Bearing retainer
A bearing arrangement includes a housing, a rotating member traversing the housing, a bearing assembly located between the housing and the rotating member and supporting the bearing member, and a retainer in contact with the housing and the bearing assembly. The retainer has positioning means adapted to engage with the housing so that the retainer is moveable to a predetermined position to retain the bearing assembly.
1. A bearing arrangement for a gearbox comprising:
a housing;
a rotating member traversing said housing;
a bearing assembly located between said housing and said rotating member, said rotating member supported by said bearing assembly;
a cover plate bolted to said housing; and
a retainer comprising:
a surface in contact with said bearing assembly; and
an outer surface comprising a screw thread;
wherein said outer surface engages with said cover plate via a screw thread on said cover plate to adjust an axial position of said retainer relative to said housing, wherein said retainer is moveable to apply a preload or a clearance to the bearing assembly.
2. The bearing arrangement of claim 1 , wherein said retainer comprising: sealing means adapted to engage with said rotating member.
3. The bearing arrangement of claim 2 , wherein said retainer comprises a ring-shaped part.
4. The bearing arrangement of claim 3 , wherein an inner surface of said ring shaped part comprises the sealing means.
5. A gearbox comprising a bearing arrangement of claim 1 .
6. A wind turbine comprising a bearing arrangement of claim 1 .
7. A method for maintaining a bearing arrangement of claim 1 comprising said steps of:
disengaging said retainer from said housing;
replacing said bearing assembly;
engaging said screw thread on said outer surface of said retainer with said screw thread on said cover plate; and
adjusting an axial position of said retainer to a predetermined position relative to said housing to retain said bearing assembly thereby applying a correct preload or clearance to the bearing assembly.