IP Library › Granted Patent US 12,638,075
Granted Patent B2
US 12,638,075 · App. 18/867,463 · Granted May 26, 2026

Transfer of lubricant into the interior of a hollow shaft

Inventors: Wim De Laet (Antwerp, BE); Andy Maes (Sinaai, BE); Stijn Rottiers (Lokeren, BE); Quinten Gaethofs (Houthalen, BE); Koen Krieckemans (Noorderwijk, BE)
Assignees: ZF FRIEDRICHSHAFEN AG; ZF WIND POWER ANTWERPEN N.V.
F16H57/0479F16H57/0426
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 12,638,075
App. No.
18/867,463
Granted
May 26, 2026
Kind
B2
Abstract

An arrangement, including a gearbox housing, a hollow shaft rotatably mounted in the gearbox housing, and a lubrication point located at least partially inside the hollow shaft. The gearbox housing has a ring which encloses a hollow space with an outer circumferential surface of the hollow shaft. The ring has one or more drill holes, each of which opens into the hollow space. The hollow shaft has one or more drill holes, each of which opens into an interior of the hollow shaft and into the hollow space.

Claims (30)

1 . An arrangement, comprising:

a gearbox housing;

a hollow shaft rotatably mounted in the gearbox housing; and

a lubrication point located at least partially inside the hollow shaft,

wherein:

the gearbox housing has a ring which encloses a hollow space with an outer circumferential surface of the hollow shaft,

the ring has one or more drill holes, each of which opens into the hollow space, and

the hollow shaft has one or more drill holes, each of which opens into an interior of the hollow shaft and into the hollow space.

2 . The arrangement according to claim 1 , comprising:

a shaft; and

a spline, wherein

the shaft and the hollow shaft are connected to each other by the spline in a rotationally fixed manner, and

wherein the spline forms the lubrication point.

3 . The arrangement according to claim 1 , comprising:

a feed-through tube; and

at least one bearing with which the feed-through tube is mounted in the hollow shaft,

wherein the bearing forms the lubrication point.

4 . The arrangement according to claim 1 , wherein the ring does not touch the outer circumferential surface.

5 . The arrangement according to claim 4 , comprising one or more labyrinth seals that seal the ring relative to the outer circumferential surface.

6 . The arrangement according to claim 1 , comprising at least two bearing arrangements with which the hollow shaft is rotatably mounted in the gearbox housing, wherein the hollow space is arranged axially between the at least two bearing arrangements.

7 . The arrangement according to claim 1 , wherein the hollow shaft and/or the ring has at least one pocket that is configured to build up a hydrodynamic pressure acting on at least one opening of the drill holes of the hollow shaft during a rotation of the hollow shaft.

8 . An arrangement, comprising:

a gearbox housing;

a hollow shaft rotatably mounted in the gearbox housing; and

a lubrication point located at least partially inside the hollow shaft,

wherein:

the gearbox housing has a ring which encloses a hollow space with an outer circumferential surface of the hollow shaft,

one or more labyrinth seals seal the ring relative to the outer circumferential surface,

the ring has one or more drill holes, each of which opens into the hollow space, and

the hollow shaft has one or more drill holes, each of which opens into an interior of the hollow shaft and into the hollow space.

Assignments (1)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Nov 20, 2024
From: DE LAET, WIM; MAES, ANDY; ROTTIERS, STIJN; GAETHOFS, QUINTEN; KRIECKEMANS, KOEN
To: ZF FRIEDRICHSHAFEN AG; ZF WIND POWER ANTWERPEN N.V.
Reel/Frame 069333/0263 →
Priority Claims (1)
DE 10 2022 205 151.3 · May 24, 2022 · national
Continuity (1)
Related Publication 20250198505A1 · Jun 19, 2025
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