Planetary Gear Carrier Assembly With Elastic Stud Pivoting
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing planetary gear systems in applications like aircraft engine gearboxes face misalignment issues due to varying engine load conditions, affecting the life of bearings and gears.
Innovation Solution
A carrier assembly for a planetary gear assembly is designed with a planet frame and a carrier connected via studs with dimension reductions, allowing for relative pivoting motion and elastic deformation, which absorbs torque without deforming the planet frame, thereby maintaining alignment.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Strength
If the carrier is rigidly connected to the planet frame, then the structural strength is improved, but the gear misalignment under varying load conditions worsens
Solution Approach 1:
The connection between the carrier and planet frame is transformed from a rigid static structure to a dynamic flexible connection. The stud includes an elastic portion that can deform under varying torque loads, allowing the carrier to pivot relative to the planet frame. This dynamic flexibility enables the connection to adapt to changing load conditions while maintaining gear alignment, resolving the contradiction between structural strength and alignment reliability.
Solution Approach 2:
The stud's cross-sectional dimension is varied along its length, creating an elastic portion with reduced stiffness. This parameter change allows the stud to exhibit elastic deformation characteristics under load, enabling the carrier to pivot relative to the planet frame while maintaining overall structural integrity. The varying dimension parameter resolves the contradiction by providing both flexibility for alignment maintenance and sufficient strength for load bearing.
2Ease of manufacture
If the stud has uniform cross-section, then the manufacturing simplicity is improved, but the ability to absorb torque through elastic deformation worsens
Solution Approach 1:
The stud is designed with non-uniform cross-sectional dimensions, creating a localized elastic portion with reduced stiffness. This local quality change allows the stud to concentrate elastic deformation in a specific region, enhancing torque absorption capacity while maintaining sufficient strength in other portions. The localized modification resolves the contradiction by providing enhanced energy absorption without requiring complete redesign of the entire stud structure.
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 solution effectively reduces deformation of the planet frame and maintains gear alignment, enhancing the life and efficiency of the planetary gear system by allowing elastic pivoting of the carrier relative to the planet frame.
Implementation Method 1
at least one of a portion of the carrier proximate the stud and a portion of the stud between the carrier and the planet frame having a thickness reduction therein... the dimension reduction permits relative pivoting motion between the planet frame and the carrier about the rotation axis, the relative motion including elastic deformation of the at least one of the portions
Data Source
AI summary
A carrier assembly for a planetary gear assembly includes a planet frame defining a central aperture therethrough, the central aperture defining a rotation axis, the planet frame configured to rotatably support a plurality of planet gears, and a carrier connected to the planet frame via a stud. At least one of a portion of the carrier proximate the stud and a portion of the stud between the carrier and the planet frame has a dimension reduction, such as a thickness reduction, therein.