Epicyclic Gearing with Segmented Planet Wheels
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing epicyclical gearings face issues with stress concentrations and unpredictable wear due to increased loads, which complicates assembly and requires complex calibration of hinge pins and planet gear holders, especially with two helicoidal toothings on plain bearings.
Innovation Solution
A gearing design featuring parallel axes for first and second gear wheels with separate and independent third and fourth gear wheels, supported by a common body and mounted via hinge pins, utilizing self-aligning rolling-contact bearings to distribute torque and reduce stress concentrations, and simplify assembly.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If two helicoidal toothings are mounted on plain bearings to solve stress concentration issues, then stress distribution improves, but assembly process becomes particularly complicated
Solution Approach 1:
The planet gear is divided into two separate wheels (third and fourth gear wheels) that are mutually independent. Each wheel meshes with a separate crown wheel, and each has its own hinge axis. This segmentation allows each component to be assembled and aligned independently, greatly simplifying the assembly process while maintaining the stress distribution benefits of the helicoidal toothing configuration.
2Reliability
If two helicoidal toothings are used to reduce stress concentrations, then load distribution improves, but calibration complexity increases due to rigidness requirements
Solution Approach 1:
By separating the planet gear into two independent wheels with separate hinge axes, the calibration of rigidities can be performed independently for each wheel-crown wheel pair. This eliminates the complex interdependent calibration required when using a single planet gear with two helicoidal toothings, significantly reducing calibration complexity while maintaining load distribution benefits.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent merges the functionality of two separate simple gear wheels into one epicyclical gearing system, where both wheels work together to transmit torque. This combining approach maintains the load distribution advantages of having two meshing interfaces while avoiding the calibration complexities through the independence of each wheel's mounting and operation.
3Ease of manufacture
If separate and independent third and fourth gear wheels are used, then assembly is simplified and stress concentrations are reduced, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines two separate simple gear wheel assemblies into a single epicyclical gearing unit that functions as one integrated system. The third and fourth gear wheels, while separate components, are both mounted on the same planet gear holder and work together to transmit torque from the sun gear to the crown wheel, effectively merging their functions into a unified power transmission path that does not increase overall system complexity.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
This design effectively reduces stress concentrations and simplifies assembly by distributing torque and allowing for easier alignment, improving the reliability and efficiency of the gearing system.
Implementation Method 1
hinge pins for mounting said third and fourth gear wheels on said support body in a rotational manner around a third and, respectively, a fourth hinge axis
Data Source
AI summary
Epicyclical gearing comprising a first and a second gear wheel turning around respective mutually parallel axes, each one comprising a respective first and a respective second crown wheel that are adjacent to each other; the gearing also comprising at least one third and at least one fourth gear wheel that are separate and mutually independent, a support body for the third and fourth gear wheels, the support body having hinge pins formed therewith as a one piece structure, the hinge pins providing a mount for the third and fourth gear wheels on the support body in a rotational manner around a third and, respectively, a fourth hinge axis parallel to the axes, the third gear wheel meshing with the respective first crown wheels and the respective fourth gear wheel meshing with the respective second crown wheels.