Gearbox housing and gearbox

Abstract

The utility model provides a gear box body, it includes: the main part of box body, it includes the end cap of setting on one end of box body, end cap is provided with the supporting hole and has the opening of preset profile, and the appearance profile of adaptive cover is matched with the preset profile of opening, so that adaptive cover can detachably assemble in the opening, wherein, adaptive cover is provided with the axle hole, in the assembly state of adaptive cover installation to the main part of box body, the center distance and / or inclination angle of axle hole relative to supporting hole is configured to adapt to the different output configuration of gear box. The utility model also provides the gear box of using above -mentioned gear box body. The utility model provides gear box body and gear box relative to prior art can reduce cost, improve productivity and save resources.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This utility model relates to a housing structure. More specifically, this utility model relates to a gearbox housing and a gearbox using the gearbox housing. Background Technology

[0002] The wind turbine gearbox is the core transmission component of a wind turbine generator set. It is installed between the wind turbine and the generator and uses multi-stage gear transmission to increase the speed of the low-speed wind energy captured by the wind turbine to the speed required by the generator, so that the generator can generate electricity efficiently.

[0003] Currently, in wind turbine gearbox platform projects, the industry's common practice, faced with customers' differentiated speed ratio and interface requirements, is to design a unique gearbox and create a dedicated mold for each turbine model. This solution, rooted in the traditional model of highly customized wind turbine gearboxes, has exposed many shortcomings, severely restricting companies' technical response speed and cost control capabilities.

[0004] First, design costs have skyrocketed. The wind turbine gearbox housing is not a simple shell, but a complex load-bearing structure. For different speed ratios, the gear center distance, bearing span, and torque arm stress points all need to be recalculated and repositioned. Even more challenging is that interface differences often have far-reaching consequences, requiring the redesign of many related structures. This "one model, one housing, one mold" approach not only consumes R&D resources but also delays the OEM's schedule due to the long design iteration cycle.

[0005] Secondly, project costs are out of control. A single ductile iron gearbox mold is very expensive. If multiple models are derived from the same platform, the mold cost will increase significantly. More seriously, wind turbine gearbox housings are large, thin-walled castings, and mold debugging requires a lengthy process, which directly erodes the profits of wind power equipment.

[0006] Furthermore, the lack of mold versatility leads to idle and wasted resources. Wind turbine gearbox housing molds are complex in structure and large in size, resulting in high storage and management costs. In addition, even slight differences in center distance can prevent gear installation, and misalignment of interface flanges can cause interference in the overall assembly. This clearly deviates from the principle of economies of scale in industrialization.

[0007] Finally, these drawbacks create a chain reaction, significantly lengthening product development and production cycles. Traditional business models will become completely passive in terms of technological iteration and market responsiveness, ultimately weakening their ability to continuously innovate and their competitiveness in the industry.

[0008] Therefore, there is a need in the art for a novel, universal gearbox housing that can overcome one or more of the aforementioned defects. Utility Model Content

[0009] The purpose of this invention is to eliminate at least one of the aforementioned defects in the prior art, and to provide a gearbox housing and gearbox that reduce costs, increase productivity, and save resources.

[0010] To solve the above-mentioned technical problems, according to a first aspect of the present invention, a gearbox housing is provided, comprising: a housing body, including an end cap disposed at one end of the housing body, the end cap having a support hole and an opening having a preset profile; and an adapter cover, the outer profile of the adapter cover being adapted to the preset profile of the opening, such that the adapter cover can be detachably assembled into the opening, wherein the adapter cover has a shaft hole, and in the assembled state where the adapter cover is installed on the housing body, the center distance and / or tilt angle of the shaft hole relative to the support hole is configured to adapt to different output configurations of the gearbox.

[0011] According to a preferred embodiment of the present invention, there are multiple adapter covers, and the center distance and / or tilt angle of the shaft hole relative to the support hole of each adapter cover are different from each other.

[0012] According to a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the adapter cover has a curved oval outline and extends around the support hole.

