Tiltable Planet Carrier Mounting for Balanced Gear Tooth Loads
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing wind turbine gearboxes experience increased loads in the planet gears and ring gear teeth due to the flexibility of the connecting element between the planet carrier and the shaft, leading to potential wear and imbalance.
Innovation Solution
A rotationally fixed connection between the planet carrier and the shaft is established through a flexible connecting element that allows for tilting, with the ring gear's central axis tilted relative to the shaft's axis to alleviate load on the planet gears and ring gear teeth, and the planet carrier is partially or entirely supported by the shaft, eliminating the need for its own bearings.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If a flexible connecting element is used to connect the planet carrier to the shaft, then the connection can accommodate tilting movements, but the load on the planet gears and ring gear teeth increases
Solution Approach 1:
The ring gear's central axis is deliberately tilted relative to the shaft's rotation axis, creating an asymmetric geometric relationship. This asymmetry allows the ring gear to align with the tilted planet carrier axis, ensuring that the planet gears engage the ring gear teeth at optimal contact points even when the planet carrier tilts, thereby maintaining balanced load distribution while accommodating the necessary tilting movement
Solution Approach 2:
The invention changes the geometric parameter of the ring gear's axis orientation from being parallel to the shaft axis to being tilted at a specific angle. This parameter change allows the system to accommodate the tilting of the planet carrier while maintaining proper gear engagement and balanced load distribution on the gear teeth
2Stability of the object's composition
If the planet carrier is supported by its own bearings, then it can maintain stable rotation, but the device complexity and number of components increases
Solution Approach 1:
The invention merges the support function into the shaft itself, which is already present in the system. The shaft is designed to provide support for the planet carrier through the flexible connecting element, eliminating the need for separate bearings on the planet carrier. This consolidation reduces the number of components while maintaining rotational stability
Solution Approach 2:
The shaft is given a multi-functional role: it not only transmits rotation but also provides support for the planet carrier. The flexible connecting element serves dual purposes by both transmitting torque and accommodating tilting movements. This multi-functionality eliminates the need for dedicated bearings on the planet carrier, reducing overall device complexity
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 configuration reduces load on the planet and ring gear teeth, achieves balanced load distribution, and compensates for deformations caused by weight, enhancing the gearbox's operational stability and efficiency.
Implementation Method 1
The connecting element is configured to be flexible with respect to tiltings of the planet carrier relative to the shaft
Data Source
AI summary
An arrangement including a planetary stage, a shaft, a connecting element that forms a rotationally fixed connection of a planet carrier of the planetary stage to the shaft and is configured to be flexible with respect to tiltings of the planet carrier relative to the shaft, and a center axis of a ring gear of the planetary stage that is tilted relative to an axis of rotation of the shaft.