PLANETARY FRICTION GEAR MECHANISM, METHOD FOR OPERATING A PLANETARY FRICTION GEAR MECHANISM, AND FLUID ENERGY MACHINE

Abstract

A planetary friction gear mechanism (10) for a fluid energy machine (1), wherein a gap (24) for supplying lubricant (M) to a thrust collar (20) is formed, at least in sections, between an inner side (21a, 22a) of respective annular elements (21, 22) of the thrust collar (20) and adjacently arranged end sides (16a, 16b) of a plurality of planetary gears (16, 17, 18). Also a method for operating a planetary friction gear mechanism (10), and to a fluid energy machine (1).

Claims

1. A planetary friction gear mechanism (10) for a fluid energy machine (1), having a sun wheel (14) which is configured to be fixedly connected to an impeller (12) of the fluid energy machine (1), having a plurality of planetary gears (16, 17, 18) which are driven by the sun wheel (14), having a planetary gear carrier (19) for accommodating the plurality of planetary gears (16, 17, 18) and having an internal gear (25) which surrounds the planetary gears (16, 17, 18), wherein the sun wheel (14) has a thrust collar (20) for supporting an axial force (F) applied by the impeller (12) to the sun wheel (14) during operation of the fluid energy machine (1), and wherein a gap (24) for supplying lubricant (M) to the thrust collar (20) is formed, at least in sections, between an inner side (21a, 22a) of respective annular elements (21, 22) of the thrust collar (20) and adjacently arranged end sides (16a, 16b) of the plurality of planetary gears (16, 17, 18).

2. The planetary friction gear mechanism according to claim 1, characterized in that the inner side (21a, 22a) of respective annular elements (21, 22) of the thrust collar (20), and/or the adjacently arranged end sides (16a, 16b) of the plurality of planetary gears (16, 17, 18), is/are of substantially conical form.

3. The planetary friction gear mechanism according to claim 1, characterized in that a cone angle () formed between the inner side (21a, 22a) of respective annular elements (21, 22) of the thrust collar (20) and the adjacently arranged end sides (16a, 16b) of the plurality of planetary gears (16, 17, 18) lies in a range from 0.1 to 5.

4. The planetary friction gear mechanism according to claim 1, characterized in that the inner side (21a, 22a) of respective annular elements (21, 22) of the thrust collar (20) and the adjacently arranged end sides (16a, 16b) of the plurality of planetary gears (16, 17, 18) form punctiform contact or linear contact (26).

5. The planetary friction gear mechanism according to claim 4, characterized in that the linear contact (26) is in a plane (A) in which respective axes of the sun wheel (14) and of the plurality of planetary gears (16, 17, 18) are arranged.

6. The planetary friction gear mechanism according to claim 1, characterized in that the gap (24) for supplying lubricant (M) is formed to converge substantially in a circumferential direction.

7. The planetary friction gear mechanism according to claim 1, characterized in that a lubricating film is formed between the inner side (21a, 22a) of respective annular elements (21, 22) of the thrust collar (20) and the adjacently arranged end sides (16a, 16b) of the plurality of planetary gears (16, 17, 18) during the operation of the fluid energy machine (1).

8. The planetary friction gear mechanism according to claim 1, characterized in that a supply of lubricant to the thrust collar (20) takes place via lubricant (M) that is sprayed onto running surfaces of the plurality of planetary gears (16, 17, 18).

9. A method for operating a planetary friction gear mechanism (10) for a fluid energy machine (1), comprising the steps of: providing (S1) a sun wheel (14) which is fixedly connected to an impeller (12) of the fluid energy machine (1), providing a plurality of planetary gears (16, 17, 18) which are driven by the sun wheel (14), providing a planetary gear carrier (19) for accommodating the plurality of planetary gears (16, 17, 18) and providing an internal gear (25) which surrounds the planetary gears (16, 17, 18); supporting (S2) by means of a thrust collar (20) of the sun wheel (14) an axial force (F) applied by the impeller (12) to the sun wheel (14) during the operation of the fluid energy machine (1); and supplying (S3) lubricant (M) to the thrust collar (20) by means of a gap (24) which is formed, at least in sections, between an inner side (21a, 22a) of respective annular elements (21, 22) of the thrust collar (20) and adjacently arranged end sides (16a, 16b) of the plurality of planetary gears (16, 17, 18).

