GB1558489A

GB1558489A - Epicyclic gear

Info

Publication number: GB1558489A
Application number: GB48308/76A
Authority: GB
Original assignee: Stal Laval Turbin AB
Current assignee: ABB Stal AB
Priority date: 1975-11-20
Filing date: 1976-11-19
Publication date: 1980-01-03
Also published as: SE405634B; DE2648600A1; JPS5271673U; SE7513057L; JPS5618752Y2

Description

(54) IMPROVED EPICYCLIC GEAR (71) We, STAL-LAVAL TURBIN AB, a Swedish Company, of Finspong, Sweden, do hereby declare the invention, for which we pray that a patent may be granted to us, and the method by which it is to be performed, to be particularly described in and by the following statement: This invention relates to an epicyclic gear with an improved lubrication system.

In epicyclic gears there is often no easv access to a free shaft pivot, and therefore the employment of a direct-driven lubricating oil pump for lubrication of the gear will lead to complicated and costly constructions.

The present invention aims to provide an epicyclic gear in which this lubrication problem is solved in a simple manner by utilising the rotary movements occurring in the gear to operate a lubricating oil pump.

According to the invention an epicyclic gear comprises a sun wheel, planet or star wheels, and a pump arranged in said carrier, said pump having its housing fixed to said carrier and shaft of the pump being fixed to the sun wheel.

The invention will now be described, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawing, the single Figure of which is a partly sectioned side view of an epicyclic gear embodying the invention.

The Figure illustrates an epicyclic gear with sun wheel 10, planet (star) wheels 11, planet (star) wheel carrier 12 and internally toothed rings 13. The planet wheels 11 are mounted on spindles 14 which are fixed to the carrier 12 by means of bolts 15.

The relative rotation between the carrier 12 and the sun wheel 10 is utilised to drive a lubricating oil pump. To this end a pump having a housing 16 is placed at the centre of the carrier 12, which is provided with a recess 17 for this purpose. The drive shaft 18 of the pump is in a central bore of the sun wheel 10.

The pump housing 16 is attached to the carrier 12 by means of a diaphragm 19, thus allowing a certain flexibility of the axis 16 and eliminating the requirement for strict coaxiality between the pump shaft and the sun-wheel as well as the requirement for a mechanical coupling. For the same reason, the shaft 18 is preferably made flexible to withstand uneven loading.

If necessary, a gear (not shown) for increasing or reducing the pump speed can be connected to the pump housing 16.

The Figure shows the oil supply channels, oil being supplied to the pump housing 16 through an inlet 21 connected to the shaft 20 of the carrier 12 and a flexible connection 22. The pump housing 16 has an outlet 23 to the recess 17 from which oil is forced under pressure, on the one hand, through an inlet 24 intended for gear lubrication and, on the other hand, through an inlet 25 and a tube 26 for lubricating the bearing surface 27 between the spindle 14 and the planet (star) wheels 11.

WHAT WE CLAIM IS:- 1. An epicyclic gear comprising a sun wheel, planet or star wheels, a carrier for the planet or star wheels, and a pump am ranged in said carrier, said pump having its housing fixed to said carrier and the shaft of the pump being fixed to the sun wheel.

2. A gear according to claim 1, in which the pump is mounted in a recess arranged centrally in the carrier.

3. A gear according to claim 1 or 2 in which the pump is attached to the carrier by means of a diaphragm.

4. A gear according to any of the preceding claims, in which said shaft is flexible.

5. An epicyclic gear constructed and arranged substantially as herein described with reference to, and as illustrated in, the accompanying drawing.

**WARNING** end of DESC field may overlap start of CLMS **.

Claims

**WARNING** start of CLMS field may overlap end of DESC **. (54) IMPROVED EPICYCLIC GEAR (71) We, STAL-LAVAL TURBIN AB, a Swedish Company, of Finspong, Sweden, do hereby declare the invention, for which we pray that a patent may be granted to us, and the method by which it is to be performed, to be particularly described in and by the following statement: This invention relates to an epicyclic gear with an improved lubrication system. In epicyclic gears there is often no easv access to a free shaft pivot, and therefore the employment of a direct-driven lubricating oil pump for lubrication of the gear will lead to complicated and costly constructions. The present invention aims to provide an epicyclic gear in which this lubrication problem is solved in a simple manner by utilising the rotary movements occurring in the gear to operate a lubricating oil pump. According to the invention an epicyclic gear comprises a sun wheel, planet or star wheels, and a pump arranged in said carrier, said pump having its housing fixed to said carrier and shaft of the pump being fixed to the sun wheel. The invention will now be described, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawing, the single Figure of which is a partly sectioned side view of an epicyclic gear embodying the invention. The Figure illustrates an epicyclic gear with sun wheel 10, planet (star) wheels 11, planet (star) wheel carrier 12 and internally toothed rings 13. The planet wheels 11 are mounted on spindles 14 which are fixed to the carrier 12 by means of bolts 15. The relative rotation between the carrier 12 and the sun wheel 10 is utilised to drive a lubricating oil pump. To this end a pump having a housing 16 is placed at the centre of the carrier 12, which is provided with a recess 17 for this purpose. The drive shaft 18 of the pump is in a central bore of the sun wheel 10. The pump housing 16 is attached to the carrier 12 by means of a diaphragm 19, thus allowing a certain flexibility of the axis 16 and eliminating the requirement for strict coaxiality between the pump shaft and the sun-wheel as well as the requirement for a mechanical coupling. For the same reason, the shaft 18 is preferably made flexible to withstand uneven loading. If necessary, a gear (not shown) for increasing or reducing the pump speed can be connected to the pump housing 16. The Figure shows the oil supply channels, oil being supplied to the pump housing 16 through an inlet 21 connected to the shaft 20 of the carrier 12 and a flexible connection 22. The pump housing 16 has an outlet 23 to the recess 17 from which oil is forced under pressure, on the one hand, through an inlet 24 intended for gear lubrication and, on the other hand, through an inlet 25 and a tube 26 for lubricating the bearing surface 27 between the spindle 14 and the planet (star) wheels 11. WHAT WE CLAIM IS:-

1. An epicyclic gear comprising a sun wheel, planet or star wheels, a carrier for the planet or star wheels, and a pump am ranged in said carrier, said pump having its housing fixed to said carrier and the shaft of the pump being fixed to the sun wheel.