[0013] According to a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the adapter cover has a thickened portion that is axially thickened toward the inside of the housing to improve the rigidity of the adapter cover, wherein the thickened portion covers the main body of the adapter cover and leaves an installation flange only at the circumferential edge of the adapter cover, or wherein the thickened portion is only partially thickened around the shaft hole.

[0014] According to a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the shaft hole is disposed in the thickened portion, and / or the thickened portion serves as a bearing seat for supporting shaft rotation.

[0015] According to a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the main body of the box and the end cap are formed as one piece.

[0016] According to a preferred embodiment of the present invention, a sealing device for dust and water protection is disposed between the opening of the end cap and the adapter cover, close to the inner side of the housing; and / or, a damping element for shock absorption is disposed between the opening of the end cap and the adapter cover, close to the outer side of the housing.

[0017] According to a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the main body of the housing is made of ductile iron, and / or the adapter cover is made of ductile iron.

[0018] According to a second aspect of the present invention, a gearbox is provided, wherein the gearbox housing is the gearbox housing described in the first aspect of the present invention.

[0019] According to a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the gearbox is a wind turbine gearbox, and the wind turbine gearbox houses a planetary gear transmission device and a parallel shaft gear transmission device.

[0020] The gearbox housing of this utility model can be flexibly adapted to gearboxes with various center distance and tilt angle requirements, has strong versatility, and has the advantages of saving resources, reducing costs and improving productivity. Attached Figure Description

[0021] To enable those skilled in the art to more fully understand this utility model, the specific embodiments of this utility model will be described in detail below with reference to the accompanying drawings. Wherein: Figure 1 This is a schematic assembly perspective view of a portion of the gearbox housing including the adapter cover, according to an embodiment of the present invention. Figure 2 for Figure 1 A schematic exploded perspective view of a portion of the gearbox housing in the illustrated embodiment; Figure 3 for Figure 1 A schematic perspective view of one of the adapter covers of the gearbox housing in the illustrated embodiment; and Figure 4 This is a partially cut-away side view of a gearbox according to an embodiment of the present invention, showing the transmission device housed inside the gearbox. Detailed Implementation

[0022] To make the present invention clearer, a specific embodiment of the present invention will be described in detail below with reference to the accompanying drawings, but the present invention is not limited to the embodiment described below.

[0023] It should be noted that the directional terms used in this article, such as "up" and "down", "top" and "bottom", "left" and "right", are only for the purpose of explaining the structure of the product with reference to the accompanying drawings. The directions indicated are only the approximate directions shown in the accompanying drawings and do not represent the actual direction of use of the product.

[0024] Figure 1 A partial assembly perspective view of a gearbox housing according to the present invention, including a fitting cover, is shown. Figure 2 It shows Figure 1 An exploded perspective view of a portion of the gearbox housing shown; and Figure 3 It shows Figure 1 A perspective view of one of the adapter covers of the gearbox housing shown. Figure 4A partially cut-away side view of a gearbox with the aforementioned gearbox housing is shown.

[0025] like Figures 1 to 3 As shown, a first aspect of this utility model provides a gearbox housing. Only a portion of the gearbox housing including the adapter cover is shown in the accompanying drawings; other parts of the housing body are not shown for clarity. The gearbox housing includes a housing body and an adapter cover 20 detachably mounted to the housing body. The adapter cover 20 can be mounted to an end cap 10 disposed at one end of the housing body. According to a preferred embodiment, the housing body and the end cap 10 are integrally formed. Optionally, the housing body and the end cap can also be fixed together by welding or other connection methods known in the art. Only one adapter cover 20 is shown in the drawings. According to a preferred embodiment of this utility model, the gearbox housing may include multiple adapter covers 20. The end cap 10 and the housing body can be integrally formed or fixedly connected to each other by suitable connection methods known in the art. The end cap 10 is provided with a support hole 101 and an opening 102 with a predetermined profile for mounting the adapter cover 20. The outer contour of the adapter cover 20 is adapted to the preset contour of the opening 102, allowing the adapter cover 20 to be detachably assembled into the opening 102. The detachable connection method between the adapter cover 20 and the end cover 10 is also unrestricted; commonly used detachable connection methods in the mechanical field, such as bolt connection, can be employed. Each adapter cover 20 is provided with a shaft hole 201. The location of the shaft hole 201 on each adapter cover 20 can be different. In other words, different adapter covers 20 can have shaft holes 201 located at different positions.

