EPICYCLIC GEAR SYSTEM WITH SEMI-INTEGRATED FLEXPIN ASSEMBLIES

摘要

An epicyclic gear system (A) includes a sun gear (2), a ring gear (4) located around the sun gear (2) and planet pinions (6) located between the sun and ring gears (2,4). The planet pinions (6) rotate on a carrier (8) that includes flexpins (20) that are cantilevered from a wall (12) of the carrier (8) and sleeves (22) that are attached to the remote ends of the flexpins (20) and extend back over the flexpins (20) to create a double cantilever. Bearings (24) support the planet pinions (6) on the sleeves (22) so that the planet pinions (6) rotate about the flexpins (20). The double cantilever enables the flexpins (2) to flex such that the axes (Y) of the planet pinions (6) remain parallel to the common axis (X) of the sun and ring gears (2, 4). Each sleeve (22) has an integrated bearing race (44) and a bearing seat (42) that carries a separate bearing race (60). The sleeve (22) is easily detached from its flexpin (20) and the separate race (60) is easily removed from the sleeve (22) to disassemble the bearing (24) and remove the planet pinion (6).