Which type of gear is designed specifically to provide high torque and low speed?

Worm gears are uniquely suited for applications requiring high torque and low speed due to their design, which features a screw-like structure that meshes with a gear. This arrangement allows for a significant mechanical advantage, where the worm rotates, driving the gear with a high gear reduction ratio.

This means that for every rotation of the worm, the gear may only rotate a fraction of that, leading to greater torque output due to the principles of leverage and mechanical advantage. This type of gear is frequently used in applications such as lifts, conveyors, and machinery where a powerful turning force is essential, but high speeds are not needed.

In contrast, spur gears, bevel gears, and helical gears are typically utilized for operations that require transferring power or motion at higher speeds, making them less effective for producing the high torque at low speeds characteristic of worm gears.