DE102010064647B3 - Planetary gear with a central distributor - Google Patents

Abstract

Planetary gearing for a wind turbine with at least one planetary stage (1,2) which has a planetary carrier (3,4) on which several planetary gears (5,6) are arranged, each planetary gear (5,6) being supported by a planetary gear bearing ( 7,8), meshes on the one hand with a sun gear (11,12) and on the other hand with a ring gear (9,10) which is fixedly connected to a gear housing (30), anda means for supplying the planet gear bearings (7,8). a lubricant, a central distributor (20) being provided as the means, which extends inside the transmission housing (30) and is designed as a closed ring channel (21), the ring channel (21) having at least one inlet point (22) and one outlet point ( 23a,b), wherein the lubricant can be introduced into the annular channel (21) via the inlet point (22) and can be conveyed out of the annular channel (21) to the planetary gear bearings (7, 8) via the outlet point (23a,b), thereby marked that several planetary st ufen (1, 2) are provided, one outlet point (23a, b) being provided for each planetary stage (1, 2), so that each planetary stage (1, 2) has a separate branch of a lubricant bore (14,15).

Description

The invention relates to a planetary gear for a wind turbine with at least one planetary stage, which has a planetary carrier on which several planetary gears are arranged, with each planetary gear, which is supported by a planetary gear bearing, having a sun gear on the one hand and a sun gear on the other hand being firmly connected to a gear housing Ring gear is engaged, and means for supplying the planetary gear bearing with a lubricant.

Planetary gears and planetary spur gears for wind turbines are known in which the roller bearings of the planetary stages are lubricated and cooled by periodically immersing them in the oil sump located in the gear housing. The amount of lubricant that penetrates the bearing depends on several factors, such as the structural design of the capacity of the bearing, the inclined position of the longitudinal axis of the gearbox, the speed of the planet carrier, the dwell time of the bearing in the oil sump and others. In addition, the maximum oil level in these gears and thus the immersion depth of the planet gears in the oil sump are limited by the existing air gap of the labyrinth seals used on the rotor side.

Another way of lubricating the planet wheel bearings is to spray the bearings from the outside using local spray points. Here, an oil feed pump conveys a pressurized, defined quantity of lubricant, preferably cooled and filtered, by means of pipes, nozzles and orifices from the oil sump of the transmission housing to the lubrication points. In a generic, from the DE 85 35 076 U1 In known planetary gears, the lubricating oil conveyed in this way is fed to the lubricating points via bores in the gear housing and the planetary carrier and via a ring provided with bores and annular grooves, which ring is firmly inserted into the gear housing.

Other known planetary gears are in the documents EP 1 717 489 A2 and US 2010/0007151 A1 described.

The invention is based on the object of designing a planetary gear for a wind power plant in such a way that the planetary wheel bearings can be permanently supplied with a sufficient and determinable quantity of lubricant during operation, with the supply line for the lubricant being of simple design, at least in some areas, and thus the Assembly effort of the planetary gear can be kept as low as possible.

The stated object is achieved according to the invention by all the features of patent claim 1 . Possible embodiments are proposed in the dependent claims.

According to the present invention, the planetary gear has a central distributor as a means, which extends inside the gear housing and is designed as a closed ring channel, the ring channel having at least one inlet point and one outlet point, the lubricant being able to be introduced into the ring channel via the inlet point and via the outlet point from the annular channel to the planetary gear bearings and/or can be further conveyed.

The essential core of the present invention is to use a central distributor for supplying the planet wheel bearings with the lubricant, which has a simple geometric shape and can be installed in the planetary gear without significant installation effort. The central distributor has an elongated extension, with the central distributor extending through a substantial part of the planetary gear and thus the distance from the ring channel to the planetary wheel bearings to be supplied can be kept as small as possible. In this case, the outlet point/points is/are positioned within the planetary gear in such a way that there is only a short way for the lubricant to reach the planetary gear bearing. The central distributor can be surrounded by the sun gear of the respective planetary stage, which creates a compact overall construction of the planetary gear. The ring channel is only open at the inlet point and the outlet point, so that the lubricant can be pumped into the ring channel and can flow out of the ring channel at the defined point to the respective planet wheel bearings. However, the rest of the construction of the ring channel is closed.

