Gear system and method for using same

• US 8,777,802 B2
• Filed: 04/29/2011
• Issued: 07/15/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 04/29/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: General Electric Company
• Original Assignee: General Electric Company
• Inventors: Erno, Daniel Jason, Lopez, Fulton Jose
• Primary Examiner(s): YOUNG, EDWIN
• Application Number:
  US13/097,900
• Publication Number:
  US 20120277056A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,173 Days
• Field of Search: 475/346, 475/347
• US Class Current: 475/346
• 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: 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
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/49462 Gear making

Abstract

A planet pin, a planetary gear system, and a method for balancing a load on a planetary gear system between respective planet gears. The planet pin includes a planet pin body having a flexure portion between a pair of ends. The flexure portion may be a planet pin body having grooves on opposing sides. The flexure portion may be a pair of pin bodies interference fit into annuluses of a centrally located barrel. The flexure portion may be a pair of pin arms extending from a centrally located ball joint.

Claims

1. A planet pin configured to serve as an anchoring point for a planet gear within a carrier, comprising a planet pin body having a flexure portion between a pair of ends, wherein the planet pin body comprises:

first and second pairs of grooves allowing flexure of the planet pin body in a first direction and a rib, the first pair of grooves being located on an opposing side of the planet pin body from the second pair of grooves, and grooves from each of the pair of grooves being separated by the rib.

2. The planet pin of claim 1, comprising a pair of plates positioned on surfaces of the planet pin body between the first and second pairs of grooves, the pair of plates inhibiting flexure of the planet pin body in a second direction orthogonal to the first direction.

3. The planet pin of claim 1, comprising an oil path through the planet pin body.

4. A planetary gear system, comprising:

a carrier having a central opening, a plurality of peripherally located openings and a plurality of planet pin openings;

a rotatable central gear located within the central opening; and

a plurality of peripheral planet gears in meshed relationships with the rotatable central gear and anchored within respective ones of the planet pin openings with a planet pin, each said planet pin has a planet pin body comprising;

a flexure portion having first and second pairs of grooves allowing flexure of the planet pin body in a first direction, the first pair of grooves being located on an opposing side of the planet pin body from the second pair of grooves;

a rib separating the grooves of each of the pairs of grooves; and

a pair of plates positioned on opposing surfaces of the planet pin body inhibiting flexure of the planet pin body in a second direction orthogonal to the first direction.

5. The planetary gear system of claim 4 for use in a wind turbine.

6. A method for balancing a load on a planetary gear system between respective planet gears, comprising:

preparing a plurality of planet pins, each of the planet pins including a flexure portion;

assembling the planet pins in a respective one of the planet gears;

positioning the planet gears within a carrier; and

intermeshing the planet gears with a central gear and a ring gear,

wherein said preparing comprises providing for the flexure portions of each of the plurality of planet pins first and second pairs of grooves that allow flexure in a first direction, the first pair of grooves being located on opposing sides of the planet pins from the second pair of grooves, providing for each of the plurality of planet pins a rib separating the grooves of each of the pairs of grooves, and providing for each of the plurality of planet pins a pair of plates positioned on opposing surfaces of the planet pins that inhibit flexure in a second direction orthogonal to the first direction.

7. The method of claim 6, wherein said assembling comprises securing each of the plurality of planet pins with a bearing within a respective one of planet pin openings in the carrier.