Planetary Gearbox Floating Input Coupling for Lower Heat

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Solution Overview

Problem

Previous planetary gearboxes in drilling rigs experience high operating temperatures due to high-speed operation, leading to increased component wear and reduced lifespan, which diminishes the continuous run-time of machinery and customer satisfaction.

Innovation Solution

A drilling machine system with a gearbox featuring a floating input coupling directly coupled to the sun gear shaft, eliminating the need for a bearing and positioning the oil level below the interface between the input coupling and sun gear, thereby reducing operating temperature and windage losses, enhancing component longevity and system efficiency.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Stability of the object's composition

If a bearing is used to support the input coupling, then the input coupling is stabilized, but the gearbox operating temperature increases and compactness decreases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveinput coupling stabilityVSAvoidgearbox operating temperature

Core Design Contradiction:

Stability of the object's compositionVSTemperature

Solution Approach 1:

The patent removes the bearing from the input coupling support structure. By extracting the bearing component entirely, the design eliminates the source of friction and heat generation, thereby reducing gearbox operating temperature while maintaining input coupling functionality through direct coupling to the sun gear shaft.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Solution Approach 2:

The input coupling is merged with the sun gear shaft by directly coupling them together. This integration eliminates the need for a separate bearing component, reduces the number of parts, and improves compactness while maintaining structural stability through the unified design.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

2Reliability

If the oil level is positioned above the bearing interface, then lubrication is adequate, but windage losses increase and oil temperature rises

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvelubrication adequacyVSAvoidwindage losses

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSLoss of energy

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies local quality by positioning the oil level specifically below the input coupling-sun gear interface rather than using a uniform high oil level throughout. This localized oil positioning provides adequate lubrication at the bearing interface while minimizing the volume of oil exposed to rotational windage, thereby reducing energy losses and oil temperature rise.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #3Local quality

3Productivity

If high-speed operation is maintained, then productivity is high, but component wear increases and lifespan decreases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveoperating speedVSAvoidcomponent lifespan

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent converts the harmful effect of high-speed operation (increased friction and heat) into a benefit by eliminating the bearing component that generates friction. The direct coupling design transforms the potential harm of high-speed rotation into improved reliability by reducing wear on gear components through minimized friction contacts.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #22Blessing in disguise (Convert harm into benefit)

Data Source

PatentUS20240418240A1System with a planetary gearbox

Publication Date: 2024.12.19 DANA WUXI TECH CO LTD

AI summary

Systems and methods for a drilling machine. The drilling machine system, in one example, includes a gearbox with a planetary reduction and a floating input coupling directly coupled to or formed in a sun gear shaft that is included in the planetary reduction. Further, in the drilling machine system, the input coupling is unsupported by a bearing and rotational axes of the floating input and the sun gear shaft are coaxially arranged.