JP2002098223A - Laminated frame assembly - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an epicyclic gear set capable of preventing excessive wear by ensuring sufficient lubrication without using any additional constituent element. SOLUTION: A laminated frame includes a first end plate, a second end plate and a connecting means joins the two end plates so that a window to locate the position of an epicyclic gearing device is formed between them. At least one of the first and second end plates is made of a material consisting of a number of layers joined so that a non-uniform internal structure is generated.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

TECHNICAL FIELD The present invention generally relates to
It relates to a frame member on which the planet gears are mounted, and more particularly to a frame member as used, for example, in an automatic, planetary transmission or similar gear set.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Usually, a frame member is manufactured from a cast or stamped product. The frame member is a structural member to which the planetary gear is attached. A frame member made as a casting is illustrated as the frame member 10 in FIG. The planetary gear device 12 is mounted in the window 14 of the frame member 10 by the planetary shaft 16 and the roller 18 and rotates freely around the planetary shaft. Alternatively, the frame member window was made by riveting two stamped end plates separated by a spacer. The frame member often requires the following fabrication operations to prepare it for assembling with other components to make a frame assembly that is a major sub-component of the gear set. These subsequent operations may include forming lubricated access holes and / or machining surfaces that interface with kerfs or other components.

[0003] Such planetary gear sets often require additional components to ensure adequate lubrication and prevent excessive wear. For example, elaborate equipment may be required to catch and direct oil, and multiple washers may be required between various moving parts to reduce wear. These components add complexity and expense to the assembly of the planetary gear set.

[0004]

The foregoing illustrates the limitations known to exist in current devices and methods. Thus, it is apparent that it would be advantageous to provide an alternative directed to overcoming one or more of the limitations set forth above. Accordingly, suitable alternatives are provided which include the features more fully disclosed below.

[0005]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION In one aspect of the invention, this is achieved by providing a laminate for a planetary gear set, the laminate comprising a first end plate, a second end plate and a second end plate. Connecting means are provided for joining the first and second end plates such that a window for positioning the planetary gear set is formed therebetween. At least one of the first and second end plates comprises a number of layers of material joined to form a non-uniform internal structure. The foregoing and other aspects will become apparent from the following detailed description of the invention when considered in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.

[0006]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to a frame member for a planetary frame comprising a number of layers of material whose main structural components are fixed together to form a laminated structure.

[0007] Minimizing secondary operation is important because the individual layers normally stamped from the strip (raw material) can have features incorporated therein as part of the stamping process. It is. Further, the number, thickness, strength, composition or materials used in the individual layers can optimize the frame member design for the intended application. The combination of these design variables allows the designer to adapt to the structural loads experienced during the operation of the frame assembly.

FIGS. 2 and 3 illustrate a frame member 20 of the present invention having a first end plate 22, a second end plate 24, and a rivet 26 joining the two end plates. At least one end plate is formed as a laminated structure. In the figure, this stack is mainly shown with the second end plate 24. The planetary gear set 28 is mounted in the window 30 by a planetary shaft 32 and rollers 34 for free rotation about the planetary shaft. End spline 36 and peripheral teeth 38
Are representative of a variety of applications. The planet shaft 32 is shown with a roller 34 and a lubricant passage 40 to each layer of the second end plate 24.

Lubricants are usually provided to the gears and bearings of the frame assembly through a series of interconnecting holes or grooves. These passages are usually drilled or formed by secondary operations. However, in the laminated frame assembly of the present invention, holes can be drilled into the layers of the laminated structure during (and as part of) the initial stamping operation. The ability to change the location of such holes in adjacent layers allows a complex network of interconnected passages to be created in the frame member.

[0010] These interconnected passages can be designed to allow the flow of lubricant through the frame members to the parts of the frame assembly where lubrication is of paramount importance. Such a design provides optimal control of where lubricant enters and exits the frame assembly. The holes in the layers of the stack need not be round. The holes may be elongated slots, or they may provide a suitable network of passages for the capture, retention and routing of lubricating oil or other fluid where required in the planetary frame assembly. The layers may be perforated in any desired manner.

This concept is illustrated in FIG. 4, where a slot 42 is formed by one of the laminates, the slot allowing the lubricant to flow radially outward. This slot 42 interconnects with a lateral hole 44 in the planet shaft 32, which in turn interconnects with an axial hole 46 and a central lateral hole 48 in the planet shaft to lubricate the bearing. In another embodiment shown in FIG.
6 is in the laminate which directs the lubricant from the slot 42 to the surface between the planetary gear 28 and the laminate in the device.

