Deflecting brake device

Abstract

The invention relates to a yaw brake device (10) for a wind power installation, the wind power installation comprising a tower and a nacelle which is adjustable in yaw relative to the tower, the yaw brake device (10) comprising a brake disc (11), the brake disc (11) having at least one brake pad carrier (12), the at least one brake pad carrier (12) being arranged on an outer circumference of the brake disc (11) and having at least one brake pad (15), the at least one brake pad (15) being displaceable against a braking surface of the brake disc (11) and being configured for abutment against the braking surface. The yaw brake device (10) has at least one lubricant applicator (18), the at least one lubricant applicator (18) being rotatable relative to the brake disc (11) and being configured for applying lubricant on the braking surface of the brake disc (11).

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The invention relates to a yaw brake device for a wind power installation, the wind power installation comprising a tower and a nacelle which is yaw-adjustable relative to the tower, the yaw brake device comprising a brake disc having at least one brake pad carrier which is arranged on the outer circumference of the brake disc and has at least one brake pad which is displaceable against a braking surface of the brake pad and is designed to abut against the braking surface. Background Art

[0002] Wind turbines with a rotor having a horizontal axis have a yaw adjustment mechanism for the nacelle to position the rotor according to the wind direction and, if necessary, to rotate it out of the wind. The necessary equipment for the yaw adjustment mechanism typically includes a bearing for rotatably supporting the nacelle on the tower, a yaw drive for rotating the nacelle, and a yaw brake that, if necessary, brakes the rotational movement of the nacelle and fixes its rotational position.

[0003] In particular, if the braking contact is not completely released and a relative pressure is maintained between the brake pad and the brake disc, stick-slip often occurs due to the movement of the brake disc relative to the brake pad caused by the rotary drive. This stick-slip phenomenon causes vibrations in the system that deflects the brake device, which leads to non-negligible noise generation and is a common reason why wind energy installations are often rarely accepted near residential areas. Summary of the Invention

[0004] The object of the present invention is to provide a deflection brake device with which the above-mentioned stick-slip phenomenon does not occur or is at least significantly reduced.

[0005] To achieve this object, the deflection brake device according to the invention comprises the features of claim 1 .

[0006] The deflection brake device according to the present invention comprises at least one lubricant applicator, which is rotatably arranged relative to the brake pad and is configured to apply lubricant to the braking surface of the brake disc, so that when the brake disc moves relative to the lubricant applicator, lubricant can be applied to the braking surface, and the application of lubricant leads to preventing the stick-slip phenomenon and the vibrations caused by the stick-slip phenomenon or at least significantly reducing the stick-slip phenomenon and the vibrations caused by the stick-slip phenomenon.

[0007] Typically, it is assumed that the brake pad carrier is positioned relative to the brake disc, in which arrangement the brake pad carrier is rotatably arranged relative to the stationary brake disc. However, the subject matter of the present invention also intends to position the brake disc rotatably relative to the stationary brake pad carrier.

[0008] Preferably, the lubricant is a solid lubricant; however, the following embodiments of the lubricant are possible: allowing the lubricant to be sprayed, in particular when the lubricant is an oil or a grease, means that the application of the spray can be carried out by means of pressurized air. The respective embodiment of the lubricant means that the lubricant applicator can be tubular, or the lubricant can be applied by means of a brush or a sponge.

[0009] Preferably, the solid lubricant is disposed in the holding element and displaceable against the brake surface in a pre-tensioned manner, which in particular means that the replacement of the consumed lubricant is particularly easy.

[0010] The holding element of the lubricant applicator can be disposed adjacent to the brake disc independently of the brake pad carrier or on the brake pad carrier; in both cases, the lubricant applicator is a unit operable independently of the brake pad carrier, and in a particularly preferred embodiment is configured such that the lubricant applicator is connectable to a connecting element for connection to the brake pad carrier or to other components of the wind power installation that are rotatable relative to the brake disc. In any case, the wind power installation can be refurbished with the lubricant applicator.

[0011] Preferably, the holding element is provided with a pre-tensioning element for generating the pre-tensioning, so that the pre-tensioning of the solid lubricant body required for the function of the lubricant applicator can be generated by means of a device integrally formed on the holding element.

[0012] If the holding element is provided with a supply element for displacing the solid lubricant body against the brake surface, the solid lubricant body can be supplied by means of a device integrally formed on the holding element to generate the abutment contact of the solid lubricant body against the brake surface, which means that the supply element and the pre-tensioning element can be realized independently of the installation position of the lubricant applicator.

