IP Library Granted Patent US 7,891,946
Granted Patent B2
US 7,891,946 · App. 11/891,265 · Granted Feb 22, 2011

Wind power plant and rotor blade adjusting drive therefor

Assignee: Liebherr-Werk Biberach GmbH
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 7,891,946
App. No.
11/891,265
Granted
Feb 22, 2011
Kind
B2
Abstract

The present invention relates to a rotor blade adjusting drive for adjusting the pitch angle of a rotor blade of a wind power plant, comprising a drive train which at the output end can be connected with the rotor blade and/or a bearing member supporting the rotor blade, and a spring accumulator connectable with the drive train, which includes a spring accumulator shaft, a spring accumulator housing and a spring means which can be tensioned by rotating spring accumulator shaft and spring accumulator housing relative to each other, wherein the spring accumulator shaft and/or the spring accumulator housing can be uncoupled from the drive train and is rotatable with respect to the same for biasing the spring accumulator, wherein a braking device is provided for retarding and/or holding the spring accumulator shaft and/or the spring accumulator housing against the spring bias in the uncoupled condition of the spring accumulator.

Claims (27)

1. A rotor blade adjusting drive for adjusting the pitch angle of a rotor blade of a wind power plant, comprising

a drive train ( 2 ) which at the output end is connectable with the rotor blade and/or a bearing member supporting the rotor blade, and

a spring accumulator ( 7 ) connectable with the drive train ( 2 ), which includes

a spring accumulator shaft ( 8 ),

a spring accumulator housing ( 9 ), and

a spring means ( 13 ) which can be tensioned by the rotating spring accumulator shaft ( 8 ) and spring accumulator housing ( 9 ) relative to each other, wherein

the spring accumulator shaft ( 8 ) and/or the spring accumulator housing ( 9 ) can be uncoupled from the drive train ( 2 ) and is rotatable with respect to the same for biasing the spring accumulator ( 7 ), and

a braking device ( 26 ) is provided for retarding and/or retaining the spring accumulator shaft ( 8 ) and/or the spring accumulator housing ( 9 ) against the spring bias in the uncoupled condition of the spring accumulator ( 7 ).

2. The rotor blade adjusting drive according to claim 1 , wherein the spring accumulator ( 7 ) is formed to be tensionable when the spring accumulator shaft is engaged, in particular by actuating the spring accumulator housing ( 9 ).

3. The rotor blade adjusting drive according to claim 2 , wherein the spring accumulator housing ( 9 ) is rotatably mounted on a drive train support ( 16 ) by a pivot bearing ( 18 ).

4. The rotor blade adjusting drive according to claim 1 , wherein the spring accumulator housing ( 9 ) is rotatably mounted on a drive train support ( 16 ) by a pivot bearing ( 18 ).

5. The rotor blade adjusting drive according to claim 1 , wherein releasable arresting means ( 23 ) are provided for arresting the spring accumulator housing ( 9 ) in at least one predetermined rotary position with respect to the drive train support ( 16 ).

6. The rotor blade adjusting drive according to claim 5 , wherein the spring accumulator housing ( 9 ) is rotatably mounted on a drive train support ( 16 ) by a pivot bearing ( 18 ), and braking device ( 26 ) is provided between the spring accumulator housing ( 9 ) and the drive train support ( 16 ).

7. The rotor blade adjusting drive according to claim 6 , wherein the spring accumulator housing ( 9 ) is seated on a pivot bearing ring ( 19 ) on the end face and the braking device ( 26 ) is disposed radially inside the pivot bearing ring ( 19 ), in particular engages the pivot bearing ring ( 19 ) and the spring accumulator housing ( 9 ).

8. The rotor blade adjusting drive according to claim 1 , wherein the braking device ( 26 ) provides a braking force which is greater than a biasing force of the spring means ( 13 ) and smaller than a specifiable winding force for winding up the spring accumulator ( 7 ).

9. The rotor blade adjusting drive according to claim 1 , wherein the braking device ( 26 ) constitutes a frictional brake, in particular a spring-biased frictional brake.

10. The rotor blade adjusting drive according to claim 1 , wherein a winding drive ( 21 ) is provided for winding up the spring accumulator ( 7 ).

11. The rotor blade adjusting drive according to claim 10 , wherein the winding drive ( 21 ) includes a drive means for rotatorily driving the spring accumulator housing ( 9 ) with respect to the drive train ( 2 ).

12. The rotor blade adjusting drive according to claim 11 , wherein the drive means constitutes a rotary drive, which is mounted on the drive train support ( 2 ) and includes a drive wheel ( 30 ) engageable with the spring accumulator housing ( 9 ).

13. The rotor blade adjusting drive according to claim 1 , wherein a winding condition monitoring means is provided for monitoring the winding condition of the spring accumulator ( 7 ).

14. The rotor blade adjusting drive according to claim 13 , wherein the winding condition monitoring means includes a rotational angle and/or speed detecting means ( 32 ) for detecting the rotary position of the spring accumulator housing ( 9 ).

15. The rotor blade adjusting drive according to claim 14 , wherein the winding condition monitoring means is formed to be non-resettable.

16. The rotor blade adjusting drive according to claim 1 , wherein the drive train ( 2 ) includes a drive motor ( 1 ) and a transmission ( 3 ) connectable with the drive motor ( 1 ), the spring accumulator ( 7 ) being connectable with a transmission element, in particular a transmission shaft ( 6 ) of the transmission ( 3 ).

17. The rotor blade adjusting drive according to claim 16 , wherein the drive motor ( 1 ) is arranged transverse to a transmission shaft ( 6 ) of the transmission ( 3 ) and the spring accumulator shaft ( 8 ) of the spring accumulator ( 7 ) is arranged parallel, preferably coaxial to the transmission shaft ( 6 ).

18. The rotor blade adjusting drive according to claim 17 , wherein the transmission shaft ( 6 ) includes an output element which can be brought in engagement with the rotor blade and/or the bearing member supporting the rotor blade.

19. The rotor blade adjusting drive according to claim 1 , wherein a disengageable clutch ( 11 ) is provided between the spring accumulator shaft ( 8 ) and the drive train ( 2 ).

20. A wind power plant with a rotor blade adjusting drive according to claim 1 .

Assignments (2)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Oct 18, 2012
From: LIEBHERR-WERK BIBERACH GMBH
To: LIEBHERR-COMPONENTS BIBERACH GMBH
Reel/Frame 029153/0022 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Oct 31, 2007
From: MOLLHAGEN, KLAUS-PETER
To: LIEBHERR-WERK BIBERACH GMBH
Reel/Frame 020096/0337 →
Priority Claims (1)
DE 20 2006 012 314 U · Aug 10, 2006 · national
Continuity (1)
Related Publication 20080056881A1 · Mar 6, 2008