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Unitary support frame for use in wind turbines

A technology for wind turbines and supporting frames, which is applied in the field of wind turbines and can solve problems such as time-consuming and high cost

Inactive Publication Date: 2012-12-26
GENERAL ELECTRIC CO
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  • Summary
  • Abstract
  • Description
  • Claims
  • Application Information

AI Technical Summary

Problems solved by technology

In some wind turbines, the rotor blades are between 37 and 50 meters in length, and as such, repairing worn or damaged rotor components, gearboxes and generators is costly and time consuming

Method used

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  • Unitary support frame for use in wind turbines
  • Unitary support frame for use in wind turbines
  • Unitary support frame for use in wind turbines

Examples

Experimental program
Comparison scheme
Effect test

Embodiment Construction

[0076] Embodiments described herein overcome at least some of the disadvantages of known wind turbines by providing a support frame formed as a unitary component. More specifically, the support frame described herein includes: an upper portion having a bearing housing configured to support a rotor shaft;

[0077] and a lower portion integrally formed with the upper portion and having a support flange configured to support the support frame relative to the wind turbine tower. The integral support frame provides increased structural integrity over known floor frames by eliminating the need for bolted and / or welded sections that make known floor frames The overall weight increases and the area subject to stress and fatigue increases. Furthermore, by providing the support frame as an integral part, the cost of manufacturing and assembling the support frame is reduced.

[0078] figure 1 is a perspective view of an exemplary wind turbine 10 . In the exemplary embodiment, wind tu...

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Abstract

A support frame for use in a wind turbine including a tower and a rotor that is rotatably coupled to a rotor shaft. The support frame includes an upper portion including an inner surface, an outer surface, and at least one bearing housing that is sized to receive the rotor shaft therethrough. A lower portion is integrally formed with the upper portion and extends from the upper portion. The lower portion includes a support flange that is configured to be coupled to the tower to support the rotor shaft and the rotor from the tower.

Description

technical field [0001] The subject matter described in this specification relates generally to wind turbines and, more particularly, to support frames for use in wind turbines and methods of manufacture thereof. Background technique [0002] At least some known wind turbine towers include a nacelle secured atop the tower. The nacelle includes a rotor assembly coupled to the gearbox by a rotor shaft and to the generator. In known rotor assemblies, a plurality of blades extend from the rotor. The blades are oriented such that wind passing over the blades turns the rotor and rotates the shaft, driving the generator to generate electricity. [0003] Since many known wind turbines provide electrical power to a utility grid, at least some wind turbines have larger components (eg, rotors exceeding 30 meters in diameter) that facilitate supplying larger amounts of electrical power. However, larger components are often subject to increased loads (eg, asymmetrical loads) due to win...

Claims

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Application Information

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Patent Type & Authority Applications(China)
IPC IPC(8): F03D11/00F03D1/00
CPCF16C2220/02B22C9/22F05B2260/30F16C2360/31F05B2240/50Y02E10/722B22C9/02B22C7/00F03D11/0008F03D11/005F16C35/042F03D80/70F03D80/80F16C35/047Y02E10/72F05B2260/31
Inventor M.J.卢诺J.P.戴维斯S.W.布莱克威尔R.N.劳
Owner GENERAL ELECTRIC CO