoid

  1. if the generating point is part of the inner edge of a ring
  2. if the generating point is part of the ring-shaped surface

In the middle of all rings is a disc whose center point is the inner edge of a "disc-shaped ring." The table begins with this center point.

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Number of loops 4
transformation ratio i=4:3
Number of cycles 3
Remarks about the point, which creates the epitrochoid
  • Remark about the shape of the epitochoid
The point (which created the epitrochoid) is on the edge of a ring
approximate straight-line patterns 0
cusps 0
self-intersection points 8
self-tangential points 0
number of alterations of
the center of curvature 		0
Point is identical with the center of the wheel
  • The epitrochoid is a circle
The point (which created the epitrochoid) is on the ring-shaped surface
approximate straight-line patterns 0
cusps 0
self-intersection points 8
self-tangential points 0
number of alterations of
the center of curvature 		0
Point resides on the ring-shaped surface between the center of the wheel and the BALL Circle (BALL Curve)
  • The center of curvature does not alternate to the other site of the curve.
The point (which created the epitrochoid) resides on the edge of a ring
approximate straight-line patterns 4
cusps 0
self-intersection points 8
self-tangential points 0
number of alterations of
the center of curvature 		0
The point is a part of the BALL Circle (BALL Curve)
  • The BALL Circle resides always between the pivot and the outer edge of the moving wheel
  • The radius of the BALL Circle is 1.285714285714286 for this transmission ratio (multiplied by the radius of the moving wheel)
The point (which created the epitrochoid) is on the ring-shaped surface
approximate straight-line patterns 0
cusps 0
self-intersection points 8
self-tangential points 0
number of alterations of
the center of curvature 		8
Point resides between the BALL Circle (BALL Curve) and the Moving Centrode
The point (which created the epitrochoid) is on the edge of a ring
approximate straight-line patterns 0
cusps 4
self-intersection points 8
self-tangential points 0
number of alterations of
the center of curvature 		0
Point is part of the Moving Centrode
  • The Moving Centrode is identical with the tread of the moving wheel.
  • The radius of the circular Moving Centrode is 3.0 (multiplied by the radius of the moving wheel)
The point (which created the epitrochoid) is on the ring-shaped surface
approximate straight-line patterns 0
cusps 0
self-intersection points 12
self-tangential points 0
number of alterations of
the center of curvature 		0
Point is outside of the Moving Centrode (outside of the tread of the wheel)
  • Point resists between Moving Centrode and first Transition Curve.
The point (which created the epitrochoid) is on the edge of a ring
approximate straight-line patterns 0
cusps 0
self-intersection points 12
self-tangential points 4
number of alterations of
the center of curvature 		0
Point is part of the Transition Curve 1. (of 2 Transition Curves)
  • The circular Transition Curve resides outside the tread of the moving wheel
  • The radius of the Transition Curve is smaller or identical with the distance between the pivot of the moving wheel and the pivot of the fixed wheel
  • The radius of the Transition Curve for this transmission ratio is 6.136 (multiplied by the radius of the moving wheel)
  • In this general case the near-by loops are in contact (and not the opposite loops) .
The point (which created the epitrochoid) is on the ring-shaped surface
approximate straight-line patterns 0
cusps 0
self-intersection points 20
self-tangential points 0
number of alterations of
the center of curvature 		0
Point resids outside of the Transition Curve 1 (of 2 Transition Curves)
  • The variaton of the distance between the point generating the epitrochoid and the pivot of the moving wheel does not modify the qualitative characteristic of the shape of the epitrochoid as long a the point generating the epitrochoid is positioned between Transition Curve1. and the Transition Curve 2.
The point (which created the epitrochoid) is on the edge of a ring
approximate straight-line patterns 0
cusps 0
self-intersection points 20
self-tangential points 2
number of alterations of
the center of curvature 		0
Point is part of the Transition Curve 2. (of 2 Transition Curves)
  • The circular Transition Curve resides outside the tread of the moving wheel
  • The radius of the Transition Curve is smaller or identical with the distance between the pivot of the moving wheel and the pivot of the fixed wheel
  • The radius of the Transition Curve for this transmission ratio is 7.0 (multiplied by the radius of the moving wheel)
  • The radius of the Transition Curve is identical with the distance of both wheels:
    In this special case only the opposite loops are in contact and not the near-by loops
The point (which created the epitrochoid) is on the ring-shaped surface
approximate straight-line patterns 0
cusps 0
self-intersection points 24
self-tangential points 0
number of alterations of
the center of curvature 		0
Point resids outside of the Transition Curve 2 (of 2 Transition Curves)
  • Any stretching of the distance between the point generating the epitrochoid and the pivot of the moving wheel do not change the qualitative characteristic of the shape of the epitrochoid as long as the point generating the epitrochoid resides outside of the largest Transition Curve.

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© Volker Jaekel, January third 2024
eMail: V.Jaekel@t-online.de