10. A fluid energy machine (1) for converting energy from a pressurized fluid into mechanical energy, comprising an impeller (12) which is able to be acted upon by means of a fluid; and a planetary friction gear mechanism (10) according to claim 1 connected to the impeller (12).

11. The planetary friction gear mechanism according to claim 1, characterized in that a cone angle () formed between the inner side (21a, 22a) of respective annular elements (21, 22) of the thrust collar (20) and the adjacently arranged end sides (16a, 16b) of the plurality of planetary gears (16, 17, 18) lies in a range from 0.5 to 3.

12. The planetary friction gear mechanism according to claim 1, characterized in that a supply of lubricant to the thrust collar (20), to the gap (24) formed between the inner side (21a, 22a) of respective annular elements (21, 22) of the thrust collar (20) and the adjacently arranged end sides (16a, 16b) of the plurality of planetary gears (16, 17, 18), takes place via lubricant (M) that is sprayed onto running surfaces of the plurality of planetary gears (16, 17, 18).

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0021] The appended drawings are intended to convey further understanding of the embodiments of the invention. They illustrate embodiments and serve, in connection with the description, for explaining principles and concepts of the invention.

[0022] Other embodiments, and a large number of the stated advantages, will emerge with regard to the drawings. The illustrated elements of the drawings are not necessarily shown to scale with respect to one another.

[0023] In the drawings:

[0024] FIG. 1a shows a schematic illustration of a planetary friction gear mechanism according to a preferred embodiment of the invention;

[0025] FIG. 1b shows a cross-sectional view of a fluid energy machine, having the planetary friction gear mechanism according to the invention, according to the preferred embodiment of the invention;

[0026] FIG. 2 shows a schematic illustration of components of the planetary friction gear mechanism according to the preferred embodiment of the invention;

[0027] FIG. 3 shows a schematic illustration of a thrust collar of the planetary friction gear mechanism according to the preferred embodiment of the invention;

[0028] FIG. 4 shows an enlarged, detailed view of a gap between the thrust collar and a planetary gear of the planetary friction gear mechanism according to the preferred embodiment of the invention;

[0029] FIG. 5 shows a schematic illustration of linear contact between the thrust collar and a planetary gear of the planetary friction gear mechanism according to the preferred embodiment of the invention; and

[0030] FIG. 6 shows a flow diagram of a method for operating the planetary friction gear mechanism according to the preferred embodiment of the invention.

[0031] In the figures of the drawings, the same reference signs are used to denote identical or functionally identical elements, structural parts or components, unless stated otherwise.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0032] FIG. 1a shows a schematic illustration of a planetary friction gear mechanism according to a preferred embodiment of the invention. The planetary friction gear mechanism 10 for the fluid energy machine (not shown in FIG. 1a) has a sun wheel 14 which is fixedly connected to an impeller (not shown in FIG. 1a) of the fluid energy machine, has a plurality of planetary gears 16, 17, 18 which are driven by the sun wheel 14, has a planetary gear carrier 19 for accommodating the plurality of planetary gears 16, 17, 18 and has an internal gear 25 which surrounds the planetary gears 16, 17, 18.

[0033] FIG. 1b shows a cross-sectional view of a fluid energy machine, having the planetary friction gear mechanism according to the invention, according to the preferred embodiment of the invention.

[0034] The sun wheel 14 has a thrust collar 20. The thrust collar 20 serves for supporting an axial force applied by the impeller 12 to the sun wheel 14 during the operation of the fluid energy machine 1. A gap (not shown in FIG. 1b) for supplying lubricant to the thrust collar 20 is formed, at least in sections, between an inner side 21a, 22a of respective annular elements 21, 22 of the thrust collar 20 and adjacently arranged end sides 16a, 16b of the plurality of planetary gears 16, 17, 18.

