GEAR UNIT INCLUDING A HOUSING HAVING A LOWER PART AND A COVER PART

Abstract

A gear unit includes a housing having a lower part and a cover part, e.g., fitted onto the lower part, and an output shaft and a driving shaft. The lower part includes a first support, a second support, a base plate, and side walls. Each side wall is connected, e.g., welded, the first and second supports. The first support is a closed annular structure, e.g., a closed ring. The second support is an open annular structure, e.g., an open ring. A first bearing, e.g., a double bearing, for rotatably supporting the output shaft is received in the base plate. A second bearing for rotatably supporting the output shaft is received in the bearing receiving part. The base plate is connected, e.g., welded, to the second support and to the bearing receiving part.

Claims

1-15. (canceled)

16. A gear unit, comprising: a housing including a lower part and a cover part, the lower part including a first support, a second support, a base plate, a bearing receiving part, and side walls, each side wall being connected to the first support and to the second support, the first support being arranged as a closed annular structure, the second support being arranged as an open annular structure; an output shaft; a driving shaft, a first bearing adapted to rotatably support the output shaft arranged in the base plate; and a second bearing adapted to rotatably support the output shaft arranged in the bearing receiving part; wherein the base plate is connected to the second support and to the bearing receiving part.

17. The gear unit according to claim 16, wherein the cover part is fitted onto the lower part, each side wall is welded to the first support and to the second support, the first support is arranged as a closed ring, the second support is arranged as an open ring, the first bearing is arranged as a double bearing, and the base plate is welded to the second support and to the bearing receiving part.

18. The gear unit according to claim 16, wherein the first support is spaced apart from the second support.

19. The gear unit according to claim 16, wherein foot plates are connected and/or welded to a side of the second support facing away from the first support.

20. The gear unit according to claim 16, wherein a smallest distance between an opening of the open annular structure and the driving shaft is smaller than a smallest distance between the opening and the output shaft.

21. The gear unit according to claim 16, wherein the open annular structure is flat, a distance measured in a plane of the open annular structure and/or of the second support between an opening of the open annular structure and the driving shaft is smaller than a distance measured in the plane of the open annular structure and/or of the second support between the opening and the driving shaft and a smallest distance between the opening and the output shaft.

22. The gear unit according to claim 16, wherein the first support is O-shaped and the second support is U-shaped.

23. The gear unit according to claim 16, wherein the first support and the second support are flat and/or a plane containing the first support is oriented parallel to a plane containing the second support.

24. The gear unit according to claim 16, wherein at least one rib is connected and/or welded to each side wall and/or to an outside of each side wall, and each rib is connected and/or welded to the first support and to the second support.

25. The gear unit according to claim 24, wherein greatest distance from the rib to a respective side wall increases monotonically as a distance to the first support increases and a distance to the second support decreases.

26. The gear unit according to claim 16, wherein at least one of the side walls includes a viewing window arranged in a recess of the at least one of the side walls.

27. The gear unit according to claim 16, wherein the cover part is connected to the first support.

28. The gear unit according to claim 27, wherein the first support is continuous and/or has no openings, and the cover part is arranged on a connecting plane provided by the first support by an edge region of the cover part projecting radially on the cover part with respect to a rotational axis of the output shaft.

29. The gear unit according to claim 16, further comprising a further bearing adapted to rotatably mount the output shaft arranged in the cover part.

30. The gear unit according to claim 16, wherein the second bearing is arranged as an axial bearing, a roller bearing, a self-aligning roller bearing, and/or a spherical roller bearing.

31. The gear unit according to claim 16, wherein an oil pan is attached to a side of the base plate facing away from the first support.

32. The gear unit according to claim 31, wherein the oil pan and the base plate are arranged within the second support.

33. The gear unit according to claim 31, wherein the oil pan separates the bearing receiving part from the second support.

34. The gear unit according to claim 16, wherein two ribs are connected on a side of the base plate facing away from the cover part and are welded to the base plate and to the second support.

