Planetary carrier

Abstract

A planetary carrier includes an input-side hub, an input-side outer leg, an output-side leg including an output-side axle seat for receiving an output-side end of a planetary axle, a web connecting the input-side outer leg with the output-side leg and an input-side inner leg arranged in parallel to the input-side outer leg. The input-side inner leg includes an input-side axle seat for receiving an input-side end of the planetary axle.

Claims

1. A planetary carrier, comprising: an input-side hub; an input-side outer leg; an output-side leg including an output-side axle seat for receiving an output-side end of a planetary axle; a web connecting the input-side outer leg with the output-side leg; and an input-side inner leg arranged in parallel to the input-side outer leg, said input-side inner leg including an input-side axle seat for receiving an input-side end of the planetary axle.

2. The planetary carrier of claim 1, wherein the input-side inner leg is fastened to the input-side hub and/or to the input-side outer leg and/or to the web.

3. The planetary carrier of claim 1, wherein a torsional stiffness of an inner load path, which leads from the input-side hub to the input-side axle seat, is adjusted to a torsional stiffness of an outer load path, which leads from an output-side hub to the output-side axle seat, such that under load a defined distortion of the input-side axle seat is established relative to the output-side axle seat.

4. The planetary carrier of claim 1, wherein the planetary carrier is assembled from a number of individual parts.

5. The planetary carrier of claim 4, wherein the individual parts of the planetary carrier are assembled by welded connections or screw connections.

6. The planetary carrier of claim 1, wherein the planetary carrier is assembled from a number of individual parts by welded connections, with relief notches being arranged along a partial length of the welded connections.

7. The planetary carrier of claim 1, wherein the web is formed by a pipe with cutouts for planet wheels of the planetary carrier.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

(1) Other features and advantages of the present invention will be more readily apparent upon reading the following description of currently preferred exemplified embodiments of the invention with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

(2) FIG. 1 shows a longitudinal section of a conventional two-legged planetary carrier;

(3) FIG. 2 shows a longitudinal section of a first embodiment of a planetary carrier according to the present invention with a two-legged hub bearing;

(4) FIG. 3 shows a longitudinal section of the planetary carrier according to FIG. 2 with a planet wheel, planetary axle and planet wheel bearing;

(5) FIG. 4 shows a longitudinal section of a second embodiment of a planetary carrier according to the present invention with a two-legged hub bearing;

(6) FIG. 5 shows a longitudinal section of a third embodiment of a planetary carrier according to the present invention with a two-legged hub bearing;

(7) FIG. 6 shows a longitudinal section of a fourth embodiment of a planetary carrier according to the present invention with a one-legged bearing;

(8) FIG. 7 shows a longitudinal section of a fifth embodiment of a planetary carrier according to the present invention with a one-legged bearing;

(9) FIG. 8 shows a perspective view of a cutout of a planetary carrier similar to that in FIG. 2;

(10) FIG. 9 shows a longitudinal section of a sixth embodiment of a planetary carrier according to the present invention with a two-legged hub bearing;

(11) FIG. 10 shows an enlarged detailed view of an area marked X in FIG. 9 of the planetary carrier of FIG. 9;

(12) FIG. 11 shows an enlarged detailed view of another area marked XI in FIG. 9 of the planetary carrier of FIG. 9;

(13) FIG. 12 shows an enlarged detailed view of still another area marked XII in FIG. 9 of the planetary carrier of FIG. 9;

(14) FIG. 13 shows a longitudinal section of a seventh embodiment of a planetary carrier according to the present invention with a two-legged hub bearing;

(15) FIG. 14 shows a longitudinal section of an eighth embodiment of a planetary carrier according to the present invention with a two-legged hub bearing;

(16) FIG. 15 shows a side view of a planetary carrier according to the present invention;

(17) FIG. 16 shows a top view of the planetary carrier of FIG. 15, taken along the section line XVI-XVI in FIG. 15;

(18) FIG. 17 shows a possible embodiment of the legs,

(19) FIG. 18 shows another embodiment of the legs; and

(20) FIG. 19 shows still another possible embodiment of the legs.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

(21) Throughout the figures, same or corresponding elements may generally be indicated by same reference numerals. These depicted embodiments are to be understood as illustrative of the invention and not as limiting in any way. It should also be understood that the figures are not necessarily to scale and that the embodiments are sometimes illustrated by graphic symbols, phantom lines, diagrammatic representations and fragmentary views. In certain instances, details which are not necessary for an understanding of the present invention or which render other details difficult to perceive may have been omitted.

(22) FIG. 1 shows a conventional two-legged planetary carrier. An input-side hub 1, which is embodied as an axially running pipe stub, is connected to an input-side leg 2, which is embodied as a radially running disk. The input-side hub 1 is also referred to as a long hub. Webs 4 which are embodied as an axially running pipe provided with cutouts 3 are arranged on the outer diameter of the input-side leg 2. The webs 4 connect the input-side leg 2 with an output-side leg 5, which is likewise embodied as a radially running disk. An output-side hub 7 which is embodied as an axially running pipe stub is arranged on the inner diameter of the output-side leg 5. The output-side hub 7 is also referred to as a short hub. The planetary carrier is mounted rotatably about its axis of rotation R in a gearbox housing, by the two hubs 1, 7 being supported with respect to the gearbox housing by means of bearings, be they roller or slide bearings.

