IP Library Granted Patent US 9,188,106
Granted Patent B2
US 9,188,106 · App. 13/634,639 · Granted Nov 17, 2015

Wind turbine

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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 9,188,106
App. No.
13/634,639
Granted
Nov 17, 2015
Kind
B2
Abstract

Disclosed is a wind turbine with a nacelle and a rotor. The rotor includes a number of blades and a hub, the nacelle and the hub being connected with each other in an interface region so that a drive train extends from the hub into the nacelle. The wind turbine further includes a transport system for transporting hydraulic and/or pneumatic fluid from the nacelle into the hub. The transport system includes a rotary unit as a connection through which the fluid passes a part of which rotary unit rotates in operation together with the hub which rotary unit is positioned in the interface region. Further disclosed is a transport system and methods of operating, maintenance and construction of such wind turbine.

Claims (26)

1. A wind turbine, comprising:

a rotor comprising a plurality of blades and a hub,

a nacelle connected to the hub in an interface region so that a drive train extends from the hub into the nacelle;

a transport system configured to transporting fluid from the nacelle into the hub,

wherein the transport system comprising a rotary unit positioned in the interface region, a first part of the rotary unit is rotatable together with the hub and a second part of the rotary unit is stationary, the fluid is transported through the rotary unit,

wherein the fluid is hydraulic fluid and/or pneumatic fluid,

wherein the rotation axis of the rotary unit is positioned at a rotation axis of the drive train, and

wherein the rotary unit is connected to the nacelle and/or to the hub via a spacer which projects from a fixed point at the nacelle and/or at the hub to the rotation axis of the drive train.

2. The wind turbine according to claim 1 ,

wherein the wind turbine is as a direct drive wind turbine with the drive train directly connecting the rotor with a generator.

3. The wind turbine according to claim 1 ,

wherein the spacer comprises a solid part.

4. The wind turbine according to claim 1 ,

wherein the spacer is tiltable around a tilting axis which is angular to the rotation axis of the rotary unit.

5. The wind turbine according to claim 1 ,

wherein in a state of operation of the wind turbine the spacer is positioned at an inner surface of the nacelle and/or of the hub projecting in the direction of the rotation axis of the drive train.

6. The wind turbine according to claim 1 ,

wherein within the region of the interface the transport system comprises a flexible pipe arranged in at least one side of the nacelle and/or the hub.

7. The wind turbine according to claim 6 ,

wherein the flexible pipe is led through at least one spacer which projects from a fixed point at the nacelle and/or at the hub into the direction of the rotation axis of the drive train.

8. The wind turbine according to claim 1 ,

wherein the transport system comprises a coupling in the region of the interface which coupling is connectable and disconnectable.

9. The wind turbine according to claim 1 ,

wherein in the region of the rotary unit, an additional unit with a designated function different from the function of the rotary unit is directly attached to the rotary unit.

10. The wind turbine according to claim 1 ,

wherein in the region of the rotary unit, an additional unit with a designated function different from the function of the rotary unit is indirectly attached to the rotary unit.

Assignments (3)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Jan 3, 2019
From: SIEMENS AKTIENGESELLSCHAFT
To: SIEMENS GAMESA RENEWABLE ENERGY A/S
Reel/Frame 048003/0631 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Nov 26, 2012
From: SIEMENS WIND POWER A/S
To: SIEMENS AKTIENGESELLSCHAFT
Reel/Frame 029348/0953 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Nov 21, 2012
From: ERIKSEN, UFFE
To: SIEMENS WIND POWER A/S
Reel/Frame 029335/0398 →