[0012] As the oil is blown off by rotating members in planetary applications, there have been arrangements conventionally designed to capture the oil and direct it to a particular area of the gearset and frame assembly. By using a suitably modified stack, the capture device can be designed into the stack, but would otherwise require separate additional components. In FIG. 4, for example, the hole diameters of the laminated plates 50 and 51 are such that when the lamination is complete, a circumferential groove 52 is formed in the hole of the frame rim. The grooves confine flying lubricant and guide the lubricant into the lubricant holes 54 in the laminate and into the lubrication holes 40 in the planetary shaft 32 by centrifugal force.

[0013] Different materials can be used to make laminates based on the application and design of the frame. For example, a hardened steel laminate may be used where the laminate is subject to wear or fatigue,
On the other hand, the other laminates in the frame could be made of less expensive hardened steel. For example, other materials such as molded or perforated plastics may be used. Since the latest analysis tools are available to assess the structural integrity of the frame, the designer can design the frame by the shape and properties of each laminate in the assembled stack to meet the design requirements of the frame and the frame assembly. Can be optimized. Laminate design can be optimized for structural fatigue strength, thermal stability and / or minimal distortion, by way of example.

By way of example and as shown in FIG. 4, the planet gears 28 are shown pressing directly against the inner laminates 58 and 60. Due to the required wear properties,
The laminate is quenched to reduce wear. Other laminates do not require this wear resistance and do not need to be hardened. Thus, this concept requires that only certain laminates be made of more expensive materials to provide such properties.

[0015] The lower mass of the frame assembly is advantageous because lower mass increases the speed and acceleration of the gear set. The lamination concept allows for mass reduction by removing the laminate where no material strength is required. For example, the inner laminate may be perforated only to reduce mass without losing structural integrity when assembled into a laminate. Such voids in the structure may be difficult or impractical to create by conventional methods of frame fabrication.

[0016] The frame assembly also advantageously dampens noise and vibration. The laminated structure of the present invention essentially has such a damping property. Note that a specific material can be selected for lamination to enhance this property. For example, lead, bronze, copper, aluminum, various sintered metals, rubber and polymers (eg, nylon and polyamide) and voids may be used. Such a laminated structure may be of various thicknesses and may be applied as a thin coating or film.

The laminated frame of the present invention provides an opportunity to integrate other design features into the frame assembly. For example, stepped planet shafts may be used to create a secure mechanical connection between the shoulders of these shaft steps and the face of the frame. This structural feature
Increase the structural rigidity of the frame member.

Protruding pins or other devices attached to the planet shaft are often used within the assembly to provide a means for axially and circumferentially positioning the planet shaft. These pins typically engage slots or other features in the frame member. This mechanism can be used to ensure that the shaft can be assembled only in the desired circumferential or axial orientation. In a laminated frame, slots that require receiving pins in such applications should be easily punched out (with no secondary action) so that the laminate correctly positions the pins in one of the layers of the laminate. Can be. This is shown in FIG. It can be seen that the laminate has been removed in the area where the locating pins 60 are attached. This removal is formed by slots in two adjacent laminates 62 and 64.

In an alternative design using the laminar frame concept, the end laminates 66 and 68 have a planetary shaft 70 to axially hold the planetary shaft while allowing some circumferential axial movement. May be without holes. This movement can increase the fatigue resistance of the shaft and subsequently increase the fatigue life. This idea is illustrated in FIG.

The lamination design conventionally allows for the incorporation of additional components to the frame assembly in subsequent assembly operations. These components, such as, for example, splined plates or bearing seats, can be part of the stack and reduce subassembly and manufacturing costs. The concept of lamination does not limit the choice of material, shape or finishing of additional components. One example of this is shown in FIG. 7, where splined flanges 72 are incorporated as a laminated composite component. Another example is shown in FIG. 8, where a laminate extension 74 is formed of bearing steel to accommodate a thrust bearing 76. This laminate is designed both to support the bearing and to hold it for piloting and assembly purposes.

[0021] The integrity of the stack can be enhanced by using a relief in some stacks that meshes with voids in adjacent stacks. This provides a means to structurally secure several laminates together to ensure proper orientation of the individual laminates and to withstand loads and deflections. Also, the use of brazing foils or other methods can provide a means of securing several stacks together in a manner that aids assembly and increases the strength of the frame members.