[0013] It is particularly advantageous if the pre-tensioning element is formed by the supply element, so that both functions, i.e. the pre-tensioning and the supply of the solid lubricant body against the brake surface, are realized by one and the same element.

[0014] Irrespective of whether the supply element is used to simultaneously generate the pre-tensioning force, the supply element has the significant advantage in the fact that by means of the supply element the solid lubricant can be supplied against the brake surface independently of the supply of the brake pad against the brake surface, which in particular means that the supply time can be chosen such that during the relative rotation between the brake disc and the solid lubricant applicator the solid lubricant is not permanently applied on the brake surface, but the solid lubricant is supplied before the brake pad is supplied against the brake surface, so that during the braking process the application of the solid lubricant between the brake surface and the brake pad is ensured.

[0015] Especially for large wind turbines, where high braking torques occur due to the correspondingly large rotor and nacelle masses, the brake disc is annular and has opposing braking surfaces, the brake pad carrier being realized as a brake caliper with opposing brake pads each assigned to a braking surface.

[0016] In a minimal configuration of the deflection brake device, each braking surface of the brake disc is assigned to at least one lubricant applicator, in which case permanent application of lubricant to the brake disc during relative rotation between the brake disc and the lubricant applicator is preferred in order to ensure, in the presence of a plurality of brake calipers, that lubricant is applied between all brake pads and braking surfaces of the brake calipers when a braking process occurs.

[0017] Preferably, the two lubricant applicators are arranged opposite each other so that, when forming a lubricant applicator assembly (formed as a lubricant caliper), lubricant can be applied to opposite surface areas of the braking surface. In such an embodiment, the lubricant caliper can generally be realized similar to a brake caliper, but instead of a brake caliper, the lubricant caliper includes a solid lubricant body that can be supplied against the braking surface.

[0018] Preferably, at least one lubricant applicator assembly is modularly connected to at least one brake pad carrier of a plurality of brake pad carriers realized as brake calipers, preferably, each brake caliper is provided with at least one lubricant applicator assembly realized as a lubricant caliper, and particularly preferably, at least one brake caliper or particularly preferably each brake caliper is provided with two opposing lubricant calipers or brake calipers in a horizontal plane defined by the brake disc, so that it can be ensured that during the braking process, the solid lubricant is applied between the braking surface and the brake pad of the brake caliper regardless of the direction of rotation.

[0019] In particular for small wind energy installations with relatively small rotor and nacelle masses, it has proven sufficient if the brake disk is formed on the bottom wall of the rotatable nacelle, and a stationary brake pad carrier is arranged below the nacelle and is provided with a brake pad which is displaceable against the braking surface of the brake disk, wherein the brake disk can in particular be formed by the bottom wall of the nacelle.

[0020] Preferably, in a minimal configuration of the deflection brake device, at least one lubricant applicator is assigned to the braking surface, particularly preferably, the lubricant applicator is modularly connected to at least one brake pad carrier of a plurality of brake pad carriers.

[0021] Also in the case of such a deflection brake device, it is particularly preferred that each brake pad carrier is assigned at least one lubricant applicator, and it has proven to be particularly advantageous that each brake pad carrier is assigned two opposing lubricant applicators in the horizontal plane defined by the brake pads, so that during the braking process, solid lubricant is applied between the braking surface of the brake disc and the brake pad of the brake pad carrier, regardless of the direction of rotation. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0022] Hereinafter, preferred embodiments of the present invention will be described in more detail using the accompanying drawings.

[0023] Figure 1 A deflection brake device in a first embodiment is shown, which has a plurality of brake calipers arranged on the outer periphery of a brake disc;

[0024] Figure 2 yes Figure 1 The deflection brake device shown is based on Figure 1 Partial view from perspective II;

[0025] Figure 3 A deflection brake device in another embodiment is shown, which has a plurality of brake pad carriers arranged below the bottom wall of the nacelle;

[0026] Figure 4 yes Figure 3 The deflection brake device shown is along Figure 3 Cross-sectional view of section IV-IV in FIG.

