Support structure of a planet gear carrier

1. A planet gear carrier ( 1 ) for an automotive vehicle, comprising:

a plurality of mounting regions ( 2 ), each of said mounting regions ( 2 ) mounting a respective planet gear ( 4 );

at least one aperture ( 5 ):

that weakens said planet gear carrier ( 1 );

including at least one collar ( 3 ) with at least one catch recess ( 12 ); and,

arranged between said mounting regions ( 2 ) of said planet gear carrier ( 1 ) and,

at least one stiffening element ( 7 ):

including at least one snap projection ( 13 ); and,

arranged to be inserted in said at least one aperture ( 5 ) such that said at least one snap projection ( 13 ) is inserted in said at least one catch recess ( 12 ) to fix on said planet gear carrier ( 1 ) through a snap connection, wherein said at least one aperture ( 5 ):

is defined by a section of the at least one collar ( 3 ) that is configured as an integral component of said planet gear carrier ( 1 ); and,

forms a part of said mounting region ( 2 ).

2. The planet gear carrier ( 1 ) recited in claim 1 , wherein said plurality of mounting regions ( 2 ) are arranged to engage at least partially around said respective planet gear ( 4 ) in sections.

3. The planet gear carrier ( 1 ) recited in claim 1 , wherein a center ( 8 ) of said at least one aperture ( 5 ) has a same radial distance from a center ( 9 ) of said planet gear carrier ( 1 ) as a distance of an axis of rotation ( 10 ) of a planet from said center ( 9 ) of said planet gear carrier ( 1 ) through which an axis of rotation ( 11 ) of said planet gear carrier ( 1 ) extends.

4. The planet gear carrier ( 1 ) recited in claim 1 , wherein said at least one aperture ( 5 ) is defined on two sides by said at least one collar ( 3 ) of two mounting regions ( 2 ).

5. The planet gear carrier ( 1 ) recited in claim 1 , wherein said at least one collar ( 3 ) is configured as a section of said planet gear carrier ( 1 ) bent approximately at a right angle to a surface of said planet gear carrier ( 1 ).

6. The planet gear carrier ( 1 ) recited in claim 1 , wherein said at least one stiffening element ( 7 ) is adapted in shape to said at least one aperture ( 5 ).

7. The planet gear carrier ( 1 ) recited in claim 1 , wherein said at least one stiffening element ( 7 ) is pre-fabricated.

8. The planet gear carrier ( 1 ) recited in claim 1 , wherein said stiffening at least one element ( 7 ) comprises on two opposing surfaces ( 14 , 15 ) a concave shape, and/or on two opposing surfaces ( 16 , 17 ) a convex surface and a concave surface respectively.

9. The planet gear carrier ( 1 ) recited in claim 8 , wherein said convex surface ( 17 ) is situated on a side of said at least one stiffening element ( 7 ) facing away from a center ( 9 ) of said planet gear carrier ( 1 ).

10. The planet gear carrier ( 1 ) recited in claim 1 , wherein said at least one stiffening element ( 7 ) extends exactly so far along a direction of an axis of rotation ( 10 ) of a planet as said collar ( 3 ).