Another significant advantage of the present invention is that the central distributor can be easily removed from the planetary gear if maintenance work and/or repair work is required, for example on the sealing points in the area of the inlet point and the outlet point. In such a case, the assembler can simply pull the central distributor out of the planetary gear, exposing the sealing points to the assembler.

It is also conceivable to design the central distributor in such a way that it can be separated at at least one point. Thus, even in wind turbines with limited space, the central distributor can be divided, preferably by at least one screw connection, into at least two segments of the same size, for example. The fitter can pull a central distributor designed in this way segment by segment out of the planetary gear.

In a possible embodiment of the invention, the central distributor with its ring channel is double-walled, with the ring channel comprising a central passage. The central passage preferably runs centrally through the central distributor, with the ring channel surrounding the passage. The central passage is advantageously open so that, for example, a cable can be laid through the passage that electrically connects a generator that can be arranged on one side of the planetary gear to a rotor shaft of a rotor that can be attached to the other side of the planetary gear. This means that the central bushing can serve as an additional functional opening within the central distributor. The lubricant is conveyed in the ring channel, with different functional elements being able to be arranged in the central passage, which is completely separate from the ring channel. For example, it is conceivable that the cable that runs through the central opening supplies the rotor shaft and/or the rotor with energy in order to adjust the blade of the rotor accordingly, for example depending on the environmental conditions such as wind etc. The central distributor can thus take on several functions. On the one hand, lubricant can be conveyed into the planetary gear through the central distributor. On the other hand, one or more cable guides can be provided at the same time.

In a further embodiment of the planetary gear, it can be provided that the central distributor is rotatably mounted in the transmission housing so that it can move about an axis, with the central distributor being arranged on the planetary carrier in particular in such a way that the central distributor and the planetary carrier rotate about the axis at the same speed. The central distributor is preferably attached to the planetary carrier, so that during operation the planetary carrier and the central distributor rotate at the same speed, with a defined distance between the central distributor and the sun gear of the respective planetary stage. One advantage of the rotating central distributor is that centrifugal forces arise in the ring channel during operation, which means that the rotation of the central distributor causes lubricant to be conveyed from the inner area of the ring channel to the outer area of the ring channel.

In a possible embodiment, the central distributor can have the form of a double pipe. Here, the ring channel can be circular in cross section. It is also conceivable that the cross section can assume other geometric shapes, such as a square configuration, etc.

Advantageously, at least one lubricant hole can be provided between the outlet point and the planetary gear bearing, with the lubricant hole being integrated in the planet carrier in particular. The lubricant bore of the planetary carrier leads to the respective planetary gear bearing and thus represents a connecting branch between the ring channel and the planetary gear bearing to be supplied.

According to the invention, several planetary stages are provided, with one outlet point being provided for each planetary stage, so that each planetary stage has a separate branch of a lubricant bore. In this embodiment of the invention, the central distributor extends through all planetary stages, with the central distributor having a respective outlet point for the associated planet wheel bearings in the area of each planetary stage.

In an alternative embodiment not according to the invention, it is conceivable that several planetary stages are provided, with a common outlet point being provided for all planetary stages, with each planetary stage having a separate branch of a lubricant bore, with the two separate branches of the lubricant bores being connected to one another via a transfer point, see above that the lubricant can be routed from one planetary stage directly to the neighboring planetary stage. In this variant, it is not necessary for the central distributor to run through all planetary stages. It can be sufficient here if the central distributor only extends through one planetary stage. Starting from the outlet point of the central distributor, a lubricant bore can run, which, for example, initially runs through the planet carrier of the second stage. A branch can be provided at a defined point of this lubricant bore, which on the one hand runs in the direction of the bearing of the second planetary stage and on the other hand in the direction of the adjacent first planetary stage. The transfer point can be provided between the first and the second planetary stage, which is, for example, an annular groove. The first planetary stage can also have a lubricant hole on its planet carrier, which leads to the planet wheel bearings. In such an embodiment of the invention, it can be advantageous if the second planetary stage is at least partially nested with the adjacent first planetary stage. This "telescopic" nested arrangement of the two adjacent planetary stages allows a compact overall construction of the planetary gear to be created be fen. Furthermore, the distance from the outlet point to the respective planet wheel bearings of both planetary stages is shortened.

