High-strength and high-rigidity planet carrier

Abstract

The high-strength and high-rigidity planet carrier comprises a front side plate and a rear side plate, through holes used for being matched with a sun gear are formed in the middle of the front side plate and the middle of the rear side plate, a supporting column is arranged between the front side plate and the rear side plate, and the front side plate, the rear side plate and the supporting column form a containing cavity used for assembling a planet gear. The supporting columns are distributed at the positions close to the outer edges of the front side plate and the rear side plate in a surrounding mode, at least one curve transition structure is arranged at the connecting position of the front side plate or / and the rear side plate and the supporting columns, and / or at least one curve transition structure is arranged on each supporting column. While the structural strength and rigidity of the planet carrier are guaranteed, stress is effectively dispersed, interference with a planet wheel is avoided, and the manufacturing and maintenance performance of the planet carrier is optimized.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The invention relates to a planetary carrier with high strength and high rigidity, belonging to the technical field of gearboxes in wind turbine generator sets. Background Art

[0002] In the field of mechanical transmission, planetary gear transmissions are widely used in equipment such as wind turbine gearboxes and aircraft turbine reducers due to their advantages such as high transmission efficiency, large transmission ratios, and compact structure. As the core component of a planetary gear transmission system, the planet carrier's primary function is to support the planetary gears and transmit torque. Its structural strength, rigidity, and stability directly impact the reliability, service life, and transmission efficiency of the entire transmission system.

[0003] In the gearbox of a wind turbine generator set, the planetary carrier is generally composed of a front side plate, a rear side plate, and a support column connecting the two. Through holes matching the sun gear are opened in the middle of the front and rear side plates, and the support columns are distributed in a circular array along the outer edge of the side plates to form a cavity for assembling the planetary gears. During operation, the connection between the support column and the side plate is a key area of ​​stress concentration and is very prone to cracking and failure due to alternating loads. In traditional designs, to reduce the risk of cracking, traditional designs will use chamfered corners at the connection between the support column and the side plate. However, if the fillet is too large, it will easily interfere with the planetary gear, and if it is too small, it will not be able to effectively disperse the stress, making it difficult to balance the contradiction between strength, stiffness and assembly space. In addition, to ensure the smooth assembly of the planetary gears, sufficient space must be reserved between adjacent support columns. This is often achieved by reducing the width of the support columns, but this will reduce the overall stiffness of the planetary carrier, aggravate the vibration of the gearbox, and affect the stability and service life of the transmission system. Summary of the Invention

[0004] The purpose of the present invention is to provide a planetary carrier with high strength and high rigidity to solve the above-mentioned problems, while ensuring the structural strength and rigidity of the planetary carrier, effectively dispersing stress, avoiding interference with the planetary gears, and optimizing its manufacturing and maintenance performance.

[0005] The technical solution adopted in the present invention is as follows: A high-strength and high-rigidity planetary carrier comprises a front side plate and a rear side plate, wherein a through hole for matching with a sun gear is opened in the middle of the front side plate and the rear side plate, and a support column is arranged between the front side plate and the rear side plate, and the front side plate, the rear side plate and the support column form a cavity for assembling the planetary gear, and the support column is distributed around the outer edge of the front side plate and the rear side plate, and at least one curved transition structure is provided at the connection between the front side plate and / or the rear side plate and the support column, and / or the support column has at least one curved transition structure.

[0006] Optionally, the support columns are distributed along a circumferential array.

[0007] Optionally, the curved transition structure is C-shaped or U-shaped.

[0008] Optionally, the connection between the inner side surface of the front side panel and / or the rear side panel and the support column has a first curved surface, which protrudes outward on the support column side, and one end of the first curved surface is connected to the support column, and the other end is connected to the front side panel and / or the rear side panel.

[0009] Optionally, the second curved surface at the connection between the outer side surface of the front side panel and / or the rear side panel and the support column protrudes outward on the support column side, one end of the second curved surface is connected to the support column, and the other end is connected to the outer edge circular surface of the front side panel and / or the rear side panel.

[0010] Optionally, there is a chamfer between the first curved surface and / or the second curved surface and the front side plate and / or the rear side plate; or, the first curved surface and / or the second curved surface and the front side plate and / or the rear side plate are tangent.

