Gear system and method for using same

• US 8,550,957 B2
• Filed: 06/08/2011
• Issued: 10/08/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 06/08/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: GE Infrastructure Technology, LLC (General Electric Company)
• Original Assignee: General Electric Company
• Inventors: Erno, Daniel Jason, Lopez, Fulton Jose, Hallman, Darren Lee, Jacobson, Erik Karl, Zirin, Robert Michael, Ahuja, Munishwar, Johnson, Stephen Bertram
• Primary Examiner(s): Holmes, Justin
• Assistant Examiner(s): CHAU, TERRY C
• Application Number:
  US13/155,417
• Publication Number:
  US 20120316027A1
• Time in Patent Office: 853 Days
• Field of Search: 475/347, 475/333, 475/346
• US Class Current: 475/347
• 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

Abstract

A planetary gear system and a method. The planetary gear system includes a carrier body configured to receive planet gears, at least one pin received by the carrier body, and flex means positioned between the carrier body and the at least one pin. The method includes preparing the carrier, upon which a plurality of planet gears is mounted through planet pins, and providing flex means between the planet pins and the carrier, the flex means configured to enable movement of the planet pins in response to a force directed thereon.

Claims

1. A planetary gear system, comprising:

a carrier body configured to receive planet gears, said carrier body having an inner surface with a ring/neck cut-out portion and a base cut-out portion;

at least one pin received by said carrier body; and

a compliant insert positioned within the ring/neck and base cut-out portions of said carrier body, said compliant insert comprising a ring portion extending from a neck portion and configured to receive that at least one pin, and a base portion extending outwardly from a lower extent of the neck portion, said compliant insert positioned within said ring/neck and base cut-out portions in such a way that a gap exists between said ring and neck portions of said compliant insert and the ring/neck cut-out portion of said carrier body, and no gap exists between said base portion of said compliant insert and said base cut-out portion of said carrier body.

2. The planetary gear system of claim 1, wherein said carrier body is made of a first material, and wherein said compliant insert is made of a second material having a higher yield strength than the first material.

3. The planetary gear system of claim 2, wherein said carrier body further comprises a step-down line located between the ring/neck cut-out portion and the base cut-out portion of said carrier body.

4. The planetary gear system of claim 3 wherein said base portion of said compliant insert and said base cut-out portion are configured and sized such that there is an interference fit between compliant insert and said carrier body below said step-down line of said base cut-out portion of said carrier body.

5. The planetary gear system of claim 2, wherein the ring/neck cut-out portion of said carrier body includes a beveled edge, and wherein the ring portion of said compliant insert includes a beveled surface that contacts the beveled edge during higher than normal torque conditions of said planetary gear system.

6. A method of balancing a load on a planetary gear system comprising a plurality of planet gears mounted on a carrier through a plurality of planet pins, the method comprising:

preparing a carrier body of the carrier with a ring/neck cut-out portion and a base cut-out portion on an inner surface of the carrier body; and

providing a compliant insert between said planet pins and said carrier, said compliant insert positioned within the ring/neck and base cut-out portions of said carrier body, said compliant insert comprising a ring portion extending from a neck portion and configured to receive that at least one pin, and a base portion extending outwardly from a lower extent of the neck portion, said compliant insert positioned within said ring/neck and base cut-out portions in such a way that a gap exists between said ring and neck portions of said compliant insert and the ring/neck cut-out portion of said carrier body, and no gap exists between said base portion of said compliant insert and said base cut-out portion of said carrier body, thereby enabling movement of said planet pins in response to a force directed thereon.