Lubrication structure for a planetary gear device

Abstract

Lubrication structure for a planetary gear device, comprising a planet gear shaft (10) which has: a first discharge opening (11) defined in the planet gear shaft (10) in a direction towards a sun gear (20), and a second discharge opening (12) defined in the planet gear shaft (10) in a direction opposite to the sun gear (20), and an oil guide device (30) coupled to the planet gear shaft (10) and configured to guide collected oil (O) to the first discharge opening (11) or the second discharge opening (12).

Description

[0001] The invention relates to a lubrication structure for a planetary gear device.

[0002] In general, a lubrication device for an automatic transmission may comprise: a planetary gear section (e.g., pinion section) comprising: a planetary gear shaft and a planetary gear (e.g., pinion) configured to enclose the planetary gear shaft; a ring gear section configured to mesh with the planetary gear; a first thrust bearing coupled to the ring gear section; a second thrust bearing located on / at one side of the planetary gear; an oil guide coupled to the planetary gear shaft and configured to guide oil distributing from the first thrust bearing to the planetary gear shaft; a sun gear configured to mesh with the planetary gear and comprising: a first oil opening section through which the oil passes, and a second oil opening section configured to supply the oil to the second thrust bearing; and a carrier.which is coupled to the planetary gear shaft and has: a third oil opening section configured to receive the oil from the first oil opening section and supply the oil to the first thrust bearing, and a fourth oil opening section configured to receive the oil from the second thrust bearing and supply the oil to the oil guide.

[0003] In the event that the carrier cannot rotate or the carrier is stopped in a certain gear position of the automatic transmission without rotating, the oil distributed from a central axis in the lubrication device for an automatic transmission, according to the state of the art, is not supplied to the bearing via the oil guide, which damages (e.g. surface) a surface of the bearing (flakes off).

[0004] A patent document relating to the prior art is the Korean patent application KR 10 2021 0 049 483 A (published on May 6, 2021). From DE 103 09 666 A1, a lubrication structure for a planetary gear device is known, wherein the lubrication structure comprises: a planet gear shaft having: a first discharge opening defined in the planet gear shaft in a direction towards a sun gear, and a second discharge opening defined in the planet gear shaft in a direction opposite to the sun gear, and an oil guide device coupled to the planet gear shaft and configured to guide collected oil to the first discharge opening or the second discharge opening. Further lubrication structures are known from DE 10 2008 000 900 A1, DE 10 2018 114 760 A1, JP 2010 - 071 400 A, KR 10 2004 0 032 392 A, DE 10 2019 108 050 A1 and JP 2010 - 156 414 A.

[0005] The invention provides a lubrication structure for a planetary gear device that is suitable for gently supplying oil collected by an oil guide device to a lubrication target via a first discharge opening or a second discharge opening of a planetary gear shaft, regardless of whether a carrier is stopped.

[0006] According to the invention, a lubrication structure for a planetary gear device is provided, wherein the lubrication structure comprises: a planet gear shaft (e.g., a pinion shaft) which has: a first drain opening which is drilled in the planet gear shaft in a direction towards a sun gear, and a second drain opening which is drilled in the planet gear shaft in a direction opposite to the sun gear, and an oil guide device which is coupled to the planet gear shaft and is configured to guide collected oil to the first drain opening or the second drain opening.

[0007] Furthermore, the oil guide device comprises: a first ring section arranged adjacent to the planet gear axis, a second ring section provided at a distance from the first ring section, and a pipe section projecting from a surface of the first ring section in a direction towards the planet gear axis and inserted into the planet gear axis, and the inside of the pipe section may be divided / subdivided by a partition into a first passage arranged adjacent to the first discharge opening and a second passage arranged adjacent to the second discharge opening.

[0008] Furthermore, a first collecting section, which is connected to the first passage from an inner diameter section of the first ring section and an inner diameter section of the second ring section, and a second collecting section, which is connected to the second passage from an outer diameter section of the first ring section and an outer diameter section of the second ring section, can be defined by the distance between the first ring section and the second ring section.

[0009] Furthermore, the sun gear can have at least one first oil opening, and a second oil opening, which connects the first oil opening and the first collecting section, can be defined in a section of a carrier that is positioned between the sun gear and the planet gear axis.

