Planetary Gearset Shaft Lubrication Without Carrier Channels
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing planetary gearsets face challenges in lubricating planet gear bearings when the planet carrier is stationary, leading to structural weaknesses due to the incorporation of channels for lubrication, which compromises the strength and design of the planet carrier.
Innovation Solution
A planetary gearset design where the planet gear shafts extend axially through the planet carrier with protruding portions for lubricant inlet openings, allowing a separate lubricant feed unit to supply lubricants independently of the planet carrier, eliminating the need for channels within the carrier and enabling a solid, lightweight construction.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If channels are incorporated into the planet carrier for lubrication, then lubrication of planet gear bearings is enabled, but the planet carrier becomes structurally weak
Solution Approach 1:
The lubrication system is segmented into separate components: the planet gear shaft contains the lubricant feed channel, while the planet carrier remains solid without channels. This segmentation allows the carrier to maintain full structural strength while the shaft handles the lubrication function through its integrated channel system.
Solution Approach 2:
The lubrication channel function is extracted from the planet carrier and relocated to the planet gear shaft. The shaft now independently provides both mechanical support and lubrication delivery, allowing the carrier to be designed as a solid, strength-optimized component without compromising lubrication capability.
2Reliability
If channels are incorporated into the planet carrier for lubrication, then lubrication is provided, but manufacturing complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
By dividing the lubrication function into the planet gear shaft component rather than integrating it into the planet carrier, the carrier manufacturing process is simplified to producing a solid component without complex internal channels, while the shaft is manufactured with its lubrication channel system.
3Strength
If the planet carrier is made solid without channels, then structural integrity is improved, but lubrication of planet gear bearings becomes difficult when stationary
Solution Approach 1:
The lubrication delivery function is extracted from the planet carrier and assigned to the planet gear shaft, which extends through the carrier with its inlet opening facing the bearing. This allows the carrier to remain solid for structural integrity while the shaft provides reliable lubrication delivery independent of carrier rotation.
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
This design allows for effective lubrication of planet gear bearings both when the planet carrier is stationary and rotating, enhancing the structural integrity and manufacturing flexibility of the planet carrier while maintaining efficient lubricant distribution.
Implementation Method 1
each planet gear shaft comprises a planet gear shaft channel with an inlet opening and an outlet opening for feeding of a lubricant to the planet gear bearing
Data Source
AI summary
A planetary gearset including a gear arrangement including a centrally arranged sun gear rotationally fixable to a drive shaft, a set of planet gears distributed circumferentially around the sun gear, a ring gear member extending circumferentially around the planet gears, a ring gear, planet gear shafts arranged centrally in a corresponding planet gear, planet gear bearings arranged between a corresponding planet gear shaft and planet gear, wherein each planet gear shaft includes a planet gear shaft channel with an inlet opening and an outlet opening, a planet carrier connected to the set of planet gears via the planet gear shafts, wherein each planet gear shaft extends in an axial direction from the planet gear through the planet carrier and includes a protruding portion that protrudes out from the planet carrier and includes the inlet opening.