Lubrication system for a planetary gear train

摘要

A lubrication system for a planetary gear train (6) includes oil spray bars (32) intermediate each pair of planet gears (10). Oil exits the meshes between the sun gear 8 and the planet gears (10) and between the planet gears (10) and the ring gear (18) with substantial tangential velocity. The expelled oil enters an oil discharge passage (62) in an oil collection channel (56) adjacent to and axially outboard of the ring gear (18). In the preferred embodiment, herringbone gears are used and rotate so that oil within the gear meshes is pumped axially outward toward the channels. Interplanet baffles (80) and collection troughs (82) may also be used and are especially beneficial in an alternative embodiment which uses bihelical gears whose direction of rotation pumps oil within the gear meshes axially inward.