US 12,234,907 B2
Floating oil manifold for planetary gear systems
Giulio Zagato, Moncalieri (IT); Leonardo Coviello, Bari (IT); Francesco Santacroce, Turin (IT); Cristiano Consales, Lecce (IT); and Paolo Altamura, Monopoli (IT)
Assigned to GE AVIO S.R.L., Rivalta di Torino (IT)
Filed by GE Avio S.r.l., Rivalta di Torino (IT)
Filed on Feb. 9, 2023, as Appl. No. 18/166,605.
Claims priority of application No. 102022000017376 (IT), filed on Aug. 17, 2022.
Prior Publication US 2024/0060559 A1, Feb. 22, 2024
Int. Cl. F16H 57/04 (2010.01); F02C 7/36 (2006.01)
CPC F16H 57/0486 (2013.01) [F02C 7/36 (2013.01); F16H 57/042 (2013.01); F05D 2260/40311 (2013.01)] 20 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A planetary gear system comprising:
a carrier for mounting a plurality of planet gears, the carrier including a first side having a first oil manifold opening therethrough having a first oil manifold opening inner surface, and a second side having a second oil manifold opening therethrough having a second oil manifold opening inner surface, a system centerline axis being defined extending through the first oil manifold opening and the second oil manifold opening, the first oil manifold opening and the second oil manifold opening extending circumferentially about the system centerline axis, and each of the plurality of planet gears being mounted with a planet gear centerline axis thereof radially offset from the system centerline axis;
a first oil manifold having a first flange portion on a first end of the first oil manifold, the first flange portion extending circumferentially about the system centerline axis and having a first flange with a first flange seal groove and a second flange with a second flange seal groove, the second flange being longitudinally spaced apart from the first flange with respect to the system centerline axis, the first flange and the second flange of the first flange portion floatingly engaging with the first oil manifold opening inner surface, and a second flange portion on a second end of the first oil manifold, the second flange portion engaging with the second oil manifold opening of the carrier, the second flange portion including a first oil manifold mounting flange;
a second oil manifold having a second oil manifold flange portion extending circumferentially about the system centerline axis and engaging with the second oil manifold opening inner surface, the second oil manifold flange portion including a second oil manifold mounting flange; and
at least one connecting member connected with the first oil manifold mounting flange and the second oil manifold mounting flange so as to mount the first oil manifold and the second oil manifold to the carrier.