35. The gear unit according to claim 31, wherein on a bottom region facing the cover part, the oil pan has welded third ribs attached and/or welded to a circumferential edge region of the oil pan, an extension direction of the third ribs and/or a direction of a longest dimension of the third ribs is arranged in a plane having a normal direction oriented parallel to a rotational axis of the output shaft and oriented at an angle to a plane that contains at least rotational axes of at least two shafts of the gear unit, the angle being between 10° and 80°.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0028] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the housing of a gear unit having a split housing with raised cover part 1 according to an example embodiment of the present invention.

[0029] FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the gear unit from a different angle, illustrating an oil pan 20 arranged on the bottom of the lower part.

[0030] FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the gear unit from a third angle.

[0031] FIG. 4 is a perspective view of the oil pan 20.

[0032] FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view through a region of the gear unit.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0033] As schematically illustrated in the Figures, the housing of the drive has a cover part 1 fitted axially on a lower part of the housing, e.g., parallel to the direction of the rotational axis of the shaft 21 of the gear unit.

[0034] The lower part includes a bearing seat for a first bearing 50 of the output shaft 21 and a further bearing seat for second bearing 51 of the output shaft 21. The cover part 1 also includes a bearing seat for a bearing of the driven shaft 21.

[0035] Further bearing seats for bearings of the driving shaft 22 and of at least one further shaft, e.g., an intermediate shaft, are also arranged in the lower part.

[0036] The output shaft 21 is actuated with an axial force when the gear unit is operated.

[0037] Therefore, the second bearing 51 is arranged as an angular contact bearing, e.g., a spherical roller bearing. Thus, the axial force introduced at the output shaft 21, e.g., by a driven load is diverted to the bearing receiving unit.

[0038] The bearing receiving unit is provided by a finely machined bearing seat formed on a bearing receiving part 55. The second bearing 51 is thus received in the bearing receiving part 55 that is welded to the base plate and is connected thereto on the side of the base plate 7 facing away from the cover part 1.

[0039] The first bearing 50, on the other hand, is received in the base plate 7. To this end, a bearing seat is arranged, e.g., finely machined, on the base plate 7.

[0040] The second support 5 is welded to the base plate 7 of the lower part. The gear unit is, for example, oriented such that the rotational axis of the output shaft 21 is vertical.

[0041] The second support 5 is arranged in the shape of a U. Thus, it is not completely continuous on the edge of the base plate 7. The opening in the U shape faces the driving shaft. The opening in the U shape is a shorter distance from the driving shaft 22 than from the output shaft 21.

[0042] The U shape is flat. The normal of the plane containing the U shape is oriented parallel to the rotational axis of the output shaft 21.

[0043] The second support 5 is welded to the base plate 7 and thus imparts thereto high rigidity and/or stability.

[0044] A first support 2 has an O shape, e.g., an annular shape. The normal of the plane containing the O shape is oriented parallel to the rotational axis of the output shaft 21.

[0045] The first support 2 and the second support 5 are thus each flat and oriented parallel to one another.

[0046] Side walls 3 of the lower part are connected both to the base plate 7 and to the first support 2. The base plate 7 is spaced apart from the support 2.

[0047] The first support 2 is welded to the side walls 3, the side walls 3 are welded to the second support 5, and the second support 5 is welded to the base plate 7. The lower part is formed in this manner.

[0048] The four side walls 3 each have a thinner wall thickness than the base plate 7 and the first support 2 and the second support 5.

[0049] In addition, first ribs 4 are arranged on the lower part for increasing the rigidity and stability. The first ribs 4 are, for example, configured such that each of the first ribs 4 is connected, e.g., welded, both to the first support 2 and to the second support 5 and to one of the side walls 3.

[0050] Because of this, it is possible to attain increased rigidity and in addition the first support 2 and the second support 5 project at each at the respective side wall 3 relative to the surroundings, so that each first rib 4 can be affixed on the outside of the side wall 3. The first ribs 4 are spaced apart from one another. Thus, pockets are arranged between the first ribs 4 and are limited by the first support 2, second support 5, the side wall 3, and two first ribs 4.

[0051] The foot plates 6 are connected, e.g., welded, to the side of the second support 5, e.g., the underside, facing away from the side walls 3.

