Integrated Epicyclic Gear Layout for Compact High Gear Ratios
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing gear devices in aircraft struggle to achieve high gear ratios in a compact design while maintaining simplicity and manufacturability, which is essential for efficient torque conversion in flight control systems.
Innovation Solution
The integration of two epicyclic gears with kinematically similar but non-identical components, where specific input stage components are fixed to corresponding output stage components, allowing for a high gear ratio in a compact and easily manufacturable gear device.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of manufacture
If a single epicyclic gear is used, then the design is simple and easy to manufacture, but the gear ratio is limited and the device size increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines two epicyclic gear stages into a single integrated device where the input stage and output stage share common components (sun, carrier, ring). This merging allows the device to achieve a compounded gear ratio equivalent to two separate stages while maintaining a simpler structure than two independent gear devices, and easier manufacturing than a single complex high-ratio stage.
2Volume of stationary object
If two epicyclic gears are integrated with fixed connections, then the gear ratio increases in a compact design, but the manufacturing precision requirements increase
Solution Approach 1:
By merging the input and output stages to share common components (the sun, carrier, and ring are common to both stages), the patent reduces the total number of interfaces and connection points compared to two separate stages. This reduces the cumulative manufacturing precision requirements while achieving compact high-ratio gearing.
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2
AI summary
A gear device for a gear system for an aircraft, the gear device comprising: an input stage epicyclic gear comprising an input stage sun, an input stage carrier and an input stage ring; and an output stage epicyclic gear comprising an output stage sun, an output stage carrier and an output stage ring, wherein a first input stage component of the input stage sun, the input stage carrier and the input stage ring is fixed to a corresponding first output stage component of the output stage sun, the output stage carrier and the output stage ring, wherein a second input stage component of the input stage sun, the input stage carrier and the input stage ring is fixed to a corresponding second output stage component of the output stage sun, the output stage carrier and the output stage ring, wherein the second input stage component is different from the first input stage component, wherein a third input stage component of the input stage sun, the input stage carrier and the input stage ring is held stationary, wherein the third input stage component is different from the first input stage component and the second input stage component, wherein a third output stage component is connectable to an output shaft, the third output stage component corresponding to the third input stage component.