Device for guiding lubricant in a vertically installed transmission

Abstract

The present invention relates to a device for guiding lubricant in a vertically installed transmission device, which device has a structure fixed relative to the housing, a bearing (105), a planet carrier (101) rotatably supported by means of the bearing (105) in the structure fixed relative to the housing, and an oil guide ring (109); wherein the oil guide ring (109) forms a connecting piece for guiding lubricant between the structure fixed relative to the housing and the planet carrier (101); and wherein the structure fixed relative to the housing, the oil guide ring (101), the bearing (105) and the planet carrier (101) together form a first cavity (113). The planet carrier (101) forms at least one lubricant line (115) leading to the first cavity (113).

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to a device for guiding lubricant in a vertically mounted transmission device. Background Art

[0002] A U-shaped oil guide ring is known from document EP 1 488 139 A1. The oil guide ring is used to convey oil from a structure fixed relative to the housing to a planet carrier rotatably supported. The oil guide ring is fixed to the planet carrier and engages in a groove of a structure fixed relative to the housing. Thereby, a cavity is formed, which is composed of the structure fixed relative to the housing, the oil guide ring, the bearing of the planet carrier, and the planet carrier itself. This is problematic when the planet carrier is vertically mounted with its rotation axis. The oil for lubricating the bearing then collects in the cavity and cannot flow out. Summary of the Invention

[0003] The object on which the present invention is based is to provide an oil guide that does not have the inherent disadvantages of the solutions known in the prior art. In particular, the present invention should enable the transfer of oil from a structure fixed relative to the housing to a planet carrier rotatably supported, the rotation axis of which extends vertically.

[0004] This object is achieved by a device for guiding lubricant in a vertically mounted transmission device.

[0005] The device according to the present invention includes a structure fixed relative to the housing, a bearing, a planet carrier, and an oil guide ring. The planet carrier is rotatably supported in the structure fixed relative to the housing by means of the bearing. The structure fixed relative to the housing is characterized in that it is fixedly, preferably rigidly (i.e., there is no possibility of relative movement) fixed in the transmission housing in the rotational sense. The structure fixed relative to the housing may in particular relate to the transmission housing itself.

[0006] The planet carrier is preferably part of a planetary stage, which further includes a ring gear, a sun gear, and at least one planetary gear. The planetary gear is rotatably supported in the planet carrier and meshes with the ring gear and / or the sun gear. Such a planetary stage is used, for example, in a transmission device for a wind power plant or a cable car.

[0007] In order to supply lubricant to the bearing (by means of which the planetary gear is supported in the planet carrier), the lubricant must be introduced from the structure fixed relative to the housing into the planet carrier. The oil guide ring is used for this purpose.

[0008] An oil guiding ring is a device for guiding lubricant between two rotatable parts relative to each other. Specifically, it is a device for guiding lubricant between the mouth of the lubricant line of the first part and the mouth of the lubricant line of the second part. The mouths of the lubricant lines of the first part and the second part are eccentrically arranged, that is, their geometric centers are located outside the rotation axes of the first part and the second part relative to each other. In particular, these mouths are not rotationally symmetric with respect to the rotation axis.

[0009] The oil guiding ring is arranged coaxially with the rotation axis of the planet carrier. The central axis of the oil guiding ring is the same as the rotation axis of the planet carrier. Preferably, the oil guiding ring extends rotationally symmetrically with respect to the rotation axis of the planet carrier and circumferentially surrounds the input shaft connected to the planet carrier in a rotationally fixed manner or the sun shaft connected to the sun gear of the above-mentioned planetary stage in a rotationally fixed manner. This means that the input shaft or the sun shaft axially passes through the oil guiding ring or through the mentioned axially extending cavity. As disclosed in document EP 1 488 139 A1, the oil guiding ring can be designed as a U-shaped ring.