Provision can also be made for the central distributor to be arranged coaxially with the rotor shaft. The coaxial arrangement is advantageous if the central passage of the central distributor is used as a functional opening, for example to allow one or more cables to be routed in the direction of the rotor shaft or rotor. Since the rotor shaft and the planet carrier of the planetary stage, which rests directly on the rotor shaft, and the central distributor have the same speed, there are no relative movements between the cable, which runs through the central bushing, and the central distributor. In this way, any malfunctions, for example caused by twisting of the cable, etc., can be avoided.

In addition, it can be possible in a further embodiment of the invention that the outlet point is static to the associated planet carrier. A reliable transfer of the lubricant from the ring channel into the planetary carrier of the respective planetary stage can thus be guaranteed. Since the central distributor and the planet carrier, which can be designed at the same time as a hollow shaft in which the rotor shaft of the rotor is arranged, have the same speed during operation, the lubricant is reliably conveyed through the outlet point by the centrifugal forces that arise within the annular channel. Advantageously, the outlet point can be coupled to the planet carrier in a rotationally fixed manner.

In a further embodiment of the planetary gear, the central distributor can be designed in several parts, with the central distributor being arranged on the planetary gear so that it can be removed. The central distributor can, for example, be composed of two pipes with different diameters, a second pipe with a smaller diameter running inside a first pipe with a larger diameter. Before this central distributor is installed in the planetary gear, the first tube must be attached to the second tube accordingly in order to create a closed ring channel. Furthermore, openings are to be used at defined points of the first tube, which serve as inlet points and outlet points.

The transfer point, the outlet point and the inlet point can advantageously have a seal, with the seal in particular being a rotary seal. The seal can consist of a PTFE material, for example. Among other things, PTFE is characterized by very good sliding properties and low abrasion. Furthermore, the PTFE seal has high thermal and chemical stability. Of course, alternative plastics and metals are conceivable as the material for the seal.

In a further measure improving the invention, a cover can be arranged on the housing, which has a branch of a lubricant bore that extends to the inlet point, so that the lubricant can be routed into the ring channel. In this case, the cover, which is positioned on the planetary gear on the generator side, can be fastened to the housing of the planetary gear in a positive and/or non-positive and/or material connection.

• 1 ein erläuterndes Ausführungsbeispiel eines Planetengetriebes,
• 2 ein Ausführungsbeispiel eines Planetengetriebes im Sinne der Erfindung und
• 3 ein erläuterndes Ausführungsbeispiel eines Planetengetriebes.

Further advantages, features and details of the invention result from the following description, in which several exemplary embodiments of the invention are described in detail with reference to the drawings. The features mentioned in the claims and in the description can each be essential to the invention individually or in any combination. Show it:

• 1 an illustrative embodiment of a planetary gear,
• 2 an embodiment of a planetary gear according to the invention and
• 3 an illustrative embodiment of a planetary gear.

In the three illustrated embodiments according to 1 until 3 a planetary gear for a wind turbine is shown in each case, with a generator not explicitly shown being provided on the spur gear side 13 . A rotor shaft of a rotor can be fastened on the opposite side (left side) of the planetary gear. According to 1 the planetary gear has only one planetary stage 1, with a planetary carrier 3, on which several planetary gears 5 are arranged. Each planet gear 5 is mounted on a planet gear bearing 7 . Each planet wheel 5 meshes with a sun wheel 11 on the one hand and with a ring gear 9 fixedly connected to a transmission housing 30 on the other hand. Such a construction of the first planetary stage 1 is also in 2 and 3 shown. the 2 and 3 show a planetary gear, which is composed of two planetary stages 1, 2, which will be discussed below.

coming back on 1 a central distributor 20 extends within the transmission housing 30. The central distributor 20 is designed as a closed ring channel 21. Here, the ring channel 21 has an inlet point 22 and an outlet point 23a. Thus, the annular channel 21 is except for the inlet point 22 and outlet point 23a executed closed. A lubricant, in particular lubricating oil, can penetrate inside the annular channel 21 in order to supply the planetary gear bearings 7 with lubricant.

