Granted Patent B2

US 8,167,575 · App. 12/055,005 · Granted May 1, 2012

Abstract

Claims (23)

1. A connection between components of a wind turbine having a diameter of more than 0.5 m comprising:

a first component having a contact surface;

a second component having a first contact surface and a second contact surface;

a third component having a contact surface,

wherein a surface of the contact surface of the first component is softer than a surface of the first contact surface of the second component,

wherein the contact surface of the first component and the first contact surface of the second component face each other and the first and second component are braced together in a connected state while the third component contact surface has a surface facing toward said second contact surface of the second component,

wherein the second component is an intermediate connection part between the first component and the third component and the surfaces of the first and second contact surfaces of the second component are annealed; and,

surfaces of the first and second contact surfaces of the second component each have a higher hardness than the surfaces of the contact surfaces of the first and the third component lying opposite the contact surfaces of the second component.

2. The connection of claim 1 , wherein the surfaces of the first and second contact surfaces of the second component each have a higher roughness than the surfaces of the contact surfaces of the first and the third component lying opposite the contact surfaces of the second component.

3. The connection of claim 1 , wherein the first component and the third component are connected together by a flange connection.

4. The connection of claim 3 , wherein the first and third components are preloaded through connection elements.

5. The connection of claim 4 , wherein the intermediate connection part is penetrated by the connection elements.

6. The connection of claim 1 , wherein the intermediate connection part comprises plural intermediate connection bodies.

7. The connection of claim 6 , wherein the intermediate connection bodies form a segmented ring arranged between the first and the third components.

8. The connection of claim 7 , wherein the intermediate connection bodies are connected with at least one of the first and third components mechanically by mounting elements.

9. The connection of claim 1 , wherein the contact surfaces of at least one of the first, second, and third components are designed or arranged in a ring-shaped manner.

10. The connection of claim 1 , wherein a friction coefficient between the first and second contact surfaces of the second component and the contact surfaces of the first and third components is more than 0.4.

11. The connection of claim 1 , wherein the first component is a rotor shaft of the wind turbine.

12. The connection of claim 11 , wherein the second component is a rotor hub or a gear input shaft of the wind turbine and the third component is a rotor hub or a gear input shaft of the wind turbine.

13. The connection of claim 1 , wherein the first component is a machine frame or tubular tower of the wind turbine.

14. The connection of claim 13 , wherein one of the second and third components is a pivot bearing arranged on the tubular tower.

15. The connection of claim 1 , wherein a connection between the first and second components is detachable force fit connection.

16. The connection of claim 1 , wherein at least one of the first, second, and third components is a casting.

Assignments (8)