Planetary gear shaft lubrication system
AssigneeEnplas Corporation
InventorsKoki Hisai, Kazuki Yamada
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A lubrication system for a planetary gear device includes a planetary gear mounted on a planetary gear shaft. The shaft is mounted in a shaft hole that allows the gear to rotate freely about the shaft. Lubricant reservoirs formed as voids or spaces on the inner surface of the shaft hole and outer surface of the shaft provide additional volume for lubricant to lubricate the shaft and shaft hole interface. These lubricant reservoirs extend the lifespan of the lubricant and reduce maintenance requirements of the planetary gear.
Claims11
A lubrication system for a planetary gear device, comprising:
- a planetary gear shaft;
- a planetary gear comprising a shaft hole disposed at a radial center of the planetary gear, wherein the planetary gear shaft is rotatably disposed in the shaft hole such that an outer surface of the planetary gear shaft and an inner surface of the shaft hole are in contact;
- and
- a lubricant reservoir disposed on the outer surface of the planetary gear shaft and formed as a groove that is oriented in an axial direction of the planetary gear shaft, wherein the groove extends along an entire length of the planetary gear shaft in the axial direction, wherein no lubricant reservoir is disposed on the inner surface of the shaft hole,
- wherein the lubricant reservoir defines a space that is configured to contain a lubricant, and
- wherein the lubricant reservoir is configured to allow the lubricant to escape the lubricant reservoir and lubricate the outer surface and the inner surface.
A lubrication system for a planetary gear device, comprising:
- a planetary gear shaft;
- a planetary gear comprising a shaft hole disposed at a radial center of the planetary gear;
- and
- a lubricant reservoir disposed on one of the outer surface of the planetary gear shaft and the inner surface of the shaft hole,
- wherein the lubricant reservoir defines a space that is configured to contain a lubricant,
- wherein the lubricant reservoir is not connected to a lubrication system, and
- wherein the lubricant reservoir is configured to allow the lubricant to escape the lubricant reservoir and lubricate the outer surface and the inner surface.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.