[0011] Optionally, one or both sides of the circumference of the support column have an inwardly curved arc edge.

[0012] Optionally, the arc-shaped edge extends along the length direction of the support column, and the extension length is not less than 1 / 2 of the length of the support column.

[0013] Optionally, an arc-shaped notch is provided at the connection between the outer side surface of the front side plate and / or the rear side plate and the support column.

[0014] Optionally, the arc-shaped notches are respectively provided on the front side panels and / or the rear side panels and the support columns.

[0015] In summary, due to the adoption of the above technical solution, the beneficial effects of the present invention are: 1. The high-strength and high-rigidity planetary carrier provided by the present invention has a curved transition structure at the connection between the front and rear side panels and the support columns, which replaces the traditional chamfer to achieve a smoother transition, effectively disperse stress concentration, greatly reduce the risk of cracking at the junction of the support columns and side panels, and significantly improve the overall strength of the planetary carrier, enabling it to better withstand the alternating loads in scenarios such as wind turbine gearboxes.

[0016] 2. The high-strength, high-rigidity planetary carrier provided by this invention utilizes space and avoids interference. Through rational curved surface design, it ensures stress dispersion while avoiding the interference of traditional large rounded corners with the planetary gear assembly. The curved shape on one or both sides of the support column increases its width at the outer edge of the side plate without encroaching on the planetary gear cavity. This not only enhances the rigidity of the support column but also provides ample clearance for assembly and movement of the planetary gears, resolving the conflict between increased strength and insufficient space in traditional designs. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0017] Figure 1 It is a structural schematic diagram of the present invention.

[0018] Figure 2 It is a schematic diagram of the three-dimensional structure of the present invention; Figure 3 It is a structural diagram of the support column.

[0019] Markings in the figure: 1-front side panel, 2-rear side panel, 3-support column, 4-first curved surface, 5-second curved surface, 6-arc edge, 7-arc notch. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0020] The present invention will be described in detail below with reference to the accompanying drawings.

[0021] In order to make the purpose, technical solutions and advantages of the present invention more clearly understood, the present invention will be further described in detail below with reference to the accompanying drawings and embodiments. It should be understood that the specific embodiments described herein are only used to explain the present invention and are not intended to limit the present invention.

[0022] A planetary carrier with high strength and high rigidity, such as Figure 1-3 As shown, it includes a front side plate 1 and a rear side plate 2, and a through hole for matching with the sun gear is opened in the middle of the front side plate 1 and the rear side plate 2. A support column 3 is arranged between the front side plate 1 and the rear side plate 2. The front side plate 1, the rear side plate 2 and the support column 3 form a cavity for assembling the planetary gear. The support column 3 is distributed around the outer edge of the front side plate 1 and the rear side plate 2. At least one curved transition structure is provided at the connection between the front side plate 1 and / or the rear side plate 2 and the support column 3, and / or the support column 3 has at least one curved transition structure.

[0023] The through-holes in the center of the front and rear side plates 1 and 2 are designed to mate with the sun gear, ensuring proper meshing between the sun gear and the planetary gears, thus providing the foundation for power transmission. Support columns 3 are distributed around the outer edges between the front and rear side plates 1 and 2, forming a cavity for the planetary gears. This provides a stable mounting space for the planetary gears and, through the connection of the support columns 3, strengthens the structural integrity of the entire planetary carrier. During operation, the connection between the support columns 3 and the side plates is a primary area of ​​stress concentration. The curved transition structure, with its smooth curved surface, distributes stress over a wider area, avoiding excessive stress accumulation at sharp corners and reducing the risk of cracking and failure in these areas. Specifically, while traditional small-radius fillets attempt to fully alleviate stress concentration, increasing the radius often encroaches excessively on the planetary gear assembly space, leading to interference. The large-radius arc in this solution, by precisely designing its curvature, position, and extension direction, allows the arc transition area to cleverly avoid the planetary gear's movement space. Furthermore, the curved transition structure can also complement the widened design of support column 3. By utilizing the streamlined features of the curved surface, the width of support column 3 can be increased to improve overall rigidity without occupying additional space in the planetary gear cavity. This ensures sufficient assembly space without compromising on the width of support column 3, thus achieving a balance between structural strength, rigidity, and assembly requirements. The curved transition structure used for the widened support column 3 design can take two forms: one is arranged on support column 3 at the connection between the front side plate 1 and / or the rear side plate 2 and the support column, widening the connection. The other is arranged in the middle of the support column 3 body, pre-widening it before connecting to the front side plate 1 and / or the rear side plate 2, with the width of the connection being consistent with the width after widening. These two forms can be combined or implemented separately, and both can increase the width of the support column to improve overall rigidity without occupying additional space in the planetary gear cavity.

