IP Library Granted Patent US 10,495,070
Granted Patent B2
US 10,495,070 · App. 15/906,982 · Granted Dec 3, 2019

Gearbox for a wind turbine

Inventors: Florian Adler (Hamburg, DE); Moritz Dreher (Hamburg, DE)
Assignee: Nordex Energy GmbH
F03D80/70F03D15/00F15B15/1428F15B15/1457F16C19/38F16C19/54F16C23/06F16C25/06F16H1/20F16H57/021F03D1/00F05B2240/54F05B2260/4031F05B2260/98F05B2270/331F05B2270/604F16C2360/31F16C2361/61F16H1/28F16H57/0495Y02E10/722
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 10,495,070
App. No.
15/906,982
Granted
Dec 3, 2019
Kind
B2
Abstract

A gearbox for a wind turbine, which has at least one first and one second shaft, which are arranged parallel to each other and supported in roller bearings. A preload device for the roller bearings is provided, wherein the preload device generates a preload force between the first and the second shaft and is supported with one end on the shafts in each case.

Claims (42)

1. A gearbox for a wind turbine, the gearbox comprising:

at least four roller bearings including a first roller bearing, a second roller bearing, a third roller bearing and a fourth roller bearing;

a first shaft supported by said first roller bearing and said second roller bearing;

a second shaft arranged parallel to said first shaft and supported by said third roller bearing and said fourth roller bearing;

a preload device for said four roller bearings; said preload device having a first end and a second end;

said preload device being configured to generate a preload force between said first shaft and said second shaft; and,

said preload device being supported on said first shaft via said first end and supported on said second shaft via said second end.

2. The gearbox of claim 1 , wherein said preload device includes at least one hydraulic unit.

3. The gearbox of claim 2 further comprising:

a lubricant applied in said gearbox;

said hydraulic unit being configured to, optionally, have a hydraulic fluid applied thereto; and,

said hydraulic fluid being compatible with said lubricant applied in said gearbox.

4. The gearbox of claim 3 , wherein said hydraulic fluid is identical to said lubricant.

5. The gearbox of claim 1 further comprising:

a first further bearing;

a second further bearing;

said first further bearing being a roller bearing or a sliding bearing;

said second further bearing being a roller bearing or a sliding bearing; and,

said preload device being supported on said first shaft via said first further bearing and on said second shaft via said second further bearing.

6. The gearbox of claim 5 further comprising:

a first support ring provided with a first receiver and connected to said first further bearing; and,

a second support ring provided with a second receiver and connected to said second further bearing.

7. The gearbox of claim 2 further comprising:

a first push rod;

a second push rod;

said hydraulic unit having a hydraulic cylinder and a hydraulic piston;

said hydraulic cylinder being connected to said first push rod; and,

said hydraulic piston being connected to said second push rod.

8. The gearbox of claim 2 further comprising:

a push rod;

said hydraulic unit having a hydraulic cylinder and a hydraulic piston; and,

at least one of said hydraulic cylinder and said hydraulic piston being connected to said push rod.

9. The gearbox of claim 1 , wherein:

said first roller bearing and said third roller bearing are configured as floating bearings; and,

said preload device is mounted between said first shaft and said second shaft near said floating bearings.

10. The gearbox of claim 1 , wherein:

said first shaft is an output shaft configured to rotate rapidly;

said second shaft is an intermediate shaft; and,

said preload device acts between said output shaft and said intermediate shaft.

11. The gearbox of claim 2 , wherein:

said preload device has a preload spring; and,

said at least one hydraulic unit is configured, when actuated, to remove a preloading of said preload spring.

Assignments (3)
CORRECTIVE ASSIGNMENT TO CORRECT THE CHANGE OF NAME TO REMOVE PATENT NUMBER 10771765 AND ADD PATENT NUMBER 10711765 PREVIOUSLY RECORDED AT REEL: 055259 FRAME: 0008. ASSIGNOR(S) HEREBY CONFIRMS THE CHANGE OF NAME. Recorded Nov 12, 2021
From: NORDEX ENERGY GMBH
To: NORDEX ENERGY SE & CO. KG
Reel/Frame 058222/0542 →
CHANGE OF NAME Recorded Feb 8, 2021
From: NORDEX ENERGY GMBH
To: NORDEX ENERGY SE & CO. KG
Reel/Frame 055259/0008 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Jul 25, 2018
From: ADLER, FLORIAN; DREHER, MORITZ
To: NORDEX ENERGY GMBH
Reel/Frame 046460/0347 →
Priority Claims (1)
EP 17158374 · Feb 28, 2017 · regional
Continuity (1)
Related Publication 20180245571A1 · Aug 30, 2018
Cited By (1)
US 12,359,715