Planet Carrier Lubrication Wheel Assembly for Epicyclic Gear Reducers
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing epicyclic gear reducers in turbomachinery face challenges in ensuring proper lubrication of gears due to oil flow difficulties from a stationary part to a high-speed rotating part, and assembly complexity is high.
Innovation Solution
A satellite carrier design with a monobloc type cage and shaft structure, incorporating lubrication channels and nozzles that supply lubricant directly to the meshing teeth of satellites and solar elements, ensuring close proximity and efficient lubrication, along with a simplified assembly process.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If a two-part cage and shaft structure is used, then assembly flexibility is improved, but assembly complexity and hyperstaticity increase
Solution Approach 1:
The invention merges the cage and shaft into a single monobloc structure, eliminating the interface between two separate parts. This reduces assembly complexity and hyperstaticity while maintaining the functional requirements of the support structure.
2Ease of operation
If nozzles are positioned far from the solar array, then assembly ease is improved, but lubrication effectiveness deteriorates due to centrifugal force at high speed
Solution Approach 1:
The invention positions nozzles in the radial direction close to the solar array rather than axially, using the radial dimension to overcome centrifugal force effects. This allows effective lubrication delivery even at high rotational speeds while maintaining assembly simplicity.
3Ease of manufacture
If multiple separate components are used for the planet carrier, then manufacturing flexibility is improved, but manufacturing precision and alignment deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
The monobloc construction of the planet carrier eliminates interfaces between multiple components, ensuring inherent alignment precision and eliminating cumulative tolerance errors while maintaining manufacturing feasibility through modular nozzle assembly.
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
Enhances lubrication efficiency and simplifies assembly by providing a robust and economical solution that reduces hyperstaticity, misalignment, and machining operations, while maintaining effective lubrication and force transmission.
Implementation Method 1
A satellite carrier design with a monobloc type cage and shaft structure, incorporating lubrication channels and nozzles that supply lubricant directly to the meshing teeth of satellites and solar elements
Implementation Method 2
At high speed, it is difficult for the oil to reach the solar array due to centrifugal force
Data Source
Figure 1~2
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AI summary
Assembly comprising a lubricating wheel (120) and lubricant nozzles (172) for a planetary gear speed reducer of a turbomachine, the wheel having lubricating means configured to supply lubricant to the nozzles and the bearings (149) of the planetary carriers (150) of said reducer, said wheel being intended to be mounted coaxially on an annular wall (138) of an axis of rotation X of a planetary carrier (130) of said reducer, said wheel having a bearing and attachment surface (120b) on said annular wall of the planetary carrier, said lubricant nozzles being distributed around said axis X and each having a generally elongated shape, said nozzles having first longitudinal ends (172a) for fluidly connecting to said lubricating means of said wheel, characterised in that said first ends of said nozzles have means (175) for attaching said nozzles to said wheel, said nozzles being configured to be attached to said wheel before mounting the wheel on said annular wall of the planetary carrier.