[0010] Furthermore, the oil introduced into the first oil opening can be directed to a lubrication target via the second oil opening, the first collecting section and the first passage through the second discharge opening.

[0011] Furthermore, the oil introduced into the second collection section can be directed to a lubrication target via the second passage through the first discharge opening.

[0012] Furthermore, the lubrication target can be a bearing or a planetary gear (e.g., a pinion).

[0013] Furthermore, a bearing can be coupled to an outer diameter section of the planet gear shaft, a planet gear (e.g. a pinion) can be coupled to an outer diameter section of the bearing, and the planet gear can be rotatable about the sun gear in a state in which an outer diameter section of the planet gear is engaged with an outer diameter section of the sun gear.

[0014] Furthermore, a ring gear can be coupled in such a way that it encloses / surrounds the planet gear, and an inner diameter section of the ring gear can mesh with the outer diameter section of the planet gear.

[0015] A coupling bolt (e.g. coupling pin) can be coupled in such a way that it penetrates a carrier and the planet gear axle from the outside of the carrier in a state in which one end of the planet gear axle is coupled to the carrier passing through (e.g. penetrating) it.

[0016] According to the present invention, the oil collected by the oil guide device is supplied via the first discharge opening or the second discharge opening of the planetary gear shaft, so that the oil can be gently supplied to the lubrication target regardless of whether the carrier is stopped.

[0017] The invention will be explained in more detail with reference to the drawings. The drawings show: Fig. 1 a view of an overall configuration of a lubrication structure for a planetary gear device according to an exemplary embodiment of the invention; and Fig. 2 a view of an oil guide device according to the exemplary embodiment of the invention.

[0018] It is understood that the attached drawings are not necessarily to scale and represent a somewhat simplified depiction of various features that illustrate the basic principles of the invention. The specific design features of the present invention, as disclosed herein, which include, for example, specific dimensions, orientations, positions, and shapes, are partly determined by the intended application and environment of use.

[0019] In the figures, the reference numerals refer to the same or equivalent parts of the present invention across the individual figures of the drawings.

[0020] Exemplary embodiments of the present invention are described in detail below with reference to the accompanying drawings. First, when specifying reference numerals for components in the respective drawings, it is noted that, where possible, the same components are designated with the same reference numerals, even if the components are shown in different drawings. Furthermore, in the description of the present invention, specific descriptions of publicly known, related configurations or functions are omitted if it is determined that such specific descriptions could obscure the subject matter of the present invention. The exemplary embodiments of the present invention are described below; however, the technical concept of the present invention is not limited to these and can, of course, be modified and implemented in various ways by technically skilled persons.

[0021] Fig. Figure 1 is a view of an overall configuration of a lubrication structure for a planetary gear device according to an exemplary embodiment of the invention, and Fig. Figure 2 is a view of an oil guide device according to the exemplary embodiment of the invention.

[0022] As in the Fig. 1 and Fig. As shown in Figure 2, the lubrication structure for a planetary gear device according to the invention can comprise: a planet gear shaft 10 and an oil guide device 30 which is coupled to the planet gear shaft 10 and is configured to guide collected oil O into the planet gear shaft 10.

[0023] The planetary gear shaft 10 can be configured as a hollow shaft. The planetary gear shaft 10 can have a first discharge opening 11 and a second discharge opening 12.

[0024] The first discharge opening 11 can be drilled in the planet gear shaft 10 in a direction towards a sun gear 20. The oil O introduced into the planet gear shaft 10 can, in a state in which a carrier 40 is stopped, fall towards the first discharge opening 11 on the lower side and be supplied to a lubrication target via the first discharge opening 11.

[0025] The second discharge opening 12 can be drilled in the planet gear shaft 10 in a direction opposite to that of the sun gear 20. The oil O introduced into the planet gear shaft 10 can be directed to the lubrication point via the second discharge opening 12 by a centrifugal force exerted on the planet gear shaft 10 when the carrier 40 rotates.

[0026] For example, the lubrication target could be a bearing and a planetary gear.

[0027] The oil guide device 30 can have a first ring section 31, a second ring section 32, a pipe section 33, a first collecting section 34 and a second collecting section 35.

