Planetary Gearbox Ring Gear Retention With Conical Spring Preload
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Solution Overview
Problem
The manufacturing of planetary gearboxes is complex due to the conventional methods used for securing the ring gear within the housing part, which often require intricate connections and precise alignment, making the process cumbersome and costly.
Innovation Solution
A planetary gearbox design that incorporates a ring gear with an annular groove and a spring element, where the spring element is conically configured to radially expand and project into both the ring gear and housing part annular grooves, providing a keyed connection and axial preload, thus simplifying assembly and production.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If conventional connection systems are used to secure the ring gear in the housing part, then reliable attachment is achieved, but manufacturing complexity and assembly difficulty increase
Solution Approach 1:
The spring element changes its radial dimension parameter through elastic deformation. During assembly, it is compressed radially to fit through the housing part, then automatically expands to its original radial dimension to engage with both the ring gear and housing part, creating a secure attachment without complex fastening mechanisms
Solution Approach 2:
The spring element performs self-assembly through its elastic properties. When the ring gear is inserted into the housing part, the compressed spring element automatically expands and engages with both components, securing the ring gear in place without requiring additional assembly steps or external fastening operations
2Stability of the object's composition
If intricate connection systems are used to secure the ring gear, then attachment stability is improved, but assembly time and production cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The connection function is segmented into two independent annular grooves: one in the ring gear and one in the housing part. The spring element bridges these two segmented locations, creating a distributed attachment system that provides stability while simplifying the assembly process to a single insertion motion
Solution Approach 2:
The spring element automatically performs the attachment function through its elastic expansion. When the ring gear is inserted, the compressed spring element self-activates and engages with both grooves, providing stable attachment without requiring manual adjustment or additional assembly operations
3Ease of manufacture
If a keyed connection is implemented using a spring element, then assembly is simplified, but the spring element must maintain constant wall thickness for easy production
Solution Approach 1:
The spring element maintains a constant wall thickness parameter throughout its structure. This geometric constraint simplifies manufacturing by allowing the spring to be produced from a flat sheet through punching and bending operations, while still providing the necessary elastic properties for the keyed connection function
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 simplifies the assembly process by allowing a keyed connection and axial preload, reducing manufacturing complexity and enabling a more stable and secure attachment of the ring gear to the housing part, while maintaining a constant wall thickness for easier production and improved elasticity.
Implementation Method 1
the spring element is pressed into the annular groove when the ring gear is inserted into the receiving opening of the housing part and radially expands once it reaches the annular groove of the housing part
Implementation Method 2
the spring element is axially preloaded, so that the ring gear and the housing part are axially pushed apart, in particular such that bearings, which support a planet gear carrier and are accommodated in the housing part, are pressed against a step formed on the housing part and are preloaded
Data Source
AI summary
A planetary gearbox includes a ring gear accommodated in a housing part, the ring gear particularly has on its radially outer surface, in particular its radially outer side, an annular groove, the annular groove, in particular a circumferential annular groove in the circumferential direction, and a spring element is accommodated in the annular groove, which projects at least partially into an annular groove introduced into the housing part.