IP Library Granted Patent US 9,523,350
Granted Patent B2
US 9,523,350 · App. 14/131,196 · Granted Dec 20, 2016

Wind turbine auxiliary drive system

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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 9,523,350
App. No.
14/131,196
Granted
Dec 20, 2016
Kind
B2
Abstract

Wind turbine auxiliary drive system comprising a motor, a drive pinion, a bearing and a lubrication system, the bearing comprising an outer bearing ring, an inner bearing ring and, between these two bearing rings, one or more rows of rolling elements which allow both bearing rings to rotate relative to each other, the inner bearing ring having an inner side comprising a gear which meshes with the drive pinion, wherein a height of the gear in an axial direction is smaller than the height of the inner bearing ring such that a gearless portion is defined, and wherein at least one lubricant inlet and/or at least one lubricant outlet is arranged on said gearless portion.

Claims (17)

1. A wind turbine auxiliary drive system comprising:

a motor, a drive pinion, a bearing and a lubrication system,

the bearing comprising an outer bearing ring, an inner bearing ring and, between these two bearing rings, one or more rows of rolling elements which allow both bearing rings to rotate relative to each other, the inner bearing ring having an inner side comprising a gear which meshes with the drive pinion,

wherein a height of the gear in an axial direction is smaller than the height of the inner bearing ring such that a gearless portion is defined,

wherein at least one lubricant inlet and/or at least one lubricant outlet is arranged on the gearless portion, and

wherein a supporting arrangement for supporting lubrication components is provided inside the inner bearing ring of the bearing in such a way that it traverses a bearing rotational axis.

2. The wind turbine auxiliary drive system of claim 1 , wherein at least one lubricant feeder and/or at least one lubricant collector is directly fixed to the gearless portion.

3. The wind turbine auxiliary drive of claim 1 , wherein the supporting arrangement comprises a beam diametrically arranged inside the inner bearing ring.

4. The wind turbine auxiliary drive system of claim 1 , wherein the supporting arrangement comprises two substantially parallel beams provided inside the inner bearing ring.

5. The wind turbine auxiliary drive system of claim 1 , wherein a grease deposit is arranged on the supporting arrangement.

6. The wind turbine auxiliary drive system of claim 1 , wherein grease circuits are machined in the inner bearing ring for grease feeding in such a way that the at least one lubricant inlet is directly connected to the one or more rows of rolling elements.

7. The wind turbine auxiliary drive system of claim 1 , wherein the auxiliary drive system is a pitch system.

8. A wind turbine comprising at least one auxiliary drive system according to claim 1 .

9. The wind turbine auxiliary drive system of claim 1 , wherein at least one lubricant feeder and/or at least one lubricant collector is arranged on a reinforcement disc radially fixed to the gearless portion.

10. The wind turbine auxiliary drive system of claim 9 , wherein an outer diameter of the reinforcement disc is slightly bigger than an inner diameter of the inner bearing ring such that the reinforcement disc and the inner bearing ring are shrink-fitted together.

11. The wind turbine auxiliary drive system of claim 1 , wherein a pump is arranged on the supporting arrangement.

12. The wind turbine auxiliary drive system according to claim 11 , wherein the pump comprises a main connection for a power supply arranged substantially at the bearing rotational axis.

Assignments (5)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Oct 4, 2017
From: GE RENEWABLE TECHNOLOGIES
To: GE RENEWABLE TECHNOLOGIES WIND B.V.
Reel/Frame 044117/0056 →
CHANGE OF NAME Recorded Sep 2, 2017
From: ALSTOM RENEWABLE TECHNOLOGIES
To: GE RENEWABLE TECHNOLOGIES
Reel/Frame 043749/0761 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Mar 28, 2017
From: ALSTOM RENOVABLES ESPAÑA, S.L.U.
To: ALSTOM RENEWABLE TECHNOLOGIES
Reel/Frame 041770/0772 →
CORRECTIVE ASSIGNMENT TO CORRECT THE DOCKET NUMBER, CONVEYING PARTIES AND NEW ASSIGNMENT DOCUMENT PREVIOUSLY RECORDED ON REEL 032467 FRAME 0898. ASSIGNOR(S) HEREBY CONFIRMS THE ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST. Recorded Apr 16, 2014
From: PASQUET, PIERRE
To: ALSTOM RENOVABLES ESPAÑA, S.L.
Reel/Frame 032696/0484 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Mar 18, 2014
From: PASQUET, PIERRE; PARDO, SANTIAGO CANEDO
To: ALSTOM RENOVABLES ESPAÑA, S.L.
Reel/Frame 032467/0898 →