Gearbox Planet Carrier

Abstract

A planet carrier (1) for a gearbox, in particular a wind gearbox, is capable of receiving a planet shaft (5) on which the planet gears (3) are mounted, and a sleeve (6) is arranged radially between the planet shaft (5) and the planet gears (3). In order to compensate for irregularities in the meshing of the planet gears (3) and to reduce as much installation space as possible the planet carrier (1) requires, it is proposed to arrange a sliding layer between the sleeve (6) on the one hand and the planet gears (3) on the other hand.

Description

[Technical field]

[0001] The present invention relates to a planet carrier for a gearbox, in particular a wind gearbox, by which at least one planet shaft, on which planet gears are mounted, can be received and in which a sleeve is arranged radially between the planet shaft and the planet gear. [Background technology]

[0002] Such planet carriers are generally components of planetary gearboxes used in the realization of wind gearboxes.

[0003] In the structural design of such gearboxes, it is often important that the latter are exposed to high mechanical stresses, which lead to significant deformations of the gearbox and thus of the planetary carrier. In order to optimize the meshing in the gearbox and thus the transmittable power even in the presence of such deformations, the planetary shafts are flexibly mounted relative to the planetary carrier. Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0004] The object of the invention is to provide a planet carrier for such a gearbox, by means of which, on the one hand, the installation space required for the realization of the gearbox is reduced and, on the other hand, the possibility is provided that the planet gears received by the planet carrier do not transmit deformations and irregularities into the meshing. [Means for solving the problem]

[0005] According to the invention, this problem is solved by arranging a sliding layer between the sleeve on the one hand and the planet gear on the other hand. This opens up the possibility of reducing to some extent the irregularities and deformations in the meshing of the planet gears by means of the sliding layer present between the planet gears and the sleeve. This makes it possible to reduce the peak stresses occurring on the planet shafts and thus on the planet carrier. Due to the design as a sliding layer, only small installation space is required.

[0006] If the sleeve is made of a flexible material, the possibilities for correcting deformations and irregularities in the engagement are greatly increased.

[0007] Furthermore, if the sleeve surrounds the planet shaft received in the planet carrier and forms a free space, the flexibility of the planet carrier with regard to absorbing mechanical peak stresses can be further increased.

[0008] Advantageously, the planet shaft is received on only one side of the planet carrier.

[0009] In order to form a robust structure despite the free space formed between the sleeve and the planet shaft, it is advantageous for the sleeve and the planet shaft to be fixed to one another at the end or at the side of the planet shaft facing away from the planet carrier.

[0010] In order to minimize the required installation space as much as possible, it is sensible to apply the sliding layer to the outer side surface of the sleeve.

[0011] This is advantageously achieved by an additive manufacturing process, by which the sliding layer is formed directly on the flexible sleeve.

[0012] It may be reasonable to provide a metal coating as the sliding layer.

[0013] The application of the sliding layer to the outer side of the sleeve can advantageously be carried out by means of a weld overlay.

[0014] Furthermore, the sliding layer can also be formed as a non-metallic coating.

[0015] In order to increase the mechanical flexibility of the planet carrier and thus of the entire planetary gearbox, it is advantageous if the planet shafts, at the part that protrudes from the planet carrier, have a conical axial section in which the diameter of the planet shafts is reduced and in which an axial section of a sleeve is arranged, the inner diameter of the sleeve being reduced in the axial section.

[0016] Optimally, the free space between the planet shaft on the one hand and the sleeve on the other hand is arranged in the region of this conical axial section of the planet shaft.

[0017] In order to provide a robust structure for the assembly with the planet carrier and the planet gears despite the free space between the planet shaft on the one hand and the sleeve on the other hand, it is advantageous for the planet shaft and the sleeve to be fixed to one another on the side of the conical axial portion of the planet shaft facing away from the planet carrier.

[0018] In the following, the invention will be explained in more detail on the basis of embodiments with reference to the drawings, in which: [Brief description of the drawings]

[0019] [Figure 1] FIG. 2 shows a perspective view of an embodiment of a planet carrier for a gearbox according to the invention, the planet carrier being only partially shown; [Diagram 2] FIG. 2 is an axial section through the embodiment of the planet carrier according to the invention shown in FIG. 1; DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0020] An embodiment of a planetary carrier 1 according to the invention, shown in principle in Figures 1 and 2, is a component of a planetary gearbox which is not otherwise shown in the drawings. The planetary carrier 1 is also only partially shown in Figures 1 and 2.

[0021] The planet shafts 5 are received by a planet carrier 1, which is partially shown in Figures 1 and 2. In the embodiment of the planet carrier 1 shown, the reception of the planet shafts 5 takes place by means of a shaft-hub connection 8, which may be configured to be releasable.

[0022] The planet shaft 5 is received on only one side of the planet carrier 1 by means of a shaft-hub connection 8 .

