Planetary carrier with an oil collection tray

Abstract

Planet carrier (PT) with a support element (TE), wherein an oil collection tray (OS) is positively attached to the support element (TE) and the oil collection tray (OS) has a projection (FS) which is arranged such that the projection (FS) extends into a groove (NE) formed in the support element (TE), wherein the projection (FS) completely fills the groove (NE) for sealing, characterized in that the groove (NE) is not aligned parallel to an axis of rotation of the planet carrier (PT).

Description

[0001] The present invention relates to a planetary carrier with an oil collecting tray. The invention further relates to a planetary gear train with such a planetary carrier and a transmission for a motor vehicle with such a planetary gear train. A planetary gear train always has one or more planetary carriers.

[0002] On a planetary carrier, several planetary gears are rotatably mounted on a planetary pin, each. To ensure lubrication of the planetary gears and the associated bearings, it is known, for example, from DE 10 2010 051 946 A1, that an oil drip tray is attached to the planetary carrier. The oil drip tray is designed to collect oil and feed it to the planetary gear bearings for lubrication.

[0003] DE 10 2010 051 946 A1 further describes a method for the positive mounting of an oil drip tray on a planetary carrier, wherein the oil drip tray is pressed into a groove in the planetary carrier by rolling. The disadvantage of this lies in the rolling process and the necessary preparation of the groove in the planetary carrier, which is technically very complex and costly.

[0004] The present invention is based on the object of demonstrating the tightness of the connection between the planetary carrier and an oil collecting tray without the use of a complex and complicated process.

[0005] The problem is solved by the features of patent claim 1. Advantageous embodiments emerge from the dependent patent claims, from the description and from the figures.

[0006] To solve this problem, a planetary carrier with a carrier element is proposed, with an oil collecting tray being positively attached to the carrier element. The oil collecting tray has an extension arranged such that the extension projects into a groove formed in the carrier element.

[0007] According to the invention, the oil drip tray has an extension that projects into a groove formed in the carrier element. The advantageous design of the groove on the planetary carrier and the extension on the oil drip tray ensures that the groove is completely filled. Completely filling the groove creates a fluid-tight connection. This fluid-tight connection prevents lubricant from penetrating between the carrier element and the oil drip tray. This prevents oil loss, which would otherwise be lost if the components were lubricated.

[0008] Furthermore, the design of the connecting elements has created a positive connection, which can be designed as follows: The groove recess is not aligned parallel to the planetary carrier's rotational axis. The advantage of this design lies in the fact that the resulting undercut clamps the oil drip tray to the planetary carrier, creating an axial positive fit and fluid tightness.

[0009] Preferably, the groove recess is not aligned parallel to the planet carrier's rotational axis. The groove recess has an additional groove that does not extend in the direction of the planet carrier's rotational axis. The advantage of this design lies in the fact that the additional undercut and the resulting increased form fit result in increased robustness of the connection and excellent fluid tightness.

[0010] To create an axial positive fit, the groove recess is preferably aligned radially to a rotational axis of the planet carrier. The advantage of this design lies in the fact that the undercut provides additional clamping of the components relative to each other. This creates an axial positive fit and fluid tightness.

[0011] To create an axial positive fit, the groove recess is preferably aligned radially to a rotational axis of the planet carrier, with the groove recess additionally having a further groove aligned parallel to the rotational axis of the planet carrier. The advantage of this design lies in the fact that positive fit is created in both the axial and radial directions. The positive fit in different directions creates a high level of fluid tightness.

[0012] To create an axial positive fit, the groove recess is preferably aligned radially to a rotational axis of the planet carrier, with the groove recess also having an undercut that is not perpendicular to the rotational axis of the planet carrier. The advantage of this design lies in the fact that the undercut provides a high additional radial positive fit, which creates a high degree of fluid tightness. The axial positive fit also creates a high degree of fluid tightness.

[0013] The planetary gear unit preferably comprises a sun gear, a ring gear, and one or more planetary gears mounted on a planetary carrier. The positive attachment of the oil drip tray in its various configurations ensures a robust and fluid-tight unit.

[0014] The planetary gear can be part of a transmission installed in a motor vehicle.

