Oil Drip Pan Structure for Particle Separation in Planetary Gearing
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing lubrication and cooling systems for planetary gearings in electric and hybrid drive trains fail to effectively separate particles, leading to undesirably high wear in bearing points due to particle ingress.
Innovation Solution
An oil drip pan with axial, circumferentially closed pan bottom and radially inward extending walls, featuring surface structures that utilize centrifugal force to sediment and remove solid particles from hydraulic fluid, ensuring targeted lubrication and cooling while preventing particle ingress into bearing points.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If conventional lubrication and cooling systems are used for planetary gearings, then lubrication and cooling functions are provided, but particle separation is ineffective leading to high wear in bearing points
Solution Approach 1:
The oil drip pan serves as an intermediary component between the hydraulic fluid supply and the bearing points. It introduces a particle separation mechanism that filters out solid particles before the lubricant reaches the bearing points, thereby protecting the bearings from particle-induced wear while maintaining the lubrication function.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention changes the physical parameters of the lubricant flow by creating a drip pan structure that allows particles to settle out of the hydraulic fluid through gravity and centrifugal forces. This parameter change in flow velocity and direction enables effective particle separation while maintaining adequate lubrication delivery.
2Reliability
If particle separation is enhanced in the lubrication system, then wear is reduced, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The oil drip pan is designed to perform multiple functions simultaneously: it separates particles from the hydraulic fluid, distributes the lubricant to bearing points, and manages cooling. By combining these functions into a single component rather than using separate devices for each function, the invention reduces overall system complexity while achieving effective particle separation.
Solution Approach 2:
The drip pan design allows spent lubricant and separated particles to be discarded or recovered in a controlled manner. The structure enables easy removal of accumulated particles and facilitates lubricant circulation, reducing maintenance complexity over the device's operational life.
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
The oil drip pan enhances the service life of gearing assemblies by effectively separating and removing particles, thereby reducing wear and maintaining lubrication efficiency.
Implementation Method 1
surface structures which extend in an axial direction, which protrude in a radial direction inwards out of the pan bottom, over which surface structures the hydraulic fluid can flow in the circumferential direction when the shaft rotates and which are designed in such a way that solid particles from the hydraulic fluid settle in the pan pockets defined by circumferentially adjacent surface structures
Implementation Method 2
solid particles from the hydraulic fluid settle in the pan pockets defined by circumferentially adjacent surface structures
Data Source
AI summary
An oil drip pan for rotationally fixed placement onto a shaft, which is rotatable about an axis, includes a pan bottom which extends in an axial direction, is closed on the circumference, and from which two pan walls extend radially inwards towards the axis. A channel is defined by the pan bottom and the two pan walls. The channel is arranged to, when the shaft rotates, receive hydraulic fluid. At least portions of the pan bottom have surface structures extending in the axial direction and protruding inwards in a radial direction out of the pan bottom. The surface structures are configured such that the hydraulic fluid flows over the surface structures in a circumferential direction when the shaft rotates, and solid particles from the hydraulic fluid are deposited in pan pockets defined by circumferentially adjacent surface structures.