Floating Spacer Assembly for Planet Gear Axial Restraint
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing planetary gear sets face manufacturing complexities and increased costs due to the use of planet ribs to restrict axial movement of planet gears, which require specialized machine tools and double grinding setups.
Innovation Solution
A floating spacer assembly is introduced, featuring a spacer ring with sector slots and sectors that engage with the planet groove to limit axial movement of the planet gear, replacing the need for planet ribs and allowing conventional machine tools for manufacturing.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If planet ribs are used to restrict axial movement of planet gears, then axial movement is effectively restricted, but manufacturing complexity and cost increase due to requiring specialized machine tools and double grinding setups
Solution Approach 1:
The invention extracts the axial movement restriction function from the planet gear body (planet ribs) and transfers it to a separate component (floating spacer assembly). This allows the planet gear to be manufactured without complex rib structures, while the spacer assembly provides the axial constraint function independently.
Solution Approach 2:
The floating spacer assembly acts as an intermediary component between the planet gear and the carrier pin. It mediates the axial movement restriction by engaging with both the planet groove on the planet gear and the carrier pin, eliminating the need for direct integration of restriction features into the planet gear itself.
2Stability of the object's composition
If planet ribs are used to restrict axial movement, then axial stability is improved, but manufacturing cost increases due to specialized equipment requirements
Solution Approach 1:
The invention segments the axial stability function from the planet gear manufacturing process. The planet gear is manufactured as a simple component with a groove, while the axial stability is provided by the separate floating spacer assembly that can be manufactured using conventional processes and assembled later.
3Ease of manufacture
If conventional machine tools are used instead of specialized equipment, then manufacturing cost decreases, but the ability to restrict axial movement may be compromised
Solution Approach 1:
The floating spacer assembly serves as an intermediary that enables conventional manufacturing to achieve the same functional result. It translates the simple groove feature (manufacturable with conventional tools) into effective axial movement restriction through its engagement mechanism with the carrier pin and planet gear.
Data Source
AI summary
A floating spacer assembly for a gear mounted on a shaft, such as a planet gear mounted to a planet carrier, is disclosed. The gear may be mounted on the shaft with a pair of roller bearings with inner races and bearing rollers, and a gear bore having a gear groove defined therein functioning as the outer races of the roller bearings. The floating spacer assembly may include an annular spacer ring having one or more sector slots circumferentially spaced around the spacer ring, and a spacer sector disposed within each of the sector slots and extending radially outward from the spacer ring and into the gear groove when the floating spacer assembly is installed between the roller bearings. The spacer sectors may engage surfaces of the gear groove and the spacer ring may engage the bearing rollers to limit axial movement of the gear relative to the shaft.