[0027] Figure 5 A deflection braking device in another embodiment is shown;

[0028] Figure 6 Shown Figure 5 Lubricant applicator for the mid-deflection brake. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0029] Figure 1 The yaw brake device 10 is shown and comprises a brake disc 11, which is connected in a torque-proof manner to a tower (not shown) of a wind turbine generator system, and a brake pad carrier 12, which is connected in a torsion-proof manner to a nacelle (not shown) of the wind turbine generator system, such that the brake pad carrier 12, together with the nacelle and a rotor arranged thereon, is rotatable relative to the tower of the wind turbine generator system. To brake rotational movements or to temporarily position the nacelle in a torque-proof manner relative to the tower, the brake disc 11 is provided with a plurality of brake pad carriers 12, which are designed as brake calipers and have two opposing brake pistons 13, 14, in particular as Figure 2As shown, two opposing brake pistons 13 , 14 are each provided with a brake pad 15 , such that the brake pad 15 is displaceable against a brake surface 16 by the brake pistons 13 , 14 and can be pressed against the brake surface 16 by the pressing force generated by the brake pistons 13 , 14 to achieve a braking effect.

[0030] like Figure 1 As shown in the case of the deflection brake device 10 in FIG, the brake pad carrier 12 connected to the nacelle in a torque-proof manner is provided with a lubricant applicator assembly 17, which is realized as a lubricant caliper and as shown Figure 2 The lubricant applicator shown comprises two opposing lubricant applicators 18, 19, each of which comprises a retaining element 20 having a solid lubricant body 21 guided axially in the retaining element 20. The solid lubricant body 21 is made of a carbon material such as graphite and is Figure 2 As shown, the brake disc 11 is pressed in a preloaded manner against the braking surface 16 by a preload device 22 arranged in the retaining element 20 and which is realized in this case as a compression spring.

[0031] Especially if Figure 2 As further shown, the lubricant applicators 18, 19 of the lubricant applicator assembly 17 are each provided with a connecting element 23, which allows a connection between the lubricant applicators 18, 19, each having a brake piston 13, 14. Instead of the preload device 22, which in this case is realized as a compression spring, the lubricant applicators 18, 19 can each be provided with a supply element (not shown), which allows axial movement of the solid lubricant body 21 within the retaining element 20 in order to allow only temporary contact of the solid lubricant body 21 for a defined period of time, in contrast to the preload device 22 which allows a permanent preloaded contact of the solid lubricant body 21 against the braking surface 16.

[0032] exist Figure 2 In the embodiment, the lubricant applicators 18 and 19 are opposite to each other in the axially overlapping position. Figure 2 Contrary to the illustration in FIG, axial offsets in positioning are of course also possible, especially when Figure 2 When the lubricant applicator 18 in the upper position is connected to the brake pad carrier 12, or more precisely to the brake piston 13 of the brake pad carrier 12, and the lubricant applicator 19 in the lower position is arranged on a part of the nacelle of the wind energy installation adjacent to the brake disk 11.

[0033] like Figure 1As shown, the lubricant applicator 18, 19 comprises a solid lubricant body 21 having a width b that is smaller than the width B of the brake pad 15 of the brake carrier 12. In order to be able to completely cover the braking contact surface 24, which is realized annularly due to the rotation of the brake disc 11 relative to the brake pad carrier 12, with the solid lubricant body 21, Figure 1 The lubricant applicators 18, 19 are shown arranged at different radial positions A, B, C relative to the brake disc 11, with a radial offset relative to the positions A, B, C. Figure 1 In contrast to the illustration in , the radial offset may be irregular in the circumferential direction.

[0034] Figure 3 A deflection brake device 30 is shown with a brake disc 31 formed by the bottom wall of the nacelle, in particular as Figure 4 As shown, a brake pad carrier 32 formed by three brake pistons arranged equidistantly on the outer circumference of the brake pad 31 is arranged below the brake pad 31. The brake pad carriers 32 are each connected to the tower of the wind energy installation via a connecting element 33 and are therefore arranged in a torsionally fixed manner relative to the brake pad 31 formed by the bottom wall of the nacelle. The brake pad carriers 32 are each provided with a brake pad 34, which is pressed against the braking surface 40 of the brake disc 31 to achieve a braking effect.

[0035] like Figure 4 As shown, a lubricant applicator 35 is also provided below the nacelle, which has a retaining element 36 which is arranged in a rotationally fixed manner relative to the brake disc 31 via a connecting element 37, and in which a solid lubricant body 39 is axially guided in a prestressed manner by a prestressing device 38 implemented as a coil spring and is pressed against the braking surface 40.

