Gear Lubrication with Split Oil Flows for Bearings and Gear Wheels
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing gear systems face challenges in optimizing lubricant oil temperature and flow rates for different elements, such as gear wheels and bearings, which can lead to suboptimal performance and increased costs due to the need for complex cooling systems.
Innovation Solution
A gear system with a pump and oil channel configuration that circulates distinct lubricant oil flows with different temperatures and flow rates, prioritizing lower temperatures and reduced flow rates for bearings to extend their lifespan and reduce costs, while maintaining suitable conditions for gear wheels.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If a single lubricant oil flow is circulated via all gear stage elements, then the system structure is simple, but different elements (gear wheels and bearings) cannot receive optimized lubrication with different temperatures and flow rates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the lubricant oil flow into multiple separate flows, with each flow dedicated to specific elements of the gear stage. The pump system is divided into multiple pumps, and oil channels are configured to distribute different flows to different elements, allowing each element to receive optimized lubrication conditions tailored to its specific requirements.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent applies local quality by providing different temperature and flow rate conditions to different elements within the gear stage. Gear wheels receive lubricant at one set of conditions while bearings receive lubricant at different conditions, optimizing the lubrication for each specific element's operational requirements rather than using a uniform approach.
2Adaptability or versatility
If a single flow rate is used for all elements, then the pump system is simpler, but elements with different lubrication needs cannot receive optimized flow rates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the pump system into multiple independent pumps, each capable of delivering lubricant oil at different flow rates to specific elements. The oil channels are also segmented to distribute these different flows appropriately, enabling each element to receive the flow rate optimized for its lubrication requirements.
3Reliability
If cooling system is designed for worst-case scenario, then all elements are protected, but the cooling system becomes larger and more expensive
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies local quality by providing different temperature conditions to different elements through separate lubricant oil flows. This allows the cooling system to be optimized for each element's specific thermal requirements rather than being oversized to handle the worst-case scenario for all elements, thereby reducing the overall size and cost of the cooling system.
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 approach allows for optimized lubrication of gear wheels and bearings, extending the lifespan of bearings, reducing the size and cost of cooling systems, and ensuring efficient lubrication, thereby improving the overall performance and cost-effectiveness of the gear system.
Implementation Method 1
a pump system and oil channels configured to circulate lubricant oil via elements of the gear stage
Implementation Method 2
an oil conditioning system configured to control first temperature of the first lubricant oil flow supplied to the gear stage and to control second temperature of the second lubricant oil flow supplied to the gear stage
Implementation Method 3
configured to circulate lubricant oil via elements of the gear stage
Data Source
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AI summary
A gear system comprises at least one gear stage (103), a pump system (104) and oil channels (105) for circulating a first lubricant oil flow via first elements (107a-107c) of the gear stage and a second lubricant oil flow via second elements (109) of the gear stage, and an oil conditioning system (106) for controlling temperatures (T1, T2) of the first and second lubricant oil flows so that the temperatures of the first and second lubricant oil flows are different from each other and flow rates (F1, F2) of the first and second lubricant oil flows are different from each other. Thus, it is possible to utilize for example the fact that bearings do not need as much oil flow as gear wheels but, on the other hand, lowering oil temperature of the bearings provides more advantages than lowering oil temperature of the gear wheels.