The laminate assembly is swaged, bonded,
It may be joined and maintained by any means such as riveting or welding. Special welding techniques, such as electron beam welding, may be used to weld many layers of the laminate to variously shaped spacers to create a laminated frame window. The configuration of the laminate may be, for example, adapted to the assembly method. For example, rivets 80 may be formed by making relief grooves in the laminate 78 shown in FIG.
(In this case used to hold the assembly) can be kept at the same height (or below) with respect to the side surfaces of the frame assembly.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is an exploded pictorial view of a frame assembly illustrating the prior art.

FIG. 2 is an end view of a frame assembly illustrating an embodiment of the laminated frame of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view of the frame assembly of FIG. 2 as indicated by line 3-3 in FIG.

FIG. 4 is an enlarged pictorial view of a frame assembly with some portions cut away illustrating another embodiment of the laminated frame of the present invention.

FIG. 5 illustrates another embodiment of the laminated frame of the present invention;
FIG. 4 is an enlarged pictorial view of the frame assembly with some portions cut away.

FIG. 6 is an enlarged pictorial view of the frame assembly with some portions cut away illustrating yet another embodiment of the laminated frame of the present invention.

FIG. 7 is an enlarged pictorial view of the frame assembly with some portions cut away illustrating an embodiment of the invention incorporating additional components.

FIG. 8 is an enlarged pictorial view of a frame assembly with some portions cut away illustrating another embodiment of the present invention incorporating additional components.

[Explanation of symbols]

 Reference Signs List 20 frame member 22 first end plate 24 second end plate 26 rivet 28 planetary gear 30 window 32 planetary shaft 34 roller 36 end spline 38 peripheral tooth 40 lubricant passage

 ──────────────────────────────────────────────────続 き Continuing on the front page (72) Inventor Philip Jay Drapper, 06013 Burlington Ridge Road, Connecticut, U.S.A., 0060 (72) Inventor Christopher Kaswar, 06001 E Yvon Kingsbridge, Connecticut, U.S.A. State 06756 West Goshen Allin Road 138 F-term (Reference) 3J027 FA21 FA25 FA28 FB01 GA01 GC13 GE01 3J063 AA01 AB12 AC03 BA11 BB12 CB06 CD54 XD41 XE14

Claims (17)

[Claims] A first end plate, a second end plate, and connecting means for joining the first and second ends so as to form a window for positioning the planetary gear set therebetween. A lamination frame for a planetary gear set, wherein at least one of the first and second end plates comprises a multi-layered material joined so as to form a non-uniform internal structure. 2. The laminated frame according to claim 1, wherein the non-uniform internal structure includes at least one layer of different materials. 3. The laminated frame according to claim 1, wherein the non-uniform internal structure includes at least one layer of different hardness. 4. The laminated frame according to claim 1, wherein the non-uniform internal structure includes at least one layer having voids. 5. The laminate frame of claim 1, wherein the non-uniform internal structure includes at least one void providing a path for a lubricant. 6. The laminate frame of claim 1, wherein the non-uniform internal structure includes at least two layers having interconnected cavities to provide a lubricant path. 7. The laminated frame according to claim 1, wherein the non-uniform internal structure includes at least one layer perforated to form an elongated slot. 8. The laminated frame of claim 1, wherein the multilayer material provides a stepped recess for receiving a stepped planet shaft. 9. The laminated frame according to claim 1, wherein the multilayer material provides an indentation for receiving a locating pin protruding from the planet shaft. 10. The multi-layer material provides a recess for receiving the planetary axis, and the end laminates retain the planetary axis and allow a certain amount of circumferential axial movement to overlie the recess. 2. The laminated frame according to claim 1, wherein there are no holes in the region lying on the laminate. 11. The material of the multiple layers is generally in the form of a flat ring, with circumferential grooves formed in holes in the laminate frame to provide channels for lubricant. 2. The laminated frame according to claim 1, which has such a hole diameter. 12. The laminated frame according to claim 1, wherein the materials of the multiple layers are joined by rivets, and the multiple layers are configured to be able to indent the ends of the rivets. 13. The laminate frame of claim 1, wherein the material of the multiple layers includes an irregular shape such that structural interlocks are provided between adjacent layers. 14. The laminated frame according to claim 1, wherein the materials of the multiple layers are joined by swaging. 15. The laminate frame of claim 1, wherein the materials of the multiple layers are riveted together. 16. The laminate frame of claim 1, wherein the materials of the multiple layers are joined by bonding. 17. The laminate frame of claim 1, wherein the materials of the multiple layers are joined by welding.