Orientation-free planetary pin for lubrication of planetary bearings

摘要

A planet pin for use in a planetary gear system and a gear system including a planet pin are disclosed. The inventive planet pin provides a plurality of radial passages in fluid communication with an axial passage which can advantageously eliminate, or substantially reduce, the need to orient a planet pin in a planetary gear system.

主权项

1. A planetary pin for use in a planetary gear system, the planetary pin comprising:
a cylindrical body having an axial passage defined by an inner cylinder wall and a wall thickness between the inner cylinder wall and an outer cylinder wall; and a plurality of radial passages through the wall thickness configured such that axes of radially adjacent ones of the radial passages are offset by less than 180° when viewed along an axis of the axial passage, wherein the plurality of radial passages provide a corresponding plurality of fluid paths between the axial passage and the outer wall, wherein a first set of the plurality of radial passages lie in a first circumferential plane of the cylindrical body and a second set of the plurality of radial passages lie in a second circumferential plane of the cylindrical body, the first circumferential plane is axially offset from the second circumferential plane of the cylindrical body, and an axis of each radial passage of the first set of the plurality of radial passages is circumferentially offset from an axis of a radially adjacent radial passage of the second set of the plurality of radial passages.