Patent ID: 7056259
Filing Date: 2006-06-06
Classification: F16C,F16H

Abstract:
1. An epicyclic gear system having a central axis and comprising: a sun gear located along the central axis; a ring gear located around the sun gear and also along the central axis; planet gears located between and engaged with the sun and ring gears for rotation about offset axes that are spaced from the central axis; each planet gear carrying first and second outer raceways which taper downwardly toward each other so that they have their least diameters where they are closest; and a carrier coupled with the planet gears, the carrier including a flange and pins projecting from the flange into the planet gears, there being a separate pin for each planet gear, each pin at one of its ends being cantilevered from the carrier flange, the carrier also including an inner race on each pin with the inner race being cantilevered from its pin remote from the flange and including a sleeve that extends into the planet gear for the pin where it is spaced from the pin, the sleeve having first and second inner raceways which are presented toward and taper in the same direction as the first and second outer raceways, respectively, the sleeve also having a thrust rib projecting beyond the large end of the first inner raceway and a mounting surface at the large end of the second inner raceway, the inner race also including an initially separate rib ring located against the mounting surface of the sleeve such that the rib ring projects beyond the large end of the second raceway for the inner race; first tapered rollers arranged in a row between the first raceway for each planet gear and inner race, with their large ends being against the thrust rib; and second tapered rollers arranged in a second row between the second raceways for each planet gear and inner race and having their large ends against the rib ring.