[0015] The following figures show exemplary embodiments of the invention. They show: - Fig. 1, a gearbox with a planetary gear and an oil tray - Fig. 2, schematic partial view of a planetary gear and the connection of an oil drip tray - Fig. 3 - 8, schematically show a design for connecting an oil collecting tray to a planetary gear

[0016] Fig. 1 shows a transmission G for a motor vehicle, which is arranged for power transmission between the input and output of the motor vehicle. The transmission G has several planetary gear sets. A planetary transmission PG is shown in more detail. The planetary transmission PG has a sun gear S, a planet carrier PT with several rotatably mounted planet gears PR and a ring gear HR. The planet gears PR mesh with the sun gear S and with the ring gear HR. Each of the elements sun gear S, planet carrier PT and ring gear HR is assigned either to a shaft or to a rotationally fixed element of the transmission G; for example, the sun gear S is assigned to the shaft W. For lubrication of the Fig. 1 not shown bearing elements between planet carrier PT and planet gears PR, the lubricant is sprayed radially from the inside, for example from a radial bore. The arrow in Fig. 1 indicates the direction of the sprayed lubricant. The sprayed lubricant is collected by the oil tray OS and directed to the bearing elements LE for the planet carrier PT and the planet gears PR.

[0017] Fig. Figure 2 shows a partial sectional view of the planetary gear PG according to a first embodiment of the invention. The planet carrier PT has a carrier element TE. For supporting the planetary gears PT, several planetary pins PRB are connected to the carrier element TE, one of which is shown in the sectional view according to Fig. 2. Between the planetary pins PRB and the planetary gears PR, a bearing element LE is arranged, for example a needle bearing. The planetary pin PRB is firmly connected to the carrier element TE and penetrates the carrier element TE. The planetary pin PRB is shown recessed relative to the carrier element TE. There is a gap between the planetary pin PRB and the oil collecting tray OS. The planetary pin PRB and the oil collecting tray OS therefore do not touch each other. This has the advantage that the oil collecting tray OS can be installed without deformation and the connection between the carrier element TE and the oil collecting tray OS is tight after installation. The planetary pin PRB has at least one Fig. 2 has a radial bore (not shown) through which the captured oil lubricant is guided to the bearing elements. The oil collecting tray OS is designed in such a way that the incoming oil does not penetrate radially between the carrier element TE and the oil collecting tray OS, thus preventing oil leakage to the outside. The design of this sealed interface between the carrier element TE and the oil collecting tray OS is described in detail below.

[0018] The support element TE contains a groove recess NE, which can be designed differently depending on the model. The groove recess NE in the support element TE serves to accommodate an extension FS of the oil drip tray OS. The oil drip tray OS is designed such that the extension FS is completely accommodated by the groove recess NS. After assembly, the material of the extension FS completely fills the groove recess NS and ensures a non-destructive, permanent and tight connection between the support element TE and the oil drip tray OS. The oil drip tray OS can be made of a thermoplastic, a thermally deformable metal or another material that can be deformed by heating. After the manufacturing process, the material of the oil drip tray OS fills the groove recess NS in such a way that the connection cannot be released without causing damage.

[0019] Fig. 3 shows a section of a planetary carrier PT and a carrier element TE. An oil drip tray OS according to a further exemplary embodiment of the invention is fastened to the carrier element TE. A groove recess NE is located in the carrier element TE, which in the illustrated embodiment is designed parallel to a rotational axis of the planetary carrier PT. The extension FS and the groove recess NE are designed such that the carrier element TE and the oil drip tray OS are permanently connected to one another without destruction. This is achieved by introducing grooves into the extension FS and the groove recess NE. The grooves of the extension FS and the groove recess NE interlock. It does not matter whether the grooves are located on the radially upper or lower side of the groove recess NE and the extension FS. The grooves represent a labyrinth seal and are liquid-tight after assembly.

[0020] Fig. 4 shows a further embodiment of the invention, which is based on the Fig. 3 illustrated embodiment. In contrast to the embodiment shown in Fig. In the embodiment shown in Figure 3, the carrier element TE contains a groove recess NE, which in the illustrated embodiment is not parallel to a rotational axis of the planet carrier PT. The extension FS of the oil collecting tray OS is also not parallel to the rotational axis of the planet carrier PT. The groove recess NE and the extension FS of the oil collecting tray OS are arranged parallel to each other. The extension FS and the groove recess NE are designed such that the carrier element TE and the oil collecting tray OS are permanently connected to each other.