[0026] Therefore, in the assembled state where different adapter covers 20 are installed in the openings 102 on the housing body, the shaft hole 201 can form different positional relationships with respect to the support hole 101 on the end cover 10 of the housing body, such as different center distances and / or tilt angles. These different center distances and / or tilt angles can adapt to different output configurations of the gearbox. In this document, different output configurations of the gearbox refer to the different requirements of different gearbox models for center distance and tilt angle. In other words, when different adapter covers 20 are installed on the end cover 10, housings with different center distances, housings with different tilt angles, or housings with different center distances and tilt angles can be provided. In this document, the center distance refers to the distance between the center of the support hole 101 and the center of the shaft hole 201 on the adapter cover. The tilt angle refers to the angle formed by the line connecting the center of the support hole 101 and the center of the shaft hole 201 on the adapter cover and the horizontal plane.

[0027] Meanwhile, because the main body of the gearbox features a standardized design—with support holes and openings for mounting adapter covers on the end caps—a standardized basic module can be provided for the same model, eliminating the need for separate molds for specific models. The reusable main body significantly reduces costs and shortens design and production cycles. The adapter cover, being a relatively small design unit, allows for rapid response to market demands, further shortening design and production cycles, thereby improving the overall production cycle of the gearbox housing.

[0028] Therefore, by using the same main body of the gearbox to fit a set of adapter covers, it is possible to meet the needs of gearboxes with different center distances and tilt angles. This allows the gearbox of this invention to be flexibly adapted to different models without the need to design a separate gearbox for each model.

[0029] As an application example, the gearbox housing of this invention can be used in wind turbine gearboxes. In wind power equipment, the requirements for gearbox housings often differ between different models on the same platform, thus necessitating separate gearbox housings for each model. However, by employing the technical solution of this invention, a set of adapter covers can be adapted to different models on the same platform, thereby achieving housing versatility for wind turbine gearboxes on the same platform. In this case, the support hole is typically coaxial with the wind turbine main shaft, and the shaft hole corresponds to the high-speed output shaft of the gearbox.

[0030] Unlike the existing technology of "one model, one box, one mold", this utility model adopts the design of "unified box body and differentiated adapter cover". For different models on the same platform, the structure and size of the box body are unified. Only the design of the adapter cover needs to be changed according to the differences of the specific model to meet the assembly and functional requirements of each model. There is no need to redesign and open molds for the entire box.

[0031] According to a preferred embodiment of this utility model, a damping element can be disposed on the outer peripheral surface of the adapter cover 20 or the inner peripheral surface of the opening 102, specifically, it is embedded between the mating surfaces of the adapter cover 20 and the opening 102 to form a circumferentially continuous elastic buffer layer. This layer is configured to absorb vibration impacts and isolate vibration transmission. Preferably, the damping element is positioned close to the outer side of the gearbox housing between the mating surfaces of the adapter cover 20 and the opening 102. Preferably, the damping element uses a rubber gasket with good elastic modulus, oil resistance, and aging resistance, and is fixed by interference fit or bonding to reduce operating noise, prevent wear on the mating surfaces, and thus improve the overall reliability and service life of the gearbox housing. The gearbox housing of this utility model is applicable to any housing with different output port requirements, such as the housing of a transmission device like a speed increaser or speed reducer.

[0032] According to a preferred embodiment, the adapter cover 20 may be provided with a thickened portion 202 for increasing rigidity. Preferably, the thickened portion 202 thickens axially from the adapter cover 20 into the housing. The thickened portion 202 may be an overall thickening of the main body of the adapter cover 20, leaving only a joining / mounting flange at the circumferential edge, such as... Figure 3 As shown. The engagement flange can be used, for example, to mount connecting elements that assemble the adapter cover 20 onto the housing body. The thickened portion 202 can also be a localized thickening implemented only around the shaft hole 201, forming a structure similar to a bearing seat. The thickened portion 202 is configured to significantly improve the local stiffness of the adapter cover 20 in the shaft hole region, resisting bending deformation and vibration, and can be used as a bearing seat.