[0036] Figure 5 The deflection brake device 50 is shown, which in this case is similar to the deflection brake device 50 with regard to the position and embodiment of the brake pad carrier 12. Figure 1 The deflection brake device 10 shown is identical, but the deflection brake device 50 differs from the deflection brake device 10 in that a lubricant applicator assembly 51 implemented as a lubricant clamp is provided so that, as shown Figure 6 As shown, two lubricant applicators 52 , 53 , each assigned to the braking surface 16 of the brake disc 11 , are connected to one another via a crosspiece 54 , which can simultaneously serve as a connecting element for rotatably arranging the lubricant applicator assembly 51 relative to the brake disc 11 .

[0037] and Figure 1 In contrast, the lubricant applicators 18 , 19 shown and provided with a solid lubricant body have a width b that is smaller than the width B of the brake pad 15 , Figure 6The lubricant applicators 52 , 53 shown include a body of solid lubricant having a width corresponding to the width of the brake pad.

[0038] Similar to the brake pad carrier 12 , the lubricant applicator assembly 51 may also be hydraulically operated.

Claims

1. A yaw brake device (10, 30, 50) for a wind power plant, the wind power plant comprising a tower and a nacelle which is yaw-adjustable relative to the tower, the yaw brake device (10, 30, 50) comprising a brake disc (11, 31), the brake disc (11, 31) having at least one brake pad carrier (12), the at least one brake pad carrier (12) being arranged on the outer circumference of the brake disc (11, 31) and having at least one brake pad (15, 34), the at least one brake pad (15, 34) being displaceable against a braking surface (16, 40) of the brake disc (11, 31) and being configured to abut against the braking surface (16, 40), in, The deflection brake device (10, 30, 50) comprises at least two lubricant applicators (18, 19, 35, 52, 53), the at least two lubricant applicators (18, 19, 35, 52, 53) being rotatable relative to the brake disc (11, 31) and being configured to apply lubricant to the braking surface (16, 40) of the brake disc (11, 31), characterized in that the lubricant is a solid lubricant body (21, 39), the solid lubricant body (21, 39) having a width smaller than the width of the brake pad (15, 34) of the brake pad carrier (12), and the at least two lubricant applicators (18, 19) being arranged at different radial positions relative to the brake disc (11, 31); The solid lubricant body (21, 39) is arranged in a retaining element (20, 36), and the retaining element is arranged adjacent to the brake disk independently of the brake pad carrier.

2. The deflection braking device according to claim 1, characterized in that: The solid lubricant body (21, 39) is displaceable against the braking surface (16, 40) in a preloaded manner.

3. The deflection braking device according to claim 2, characterized in that: The retaining element (20, 36) is provided with a prestressing element (22, 38) for generating a prestressing.

4. The deflection braking device according to any one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that: The holding element is provided with a supply element for displacing the solid lubricant body against the braking surface.

5. The deflection braking device according to claim 3, characterized in that: The prestressing device is formed by the supply element.

6. The deflection braking device according to any one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that: The brake disc (11) is annular and has opposing braking surfaces (16), and the brake pad carrier (12) is realized as a brake caliper with opposing brake pads (15), each brake pad (15) being assigned to a braking surface (16).

7. The deflection braking device according to claim 6, characterized in that: Each braking surface (16) is assigned at least one solid lubricant applicator (18, 19).

8. The deflection braking device according to claim 7, characterized in that: Two lubricant applicators (52, 53) are arranged opposite each other for realizing a lubricant applicator array (51) formed as a lubricant clamp, so that the solid lubricant body (21) can be applied to each opposing surface area of ​​the braking surface (16).

9. The deflection braking device according to claim 6, characterized in that: At least one lubricant applicator array (51) is modularly connected to at least one brake pad carrier (12) of the plurality of brake pad carriers (12).

10. A deflection brake device according to any one of claims 1 to 3, the brake disc (31) being formed on a bottom wall of a rotatable nacelle, and a stationary brake pad carrier (32) being arranged below the nacelle and provided with a brake pad (34) displaceable against a braking surface (40) of the brake disc (31).

11. The deflection braking device according to claim 10, characterized in that: The brake disc (31) is formed by the bottom wall.

12. The deflection braking device according to claim 10, characterized in that: The braking surface (40) is assigned at least one solid lubricant applicator (35).

13. The deflection braking device according to claim 12, characterized in that: A solid lubricant applicator (35) is modularly connected to at least one brake pad carrier (32) of the plurality of brake pad carriers (32).

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