Gear component having an emergency lubricating device

Abstract

The invention relates to a gear component (101) with at least one borehole (103) for guiding oil between two openings (105) and with a means (209) which is arranged and fixed at least partially in the borehole (103). The gear component (101) has a piston (205), which is arranged in an axially displaceable manner in the borehole (103), and a spring (207), which is preloaded between the means (209) and the piston (205); wherein the spring (205) with the means (209) is located on a different side of the piston (205) from the openings (105).

Description

[0001] Gearbox component with emergency lubrication device

[0002] The invention relates to a transmission component according to the preamble of claim 1.

[0003] Operating wind turbines occasionally need to be shut down, for example, in the event of a fault or due to excessive wind. When stopping, the lubricant pressure generated by a lubricant pump mechanically integrated into the drive train drops, while the gearbox is subjected to full load by the wind continuing to act on the rotor. As a result, insufficient lubrication can lead to damage to the bearings and gears.

[0004] Electric lubricant pumps are comparatively prone to failure and also depend on an electrical power supply. A pump defect or a power failure also leads to insufficient lubrication, with the consequences described above.

[0005] EP 3074689 A1 discloses an emergency lubrication system. The lubricant is pressurized by a spring-loaded piston. This pressure is sufficient to safely bring the transmission to a standstill in the event of imminent lubrication insufficiency. The piston is housed in a separate reservoir. This increases the installation space requirement and prevents the piston from being positioned in the immediate vicinity of the lubrication points.

[0006] The invention is based on the object of providing improved emergency lubrication. This object is achieved by a transmission component according to claim 1. Preferred developments are contained in the subclaims and will become apparent from the following description.

[0007] The transmission component according to the invention has at least one bore for conducting oil. The bore is therefore designed as part of an oil line of the transmission. This means that the bore has an inlet and an outlet opening for the oil. Oil that enters the bore via the inlet opening is guided from the bore to the outlet opening and exits the bore there. The openings can each be arranged coaxially to a central axis of the bore or in a lateral surface of the bore. In particular, one opening can be arranged coaxially to the central axis of the bore, while the other opening is arranged in the lateral surface. An opening arranged coaxially to the central axis of a bore is identical to an opening through which a drill leaves when machining the bore.

[0008] The transmission component further comprises a means that is at least partially arranged in the bore. At least a portion of the means, preferably the entire means, is thus located in the bore. Furthermore, the means is fixed in the bore. Preferably, the means is rigidly fixed in the bore, i.e., in such a way that no relative movement between the means and the bore is possible.

[0009] According to the invention, the transmission component comprises a piston arranged in the bore and displaceable relative to the bore in the axial direction, i.e., along the center axis of the bore. Preferably, the piston is fluid-tightly sealed against a peripheral surface of the bore. For this purpose, the piston comprises, for example, one or more sealing rings arranged coaxially with the center axis of the bore and extending between the piston and the peripheral surface.

[0010] The transmission component also includes a spring. This generally refers to a means for applying a spring force. For example, it can be a coil spring. The spring is tensioned between the means and the piston. This means that the spring exerts equal, oppositely directed spring forces on the means and the piston. The spring forces act outward from the spring. This forces the means and the piston apart.

[0011] The spring with the fluid and the two aforementioned orifices are located on different sides of the piston. The spring and the fluid are located on one side of the piston, while the orifices are on the other side. The piston divides the bore into a first cavity and a second cavity. The first cavity and the second cavity are located on different sides of the piston. The spring and the fluid are arranged in the first cavity. The second cavity contains the orifices. It serves to direct oil from the inlet orifice to the outlet orifice.

[0012] Oil in the second cavity is pressurized by the spring and piston. This allows the oil pressure to be maintained temporarily in the event of a primary lubrication failure, bringing the transmission to a safe stop.

[0013] The inventive design in a transmission component is particularly advantageous because it requires no additional installation space. This allows for installation in the immediate vicinity of a lubrication point.

[0014] In a preferred embodiment, the means is screwed into the bore. This simplifies the attachment of the means. Preferably, the bore is provided with an internal thread, and the means has an external thread that is screwed into the internal thread.

[0015] The transmission component is preferably further developed with a sleeve that is at least partially, preferably completely, arranged and fixed in the bore. The sleeve is preferably rigidly fixed in the bore, i.e., such that no relative movement between the sleeve and the bore is possible. In particular, it can be an at least partially hollow-cylindrical sleeve.

[0016] The means, in turn, is at least partially, preferably completely, arranged and fixed in the sleeve. Preferably, the means is rigidly fixed in the sleeve, i.e., in such a way that no relative movement between the means and the sleeve is possible.

[0017] According to a further development, the piston is also arranged in the sleeve. In particular, the piston can be sealed fluid-tight against a peripheral surface of the sleeve. For this purpose, the piston has, for example, one or more sealing rings arranged coaxially with the center axis of the bore and extending between the piston and the peripheral surface.

[0018] Since the piston is movable within the bore and the sleeve is fixed in the bore, the piston is also movable within the sleeve. This allows the piston, in conjunction with the sleeve, to perform the function described above. The spring is also arranged in the sleeve, according to a further development.

[0019] The use of a sleeve, as described in the advanced design, is advantageous because the piston, the center, and the spring can be pre-assembled in the sleeve. The assembly consisting of sleeve, center, spring, and piston is then inserted into the bore and secured there. This simplifies assembly. Furthermore, time-consuming post-processing to smooth the bore's outer surface is unnecessary, as the piston is guided by a surface of the sleeve.

