Swing thrust washer

Abstract

The present invention relates to an assembly having a thrust washer (101) having a first stop mechanism and a second stop mechanism; wherein the thrust washer (101) is switchable between a position where the thrust washer (101) impacts the first stop mechanism and a position where the thrust washer (101) impacts the second stop mechanism by rotation.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The invention relates to an assembly having a thrust washer. Background Art

[0002] So-called thrust washers are known from the prior art. Thrust washers can be used to support planetary gears in a planetary gear mechanism. The thrust washers are fixed in the planet carrier. A bearing gap extends between the respective thrust washer and the planetary gear. This bearing gap is filled with lubricant, so that under normal operating conditions there is liquid friction. Liquid friction causes almost no wear. However, if the gear mechanism is started or is at a standstill, dry friction or mixed friction cannot be avoided. This is accompanied by increased wear. The wear is concentrated in the following areas of the thrust washers, which are subjected to higher loads due to the force relationships that exist in the planetary gear mechanism. The risk of bearing failure is particularly high in these areas. Summary of the invention

[0003] The object on which the invention is based is to be able to provide a thrust washer which does not have the inherent disadvantages of the solutions known from the prior art. In particular, the load-bearing capacity of the thrust washer should be increased and its service life extended.

[0004] This object is achieved by the assembly according to the invention with a thrust washer. Preferred developments result from the exemplary embodiment illustrated in the drawings.

[0005] The component has a thrust washer. A thrust washer is a disk-shaped axial sliding bearing. A thrust washer usually has the basic shape of a hollow cylinder. The basic shape is therefore a straight, hollow cylinder. The basic shape of the body is the shape of the original body from which the first-mentioned body is produced by eliminating individual regions (for example by inserting recesses) and / or by adding individual regions.

[0006] Furthermore, according to the invention, the assembly has a first stop mechanism and a second stop mechanism. The stop mechanism is a structure for limiting the movability of the component in exactly one direction. The component can move in exactly one direction until it hits the stop mechanism. From there, the component can move back in the opposite direction.

[0007] Correspondingly, the first stop mechanism is a structure for limiting the rotatable mobility of the thrust washer in a first direction. The second stop mechanism is designed as a structure for limiting the rotatable mobility of the thrust washer in a second direction. The first direction and the second direction respectively indicate the direction in which the thrust washer rotates around the axis of rotation of a component (e.g., a gear or planetary gear rotatably supported by means of the thrust washer). The first direction and the second direction are opposite to each other.

[0008] If the thrust washer rotates in a first direction, the thrust washer hits the first stop mechanism. If the thrust washer rotates in a second direction, the thrust washer hits the second stop mechanism. In terms of the thrust washer rotating around the above-mentioned rotation axis, the first position in which the thrust washer hits the first stop mechanism is different from the second position in which the thrust washer hits the second stop mechanism. The thrust washer can be switched between the first position and the second position by rotating around this rotation axis. The thrust washer achieves the transition from the first position to the second position by rotating in the second direction. Conversely, the thrust washer achieves the transition from the second position to the first position by rotating in the first direction.

[0009] The arrangement according to the invention results in that, under alternating load conditions (for example due to a reversal of the direction of rotation of a component rotatably mounted by means of the thrust washer), the thrust washer rotates alternately between the first stop means and the second stop means.

[0010] The rotational movement of the thrust washer "shifts" the areas of the thrust washer that are subject to higher loads to the thrust washer. The wear of the thrust washer is thus evenly distributed over its running or sliding surface. This prevents the formation of areas with locally higher wear on the thrust washer. This increases the service life of the thrust washer and reduces the risk of failure due to wear.

[0011] The assembly according to the invention is particularly suitable for use in a gear mechanism of a wind power plant. Here, at least one planet gear is rotatably supported by means of a thrust washer. The planet gear can rotate freely relative to the planet carrier and the thrust washer. A bearing gap extends between the planet gear and the thrust washer, which is preferably filled with a lubricant. The rotatability of the thrust washer relative to the planet carrier is limited by a first stop mechanism and a second stop mechanism.

[0012] In a preferred improvement, the component has at least one journal and at least one recess. The journal engages in the recess. The journal and the recess are eccentric, i.e., arranged at a distance from the above-mentioned axis of rotation. The recess extends tangentially around the axis of rotation, i.e., along an arc. The arc is arranged in a radially oriented plane, i.e., extending orthogonally to the axis of rotation. The center angle of the arc is less than 360°. Preferably, the center angle is less than 90°, in particular less than 45°. The recess can be a groove or a continuous recess. By the eccentric arrangement, the recess and the journal form a first stop mechanism and a second stop mechanism.