[0024] As another specific embodiment, the support columns 3 are distributed along a circumferential array. The regularity of the circular array simplifies design and modeling, facilitates the use of processes such as mold casting and CNC machining, and reduces manufacturing difficulty and cost. During assembly, the symmetrical layout provides a clear reference for part alignment, improving assembly efficiency and precision.

[0025] As another specific embodiment, the curved transition structure is C-shaped or U-shaped. The curved transition structure can have a uniform curvature or different curvatures depending on actual needs. When using a uniform curvature, the stable curved surface shape can achieve uniform stress distribution at the connection between the support column 3 and the side panel, simplifying the processing process and ensuring consistent stress distribution in the transition area. When using different curvatures, differentiated designs can be implemented based on the stress distribution characteristics of different connection points between the support column 3 and the side panel, such as the inner and outer surfaces. For example, a larger curvature can be used at the inner surface connection, where stress concentration is more pronounced, to enhance the stress distribution effect, while a smaller curvature can be used at the outer surface connection to adapt to the outer edge of the circular surface. This ensures strength at all locations while more precisely fitting into the planetary gear assembly space and avoiding interference. The C-shaped arc achieves progressive stress distribution through continuous curvature, ensuring smoother force flow at the connection between the support column 3 and the side panel and avoiding sudden changes. The U-shaped structure, on the other hand, utilizes a combination of arc buffering and linear directional guidance to precisely control the stress transfer path, utilizing the arc to alleviate stress concentration while using straight segments to adapt to specific spaces or stress requirements.

[0026] As another specific embodiment, the connection between the inner side surface of the front side panel 1 and / or the rear side panel 2 and the support column 3 has a first curved surface 4, which protrudes outward on the side of the support column 3. One end of the first curved surface 4 is connected to the support column 3, and the other end is connected to the front side panel 1 and / or the rear side panel 2. The first curved surface 4 at the connection between the inner side surface of the front side panel 1 or the rear side panel 2 and the support column 3 achieves a smooth transition between the two through the outward-protruding curved design. The first curved surface 4 is connected to the support column 3 at one end and to the side panel at the other end, which can disperse the stress at the connection between the support column 3 and the side panel to a wider range, avoiding stress concentration at right angles or sharp corners, thereby enhancing the structural strength of this part and reducing the risk of cracking. At the same time, this curved transition ensures connection strength without excessively encroaching on the planetary gear assembly cavity. Combined with the layout of the support columns 3, this not only provides ample installation space for the planetary gears, but also avoids interference with the planetary gears through the appropriate curvature design of the curved surface. This further balances structural strength with assembly requirements, improving the overall performance of the planetary carrier. Specifically, the first curved surface 4 connecting to the front side plate 1 and the rear side plate 2 can be directly connected in an arc shape or through a straight line transition. When the first curved surface 4 is directly connected to the front side plate 1 and the rear side plate 2 in an arc shape, a continuous curved surface transition is formed, allowing for smoother force flow. A straight line transition, on the other hand, ensures a certain degree of smoothness while adapting to specific spatial layout requirements. This flexible connection method not only strengthens the connection between the support columns 3 and the side plates, but also avoids encroaching on the planetary gear assembly cavity. Combined with the design of the circular array of support columns 3, it further balances structural strength with space utilization, improving the overall performance of the planetary carrier.

