# US 11,441,643 B2 · Transmission assembly comprising axial tilt segments > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 11,441,643 B2 - Document ID: US11441643B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 16/606,225 - Filed: 2018-03-28 - Published: 2022-03-17 - Granted: 2022-09-13 - Earliest claimed: 2017-04-20 - Assignees: ZF Friedrichshafen AG; Zf Wind Power Antwerpen N.V. - Applicants: ZF Friedrichshafen AG; ZF Wind Power Antwerpen N.V. - Inventors: Umit Kutluay; Koen Krieckemans; Yvan Berkmans; Michel Goovaerts; Roger Bogaert; Maarten Ooms - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US11441643B2 ## CPC - F16H 1/48: Special means compensating for misalignment of axes {, e.g. for equalising distribution of load on the face width of the teeth} - F16C 17/06: with tiltably-supported segments, e.g. Michell bearings {(with flexible leaves F16C17/042; hydrostatic F16C32/0666)} - F16C 23/048: {for axial load mainly} - F16H 57/0482: {Gearings with gears having orbital motion} - F16H 57/082: {Planet carriers} - F03D 15/00: Transmission of mechanical power - F05B 2260/40311: of the epicyclic, planetary or differential type - F16C 2360/31: Wind motors - F16C 2361/61: Toothed gear systems, e.g. support of pinion shafts - F16H 57/043: {within rotary parts, e.g. axial channels or radial openings in shafts} - F16H 2057/085: {Bearings for orbital gears} - Y02E 10/72: Wind turbines with rotation axis in wind direction - F16H: GEARING - F16C: SHAFTS; FLEXIBLE SHAFTS; ELEMENTS OR CRANKSHAFT MECHANISMS; ROTARY BODIES OTHER THAN GEARING ELEMENTS; BEARINGS - F03D: WIND MOTORS - F05B: INDEXING SCHEME RELATING TO WIND, SPRING, WEIGHT, INERTIA OR LIKE MOTORS, TO MACHINES OR ENGINES FOR LIQUIDS COVERED BY SUBCLASSES F03B, F03D AND F03G - Y02E: REDUCTION OF GREENHOUSE GAS [GHG] EMISSIONS, RELATED TO ENERGY GENERATION, TRANSMISSION OR DISTRIBUTION ## Abstract A gear assembly includes a planetary gear set having a sun gear, planet gears, and a ring gear. The planet gears are respectively rotatably mounted by a bearing on a respective planetary pin. The respective planetary pin is connected to a planetary carrier. Tilting pads arranged radially circumferentially with respect to the planetary pin are provided on sides of the planetary carrier facing the planet gears. The planetary carrier has, on sides facing the planet gears, recesses arranged radially circumferentially with respect to the planetary pin and corresponding to the tilting pads. The recesses are configured to receive at least part of the tilting pads. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A gear assembly, comprising: a planetary gear set including: a sun gear, planet gears, and a ring gear, wherein the planet gears are respectively rotatably mounted by a bearing on a respective planetary pin, and wherein the respective planetary pin is connected to a planetary carrier; wherein tilting pads arranged radially circumferentially with respect to the planetary pin are provided on sides of the planetary carrier facing the planet gears, the tilting pads being arranged offset from the planet gears to form gaps when the planet gears are not tilted, and wherein the planetary carrier has, on sides facing the planet gears, recesses arranged radially circumferentially with respect to the planetary pin and corresponding to the tilting pads, the recesses being configured to receive at least part of the tilting pads. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The gear assembly according to claim 1, wherein each of the tilting pads has a body with a sliding surface on a first side and a shaft on a second side, the first side and the second side of each tilting pad being arranged opposite one another, and the shaft having a free end with which the tilting pad projects at least partially into a corresponding recess of the recesses. ### Claim 3 (depends on 2) The gear assembly according to claim 2, wherein the tilting pads have a circumferential groove for receiving a securing element on the shaft on a side facing the free end. ### Claim 4 (depends on 2) The gear assembly according to claim 2, wherein the tilting pads have a coating on the first side. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The gear assembly according to claim 1, wherein the tilting pads have a thin hard-material layer applied by physical vapor deposition (PVD). ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The gear assembly according to claim 1, wherein a spring element is provided between the tilting pads and the planetary carrier. ### Claim 7 (depends on 2) The gear assembly according to claim 2, wherein the tilting pads have a spherical contour on the first side. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The gear assembly according to claim 1, wherein the tilting pads have, at a free end, an at least partially tapering contour. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) The gear assembly according to claim 1, wherein lubricant emerging from the bearing is supplied to the tilting pads. ### Claim 10 A method of mounting a gear assembly, comprising: pushing a securing element onto a shaft of a respective tilting pad; inserting tilting pads into recesses of a planetary carrier; introducing planet gears into the planetary carrier by inserting the planet gears radially from the outside inward, the planet gears being arranged offset from the tilting pads to form gaps when the planet gears are not tilted; and driving planetary pins through passages in the planetary carrier that correspond to the respective planet gear. ### Claim 11 A tilting pad with a cylindrical body with a sliding surface on a first side and a cylindrical shaft on a second side, wherein the sliding surface has a spherical contour on the first side of the body, wherein such surface has a thin hard-material layer on the spherical contour of the sliding surface, and wherein the tilting pad is arranged in a planetary gear set with the sliding surface offset from a planet gear to form a gap when the planet gear is not tilted.