Planetary Gear Carrier Assembly With Wedging Sleeve Press-Fit
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing planetary gearbox devices for turbomachines face challenges in achieving long service life and ease of assembly, particularly in gas turbine engines, where high production costs and complex assembly processes are prevalent.
Innovation Solution
A planetary gearbox device design featuring a wedging sleeve with a press-fit joint between the carrier element and planet carrier regions, allowing for the use of carrier elements with varying diameters and simplifying the assembly process through matching surface designs, and incorporating non-sparking materials to prevent spark formation and reduce fire risks in jet engines.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of manufacture
If a one-piece planet carrier design is used, then manufacturing simplicity is improved, but assembly complexity increases due to difficulty in installing carrier elements with larger diameter regions
Solution Approach 1:
The planet carrier is divided into multiple planet carrier regions that can be assembled together to form the complete one-piece structure. This segmentation allows carrier elements with larger diameter regions to be installed axially between the regions during assembly, resolving the assembly complexity issue while maintaining the one-piece design benefit
Solution Approach 2:
The carrier element is nested between the planet carrier regions during assembly, with the wedging sleeve positioned radially between the carrier element and planet carrier regions. This nesting approach enables installation of components with varying diameters through axial insertion while maintaining structural integrity
2Adaptability or versatility
If carrier elements with varying diameters are used, then adaptability is improved, but assembly difficulty increases due to press-fit joint installation challenges
Solution Approach 1:
The wedging sleeve is designed with a conical shape that allows it to be pressed radially between the carrier element and planet carrier region, creating a press-fit joint. This parameter change in the wedging sleeve geometry enables easy assembly of carrier elements with varying diameters while maintaining secure connection
Solution Approach 2:
The wedging sleeve acts as an intermediary component between the carrier element and planet carrier region, facilitating the press-fit joint installation. This intermediate element enables adaptability to varying carrier element diameters while simplifying the assembly process through its mediating function
3Ease of manufacture
If conventional materials are used in the planetary gearbox, then manufacturing cost is reduced, but fire risk increases due to spark formation in gas turbine engines
Solution Approach 1:
The sleeve is manufactured from a non-sparking material such as phosphor bronze or beryllium copper, creating a composite material solution that prevents spark formation in gas turbine engines. This material selection eliminates fire risk while maintaining manufacturing feasibility through established non-sparking material properties
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 enhances the service life and assembly simplicity of planetary gearbox devices, reduces production costs, and ensures safe operation by preventing spark formation, thereby improving the reliability and efficiency of turbomachines, especially in gas turbine engines.
Implementation Method 1
A wedging sleeve is arranged between the carrier element and each of the planet carrier regions, by means of each of which wedging sleeves a press-fit joint is established between the carrier element and the planet carrier regions
Implementation Method 2
If the outer side and/or the inner side of the wedging sleeve are/is of tapered or cylindrical design, at least in some region or regions, the wedging sleeve can be positioned with low fitting forces between the sleeve and the carrier element
Data Source
AI summary
A planetary gearbox device for a turbomachine, having a planet carrier and at least one planet gear arranged rotatably thereon, is described. The planet gear is arranged in the axial direction between two planet carrier regions, to each of which at least one carrier element, on which the planet gear is rotatably mounted, is connected for conjoint rotation therewith. A wedging sleeve is arranged between the carrier element and each of the planet carrier regions, by means of each of which wedging sleeves a press-fit joint is established between the carrier element and the planet carrier regions. A sleeve is provided radially between at least one of the wedging sleeves and a planet carrier region.