Planetary Carrier Support Plates for Gear Shaft Alignment
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Solution Overview
Problem
In wind turbine gear boxes, the direct support of planetary gear shafts by web plates leads to deviations due to deformation, causing uneven loads and affecting the strength and service life of the planetary gear train.
Innovation Solution
A planetary carrier design with first and second support plates and recessed portions that support the gear shafts, allowing for flexibility and isolating deformations caused by torque and bending moments, preventing relative displacement and inclination of the gear shafts.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Device complexity
If planetary gear shafts are directly supported by web plates, then the structure is simple, but the gear shafts deviate due to web plate deformation under torque and bending loads
Solution Approach 1:
The support structure is segmented into independent support portions on the web plates, with recessed portions between adjacent supports. This segmentation allows each support portion to independently bear loads while preventing deformation from affecting adjacent gear shafts, thus maintaining positioning precision without significantly increasing overall structural complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The web plate structure transitions from uniform thickness to variable thickness with localized reinforcement at support portions and recessed portions between them. This local quality change enables the web plate to resist deformation at critical support points while maintaining overall structural simplicity.
2Manufacturing precision
If web plates are reinforced to prevent deformation, then gear shaft positioning improves, but the planetary carrier becomes heavier and more complex
Solution Approach 1:
Instead of uniformly reinforcing the entire web plate, the invention applies reinforcement only at specific support portions and recessed portions where gear shafts are located. This localized reinforcement approach maintains positioning precision while minimizing additional weight compared to full reinforcement.
Solution Approach 2:
The web plate is divided into multiple support portions with recessed portions between them, creating a segmented structure that provides targeted reinforcement only where needed for gear shaft support, avoiding unnecessary weight addition in non-critical areas.
3Strength
If bolts are used to fix planetary gear shafts to the planetary carrier, then the shafts are securely fixed, but deformation from torque and bending moments still causes deviation
Solution Approach 1:
The web plate is segmented into multiple independent support portions, each capable of independently supporting a planetary gear shaft. This segmentation isolates deformation effects, so that even if one support portion deforms under load, adjacent supports maintain their positioning precision, thereby preserving overall gear shaft alignment.
Solution Approach 2:
The support portions are designed with localized reinforcement and recessed portions between them, creating areas of enhanced stiffness precisely where gear shafts are mounted. This local quality improvement ensures that fixing strength is maximized at critical points while maintaining positioning precision under torque and bending loads.
Data Source
AI summary
A planetary carrier, including an input flange, a first web plate connected to the input flange, a second web plate arranged opposite the first web plate, a first support plate connected to a side of the first web plate that faces the second web plate and parallel to the first web plate, and a second support plate connected to a side of the second web plate that faces the first web plate and parallel to the second web plate, the first and second support plates being arranged opposite each other. The side of the first support plate includes a plurality of first support portions. A number of first support portions is the same as that of planetary gear shafts. The side of the second support plate includes second support portions corresponding to the first support portions. Each first support portion and respective second support portion support one planetary gear shaft.