Planet Carrier Shell Assembly for Lightweight Satellite Mounting
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing turbomachine speed reducers face challenges in mounting satellites due to the need for bulky and heavy fixing flanges, which are cumbersome and constrained, especially when the cage needs to be cut into multiple pieces for satellite installation.
Innovation Solution
A planet carrier design featuring a cage holder with axially assembled shells, where pins oriented radially pass through radial orifices of the shells, distributing force and allowing flexible connections between the cage and cage carrier, enabling efficient torque transmission and satellite mounting without the need for bulky flanges.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of manufacture
If the cage is cut into multiple pieces for satellite mounting, then satellite installation becomes feasible, but bulky and heavy fixing flanges are required to support the gearbox load
Solution Approach 1:
The cage is divided into multiple separable pieces (first cage piece and second cage piece) that can be assembled around the satellites. This segmentation allows satellites to be mounted without requiring the entire cage to be removed or disassembled as a single unit, while the distributed connection points eliminate the need for heavy centralized flanges.
Solution Approach 2:
Instead of using heavy flanges at critical load points, the invention distributes the connection functionality across multiple local points around the cage perimeter. Each connection element handles a portion of the load locally, allowing the overall structure to be lightweight while still supporting the gearbox load effectively.
2Stability of the object's composition
If rigid connections are used between cage and cage holder, then structural stability is improved, but flexibility and ease of assembly are reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The connection system transitions from a purely rigid static connection to a dynamic assembly process. The cage pieces are designed to be assembled and disconnected, allowing for flexible installation and maintenance operations while maintaining structural stability during operation. The connection elements provide sufficient rigidity for load transmission but allow for easy assembly/disassembly.
3Strength
If heavy fixing flanges are used to support 50% of gearbox load, then load-bearing capacity is sufficient, but device complexity and manufacturing cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The invention extracts the load-bearing function from heavy centralized flanges and distributes it across multiple smaller connection elements positioned around the cage. Each connection element handles a portion of the load, and collectively they support the required 50% of gearbox load without requiring any single element to be excessively large or complex.
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 design provides a lightweight, flexible, and efficient solution for torque transmission and satellite mounting, compatible with single-stage or multi-stage reducers, planetary, epicyclic, or differential gearboxes, and various tooth types, enhancing operational and assembly ease.
Implementation Method 1
said first or second connecting elements having pins oriented radially with respect to said X axis and passing through radial orifices of said shells
Implementation Method 2
When the planet carrier is torqued, the fingers flex and transmit the torque to the cage. The ball joints prevent the finger flexure from being transmitted to the spindles.
Data Source
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AI summary
Planet carrier (213) for a turbomachine (1) speed reducer (210), said planet carrier (213) having a main X-axis and comprising: - a cage carrier (222) having an annular row of axial fingers (282) around the X-axis, which carry first connecting elements, and - a cage (220) having at its periphery housings (280) and second connecting elements which are mounted in said housings and which cooperate with the first connecting elements to form connections between the cage carrier (222) and the cage (220), which allow at least one degree of freedom, characterized in that the cage (220) comprises two shells (220a, 220b) which are axially assembled to each other, said first or second connecting elements having pins (288) oriented radially with respect to said X-axis and passing through the orifices radial (220a, 220a2, 220b1, 220b2) of said shells (220a, 220b).