[0020] The sleeve preferably has an internal and an external thread. The external thread is screwed into a corresponding internal thread of the bore. The means, in turn, preferably has an external thread corresponding to the internal thread of the sleeve, with which it is screwed into the internal thread of the sleeve.

[0021] In a further preferred embodiment, the means comprises a ventilation opening. This connects the first cavity to the environment in a gas-conducting manner. This prevents the air in the first cavity from compressing and thus working against the spring force.

[0022] In a preferred embodiment, the transmission component is designed as a transmission housing, planetary carrier, or planetary pin. The transmission housing, planetary carrier, or planetary pin thus has the bore, center, piston, and spring described above.

[0023] Preferably, the transmission component is further developed as part of a wind turbine gearbox. This has at least one oil line designed to supply at least one lubrication point with oil. A lubrication point refers to a component of the wind turbine gearbox that must be supplied with oil during operation to protect it from wear. This can be a gear or a bearing, for example, a planetary gear bearing.

[0024] According to the further development, the bore forms a first part of the oil line. A second part of the oil line is then connected to the inlet or outlet of the bore in an oil-conducting manner. In particular, the second part can be connected to the inlet in an oil-conducting manner, while a third part of the oil line is connected to the outlet in an oil-conducting manner.

[0025] This refinement allows a lubricant pressure generated by an oil pump to act on the piston. This causes the piston to move toward the center, compressing the spring between the center and the piston. The resulting force exerted by the spring on the piston counteracts the lubricant pressure. If the pressure applied by the oil pump drops, the lubricant pressure in the oil line is maintained for a while by the compressed spring. This allows the wind turbine gearbox to be brought to a standstill without the risk of insufficient lubrication.

[0026] Preferred embodiments of the invention are illustrated in the figures. Corresponding reference numerals indicate identical or functionally equivalent features. In detail:

[0027] Fig. 1 a planetary bolt;

[0028] Fig. 2 an emergency lubrication device in the relaxed state; and

[0029] Fig. 3 the emergency lubrication device in the tensioned state.

[0030] The planetary pin 101 shown in Figure 1 has a bore 103. This serves to supply oil to a planetary gear bearing. For this purpose, the bore 103 has two openings 105 through which the oil enters and exits the bore 103. The openings 105 can serve either as an inlet or outlet, depending on the direction of oil flow.

[0031] In order to ensure that the planetary gear bearing is sufficiently supplied with oil in the event of a failure of the regular lubricant supply or a gear stop, an emergency lubrication device 107 is inserted into the bore 103. The bore 103 has an internal thread 109.

[0032] Figures 2 and 3 show the emergency lubrication device 107 in detail. The emergency lubrication device 107 is housed in a sleeve 201. This sleeve has an external thread 203 that is screwed to the internal thread 109 of the bore 103.

[0033] Inside the sleeve 201 there is a piston 205, a spring 207 and a plug 209. The plug 209 forms an external thread 211 which is screwed to a corresponding internal thread 213 of the sleeve 201.

[0034] The spring 207 is clamped between the piston 205 and the plug 209. It exerts opposing, outward-acting spring forces on the piston 205 and the plug 209.

[0035] Fig. 2 shows the emergency lubrication device 107 in the relaxed state. The emergency lubrication device 107 assumes this state when no oil pressure is applied.

[0036] If oil pressure is built up by the primary oil pump during regular operation, this pressure acts on the piston 205 and moves it towards the plug 209. A corresponding position of the piston 205 is shown in Fig. 3.

[0037] The movement of piston 205 compresses spring 207. When the oil pressure drops, piston 205 moves in the opposite direction. The spring force acting on piston 205 compensates for the drop in oil pressure until the piston reaches its original position, shown in Fig. 2. Reference numeral

[0038] Planetary bolt

[0039] drilling

[0040] mouth

[0041] Emergency lubrication device

[0042] internal thread

[0043] internal thread

[0044] sleeve

[0045] external thread

[0046] Pistons

[0047] Feather

[0048] Plug

[0049] external thread

[0050] internal thread

Claims

Patent claims 1. A transmission component (101) having at least one bore (103) for conducting oil between two orifices (105) and having a means (209) which is at least partially arranged and fixed in the bore (103); characterized by an axially displaceable piston (205) arranged in the bore (103) and a spring (207) which is braced between the means (209) and the piston (205); wherein the spring (205) with the means (209) and the orifices (105) are located on different sides of the piston (205).

2. Transmission component (101) according to claim 1; characterized in that the means (209) is screwed into the bore (103).

3. Transmission component (101) according to one of the preceding claims; characterized by a sleeve (201) arranged and fixed at least partially in the bore (103); wherein the means (209) is arranged and fixed at least partially in the sleeve (201); and wherein the piston (205) is arranged in the sleeve (201).

4. Transmission component (101) according to one of the preceding claims; characterized in that the means (209) has a ventilation opening ().

5. Transmission component designed as a transmission housing, planetary carrier or planetary pin (101) according to one of the preceding claims.

6. A wind turbine gearbox with at least one oil line for supplying at least one lubrication point with oil; characterized by a gearbox component (101) according to one of the preceding claims; wherein the bore (103) forms part of the oil line.

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