[0013] In a further preferred development, the thrust washer has a recess and is rotatable relative to the journal.If the component (as described above) is part of a planetary gear mechanism, the planet carrier can preferably form the journal in one piece.

[0014] Alternatively and likewise preferably, the assembly can be modified such that the thrust washer forms a journal and is rotatable relative to the recess. The journal is preferably rigid, i.e. is integrated into the thrust washer immovably or without the possibility of relative movement. In particular, the thrust washer can form the journal in one piece. If the assembly is part of a planetary gear mechanism, the planet carrier preferably has a recess.

[0015] In an alternative preferred development, the first stop means and the second stop means can be formed by a straight or flat first face and a straight or flat second face instead of by a recess and a journal. The thrust washer forms the first face and is rotatable relative to the second face. If the component is part of a planetary gear mechanism, the planet carrier preferably forms the second face.

[0016] The first and second faces are arranged to be radially offset relative to the rotation axis (ie, along a straight line extending orthogonally to and intersecting the rotation axis). In addition, the first and second faces are oriented facing each other so that a gap extends between the first and second faces.

[0017] The gap allows the first and second faces to rotate relative to each other and thus the thrust washer. However, since these faces are straight, they come into contact with each other due to the rotation. This limits the rotatability of the thrust washer. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0018] The preferred improvement scheme of the present invention is shown in the accompanying drawings. Here, the same reference numerals refer to the same or functionally the same features. In the accompanying drawings:

[0019] Figure 1 Thrust washers are shown;

[0020] Figure 2 shows a cross section with thrust washers and planet carrier; and

[0021] Figure 3a and Figure 3b A thrust washer with flats is shown. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0022] exist Figure 1 The thrust washer 101 shown in FIG. 1 has a circular working surface 103. The thrust washer 101 is parallel to Figure 1 The working surface has a circular basic shape in each cross section of the image plane extension. In particular, the working surface has a circular basic shape.

[0023] Four elongated recesses 104 are introduced into the thrust washer 101 . Each recess 104 opens into a radially extending portion of the surface of the thrust washer 101 .

[0024] like Figure 2 As shown, in each of these recesses a journal 201 engages. The journal 201 is fixed in the planet carrier 203 and thus serves as a rotational fixation for the thrust washer 101. However, due to the elongated shape of the recess 104, the thrust washer 101 can be rotated relative to the planet carrier 203 within a limited angular range.

[0025] The thrust washer 101 forms an axial sliding bearing for the planetary gear 205, which is rotatably supported on the planetary pin 207. Load changes on the planetary gear 205 cause the thrust washer 101 to rotate (to the extent permitted by the recess 104 and the journal 201). This avoids the wear of the thrust washer 101 being concentrated in a narrow, limited area.

[0026] Figure 3a and Figure 3b An alternative embodiment is shown. In this embodiment, the rotational fixation of the thrust washer 101 is formed by a flat face. The thrust washer 101 has two flats 301 on its inner surface, which are oriented inwards towards the axis of rotation of the planet gear 205.

[0027] The planet pin 207 has two corresponding flat portions 303 which are correspondingly oriented outwardly away from the axis of rotation. Accordingly, the flat portion 301 of the thrust washer 101 and the flat portion 303 of the planet pin 207 are opposite to each other.

[0028] If the thrust washer 101 is located Figure 3a In the angular position shown, the flat portion 301 of the thrust washer 101 and the flat portion 303 of the planet pin 207 are parallel to each other. A gap 305 extends between the flat portion 301 of the thrust washer 101 and the flat portion 303 of the planet pin 207.

[0029] The gap 305 allows the thrust washer 101 to rotate. Due to this rotation, the flat portion 301 of the thrust washer 101 and the flat portion 303 of the planet pin 207 come into contact. Figure 3b The contact of the flats 301 , 303 forms a stop which limits the rotatability of the thrust washer 101 .

[0030] List of Reference Numerals

[0031] 101 Thrust washer

[0032] 103 working surface

[0033] 104 recess

[0034] 201 Journal

[0035] 203 Planetary carrier

[0036] 205 Planetary gear

[0037] 207 Planetary Pin

[0038] 301 Flat portion of thrust washer

[0039] 303 Flat part of planetary pin

[0040] 305 Gap

Claims

1. An assembly having a thrust washer (101), characterized in that: A first stop mechanism and a second stop mechanism; wherein The thrust washer (101) is convertible by rotation between a position where the thrust washer (101) strikes the first stop mechanism and a position where the thrust washer (101) strikes the second stop mechanism, and is characterized in that: The first stop mechanism and the second stop mechanism are formed by a straight first surface (301) and a straight second surface (303); wherein The thrust washer (101) forms the first face (301) and is rotatable relative to the second face (303); and wherein The first surface (301) and the second surface (303) are arranged radially offset from each other.

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