[0010] Here, the first part relates to a structure fixed relative to the housing, and the second part relates to the planet carrier. Correspondingly, the oil guiding ring constitutes a connecting piece for guiding lubricant between the structure fixed relative to the housing and the planet carrier. The oil guiding ring is either fixed on the planet carrier and is in a lubricant-guiding connection with the structure fixed relative to the housing, or the oil guiding ring is fixed on the structure fixed relative to the housing and is in a lubricant-guiding connection with the planet carrier.

[0011] The structure fixed relative to the housing, the oil guiding ring, the bearing and the planet carrier or the cheek plate of the planet carrier (i.e., one of the two radially extending structures for receiving and fixing the planetary stud) together constitute a first cavity. This means that the first cavity is defined by the structure fixed relative to the housing, the oil guiding ring, the bearing and the planet carrier or the cheek plate of the planet carrier. The cavity is filled with air and / or lubricant.

[0012] In order to prevent lubricant from accumulating in the cavity, the lubricant located in the cavity must be drained. For this purpose, according to the present invention, the planet carrier constitutes at least one lubricant line leading to the cavity. The mouth of the lubricant line thus directly abuts the cavity, so that the lubricant can flow from the cavity into the lubricant line via the mouth.

[0013] The lubricant line constitutes a discharge port for the lubricant from the cavity, and this discharge port can enable the device to be vertically oriented. When the device is vertically oriented, the rotation axis of the planet carrier extends at least partially vertically (i.e., non-horizontally). The angle between the rotation axis of the planet carrier and the horizontally extending reference axis is different from 90°. Preferably, the rotation axis of the planet carrier extends only vertically. In this case, the rotation axis of the planet carrier coincides with the vertically extending reference axis.

[0014] In a preferred embodiment, at least one lubricant line has a slope from the opening of the first lubricant line into the first cavity. Thus, at least one lubricant line has a negative slope from the opening into the first cavity. Due to the slope, the lubricant flows out of the cavity due to its own gravity.

[0015] In another preferred embodiment, the lubricant line opens into a second cavity. The second cavity surrounds the planet carrier. This means that the planet carrier is located in the second cavity. For example, the transmission housing can form the second cavity. In this case, the interior of the transmission housing constitutes the second cavity.

[0016] By opening the lubricant line into the second cavity, the lubricant is conducted from the first cavity into the second cavity, and in particular, the lubricant is conducted out of the planet carrier.

[0017] Preferably, the planet carrier is equipped with at least one recess. The recess is a region of the planet carrier surface that is deeper in the direction toward the interior of the planet carrier relative to the circumferential surface of the planet carrier. Thus, it is a recess in the planet carrier surface. The recess opens into the circumferential region of the planet carrier surface via precisely one opening.

[0018] According to a further embodiment, the oil guide ring spans the recess. Thus, the lubricant ring divides the mouth of the recess into at least two parts. The first part is connected to the first cavity for lubricant conduction, while the second part is preferably connected to the second cavity for lubricant conduction. As a result, the recess forms the aforementioned lubricant circuit.

[0019] This development is particularly advantageous because the recess can already be integrated into the blank from which the planet carrier is made. This does not result in additional costs during production. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0020] exist Figure 1 The preferred embodiment of the present invention is shown in FIG. Here, identical reference numerals refer to identical or functionally identical features. In the drawings:

[0021] Figure 1 The planet carrier is shown. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0022] exist Figure 1 The planet carrier 101 shown in FIG has planet gears 103 which are rotatably supported in the planet carrier 101 . The planet carrier 101 itself is rotatably supported by means of a main bearing 105 .

[0023] The inner ring 105a of the main bearing 105 is fixed to the connecting branch pipe 107 for the input shaft, and this connecting branch pipe is fixedly connected to the planet carrier 101 in the rotational sense. The outer ring 105b of the main bearing 105 is fixed in the transmission housing ( Figure 1 not shown). Thereby, a rotatable support of the planet carrier 101 in the transmission housing is achieved.