[0035] FIG. 2 shows a schematic illustration of components of the planetary friction gear mechanism according to the preferred embodiment of the invention. The sun wheel 14 forms areal frictional contact with the planetary gear 16 in the radial direction of the planetary friction gear mechanism. Furthermore, respective end sides of the planetary gear 16 form frictional contact with the thrust collar 20 in the axial direction of the planetary friction gear mechanism. Said frictional contact is brought about substantially by the axial force F applied by the impeller of the fluid energy machine to the sun wheel 14.

[0036] FIG. 3 shows a schematic illustration of a thrust collar of the planetary friction gear mechanism according to the preferred embodiment of the invention.

[0037] The inner side 21a of the annular element 21 of the thrust collar 20, and the adjacently arranged end sides 16a of the plurality of planetary gears, of which only the planetary gear 16 is illustrated in FIG. 3, are preferably of substantially conical form. Alternatively, it is possible for the inner sides 21a of respective annular elements 21 of the thrust collar 20, or the adjacently arranged end sides 16a of the plurality of planetary gears 16, to be of substantially conical form, or to have another suitable form which allows reduced friction between the inner sides 21a of respective annular elements 21 of the thrust collar 20 and the adjacently arranged end sides 16a of the plurality of planetary gears 16.

[0038] A cone angle formed between the inner side 21a of respective annular elements 21 of the thrust collar 20 and the adjacently arranged end sides 16a of the plurality of planetary gears 16 preferably lies in a range from 0.1 to 5, preferably from 0.5 to 3. The gap 24 for supplying lubricant M is formed to converge substantially in the circumferential direction.

[0039] FIG. 4 shows an enlarged, detailed view of a gap between the thrust collar and a planetary gear of the planetary friction gear mechanism according to the preferred embodiment of the invention. A lubricating film is formed between the inner side 21a of respective annular elements 21 of the thrust collar 20 and the adjacently arranged end sides 16a of the plurality of planetary gears 16 during the operation of the fluid energy machine.

[0040] A supply of lubricant to the thrust collar 20, in particular to the gap 24 formed between the inner side 21a of respective annular elements 21 of the thrust collar 20 and an adjacently arranged end side 16a of the planetary gear 16, takes place via lubricant M that is sprayed onto running surfaces of the plurality of planetary gears 16. The thrust collar 20 has a recess or a cutout within the gap 24. This advantageously brings about an efficient supply of lubricant to further regions of the thrust collar 20.

[0041] FIG. 5 shows a schematic illustration of linear contact between the thrust collar and a planetary gear of the planetary friction gear mechanism according to the preferred embodiment of the invention.

[0042] The inner side (not shown in FIG. 5) of respective annular elements of the thrust collar and the adjacently arranged end sides of the plurality of planetary gears preferably form linear contact 26. Alternatively, it is possible for them to form for example punctiform contact. The linear contact 26 is in a plane A in which respective axes 14, 28 of the sun wheel 14 and of the planetary gear 16 or of the plurality of planetary gears are arranged.

[0043] FIG. 6 shows a flow diagram of a method for operating the planetary friction gear mechanism according to the preferred embodiment of the invention.

[0044] The method comprises providing (step S1) a sun wheel which is fixedly connected to an impeller of the fluid energy machine, providing a plurality of planetary gears which are driven by the sun wheel, providing a planetary gear carrier for accommodating the plurality of planetary gears and providing an internal gear which surrounds the planetary gears.

[0045] The method also comprises supporting (step S2) by means of a thrust collar of the sun wheel an axial force applied by the impeller to the sun wheel during the operation of the fluid energy machine.

[0046] The method further comprises supplying (step S3) lubricant to the thrust collar by means of a gap which is formed, at least in sections, between an inner side of respective annular elements of the thrust collar and adjacently arranged end sides of the plurality of planetary gears.

[0047] Although the present invention has been described above on the basis of preferred exemplary embodiments, it is not limited thereto but is modifiable in a wide variety of ways. In particular, the invention can be altered or modified in numerous ways without departing from the essence of the invention.

[0048] For example, it is possible to modify a shape, a dimension and/or characteristics of the components of the planetary friction gear mechanism.