[0028] The first ring section 31 can be configured as a flat plate with a ring shape. The first ring section 31 can be arranged adjacent to the planet gear axis 10.

[0029] The second ring section 32 can be configured as a flat plate with a ring shape. The second ring section 32 can be positioned at a distance from the first ring section 31.

[0030] The pipe section 33 can project from a surface of the first ring section 31 in a direction towards the planet gear axis 10 and can be inserted into the planet gear axis 10 and thus coupled.

[0031] The inside of the pipe section 33 can be divided / subdivided by a partition 331 into a first passage 332 and a second passage 333. The first passage 332 can be located adjacent to the first discharge opening 11. The second passage 333 can be located adjacent to the second discharge opening 12.

[0032] The first collection section 34 and the second collection section 35 can be defined by a distance between the first ring section 31 and the second ring section 32.

[0033] The first collecting section 34 can be connected to the first passage 332 from an inner diameter section of the first ring section 31 and an inner diameter section of the second ring section 32. The oil O introduced into the first collecting section 34 can be introduced via the first passage 332 into the planet gear shaft 10 and discharged to the second discharge opening 12.

[0034] The second collecting section 35 can be connected to the second passage 333 from an outer diameter section of the first ring section 31 and an outer diameter section of the second ring section 32. The oil O introduced into the second collecting section 35 can be introduced via the second passage 333 into the planet gear shaft 10 and discharged to the first discharge opening 11.

[0035] The sun gear 20 can have at least one first oil opening 21. A second oil opening 41 can be provided in a section of the carrier 40 that is positioned between the sun gear 20 and the planet gear shaft 10. The first oil opening 21 and the first collecting section 34 can be connected to each other via the second oil opening 41.

[0036] A bearing 50 can be coupled to an outer diameter section of the planet gear shaft 10. A planet gear (e.g., pinion) 60 can be coupled to an outer diameter section of the bearing 50. The planet gear 60 can rotate around the sun gear 20 in a state where an outer diameter section of the planet gear 60 is engaged with an outer diameter section of the sun gear 20.

[0037] A ring gear (not shown) can be coupled in such a way that it surrounds / encloses the planet gear 60. An inner diameter section of the ring gear (not shown) can mesh with the outer diameter section of the planet gear 60.

[0038] The planet gear shaft 10 can be connected to the carrier 40 via a coupling bolt (e.g., coupling pin) 80. In a state where one end of the planet gear shaft 10 is inserted into the carrier 40, the coupling bolt 80 can be coupled in such a way that it penetrates the carrier 40 and the planet gear shaft 10 from the outside of the carrier 40.

[0039] The other end of the planet gear shaft 10 can be coupled in such a way that it penetrates the center of the bearing 40.

[0040] Next, a flow of the oil O introduced into the first collecting section 34 according to the invention is described.

[0041] As in the Fig. 1 and Fig. As shown in Figure 2, when the carrier 40 rotates, the planet gear axle 10 coupled to the carrier 40 can rotate together with the planet gear 60 around the sun gear 20.

[0042] In the state in which the carrier 40 rotates, the oil O introduced into the sun wheel 20 can flow via the first oil opening 21 and the second oil opening 41 to the first collecting section 34.

[0043] The oil O flowing towards the first collection section 34 can collide with the partition 331 and move towards the first passage 332. The partition 331 can serve to guide and move the oil O towards the first passage 332, while preventing the oil O already in the first passage 332 from moving towards the second passage 333.

[0044] The oil O in the first pass 332 moves into the planet gear shaft 10. When the carrier 40 rotates, the oil O can be discharged via the second discharge opening 12 by a centrifugal force exerted on the planet gear shaft 10.

[0045] The oil O discharged via the second discharge opening 12 can be supplied to the lubrication target, such as the bearing 50 or the planetary gear 60.

[0046] Next, a flow of the oil O introduced into the second collecting section 35 according to the invention is described.

[0047] As in the Fig. 1 and Fig. As shown in Figure 2, the carrier 40 can be stopped in a specific gear shift position of an automatic transmission without rotating.

[0048] In the state in which the carrier 40 is stopped, the oil O introduced into the second collecting section 35 can collide with the partition 331 and move towards the second passage 333.