[0052] The second bearing 51 received in the bearing receiving part 55 transmits the axial force added by the output shaft 21 via the bearing receiving part 55 to the base plate 7 and from there to the second support 5 and from there to the foot plates 6 arranged on the floor of a facility or on a fastening surface of a machine.

[0053] A portion of the transverse forces added to the output shaft 21 is diverted to the base plate 7 via the first bearing 50.

[0054] The opening of the U of the second support 5 is further away from the second bearing 51 than the yoke of the U connecting the two legs of the U. In this manner, the axial force is added at the most rigid location of the U.

[0055] An oil pan 20 in which the oil sump of the gear unit can be received is attached to the side of the base plate 7 facing away from the cover part. The oil pan 20 is pressed against the base plate 7 by screws, e.g., by screw heads of the screws.

[0056] Both the oil pan 20 and/or the base plate 7 are arranged inside the U, e.g., inside the legs of the U.

[0057] Each first rib 4 has a maximum distance from the side wall 3 to which it is connected, e.g., welded, which increases monotonically as the distance from the first support 2 increases. In this manner, the second support 5 is joined to the side wall 3 with improved rigidity.

[0058] The first support 2 is continuous, e.g., does not have an opening. Thus, the cover part 1, e.g., by an edge region of the cover part 1 projecting radially on the cover part 1 in relation to the rotational axis of the output shaft, is placed on the connecting plane provided by the first support 2 and is tightly connected by an interposed flat seal, in that the cover part 1 is pressed against the first support 2 by screws, e.g., screw heads thereof, screwed through the cover part 1 and into threaded holes of the first support 2.

[0059] Oil can be supplied to the oil sump arranged in the oil pan 20 from the inner space including the toothed parts by an axial bore 53 passing through the base plate 7, e.g., an axial bore 53 oriented in the direction of the rotational axis of the output shaft 21 and passing through the base plate 7. A radial bore 54 added to the base plate 7 opens into the axial bore 53 and thus allows oil to be conducted out, in which, during operation, this axial bore 53 is closed, e.g., a sealing plug.

[0060] In this manner, it is also possible to drain oil from the inner space in a simple manner during maintenance, etc.

[0061] Second ribs 23 that are welded to the base plate 7 and also welded to the second support 5 are connected to the side of the base plate 7 facing away from the cover part 1. This further increases the rigidity of the lower part.

[0062] Thus, on its side facing the cover part 1 and its side facing the oil pan 20, the second support 5 is stiffened by the first and second ribs 4, 23. Thus, the weight of an oil pan 20 filled with oil and the weight of the base plate 7 together with the forces diverted into the base plate 7 and the forces supplied via the side walls 3, can also be supplied to the second support 5 without significant deformation of the lower part occurring.

[0063] On its bottom region 42 facing the cover part 1, the oil pan 20 itself includes three ribs 41 that are welded to a circumferential edge region 40 of the oil pan. These three ribs 41 calm the oil captured in the oil pan 20. To this end, the direction of extension of the third ribs 41, e.g., the direction of the longest dimension of the third ribs 41, is arranged in a plane the normal of which is oriented parallel to the rotational axis of the output shaft and is oriented at an angle relative to the plane including at least rotational axes of at least two shafts of the gear unit, in which the angle is between 10° and 80°. The ribs 41 thus do not extend perpendicular, but rather obliquely to the plane including the rotational axes of the at least two shafts.

[0064] According to exemplary embodiments, a viewing window is arranged in a recess of the side wall 3 of the lower part.

LIST OF REFERENCE NUMERALS

[0065] 1 Cover part

[0066] 2 First support, e.g., circumferential annular support

[0067] 3 Side wall

[0068] 4 First rib

[0069] 5 Second support

[0070] 6 Foot plate

[0071] 7 Base plate

[0072] 20 Oil pan

[0073] 21 Output shaft

[0074] 22 Driving shaft

[0075] 23 Second rib

[0076] 50 First bearing

[0077] 51 Second bearing

[0078] 52 Space for the oil sump

[0079] 53 Axial bore

[0080] 54 Radial bore

[0081] 55 Bearing receiving part