[0023] In the embodiment shown in figures 1 and 2, the planet shaft 5 has a gradually decreasing diameter over the area located between the exit of the planet shaft 5 from the planet carrier 1 and the end region 7 of the planet shaft 5, which has a uniformly reduced diameter.

[0024] The planet shafts 5 are surrounded by flexible sleeves 6 at their parts protruding from the planet carrier 1. At their axial parts arranged in the tapered region of the planet shafts 5, the flexible sleeves 6 have corresponding sleeve sections, at which the inner diameter of the flexible sleeves 6 correspondingly tapers. The flexible sleeves 6 coaxially surround the planet shafts 5 and are rigidly connected to them at their end regions 7.

[0025] A free space 9 is formed between the axial portion of the flexible sleeve 6 where the inner diameter of the flexible sleeve 6 is reduced and the axial portion of the planetary shaft 5 where the diameter of the planetary shaft 5 is tapered. The flexible sleeve 6 arranged on the planetary shaft 5 and the free space 9 formed between the planetary shaft 5 and the flexible sleeve 6 as described above form a so-called flexpin structure.

[0026] On the outer side of the flexible sleeve 6, which is cylindrical in the illustrated embodiment, planetary gears 3 are arranged, which have meshings 2 on their outer side by means of which the planetary gears 3 are gearbox connected with the other components of the planetary gearbox, including the planet carrier 1.

[0027] Due to the free space 9 that exists between the inner flank of the flexible sleeve 6 and the planet shaft 5 , the planetary gear 3 is able to compensate for deformations and irregularities in the meshing 2 on its own.

[0028] In order to achieve this effect with as little effort as possible, a sliding layer 4 is applied to the outer side of the flexible sleeve 6, which is located between the outer side of the flexible sleeve 6 on the one hand and the inner side of the planetary gear 3 on the other hand. In the embodiment shown, the sliding layer 4 is applied directly to the outer side of the flexible sleeve 6.

[0029] The sliding layer 4 may be formed as a metallic or non-metallic coating. By applying the sliding layer 4 directly or immediately to the outer side surface of the flexible sleeve 6, the installation space required for the above-described configuration of the planet carrier 1 is significantly reduced.

[0030] The sliding layer 4 can be formed directly on the outer lateral surface of the flexible sleeve 6, for example by build-up welding. The application of the sliding layer 4 to the flexible sleeve 6 can also be achieved by other additive manufacturing processes.

[0031] It should be noted here that in the perspective view of the planetary carrier 1 according to the present invention, the circumferential portion of the planetary gear 3 has been omitted in order to more clearly show the arrangement of the planetary carrier 1, the planetary shaft 5, the flexible sleeve 6, the sliding layer 4 and the planetary gear 3. [Explanation of symbols]

[0032] 1 Planet carrier 2. Engagement 3 Planetary Gears 4. Sliding layer 5 Planetary Shaft 6 Sleeve 7 End area 8 Shaft-hub connection 9 free space

Claims

1. A planet carrier (1) for a gearbox, in particular a wind gearbox, by which at least one planet shaft (5) with planet gears (3) mounted thereon can be received, in which a sleeve (6) is arranged radially between said planet shaft (5) and said planet gears (3), A planet carrier (1), characterized in that a sliding layer (4) is arranged between said sleeve (6) on the one hand and said planet gear (3) on the other hand.

2. 2. A planet carrier according to claim 1, wherein said sleeve (6) is made of a flexible material.

3. 3. A planet carrier according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the sleeve (6) surrounds the planet shaft (5) and defines a free space (9).

4. 4. A planet carrier according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the planet shafts (5) are received on one side only.

5. 5. The planet carrier according to claim 4, wherein the sleeve (6) and the planet shaft (5) are fixed to each other on the side facing away from the planet carrier (1).

6. 6. A planet carrier according to any one of claims 1 to 5, wherein the sliding layer (4) is applied to the outer side of the sleeve (6).

7. 7. Planet carrier according to any one of claims 1 to 6, wherein the sliding layer (4) is formed directly on the flexible sleeve (6) by an additive manufacturing process.

8. 8. Planet carrier according to claim 1, wherein the sliding layer (4) is formed as a metal coating.

9. 9. Planet carrier according to claim 8, wherein the sliding layer (4) is formed by welding.

10. 8. Planet carrier according to claim 1, wherein the sliding layer (4) is formed as a non-metallic coating.

11. 11. The planet carrier according to claim 1, wherein the planet shaft (5) has a conical axial section at the section where the planet shaft (5) protrudes from the planet carrier (1), in which the diameter of the planet shaft (5) is reduced, in which an axial section of a sleeve (6) is arranged, in which an inner diameter of the sleeve (6) is reduced.

12. 12. Planet carrier according to claim 11, wherein the free space (9) between the planet shaft (5) and the sleeve (6) is arranged in the region of a conical axial section of the planet shaft (5).

13. 13. The planet carrier according to claim 11 or 12, wherein the planet shaft (5) and the sleeve (6) are fixed to each other on the side of the conical axial portion of the planet shaft (5) facing away from the planet carrier (1).

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