Planetary Gear Lubrication Sealing via Loose Connection
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
The existing planetary gear wheel constructions face sealing issues between the rotating distribution element and the stationary groove due to alignment errors and manufacturing tolerances, leading to potential leakage and pressure losses under load.
Innovation Solution
A loose connection between the planet carrier and the distribution element, combined with a flexible or moving oil pipe, allows for absorption of alignment errors and tolerance differences, reducing the need for play between the distribution element and the housing, thereby enhancing the sealing accuracy and minimizing leakage.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Device complexity
If a fixed connection between the distribution element and planet carrier is used, then the structure is simple, but the sealing between the distribution element and housing groove fails easily due to alignment errors and manufacturing tolerances
Solution Approach 1:
The distribution element is decoupled from the planet carrier and allowed to rotate freely in the housing groove, transforming the rigid fixed connection into a dynamic independent rotation system. This allows the distribution element to self-adjust to alignment errors and manufacturing tolerances, improving sealing reliability while maintaining structural simplicity
Solution Approach 2:
The system is segmented into independent rotating components: the planet carrier rotates independently and the distribution element rotates independently within the housing groove. This segmentation allows each component to accommodate alignment errors separately, preventing sealing failure that would occur in a rigidly connected system
2Adaptability or versatility
If sufficient play is provided between the distribution element and housing to absorb alignment errors, then alignment tolerance is improved, but sealing effectiveness deteriorates due to increased clearance
Solution Approach 1:
The distribution element is made dynamically independent, rotating freely in the housing groove without being fixed to the planet carrier. This dynamic independence allows the system to absorb alignment errors through the natural rotational freedom of the distribution element, while the close-fit groove maintains sealing effectiveness by minimizing clearance
3Device complexity
If the oil channel in the planet carrier is rigidly connected to the distribution element, then the structure is simple, but the system cannot accommodate deformations under load
Solution Approach 1:
A flexible hose is used to connect the oil channel in the planet carrier to the distribution element. This flexible connection can accommodate deformations and relative movements between the planet carrier and distribution element under load, while maintaining oil supply functionality
Solution Approach 2:
The connection between the oil channel and distribution element changes from rigid to flexible, allowing the system to adapt to varying load conditions. The flexible hose can extend, contract, and bend to accommodate the relative position changes between components under different operational loads
Data Source
AI summary
A planetary gear wheel construction with one or several planet wheels which are bearing-mounted on a planet carrier, which is provided in a rotating manner in a housing, and an oil lubrication formed of an oil supply via a ring-shaped channel in the housing formed of a ring-shaped groove and a distribution element turning along with the planet carrier which is rotatably held in the groove, and which is provided with a passage to connect the oil channel to an oil channel in the planet carrier which opens at a planet wheel. The distribution element is coupled to the planet carrier by a loose connection which makes it possible to transmit the rotational movement of the planet carrier to the distribution element, and the oil channel in the planet carrier is connected to the passage in the distribution element by a flexible or moving oil pipe.