Retainer Plate and Skewed Groove Fixing for Planetary Gears
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing solutions for axially fixing a planet carrier and a ring gear are prone to deformation-related issues, leading to load peaks and potential damage due to limited ability to follow deformations, resulting in susceptibility to wear and defects.
Innovation Solution
A rotationally fixed connection is established between the planet carrier and the ring gear using a spline, with a retainer plate engaging in a skewed groove of the planet carrier, ensuring a positive-locking fixing and limiting axial displacement, thereby reducing wear and improving durability.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Stability of the object's composition
If plates are screwed to the ring gear and engage in a groove of the planet carrier for axial fixing, then the planet carrier and ring gear are prevented from shifting axially, but deformations of the ring gear cause load peaks that damage the plates and groove
Solution Approach 1:
The groove in the planet carrier is designed with an asymmetric cross-section that is skewed relative to the axis of rotation, creating an asymmetric engagement surface with the retainer plate. This asymmetric geometry allows the retainer plate to follow ring gear deformations more effectively, distributing loads more evenly and preventing damage concentration at specific points.
Solution Approach 2:
The skewed groove geometry enables the retainer plate to dynamically adapt to ring gear deformations during operation. As the ring gear deforms under load, the asymmetric groove allows the retainer plate to shift position within the groove, maintaining continuous contact and load distribution rather than creating rigid constraints that lead to stress concentrations.
2Reliability
If the groove and axis of rotation are skewed to each other, then the retainer plate can follow deformations better, but the geometric complexity of the skewed groove increases manufacturing difficulty
Solution Approach 1:
The skewed groove is segmented into discrete engagement zones along its length, with each segment providing localized deformation accommodation. This segmentation allows the groove to be machined using standard CNC operations in discrete passes rather than requiring complex single-pass machining, reducing manufacturing difficulty while maintaining the deformation-following capability.
Data Source
AI summary
An assembly includes a first planetary stage, a second planetary stage, and at least one retainer plate. The first planetary stage has a planet carrier and the second planetary stage has a ring gear. The planet carrier and the ring gear are configured to be rotated about a common axis of rotation. The retainer plate is attached to the ring gear and engages in a groove in the planet carrier. The groove and the axis of rotation are at least partially skewed to each other. The retainer plate is arranged at least partially on a first side of a first plane and on a first side of a second plane. The first plane and the second plane intersect along the axis of rotation. All planet bolts fixed in the planet carrier each lie on a second side of the first plane and/or the second plane.