(23) Axially aligned bores 6a, 6b which form seats for planetary axles upon which planet wheels are mounted rotatably are introduced in each case into the two legs 2, 5. In such cases an input-side end of a planetary axle is inserted into an input-side axle seat 6a in the input-side leg 2 and an output-side end of a planetary axle is inserted into an output-side axle seat 6b in the output-side leg 5. A notch 11 on which voltage peaks develop is formed at the position at which the input-side axle seat 6a is arranged in the input-side leg 2.

(24) The webs 4 extend between the two legs 2, 5 and between the cutouts 3, through which the cogs of the planet wheels project in order to mesh with a ring gear surrounding the planetary carrier. A sun wheel which likewise meshes with the planet wheels is arranged in the axial center of the planetary carrier.

(25) The planetary carrier can be arranged in a planetary gearbox such that a torque of a drive, for instance of a rotor shaft of a wind power plant, is brought onto the input-side hub 1. In such cases the planet wheels mesh with the ring gear and the centrally arranged sun wheel in such a way that with a stationary ring gear a rotation of the input-side hub 1 results in a quicker rotation of the central sun wheel. The rotation of the sun wheel axle, on which the sun wheel is arranged in a torsion-resistant manner, is transmitted as an output if necessary to a further gearbox stage downstream of the planetary carrier and then finally to a machine, e.g. a generator, downstream of the gearbox.

(26) According to the side of the torque introduction from a drive, in the view on the left side shown in FIG. 1, and the side of the torque diversion to an output, in the view on the right side shown in FIG. 1, the components of the planetary carrier such as the two hubs 1, 7, the two legs 2, 5 and the two axle seats 6a, 6b are differentiated using the position determinations output-side or input-side.

(27) FIG. 2 shows a first embodiment of a planetary carrier according to the present invention. Parts corresponding with those in FIG. 1 are denoted by identical reference numerals and not explained again. The description below will center on the differences between the embodiments. In this embodiment, provision is made for two input-side legs 2a, 8 arranged in parallel. A distinction is hereby made between an input-side inner leg 8 and an output-side outer leg 2a. The difference between inner and outer leg is defined in that when the planetary carrier is viewed along the axis of rotation R of the planetary carrier from the input side, i.e. in the view from the left in FIG. 2, the input-side outer leg 2a is closer to the observer than the input-side inner leg 8; therefore the input-side outer leg 2a is arranged in the outer region of the planetary carrier, whereas relative to it the input-side inner leg 8 is arranged further in the interior of the planetary carrier.

(28) The input-side inner leg 8 is fastened to the input-side hub 1 by way of an input-side inner hub 9. The input-side outer leg 2a is fastened to the input-side hub 1 by way of an input-side outer hub 10. The input-side inner hub 9 is an axially running pipe stub here, which is arranged closer to the axis of rotation R than the axially running pipe stub, which forms the input-side outer hub 10. In such cases the input-side axle seat 6a is arranged exclusively in the input-side inner leg 8.

(29) On account of the parallelism of the load path from the region of the torque introduction on the input-side hub 1 to the axle seats 6a of the planets in the input-side inner leg 8 and to the axle seats 6b of the planets in the output-side leg 5, under load its relative rotational displacement can be controlled by varying the stiffness of the inner load path, see reference character 1 via 9, 8 to 6a in FIG. 2, and of the outer load path, see reference character 1 via 10, 2a, 3, 4, 5 to 6b in FIG. 2. By separating the flux of force, the notch 11 between the axle seats 6a is additionally deburred toward the input-side hub 1, or the notch point 11 is omitted.

(30) The torsional stiffness of the outer (long) load path is influenced primarily by way of the thickness and the width of the webs 4 and the size of the cutouts 3 for the planet wheels, i.e. the shape of the webs 4, the wall strength of the outer leg 2a and the thickness and the length of the input-side outer hub 10. The torsional stiffness of the inner (short) load path is influenced primarily by way of the diameter and the thickness of the input-side inner hub 9.

(31) The torsional stiffness of the inner load path, which leads from the input-side hub 1 to the input-side axle seat 6a, is hereby adjusted to the torsional strength of the outer load path, which leads from the input-side hub 1 to the output-side axle seat 6b, such that under load a defined relative distortion of the input-side axle seat 6a is established in relation to the output-side axle seat 6b.

(32) FIG. 3 shows the planetary carrier according to FIG. 2 with a planet wheel 12, a planetary axle 14, a bearing inner ring 13 and a planetary bearing 15. The input-side end of the planetary axle 14 is located in the input-side axle seat 6a, which is arranged in the input-side inner leg 8, while the output-side end of the planetary axle 14 is located in the output-side axle seat 6b, which, as in the conventional planetary carrier according to FIG. 1, is arranged in the output-side leg 5.