In addition, the planetary gear has a cover 19 on the spur gear side 13 which is fastened to the housing 30 . The cover 19 is designed with a lubricant hole 31 which extends to the inlet point 22 so that the lubricant can be routed via the lubricant hole 31 into the ring channel 21 .

Also the 2 and 3 are made with a cover 19 according to the statements 1 provided, which is only referred to at this point.

The central distributor 20 according to 1 until 3 is double-walled. At the same time, the central distributor 20 has a central passage 24 . A cable, which is not explicitly shown, can be passed through the leadthrough 24 . This implementation 24 represents a further opening that serves as a functional opening. The cable or cables can run through the bushing 24 from right to left, in which case, for example, the generator (not shown explicitly), which is positioned on the spur gear side 13, can be connected to a rotor shaft of a rotor via the cable, the rotor shaft being in a hollow shaft 3a of the planet carrier 3 of the first stage 1 can be attached.

The central distributor 20 shown in the exemplary embodiments is rotatably mounted in the transmission housing 30 so that it can move about an axis 25 . In this case, the central distributor 20 is arranged on the planetary carrier 3 in such a way that the central distributor 20 and the planetary carrier 3 rotate about the axis 25 at the same speed. According to the exemplary embodiments shown, the central distributor 20 is arranged coaxially with the rotor shaft, which is not explicitly shown. In addition, the central distributor 20 with its annular channel 21 and the central passage 24 is a one-piece component made of the same material.

According to 1 At least one lubricant hole 14 is provided between the outlet point 23a and the planetary gear bearing 7 of the first stage 1, through which the lubricant can be conveyed from the ring channel 21 in the direction of the planetary gear bearing 7. Here, the lubricant hole 14 is integrated in the planetary carrier 3 . Between the central distributor 20 and the lubricant hole 14 is the transfer point 17, which is designed as an annular groove. At the inlet point 22 is also a transfer point 17, which is also designed as an annular groove. A seal 18 is provided at each of the two transfer points 17 . During operation of the planetary gear, the lubricant is pressed through the cover 19 into the ring channel 21 of the central distributor 20 and conveyed to the transfer point 17 into the first planetary stage 1, where the lubricant reaches the planetary gear bearing 7.

2 shows a two-stage planetary gear with a first stage 1 and a second stage 2. The construction of the central distributor 20 essentially corresponds to that of the central distributor from FIG 1 . The only essential difference is that the central distributor 20 has two outlet points 23a, 23b, one outlet point 23a, which is adjacent to the rotor shaft, being located in the first planetary stage 1. The second outlet point 23b, on the other hand, is in the second planetary stage 2. The second planetary stage 2 has a lubricant bore 15, which connects the outlet point 23b to the planetary gear bearing 8 of the second stage 2. Thus, both the planetary gear bearings 7 of the first stage 1 and the planetary gear bearings 8 of the second stage 2 can be reliably supplied with lubricant via the central distributor 20 .

In 3 is also as in 2 a two-stage planetary gear shown, wherein the central distributor 20 has only one outlet 23b. In this case, the outlet point 23b is in the second planetary stage 2. Like the planetary gears according to FIG 2 and 3 show, the first planetary stage 1 is at least partially interleaved with the adjacent planetary stage 2. This nested area is located above and below the transfer point 16. The planetary carrier 4 of the second stage 2 is designed with a corresponding lubricant bore 15, which branches after a defined distance from the outlet point 23b, on the one hand in the direction of the planetary wheel bearing 8 of the second stage 2 and on the other in the direction of the transfer point 16. The transfer point 16 is designed as an annular groove. The planetary carrier 3 of the first stage 1, which is located at the transfer point 16, also has a lubricant bore 14 which leads in the direction of the planetary gear bearing 7. With such a construction, oil can also be effectively supplied to the planetary gear bearings 7, 8 of both stages 1, 2 via just one outlet point 23b.