[0033] The shaft hole 201 is preferably located at the geometric center of the thickened portion 202 to ensure sufficient support rigidity of the bearing mounting reference surface. As a key reinforced area for the bearing, the thickened portion 202 effectively improves the dynamic characteristics of the shaft (e.g., a high-speed shaft) mounted in the shaft hole 201, while limiting the deformation of the bearing housing under alternating loads, thereby extending the bearing's service life and reducing the risk of premature failure. Furthermore, by providing the thickened portion 202 on the adapter cover, the bearing support rigidity requirements can be met without thickening the wall of the housing body or its end cap 10, thus saving material usage in the housing body, reducing the overall weight of the housing, and achieving a balance between lightweight design and reliability.

[0034] According to a preferred embodiment, the adapter cover 20 has a curved oval profile. Correspondingly, the pre-defined profile of the opening 102 on the end cap 10 is the same curved oval shape as the adapter. In this document, the profile of the adapter cover 20 is not limited to being described as a curved oval; it may also be described as a crescent shape with rounded ends, or as... Figures 1 to 3 Any similar geometry shown, i.e., the outer contour of the adapter cover consists of two generally parallel long arc segments and two short arc segments closing the ends of the long arc segments, and the longitudinal center extension line of this outer contour is arc-shaped. The curved oval concave portion is adjacent to the support hole 101 on the main body of the housing, and the arc-shaped longitudinal center extension line of the adapter cover substantially surrounds the support hole 101. This facilitates providing more possibilities for the gearbox housing to meet different center distances and tilt angle requirements. In addition, the curved outer contour is a streamlined structure with a gentle transition, which can alleviate stress concentration, change the local mass distribution and stiffness characteristics of the end cover, and thereby prevent resonance and reduce noise, etc. The streamlined structure is also easy to demold during manufacturing.

[0035] According to a preferred embodiment, the sealing device can be disposed between the mating surfaces of the adapter cover 20 and the gearbox body, located axially inside the gearbox body (towards the interior of the gearbox body). The sealing device preferably employs a static sealing structure, configured to prevent, for example, lubricating oil leakage, while blocking external dust, rainwater, and moisture from entering the gearbox body. Optionally, the sealing device can employ sealant uniformly coated on the mating surfaces, O-rings, rubber gaskets, etc., to ensure long-term maintenance of excellent elasticity and sealing performance, thereby guaranteeing reliable operation and maintenance-free cycles for the components within the gearbox body.

[0036] According to a preferred embodiment, the gearbox body can be constructed using an integral cast or welded structure. This integral structure ensures the gearbox body has excellent integrity and increased rigidity, eliminating gaps at the joint surfaces of segmented structures and preventing leakage channels. Simultaneously, casting or welding processes are suitable for mass production, allowing for the machining of all hole systems in a single setup, resulting in high efficiency and precision in secondary machining, significantly reducing manufacturing costs and maintenance risks. Optionally, end caps can be bolted to the rest of the gearbox body. This connection structure facilitates gearbox maintenance and makes the connected components easier to manufacture.

[0037] According to a preferred embodiment, the main body of the gearbox housing is made of ductile iron. The adapter cover can also be made of ductile iron. Ductile iron is inexpensive, and its strength and rigidity are sufficient to meet the requirements of high-speed shaft torque transmission, while being resistant to deformation. Therefore, ductile iron can balance the requirements of cost, performance, and reliability.

[0038] According to a second aspect of the present invention, a gearbox 1 is provided, wherein the gearbox 1 housing adopts the gearbox housing provided in the first aspect of the present invention.

[0039] According to a preferred embodiment, the gearbox 1 is designed to house the transmission device 30, such as Figure 4 As shown. The gearbox 1 can be a wind turbine gearbox. The transmission device 30 housed in the wind turbine gearbox typically includes a planetary gear transmission device and a parallel shaft gear transmission device. These transmission devices, through multi-stage gear transmission, progressively and efficiently increase the rotational speed, thereby effectively converting the low-speed rotation captured by the wind turbine into the operating speed required by the generator to match the electrical characteristics of the generator and ensure power generation efficiency and system stability.