(33) FIG. 4 shows a further embodiment of a planetary carrier according to the present invention, with a hub bearing on both sides. Compared to the embodiment shown in FIG. 2, the input-side inner leg 8 is not fastened here by way of an inner hub 9 to the input-side hub 1, but instead by way of an axial pipe stub 8a on the input-side outer leg 2a.

(34) FIG. 5 shows a further embodiment of an inventive planetary carrier with a hub bearing on both sides. In such cases, compared to the embodiment shown in FIG. 2, the input-side inner leg 8 is not fastened by way of an inner hub 9 to the input-side hub 1, but instead to the web 4, more precisely: to the input-side half of the web 4.

(35) FIG. 6 shows a further embodiment of a planetary carrier according to the present invention. The design of the planetary carrier corresponds largely to that of the planetary carrier according to FIG. 2, except for the absence of an output-side bearing in an output-side hub. Instead, the planetary carrier according to FIG. 6 is mounted on one side of the input-side hub, e.g. on the fly.

(36) FIG. 7 shows a further embodiment of a planetary carrier according to the present invention with a one-sided bearing. The planetary axle projects on the output side so far beyond the output-side leg 5 that a planet wheel 17 clamped on the fly between the ring gear and the sun wheel is located on the planetary axle 14. In addition, a planet wheel 12 introduced between the input-side legs 2a, 8 and the output-side leg 5 is mounted on the planetary axle 14.

(37) For ease of understanding of the invention, reference is made to FIG. 8 which shows a perspective view of a cutout of a planetary carrier according to the present invention, which is similar to the planetary carrier shown in FIG. 2. The planetary axle 14 is also illustrated.

(38) FIG. 9 shows a planetary carrier, which has a pipe with cutouts 3 provided for the planets (not shown), as a web 4, two legs 5, 8, a torsion disk as an outer leg 2a, a hub 1, to which the torque applies, reinforcing rings 18, 19 for receiving the planetary axle bolts, an optional hub 7 for receiving a possible web bearing and an optional cover plate 16. FIG. 9 also shows the arrangement of the welded seams 20 between the individual components. All welded seams 20 are welded through and closed.

(39) FIGS. 10 to 12 show enlarged detailed views of areas X, XI and XII of the planetary carrier shown in FIG. 9. A relief notch 21 is arranged in addition to the welded seams 20 in each case.

(40) FIG. 13 shows a planetary carrier with a pipe forming the webs 4, which, at both front sides of the planetary carrier, projects beyond the input-side outer leg 2a which acts as a torsion disk and the output-side leg 5.

(41) FIG. 14 shows a planetary carrier with a pipe forming the webs 4, which projects beyond the input-side outer leg 2a which acts as a torsion disk. The longer the pipe forming the webs 4, i.e. the larger the protrusion, the higher its torsional strength.

(42) The joining sequence (welding sequence) is advantageously in the sequence of the following steps from a) to g): a) input-side inner leg 8 with reinforcing ring 18 for module 1. b) output-side leg 5 with reinforcing ring 19 and output-side hub 7 for module 2. c) input-side outer leg 2a with input-side hub 1 and optional cover plate 16 for module 3. d) tack-weld web 4 with module 1 for module 4. e) tack-weld web 4 with module 2 for module 5. f) weld the module 5. g) tack-weld and weld modules 3 and 5 to the ready-made planetary carrier.

(43) The torsional strength of the planetary carrier significantly influences the widthwise load-bearing behavior of the cogs. As a result of the input-side inner leg 8 having the input-side axle seat 6a being separated from the hub 1 introducing the torque, the shape of the input-side inner leg 8 can be varied such that the torsional deformation of the web 4, which results in a rotational displacement of the output-side leg 5 and thus also in the output-side axle seat 6b, can be compensated.

(44) FIG. 15 shows a side view of a planetary carrier according to the present invention with an input-side hub 1, an output-side hub 7 and a web 4 arranged there-between.

(45) FIG. 16 shows a top view of the planetary carrier of FIG. 15, taken along the section line XVI-XVI in FIG. 15. The leg 8 has constrictions 22 between the axle seats 6a. The stiffness of the input-side inner leg 8 can be varied by the depth of the constrictions 22.

(46) FIGS. 17 to 19 show possible embodiments of the legs 5, 8. FIG. 17 shows a full disk with a maximum strength, such as can advantageously be used for the output-side leg 5. FIG. 18 shows constrictions 22, 23 between the axle seats 6a. The stiffness of the input-side inner leg 8 can be varied by a different depth of the constrictions 22, 23. FIG. 19 shows a possible embodiment of how the stiffness of the input-side inner leg 8 can vary due to cutouts 24 between the axle seats 6a.

(47) While the invention has been illustrated and described in connection with currently preferred embodiments shown and described in detail, it is not intended to be limited to the details shown since various modifications and structural changes may be made without departing in any way from the spirit and scope of the present invention. The embodiments were chosen and described in order to explain the principles of the invention and practical application to thereby enable a person skilled in the art to best utilize the invention and various embodiments with various modifications as are suited to the particular use contemplated.