[0049] Since the carrier 40 is stopped and no centrifugal force is exerted on the planet gear shaft 10, the oil O flowing towards the second passage 333 can move into the planet gear shaft 10 and towards the first discharge opening 11 on the lower side.

[0050] The oil O flowing towards the first discharge opening 11 can be supplied to the lubrication target via the first discharge opening 11.

[0051] As described above, according to the present invention, the oil collected by the oil guide device is supplied via the first discharge opening or the second discharge opening of the planetary gear shaft, so that the oil can be gently supplied to the lubrication target regardless of whether the carrier is stopped. Reference symbol list 10 planetary gear axle 11 First drainage opening 12 Second drainage opening 20 sun wheel 21 First oil opening 30 Oil guide device 31 First ring section 32 Second ring section 33 Pipe section 331 Partition wall 332 First run 333 Second Round 34 First collection section 35 Second Collection Section 40 carriers 41 Second oil opening 50 storage 60 planetary gear 80 coupling bolts O Oil

Claims

[1] Lubrication structure for a planetary gear device, wherein the lubrication structure comprises: a planet gear shaft (10) comprising: a first discharge opening (11) defined in the planet gear shaft (10) in a direction towards a sun gear (20), and a second discharge opening (12) defined in the planet gear shaft (10) in a direction opposite to the sun gear (20), and an oil guide device (30) coupled to the planetary gear shaft (10) and configured to guide collected oil (O) to the first discharge opening (11) or the second discharge opening (12), wherein the oil guide device (30) comprises: a first ring section (31) which is arranged adjacent to the planet gear axis (10), a second ring section (32) which is arranged at a distance from the first ring section (31), and a pipe section (33) which projects from a surface of the first ring section (31) in a direction towards the planet gear axis (10) and is positioned in the planet gear axis (10), wherein an inner side of the pipe section (33) is divided by a partition (331) into a first passage (332) which is adjacent to the first discharge opening (11) and a second passage (333) which is adjacent to the second discharge opening (12). [2] Lubrication structure according to claim 1, wherein a first collecting section (34) which is connected to the first passage (332) from an inner diameter section of the first ring section (31) and an inner diameter section of the second ring section (32), and a second collecting section (35) which is connected to the second passage (333) from an outer diameter section of the first ring section (31) and an outer diameter section of the second ring section (32), are defined by the distance between the first ring section (31) and the second ring section (32). [3] Lubrication structure according to claim 2, wherein the sun gear (20) has at least one first oil opening (21) and a second oil opening (41), wherein the second oil opening (41) connects the at least one first oil opening (21) and the first collecting section (34), and the second oil opening (41) is defined in a section of a carrier (40) positioned between the sun gear (20) and the planet gear axis (10). [4] Lubrication structure according to claim 3, wherein the lubrication structure is configured to supply the oil (O) introduced into the at least one first oil opening (21) via the second oil opening (41), the first collecting section (34) and the first passage (332) through the second discharge opening (12) to a lubrication target. [5] Lubrication structure according to one of claims 2 to 4, wherein the lubrication structure is configured to supply the oil (O) introduced into the second collecting section (35) via the second passage (333) through the first discharge opening (11) to a lubrication target. [6] Lubrication structure according to claim 4 or according to claims 4 and 5, wherein the lubrication target is a bearing (50) or a planetary gear (60). [7] Lubrication structure according to one of claims 1 to 6, wherein a bearing (50) is coupled to an outer diameter section of the planet gear shaft (10), a planet gear (60) is coupled to an outer diameter section of the bearing (50), and the planet gear (60) is rotatable about the sun gear (20) in a state in which an outer diameter section of the planet gear (60) engages with an outer diameter section of the sun gear (20). [8] Lubrication structure according to claim 7, wherein a ring gear is coupled such that it surrounds the planet gear (60) and an inner diameter section of the ring gear is configured to engage with the outer diameter section of the planet gear (60). [9] Lubrication structure according to any one of claims 1 to 8, wherein a coupling bolt (80) is configured such that it is coupled to a carrier (40) and the planet gear shaft (10) from an outside of the carrier (40) in a state in which one end of the planet gear shaft (10) is inserted into the carrier (40).

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