[0027] As another specific embodiment, the second curved surface 5 at the connection between the outer side surface of the front side panel 1 and / or the rear side panel 2 and the support column 3 protrudes outward from the support column 3. One end of the second curved surface 5 connects to the support column 3, and the other end connects to the outer circumferential surface of the front side panel 1 and / or the rear side panel 2. The second curved surface 5 at the connection between the outer side surface of the front side panel 1 or the rear side panel 2 and the support column 3, through its curved design protruding outward from the support column 3, achieves a smooth transition between the support column 3 and the outer circumferential surface of the side panel. With one end of the second curved surface 5 connected to the support column 3 and the other end connected to the outer circumferential surface of the side panel, it optimizes stress distribution in this area, reduces stress concentration, and enhances connection strength. Furthermore, this curved transition adapts to the circumferential shape of the side panel's outer edge, increasing the width of the support column 3 at the side panel's outer edge while avoiding encroachment on the planetary gear assembly space. This improves the rigidity of the planetary carrier while effectively preventing interference with the planetary gears, further ensuring the stable operation of the planetary carrier.

[0028] The first curved surface 4 and the second curved surface 5 cooperate to optimize the connection between the support column 3 and the side plate from both the inner and outer sides, comprehensively reducing stress concentration and enhancing the overall strength and rigidity of the planetary carrier. Furthermore, the combined design of these two forms effectively extends and transitions the connection area between the side plate and the support column 3 away from the planetary gear assembly cavity. This effectively disperses stress without taking up any additional radial or axial space required by the planetary gears, ensuring ample space for proper assembly and operation and preventing interference.

[0029] In another specific embodiment, the first curved surface 4 and / or the second curved surface 5 have a chamfered corner with the front side panel 1 and / or the rear side panel 2; alternatively, the first curved surface 4 and / or the second curved surface 5 are tangent to the front side panel 1 and / or the rear side panel 2. Chamfered corners create a secondary smooth transition at the connection between the curved surface and the side panel using a small-radius arc. This eliminates any subtle corners that may exist at the junction, preventing the formation of new stress concentration points. This allows for a more consistent force flow from the side panel to the curved surface, enhancing local fatigue resistance, especially under high-load conditions. Tangential connections, on the other hand, create a continuous tangent line at the contact point between the curved surface and the side panel surface, resulting in a more natural transition and smooth force flow. This reduces energy loss and, in a compact design, avoids the need for additional transition structure to occupy planetary gear assembly space, thereby reducing interference risks. Chamfered corners are suitable for stress-sensitive areas, improving structural reliability through multiple buffers. Tangential connections are suitable for spatially constrained locations, ensuring a smooth transition while maintaining compactness. The combined effect of the two makes the connection between the curved surface and the side panel more in line with the laws of mechanical transmission. Combined with the overall design of the circumferential array distribution of the support columns 3 and the curved transition structure, the strength and rigidity of the planetary carrier are enhanced while optimizing space utilization, enabling the planetary carrier to stably bear loads and efficiently transmit power under complex working conditions. At the same time, it reduces the extreme requirements for machining accuracy during the manufacturing process and improves production feasibility.

[0030] As another specific embodiment, the support column 3 has an inwardly curved arc edge 6 on one or both sides of the circumference. The inwardly curved arc edge 6 on one or both sides of the circumference of the support column 3 can effectively increase its width at the circumferential surface of the outer edge of the side plate without encroaching on the planetary gear assembly space outward. The increase in width directly improves the rigidity and deformation resistance of the support column 3 at the outer edge of the side plate, making the torque and load transmission more stable and reducing the risk of cracking due to insufficient local strength. At the same time, the smooth transition shape of the arc edge 6 avoids the stress concentration caused by the sudden change in width, allowing the force flow to be transmitted more smoothly from the support column 3 to the side plate. Combined with the circumferential array distribution and curved transition structure of the support column 3, this arc edge 6 design further balances the structural strength, space utilization and transmission stability, making the planetary frame more reliable when bearing high loads and adapting to the needs of complex working conditions such as wind turbine gearboxes.

[0031] As another specific embodiment, the arcuate edge 6 extends along the length of the support column 3, and the extended length is no less than 1 / 2 of the length of the support column 3. This effectively increases the width of the support column 3 over a wide axial range. This design provides the support column 3 with greater rigidity over a longer axial range, avoiding sudden changes in rigidity caused by insufficient local length. This makes the entire support column 3 more stable when transmitting torque and bearing loads, and reduces the risk of deformation caused by uneven axial force.