[0024] In order to supply lubricant to the bearings (by means of which the planet gears 103 are supported in the planet carrier 101), the lubricant has to be conveyed from the transmission housing to the planet carrier 101. For this purpose, an oil guide ring 109 is provided. The oil guide ring 109 is U-shaped in cross-section. This oil guide ring engages into a groove in the transmission housing, so that the oil guide ring 109 and the groove together form an annular cavity. The cavity serves as a line for conveying the lubricant.

[0025] The oil guide ring 109 is mounted on the input-side cheek plate 111 of the planet carrier 101. Another cavity 113 extends between the oil guide ring 109, the transmission housing, the main bearing 105 and the cheek plate 111 of the planet carrier 101.

[0026] Since the rotational axis of the planet carrier 101 extends vertically, the oil for lubricating the main bearing 105 flows out into the cavity 113. In order that the oil does not accumulate in the cavity 113, the planet carrier 101 has depressions 115.

[0027] The depressions 115 are located on the radially outer defining edge of the cheek plate 111 of the planet carrier 101. These depressions extend into the cheek plate 111 and into a defining surface 117 on the outer periphery of the planet carrier 101. The oil guide ring 109 extends over the depressions 115. These depressions lead from the oil guide ring on one side to the cheek plate 111 of the planet carrier 101 and on the other side to the defining surface 117 or the cavity 113. Thus, the oil can flow out of the cavity 113 through the depressions 115 into the interior of the transmission housing.

[0028] The depressions 115 each form a platform 119 centrally. The platform 119 relates to the non-recessed area. This area projects out of the depression. The platform 119 is used for fixing the oil guide ring 109. Thus, the oil guide ring 109 can be screwed to the platform 119, for example.

[0029] The oil line passes through the platform 119. This oil line guides the oil from the oil guide ring 109 to the jet lubrication device for the tooth meshing of the sun-planet and planet-ring gears. The jet lubrication device injects the oil into the tooth meshing in the radial direction by means of screwed-in nozzles. These holes are centrally located in the stress non-critical area of the planet carrier.

[0030] Fastening holes for fixing the oil guide ring 109 are introduced on both sides of the oil line passing through the platform 119. These holes are centrally located in the stress non-critical area of the planet carrier.

[0031] List of reference numerals

[0032] 101 Planet carrier

[0033] 103 Planet gear

[0034] 105 Main bearing

[0035] 105a Inner ring

[0036] 105b Outer ring

[0037] 107 Connecting branch pipe

[0038] 109 Oil guide ring

[0039] 111 Cheek plate

[0040] 113 Cavity

[0041] 115 Depression

[0042] 117 Defining surface

[0043] 119 Platform

Claims

1. A device for guiding lubricant in a vertically mounted transmission device, the transmission device having a housing, the device having a structure fixed relative to the housing, a bearing (105), a planet carrier (101) rotatably supported by means of the bearing (105) in the structure fixed relative to the housing, and an oil guide ring (109), wherein the oil guide ring (109) forms a connection member for guiding lubricant between the structure fixed relative to the housing and the planet carrier (101), wherein the structure fixed relative to the housing, the oil guide ring (109), the bearing (105) and the planet carrier (101) together form a first cavity (113), characterized in that the planet carrier (101) forms at least one lubricant line leading to the first cavity (113), the planet carrier (101) has at least one recess (115), and the at least one recess (115) forms the at least one lubricant line leading to the first cavity (113), wherein the oil guide ring (109) spans the recess (115), the recess (115) is located on a defined edge radially outside the cheek plate (111) of the planet carrier (101), so that lubricant can flow out of the first cavity (113) into the interior of the transmission housing through the recess (115).

2. The device for guiding lubricant in a vertically mounted transmission device according to claim 1, characterized in that at least one lubricant line has a slope starting from the mouth and leading into the first cavity (113).

3. The device for guiding lubricant in a vertically mounted transmission device according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the lubricant line leads to a second cavity surrounding the planet carrier (101), wherein the housing of the transmission device forms the second cavity.

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