Planet Carrier Parallel Web Structure for Torsion-Matched Axle Seats
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Solution Overview
Problem
Planetary carriers with two cheeks experience significant torsion under load, making it difficult to suppress relative rotation between the cheeks, leading to potential misalignment of the planetary axis, which existing designs cannot effectively address by varying the thickness of the sides or webs.
Innovation Solution
A planetary carrier design featuring a drive-side hub, drive-side outer and inner cheeks, and webs connecting them, with differentiated load paths to control relative torsion by varying the stiffness of the inner and outer load paths, ensuring that both axle seats rotate equally under load, thus minimizing misalignment.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Stability of the object's composition
If the thickness of the cheeks or bridges is increased to suppress relative rotation, then the torsional stiffness improves, but the weight of the planetary carrier increases significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The drive-side cheek is segmented into two separate webs (inner web and outer web) that are arranged parallel to each other. These webs connect the drive-side hub to the driven-side cheek through distinct load paths, allowing independent optimization of each path's torsional stiffness without requiring increased overall thickness of the cheek structure.
Solution Approach 2:
The solution transitions from a single-plane cheek structure to a three-dimensional arrangement with parallel inner and outer webs. This spatial configuration creates two parallel load paths that distribute torsional loads more efficiently, achieving the required torsional stiffness without increasing the radial thickness of the cheek.
2Stability of the object's composition
If the thickness of the cheeks or bridges is increased to suppress relative rotation, then the manufacturing complexity increases, but the torsional stiffness improves
Solution Approach 1:
The drive-side cheek is divided into two separate webs with distinct functions and load paths. The inner web and outer web can be manufactured as separate components or as integrated parts of a cast/welded structure, allowing flexible manufacturing approaches that manage complexity while achieving the desired structural performance.
Solution Approach 2:
The parallel web structure serves multiple functions simultaneously: it provides torsional stiffness, creates parallel load paths for stress distribution, and maintains structural integrity. This multi-functionality reduces the need for additional components that would otherwise be required to achieve the same performance.
3Device complexity
If the torsional stiffness of load paths is not matched, then the structure is simpler, but the planetary axis misalignment occurs under load
Solution Approach 1:
The inner web and outer web are designed with different local properties (thickness, width, geometry) to create matched torsional stiffness in their respective load paths. This local differentiation allows each web to be optimized for its specific function while maintaining overall structural coherence and ensuring equal rotation of both axle seats under load.
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 design reduces torsional stiffness variations between the drive-side and output-side load paths, preventing relative rotation of the cheeks under load, resulting in a lightweight planetary carrier with minimal misalignment of the planetary axis, suitable for high-torque applications like wind power transmissions.
Implementation Method 1
the torsional stiffness of the inner load path, which leads from the drive-side hub to the drive-side axle seat, is matched to the torsional stiffness of the outer load path, which leads from the driven-side hub to the driven-side axle seat
Data Source
Figure 1~3
Figure 4~6
Figure 7~8
AI summary
The invention relates to a planet carrier comprising a drive-side hub (1), a drive-side outer web (2a), a driven-side web (5), and at least one web (4) connecting the two said webs (2a, 5). The driven-side web (5) has at least one driven-side axle seat (6b) for each driven-side end of a planetary shaft. The planet carrier also has a drive-side inner web (8) which is arranged parallel to the drive-side outer web (2a) and has at least one drive-side axle seat (6a) for each drive-side end of a planetary shaft.