Support system for a spinner of a rotor hub for a wind turbine

1. A support system for a spinner of a rotor hub for a wind turbine, the support system comprising:

a spinner body including at least three spinner components including a first spinner component, a second spinner component and a third spinner component;

the rotor hub being mechanically connected to said spinner body;

said first spinner component and said second spinner component being disposed in a spaced relationship to each other;

said support system supporting said first spinner component and said second spinner component;

said third spinner component being arranged between said first spinner component and said second spinner component and being connected to said first spinner component and said second spinner component;

the support system defining a windward side and a leeward side;

the wind turbine including a nacelle;

said support system including, on said windward side, a front support element arranged on a front side between said rotor hub and said spinner body;

said support system including, on said leeward side, a rear support strut arranged on a side of said rotor hub facing said nacelle between said rotor hub and said spinner body;

a side of said rotor hub facing said nacelle defining a central shaft opening;

said front support element including a rod element and a sheet-metal part;

said sheet-metal part being a support plate having a shape of an isosceles trapezium;

said sheet-metal part including two side walls angled by 90°;

said trapezium defining sides;

said support plate having a lower wall and an upper wall;

said side walls being longer than said sides of said trapezium such that said side walls project beyond said upper wall of said support plate; and,

said lower wall being arranged opposite said upper wall of said support plate and being angled away from said support plate.

2. The support system of claim 1 , wherein said support plate and said lower wall conjointly define an angle between 110° and 150°.

3. The support system of claim 1 further comprising:

a plurality of fastening brackets;

said front support element defining an opening in each of said side walls;

said rod element being disposed in said openings; and,

said rod element being connected to said spinner components via said fastening brackets.

4. The support system of claim 1 , wherein said front support element is fixed on said rotor hub with said upper wall.

5. A support system for a spinner of a rotor hub for a wind turbine, the support system comprising:

a spinner body including at least three spinner components including a first spinner component, a second spinner component and a third spinner component;

the rotor hub being mechanically connected to said spinner body;

said first spinner component and said second spinner component being disposed in a spaced relationship to each other;

said support system supporting said first spinner component and said second spinner component;

said third spinner component being arranged between said first spinner component and said second spinner component and being connected to said first spinner component and said second spinner component;

the support system defining a windward side and a leeward side;

the wind turbine including a nacelle;

said support system including, on said windward side, a front support element arranged on a front side between said rotor hub and said spinner body;

said support system including, on said leeward side, a rear support strut arranged on a side of said rotor hub facing said nacelle between said rotor hub and said spinner body;

a side of said rotor hub facing said nacelle defining a central shaft opening;

wherein said front support element is a first front support element having a first rod element;

a second front support element having a second rod element;

a connecting element releasably interconnecting said first front support element and said second front support element;

said connecting element having a first end connected to said first rod element of said first front support element and a second end connected to said second rod element of said second front support element;

a plurality of first brackets;

said connecting element defining two ends and having a second bracket disposed at each of said two ends;

said first rod element and said second rod element each being connected to corresponding ones of said first spinner component, said second spinner component, and said third spinner component via respective ones of said first brackets; and,

said second brackets of said connecting element each being directly connected on a corresponding one of said first brackets and a corresponding one of said first spinner component, said second spinner component, and said third spinner component.

6. A support system for a spinner of a rotor hub for a wind turbine, the support system comprising:

a spinner body including at least three spinner components including a first spinner component, a second spinner component and a third spinner component;

the rotor hub being mechanically connected to said spinner body;

said first spinner component and said second spinner component being disposed in a spaced relationship to each other;

said support system supporting said first spinner component and said second spinner component;

said third spinner component being arranged between said first spinner component and said second spinner component and being connected to said first spinner component and said second spinner component;

the support system defining a windward side and a leeward side;

the wind turbine including a nacelle;

said support system including, on said windward side, a front support element arranged on a front side between said rotor hub and said spinner body;

said support system including, on said leeward side, a rear support strut arranged on a side of said rotor hub facing said nacelle between said rotor hub and said spinner body;

a side of said rotor hub facing said nacelle defining a central shaft opening;

said rear support strut includes an elongate plate angled by 90° on a short, angled side of said rear support strut;

said rear support strut defines a longitudinal side;

said rear support strut further includes at least one web disposed on said longitudinal side and arranged centrally on said elongate plate;

said rear support strut has said short, angled side connected to said rotor hub; and,

said rear support strut has an end lying opposite said short, angled side and is connected to a corresponding one of said first spinner component, said second spinner component, and said third spinner component, wherein said longitudinal side defines a plane angled 90 degrees with respect to said elongate plate.

7. A support system for a spinner of a rotor hub for a wind turbine, the support system comprising:

a spinner body including at least three spinner components including a first spinner component, a second spinner component and a third spinner component;

a rotor hub mechanically connected to said spinner body;

said first spinner component and said second spinner component being disposed in a spaced relationship to each other;

said support system supporting said first spinner component and said second spinner component;

said third spinner component being arranged between said first spinner component and said second spinner component and being connected to said first spinner component and said second spinner component;

the support system defining a windward side and a leeward side;

the wind turbine including a nacelle;

said support system including, on said windward side, a front support element arranged on a front side between said rotor hub and said spinner body;

said support system including, on said leeward side, a rear support strut arranged on a side of said rotor hub facing said nacelle between said rotor hub and said spinner body;

a side of said rotor hub facing said nacelle defining a central shaft opening;

said front support elements each including a rod element and a sheet-metal part;

said sheet-metal part being a support plate having a shape of an isosceles trapezium;

said sheet-metal part including two side walls angled by 90°;

said trapezium defining sides;

said support plate having a lower wall and an upper wall;

said side walls being longer than said sides of said trapezium such that said side walls project beyond said upper wall of said support plate; and,

said lower wall being arranged opposite said upper wall of said support plate and being angled away from said support plate;

said rear support strut includes an elongate plate angled by 90° on a short, angled side of said rear support strut;

said rear support strut defines a longitudinal side;

said rear support strut further includes at least one web disposed on said longitudinal side and arranged centrally on said elongate plate;

said rear support strut has said short, angled side connected to said rotor hub; and

said rear support strut has an end lying opposite said short, angled side and is connected to a corresponding one of said first spinner component, said second spinner component, and said third spinner component, wherein said longitudinal side defines a plane angled 90 degrees with respect to said elongate plate, and,

wherein said support system includes a plurality of front support elements and a plurality of rear support struts.

8. A support system for a spinner of a rotor hub for a wind turbine having a nacelle, the spinner including at least three spinner components including a first spinner component, a second spinner component and a third spinner component, the rotor hub being mechanically connected to the spinner, the first spinner component and the second spinner component being disposed in a spaced relationship to each other, the third spinner component being arranged between the first spinner component and the second spinner component and being connected to the first spinner component and the second spinner component, the support system comprising:

a support supporting the first spinner component and the second spinner component;

the support system defining a windward side and a leeward side;

said support includes, on said windward side, a front support element arranged on a front side between the rotor hub and the spinner;

said front support element including a rod element and a sheet-metal part;

said sheet-metal part being a support plate having a shape of an isosceles trapezium;

said support plate having a lower wall and an upper wall;

said sheet-metal part including two side walls angled by 90°;

said side walls being longer than said sides of said trapezium such that said side walls project beyond said upper wall of said support plate; and,

said lower wall being arranged opposite said upper wall of said support plate and being angled away from said support plate; and,

said support includes, on said leeward side, a rear support strut arranged on a side of the rotor hub facing the nacelle between the rotor hub and the spinner.