[0021] Fig. 5 shows a possible embodiment of Fig. 4. In the embodiment according to Fig. 5, within the groove recess NE in the carrier element TE, there is another groove N, which is arranged radially to the direction of the rotational axis of the planet carrier PT. The direction of the groove N can deviate from the radial direction of the rotational axis of the planet carrier PT. The extension FS and the groove recess NE are designed such that the carrier element TE and the oil collecting tray FA are permanently connected to one another.

[0022] Fig. 6 shows a section of a planetary carrier PT and a carrier element TE. An oil drip tray OS according to a further embodiment of the invention is attached to the carrier element TE. A groove recess NE is located in the carrier element TE, which, in the illustrated embodiment, is arranged radially to a rotational axis of the planetary carrier PT. The extension FS of the oil drip tray OS is also arranged radially to the rotational axis of the planetary carrier PT. The groove recess NE and the extension FS of the oil drip tray OS must be arranged parallel to one another.

[0023] Fig. Figure 7 shows a further embodiment of the invention, which is based on the Fig. 6. In the carrier element TE there is a groove recess NE, which in the illustrated embodiment is arranged radially to a rotational axis of the planet carrier PT. The extension FS of the oil collecting tray OS is also arranged radially to the rotational axis of the planet carrier PT. The groove recess NE and the extension FS of the oil collecting tray OS must be arranged parallel to each other. In addition to Fig. 6, there is a further groove N within the groove recess NE, which is arranged axially to the axis of rotation of the planet carrier PT.

[0024] Fig. 8 shows another embodiment of the construction of Fig. 7. In this embodiment, the carrier element TE contains a groove recess NE, which in the illustrated embodiment is arranged radially to the rotational axis of the planet carrier PT. The extension FS of the oil collecting tray OS is arranged radially to the rotational axis of the planet carrier PT. The groove recess NE and the extension FS of the oil collecting tray OS must be arranged parallel to each other. In contrast to the embodiment according to Fig. 7, the groove recess NE deviates from the radial direction and is therefore not arranged at right angles to the axis of rotation of the planet carrier PT.

[0025] For all in the Fig.In the embodiments illustrated in Figures 2 to 8, the oil drip tray OS can be made of a thermoplastic, a thermally deformable metal, or any other material that can be deformed by heating. After the manufacturing process, the material of the oil drip tray fills the groove recess in such a way that non-destructive loosening of the connection is impossible. The illustrated connections are thus designed to be liquid-tight. Reference symbol G Gearbox PG planetary gear S sun gear H ring gear PR planetary gear PT planet carrier PRB planetary gear bolts TE carrier element LE bearing element OS oil drip tray FS appendage NE groove recess N groove W wave

Claims

[1] Planetary carrier (PT) with a carrier element (TE), wherein an oil collecting tray (OS) is positively fastened to the carrier element (TE) and the oil collecting tray (OS) has an extension (FS) which is arranged in such a way that the extension (FS) projects into a groove recess (NE) formed in the carrier element (TE), wherein the extension (FS) completely fills the groove recess (NE) for sealing purposes, characterized by that the groove recess (NE) is not aligned parallel to a rotational axis of the planet carrier (PT). [2] Planet carrier (PT) according to claim 1, characterized by that the groove recess (NE) has an additional groove (N) which does not protrude into the carrier element (TE) in the direction of the axis of rotation of the planet carrier (PT). [3] Planet carrier (PT) according to claim 1, characterized by that the groove recess (NE) is aligned radially to a rotational axis of the planet carrier (PT). [4] Planet carrier (PT) according to claim 3, characterized bythat the groove recess (NE) has a further groove (N) which is aligned parallel to the axis of rotation of the planet carrier (PT). [5] Planet carrier (PT) according to claim 3, characterized by that the groove recess (NE) has a relief not perpendicular to the axis of rotation of the planet carrier (PT). [6] Planetary gear (PG) with a sun gear (S), a ring gear (H) and planet gears (PR) mounted on a planet carrier (PT), characterized by that the planet carrier (PT) is aligned according to one of claims 1-5. [7] Gearbox (G) for a motor vehicle, characterized by that the transmission (G) comprises a planetary gear (PG) according to claim 6.

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