Dynamic Analysis of Hybrid Gear Trains With Flexible Ring Gear Rim

In this paper, the dynamic behavior of a hybrid gear train (HGT), consists of a single-stage helical planetary gear set and a helical gear pair, is analyzed. A ring gear rim is connected with an internal gear in a helical planetary gear set and an external gear in a helical gear pair. Power flows from the helical gear pair to the helical planetary gear set. Therefore, loads in the external gear would cause additional axial force and radial force, which would lead to unexpected moment and force. As a result, deflections of ring gear rim must be taken into consideration. Under this condition, a three-dimensional dynamic model of a HGT with flexible ring gear rim is developed, in which six degrees of freedom including three translational motions and three rotational motions are employed. Coupling effects of the bearing support stiffness, gear mesh stiffness and time-varying transmission error are taken into consideration. The model also takes flexible supporting shafts and planet carrier into consideration by using finite element method. Then, the equations of motion in matrix form are established and solved to predict the forced vibration response due to the transmission error excitations. Subsequently, effects of positions of the helical gear pair relative to the planetary gear set and the thickness of ring gear rim on dynamic behavior of the HGT are discussed. The results show that the proposed model is potential and can be used to guide the design of hybrid gear trains.