[0032] As another specific embodiment, an arc-shaped notch 7 is provided at the connection between the outer surface of the front side plate 1 and / or the rear side plate 2 and the support column 3. By precisely removing unnecessary material, the weight of the planetary carrier is directly reduced. Reducing material accumulation in areas away from the center of rotation can effectively reduce the planetary carrier's moment of inertia, making the planetary carrier more responsive during startup, speed change, or braking, reducing drive energy consumption, and improving the dynamic performance of the transmission system. The arc-shaped transition avoids stress concentration caused by right angles or sharp corners, ensuring that after material removal, the connection can still stably withstand the load transmitted by the support column 3 without weakening the overall rigidity of the planetary carrier.

[0033] As another specific embodiment, the arcuate notches 7 are provided on the front side panels 1 and / or the rear side panels 2, as well as the support columns 3. The arcuate notches 7 on the front and rear side panels 1 and 2 are adapted to their outer edge contours, reducing the non-load-bearing mass near the support columns 3. The arcuate notches 7 on the support columns 3 extend along their own structure to avoid compromising the strength of the connection with the side panels. This not only expands the scope for weight reduction, but also allows the notch size and depth to be controlled based on the varying load distribution of each component, ensuring lightweighting without compromising the rigidity of key areas.

[0034] The above description is only a preferred embodiment of the present invention and is not intended to limit the present invention. The present invention extends to any new features or any new combinations disclosed in this specification, and any modifications, equivalent substitutions and improvements made within the spirit and principles of the present invention should be included in the scope of protection of the present invention. For those skilled in the art, it is obvious that the present invention is not limited to the details of the above exemplary embodiments, and the detailed technical features not disclosed in this embodiment, such as the specific structure, are all prior art, and those skilled in the art can obtain them from the prior art; the connection method can be a fixed connection, a detachable connection, or an integrated connection; it can be a fixed connection, a movable connection or a hinged connection, and can be directly connected or indirectly connected through an intermediate medium. For those of ordinary skill in the art, the specific manner of the above terms in the embodiments of the present invention can be understood according to the specific circumstances, and the embodiments disclosed herein do not make specific limitations on this.

Claims

1. A planetary carrier with high strength and high rigidity, characterized by: It includes a front side plate and a rear side plate, and a through hole for matching with the sun gear is opened in the middle of the front side plate and the rear side plate, and a support column is arranged between the front side plate and the rear side plate. The front side plate, the rear side plate and the support column form a cavity for assembling the planetary gear, and the support column is distributed around the outer edge of the front side plate and the rear side plate. At least one curved transition structure is provided at the connection between the front side plate and / or the rear side plate and the support column, and / or the support column has at least one curved transition structure.

2. The planet carrier according to claim 1, characterized in that The support columns are distributed along a circumferential array.

3. The planet carrier according to claim 1, characterized in that The curved transition structure is C-shaped or U-shaped.

4. The planet carrier according to claim 3, characterized in that The connection between the inner side surface of the front side panel and / or the rear side panel and the support column has a first curved surface, which protrudes outward on the support column side. One end of the first curved surface is connected to the support column, and the other end is connected to the front side panel and / or the rear side panel.

5. The planet carrier according to claim 4, characterized in that The second curved surface is connected to the outer side surface of the front side plate and / or the rear side plate and the support column. The second curved surface protrudes outward on the support column side. One end of the second curved surface is connected to the support column, and the other end is connected to the outer edge circumferential surface of the front side plate and / or the rear side plate.

6. The planet carrier according to claim 5, characterized in that There is a chamfer between the first curved surface and / or the second curved surface and the front side plate and / or the rear side plate; or, the first curved surface and / or the second curved surface and the front side plate and / or the rear side plate are tangent.

7. The planet carrier according to claim 3, characterized in that One or both sides of the support column have an inwardly curved arc edge.

8. The planet carrier according to claim 4, characterized in that The arc-shaped edge extends along the length direction of the support column, and the extension length is not less than 1 / 2 of the length of the support column.

9. The planet carrier according to claim 1, characterized in that An arc-shaped notch is provided at the connection between the outer side surface of the front side plate and / or the rear side plate and the support column.

10. The planet carrier according to claim 7, characterized in that The arc-shaped notches are respectively arranged on the front side plate and / or the rear side plate and the support column.

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