[0040] This invention designs a universal gearbox housing capable of adapting to various center distances and tilt angles, breaking the limitations of traditional housings that can only accommodate a single center distance and tilt angle. It can flexibly match the basic parameter requirements of different customers in projects on the same platform. Unlike the existing "one model, one housing, one mold" model, this invention adopts a "uniform housing body, differentiated adapter cover" design. Only the adapter cover needs to be replaced to adapt to different models on the same platform, eliminating the need to design a separate housing and manufacture molds for each model.

[0041] Furthermore, the gearbox housing of this invention can reduce repetitive design work and lower design manpower costs; it also eliminates the need to manufacture multiple housing molds, significantly reducing mold procurement and manufacturing costs.

[0042] Furthermore, the gearbox housing of this utility model can shorten the development cycle of the housing for new models on the same platform and accelerate the product launch speed; the mold and the main body of the housing can be reused, reducing production preparation time and thus improving efficiency.

[0043] In addition, the gearbox housing of this utility model can avoid mold idleness and material waste caused by differences in machine models, improve mold utilization, and conform to the green production concept of resource conservation.

[0044] In summary, the gearbox housing of this utility model can flexibly adapt to various center distance and tilt angle requirements, has strong versatility, and can ensure the service life and reliability of the housing.

[0045] The specific embodiments described above are for illustrative purposes only and are not intended to limit the scope of this utility model. Those skilled in the art can make various modifications and variations without departing from the inventive concept of this utility model, and all equivalent technical solutions fall within the protection scope of this utility model. The protection scope of this utility model is defined by the appended claims.

Claims

1. A gearbox housing, characterized in that, include: The housing body includes an end cap (10) disposed at one end of the housing body, the end cap (10) having a support hole (101) and an opening (102) having a predetermined profile; and An adapter cover (20) is provided, the outline of which is adapted to the preset outline of the opening (102), so that the adapter cover (20) can be detachably installed in the opening (102). The adapter cover (20) is provided with a shaft hole (201). When the adapter cover (20) is installed on the main body of the housing, the center distance and / or tilt angle of the shaft hole (201) relative to the support hole (101) are configured to adapt to different output configurations of the gearbox.

2. The gearbox housing according to claim 1, characterized in that, There are multiple adapter covers (20), and the center distance and / or tilt angle of the shaft hole (201) of each adapter cover (20) relative to the support hole (101) are different from each other.

3. The gearbox housing according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that, The adapter cover (20) has a curved oval profile and extends around the support hole (101).

4. The gearbox housing according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that, The adapter cover (20) has a thickened portion (202) that is axially thickened toward the inside of the housing to increase the rigidity of the adapter cover, wherein the thickened portion (202) covers the main body of the adapter cover (20) and leaves a mounting flange only at the circumferential edge of the adapter cover (20), or wherein the thickened portion (202) is only partially thickened around the shaft hole (201).

5. The gearbox housing according to claim 4, characterized in that, The shaft hole (201) is provided in the thickened portion (202), and / or the thickened portion (202) serves as a bearing seat for supporting shaft rotation.

6. The gearbox housing according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that, The main body of the box and the end cap (10) are integrated.

7. The gearbox housing according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that, A sealing device for dust and water protection is disposed between the opening (102) of the end cap (10) and the adapter cap (20) and located close to the inside of the housing; and / or, a damping element for shock absorption is disposed between the opening (102) of the end cap (10) and the adapter cap (20) and located close to the outside of the housing.

8. The gearbox housing according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that, The main body of the housing is made of ductile iron, and / or the adapter cover is made of ductile iron.

9. A gearbox (1), characterized in that, The gearbox (1) housing is the gearbox housing according to any one of claims 1 to 8.

10. The gearbox (1) according to claim 9, characterized in that, The gearbox (1) is a wind turbine gearbox, which houses a planetary gear transmission device and a parallel shaft gear transmission device.

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