Planetary gear system

• US 8,287,423 B2
• Filed: 08/16/2011
• Issued: 10/16/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 08/16/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: GE Infrastructure Technology, LLC (General Electric Company)
• Original Assignee: General Electric Company
• Inventors: Lopez, Fulton Jose, Hallman, Darren Lee, Ertas, Bugra Han, Zirin, Robert Michael
• Primary Examiner(s): YOUNG, EDWIN
• Application Number:
  US13/210,740
• Publication Number:
  US 20120027596A1
• Time in Patent Office: 427 Days
• Field of Search: 475/348
• US Class Current: 475/347
• CPC Class Codes: F03D 15/00 Transmission of mechanical power
• CPC Class Codes: F03D 15/10 using gearing not limited to rotary motion, e.g. with oscillating or reciprocating members
• CPC Class Codes: F03D 80/70 Bearing or lubricating arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: F05B 2260/40311 of the epicyclic, planetary or differential type
• CPC Class Codes: F16C 2360/31 Wind motors in general F03D
• CPC Class Codes: F16C 2361/61 Toothed gear systems, e.g. support of pinion shafts in general F16H57/02
• CPC Class Codes: F16C 27/04 Ball or roller bearings, e.g. with resilient rolling bodies
• CPC Class Codes: F16H 1/2836 by allowing limited movement of the planets relative to the planet carrier or by using free floating planets
• CPC Class Codes: F16H 2057/085 Bearings for orbital gears
• CPC Class Codes: F16H 57/082 Planet carriers
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 10/72 Wind turbines with rotation axis in wind direction

Abstract

A planetary gear system is disclosed. The planetary gear system includes a carrier, a planet gear defining a central planet axis, and a pin coupling the planet gear to the carrier. The planetary gear system additionally includes a bearing disposed between the planet gear and the pin. The bearing includes a plurality of rolling elements. Each of the rolling elements is in contact with an inner race and an outer race. The planetary gear system further includes a resilient member. The resilient member is disposed between one of the inner race and the pin or the outer race and the planet gear.

Claims

1. A planetary gear system comprising:

a carrier;

a planet gear defining a central planet axis;

a pin coupling the planet gear to the carrier;

a bearing disposed between the planet gear and the pin, the bearing comprising a plurality of rolling elements, each of the rolling elements in contact with an inner race and an outer race; and

,

a plurality of resilient members disposed between one of the inner race and the pin or the outer race and the planet gear, each of the plurality of resilient members having a generally O-shaped cross-sectional profile in a plane perpendicular to the central planet axis.

2. The planetary gear system of claim 1, wherein each of the plurality of resilient members is connected to an annularly adjacent one of the plurality of resilient members.

3. The planetary gear system of claim 1, wherein each of the plurality of resilient members is a spring.

4. The planetary gear system of claim 1, wherein each of the plurality of resilient members is disposed between the inner race and the pin.

5. The planetary gear system of claim 1, wherein each of the plurality of resilient members is disposed between the outer race and the planet gear.

6. The planetary gear system of claim 1, wherein the outer race is integral with the planet gear.

7. The planetary gear system of claim 1, wherein the inner race is integral with the pin.

8. The planetary gear system of claim 1, wherein each of the plurality of resilient members is formed from a metal or metal alloy.

9. The planetary gear system of claim 1, wherein each of the plurality of resilient members is formed from a polymer.

10. A planetary gear system comprising:

a sun gear defining a central axis;

a ring gear at least partially surrounding the sun gear and positioned along the central axis;

a plurality of planet gears, each of the plurality of planet gears disposed between and engaging the sun gear and the ring gear;

a carrier disposed adjacent the plurality of planet gears;

a plurality of pins, each of the pins coupling one of the plurality of planet gears to the carrier;

a plurality of bearings, each of the plurality of bearings disposed between one of the plurality of planet gears and one of the plurality of pins, the bearing comprising a plurality of rolling elements, each of the rolling elements in contact with an inner race and an outer race; and

,

a plurality of resilient members, each of the plurality of resilient members disposed between one of the inner race and one of the plurality of pins or the outer race and one of the plurality of planet gears, each of the plurality of resilient members having one of a generally O-shaped or generally S-shaped cross-sectional profile in a plane perpendicular to the central planet axis.

11. The planetary gear system of claim 10, wherein each of the plurality of resilient members is disposed between the inner race and the pin.

12. The planetary gear system of claim 10, wherein each of the plurality of resilient members is disposed between the outer race and the planet gear.

13. The planetary gear system of claim 10, wherein the outer race is integral with the planet gear.

14. The planetary gear system of claim 10, wherein the inner race is integral with the pin.

15. A planetary gear system comprising:

a carrier;

a planet gear defining a central planet axis;

a pin coupling the planet gear to the carrier;

a bearing disposed between the planet gear and the pin, the bearing comprising a plurality of rolling elements, each of the rolling elements in contact with an inner race and an outer race; and

,

a resilient member disposed between one of the inner race and the pin or the outer race and the planet gear, the resilient member having a generally S-shaped cross-sectional profile in a plane perpendicular to the central planet axis.

16. The planetary gear system of claim 15, wherein the resilient member is disposed between the inner race and the pin.

17. The planetary gear system of claim 15, wherein the outer race is integral with the planet gear.

18. The planetary gear system of claim 15, further comprising a plurality of resilient members disposed in an annular array about the central planet axis.

19. The planetary gear system of claim 18, wherein each of the plurality of resilient members is connected to an annularly adjacent one of the plurality of resilient members.