Here, the central distributor 20 is designed somewhat shorter than in the exemplary embodiments according to FIG 1 and 2 . According to 3 the central distributor 20 runs with its annular channel 21 only through the spur gear 13 and the second planetary stage 2.

At all transfer points 16, 17, inlet points 21, outlet points 23a, 23b is a corresponding Appropriate seal 18 is provided, which may be a rotary seal.

Reference List

1

Planetary level, first planetary level

2

Planetary level, second planetary level

3

First stage planet carrier

3a

hollow shaft

4

Second stage planet carrier

5

First stage planet gear

6

Second stage planet gear

7

First stage planetary gear bearing

8th

Second stage planetary gear bearing

9

First stage ring gear

10

Second stage ring gear

11

First stage sun gear

12

Second stage sun gear

13

spur side

14

First stage lubrication hole

15

Second stage lubrication hole

16

transfer point

17

transfer point

18

poetry

19

lid

20

central distributor

21

ring canal

22

entry point

23a

outlet point

23b

outlet point

24

central execution

25

axis

30

Housing

31

Lubrication hole of the cover

Claims (11)

Planetary gear for a wind turbine with at least one planetary stage (1.2) which has a planetary carrier (3.4) on which several planetary gears (5.6) are arranged, each planetary gear (5.6) being supported by a planetary gear bearing (7,8), meshes on the one hand with a sun gear (11,12) and on the other hand with a ring gear (9,10) which is fixedly connected to a gear housing (30), and a means for supplying the planet gear bearings (7, 8th ) with a lubricant, with a central distributor (20) being provided as the means, which extends inside the transmission housing (30) and is designed as a closed ring channel (21), the ring channel (21) having at least one inlet point (22) and one outlet point (23a,b), wherein the lubricant can be introduced into the annular channel (21) via the inlet point (22) and can be conveyed out of the annular channel (21) to the planetary wheel bearings (7, 8) via the outlet point (23a,b). , characterized in that several plan ten stages (1, 2) are provided, with one outlet point (23a, b) being provided for each planetary stage (1, 2), so that each planetary stage (1, 2) has a separate branch of a lubricant bore (14,15). planetary gears claim 1 , characterized in that the central distributor (20) is double-walled, wherein the ring channel (21) comprises a central passage (24). planetary gears claim 2 , characterized in that in the bushing (24) at least one cable can be passed, which connects a generator which can be arranged on one side of the planetary gear and a rotor shaft of a rotor which can be attached to the other side of the planetary gear. Planetary gear according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the central distributor (20) is rotatably mounted in the gear housing (30) so that it can move about an axis (25). Planetary gear according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that at least one lubricant bore (14, 15) is provided between the outlet point (23a, b) and the planet wheel bearing (7, 8). Planetary gear according to any of the preceding claims 3 until 5 , characterized in that the central distributor (20) is arranged coaxially to the rotor shaft. Planetary gear according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the outlet point (23a) is coupled to the planet carrier (3) in a rotationally fixed manner. Planetary gear according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that a first planetary stage (1) is arranged at least partially interleaved with an adjacent planetary stage (2). Planetary gear according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the central distributor (20) is designed in several parts, the central distributor (20) being removable from the planetary gear. Planetary gear according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the central distributor (20) can be broken down into segments, so that the central distributor (20) can be dismantled in individual segments on the planetary gear. Planetary gear according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that a cover (19) is arranged on the housing (30) which has a branch of a lubricant bore (31) which extends to the inlet point (22) so that the lubricant can flow into the annular channel (21) is conductive.

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