Spring-mounted transmission housing

Abstract

The invention relates to a drive arrangement (101) for a wind power installation, comprising a main shaft (105), a housing (115) for a drive train consisting of the main shaft (105), a transmission (107) and a generator (109), and a support structure (111) which is fixed relative to the nacelle, wherein the main shaft (105) is completely supported in the housing (115) by means of at least two main bearings which are spaced apart from one another in the axial direction. The housing (115) is at least partially spring-mounted in the support structure (111).

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This invention relates to a drive device for wind power generation equipment. Background Technology

[0002] According to existing technology, a drive unit for a wind turbine with a torque support frame having spring-loaded supports is known. In the case of three-point support, in the first support position, the main shaft is rigidly supported within the nacelle of the wind turbine. In the second support position, the main shaft is supported within the housing. The housing, in turn, has a torque support frame connected to the nacelle via spring elements.

[0003] CN 202 065 132 U discloses a drive system with a main shaft for a wind power generation device, which is completely supported within a housing. The housing forms a flange. The flange is used to fix the drive system to a corresponding flange of the compartment. The flange of the housing and the flange of the compartment are rigidly screwed together. Summary of the Invention

[0004] The objective of this invention is to improve the support of the drive system of a wind power generation device within a support structure fixed relative to the nacelle. This objective is achieved by a drive mechanism as described below. Preferred improvements are described below.

[0005] The drive unit for a wind power generation device according to the present invention comprises a main shaft, a single housing for a drive system consisting of the main shaft, a transmission mechanism, and a generator, and a support structure fixed relative to the housing; wherein the main shaft is fully supported in the housing by means of at least two axially spaced main bearings; characterized in that the housing is at least partially spring-loaded supported in the support structure. The main shaft is the input shaft of the transmission mechanism of the wind power generation device. In the installed state, it is connected to the wind-driven rotor of the wind power generation device in a way that resists relative rotation.

[0006] The housing is preferably a transmission mechanism housing, that is, the housing of the aforementioned transmission mechanism, or a housing that at least includes a transmission mechanism housing.

[0007] The term "support structure fixed relative to the cabin" refers to a support structure where the cabin of a wind turbine is designed to be rigidly fixed (i.e., with no possibility of relative movement) or capable of being rigidly fixed. In particular, the cabin can constitute its own support structure.

[0008] The spindle is fully supported within the housing. This means that the spindle is supported within the housing using each of its bearings. The spindle does not have a bearing that supports it within the housing.

[0009] Each bearing on the spindle has two bearing rings. The first bearing ring is fixed to the spindle or is integrally formed with the spindle. Correspondingly, the second bearing ring is fixed within the housing or is integrally formed with the housing.

[0010] According to the invention, the housing is at least partially spring-loaded within a support structure. This means that at least one support position in which the housing is supported within the support structure is implemented as spring-loaded. The spring-loaded support position allows relative movement between the housings. The support position has one or more spring elements whose spring forces counteract these relative movements.

[0011] This invention enables the spring-loaded support not only for the housing and part of the main shaft, but also for the entire drive system of the wind turbine. Here, the drive system can be implemented as units of components that are non-spring-loaded and interconnected. By eliminating the spring movement between individual components of the drive system, the load acting on the components is reduced, thus decreasing wear.

[0012] In a preferred embodiment, the housing is fully spring-loaded within the support structure. This means that each support location of the housing is configured to be spring-loaded and has one or more of the aforementioned spring elements. No support location is configured to be non-spring-loaded. Non-spring-loaded support locations do not have spring elements.

[0013] Through the fully elastic support of the casing, the drive system and support structure of the wind turbine can be mechanically decoupled. According to the improved design, the transmission of vibration from the drive system to the support structure, or vice versa, can be almost completely avoided.

[0014] In an alternative preferred improvement, the housing is partially spring-loaded and partially rigidly supported in the support structure. This means that at least one support position is spring-loaded and at least one support position is non-spring-loaded. Preferably, exactly two support positions (e.g., the support position on the transmission mechanism side) are non-spring-loaded and exactly two support positions (e.g., the support position on the generator side) are spring-loaded.

[0015] A further improvement is preferred, comprising a drive mechanism with at least two main bearings. The main bearings refer to the bearings of the spindle. According to the improvement, the spindle is supported within a housing by at least two main bearings. The main bearings are axially spaced apart from each other (i.e., in the direction of the spindle's rotation axis). Therefore, there is axial misalignment between the two bearings. The axial distance between the two bearings is greater than zero. This axial misalignment absorbs the bending moment acting on the spindle, that is, the torque acting in the axial direction or orthogonal to the spindle's rotation axis.

[0016] In a preferred embodiment, the planetary gear carrier of the transmission mechanism is at least partially supported by the main shaft. Therefore, the planetary gear carrier is at least partially supported on the main shaft. This means that the main shaft at least partially bears the weight of the planetary gear carrier.

[0017] The planetary gear carrier is preferably entirely supported by the main shaft. In this case, the main shaft bears the entire weight of the planetary gear carrier, thus eliminating the need for a separate support for the planetary gear carrier. This simplifies the drivetrain structure by reducing the number of support points.

[0018] A further improvement is preferred to the drive mechanism having one or more elastomers. The elastomers are spring elements composed of viscoelastic polymers. The housing is elastically supported within a support structure by means of one or more elastomers. Here, the housing is supported within the support structure by one or more elastomers. The yieldability of the elastomers allows for relative movement between the housing and the support structure. The use of elastomers according to the improved design is advantageous because elastomers are simple to construct and correspondingly inexpensive and fault-resistant.

[0019] In a preferred improvement, elastomers with different stiffnesses are incorporated. According to the improvement, a first elastomer and a second elastomer (as described above) are used to support the shell within the supporting structure. The first and second elastomers are characterized by their different stiffnesses. The stiffness of the elastomers is influenced by their structural design and material hardness.

[0020] According to the improved design, a first elastic body is arranged within a radial intermediate space between the housing and the supporting structure. This radial intermediate space extends in the radial direction (i.e., orthogonal to the axis of rotation of the main shaft). Thus, the spring force applied by the first elastic body counteracts the relative movement between the housing and the supporting structure in the radial direction.

[0021] The second elastic body is arranged in the axial intermediate space between the housing and the support structure. The axial intermediate space extends in the axial direction (that is, parallel to the axis of rotation of the main shaft). The spring force applied by the first elastic body correspondingly counteracts the relative movement between the housing and the support structure in the axial direction.

[0022] By using the different hardnesses of the first and second elastomers according to the improved design, the drive unit is particularly well matched to vibration patterns that differ in the axial and radial directions.

[0023] Preferably, the improved drive mechanism has at least one pin and at least two aligned holes. A hole represents a through-hole or blind hole for receiving the pin. Here, both the housing and the support structure have at least one hole. The pin extends into the hole. A portion of the pin is located in each of at least two holes. These holes, together with the pin extending therein, constitute one of the aforementioned support positions. Attached Figure Description

[0024] A preferred embodiment of the invention is shown in the figures. Here, consistent reference numerals denote the same or functionally identical features. Specifically:

[0025] Figure 1 The drive unit of the wind power generation equipment is shown.

[0026] Figure 2A shows the arrangement of the support positions;

[0027] Figure 2B shows an arrangement of support positions with alternative orientations;

[0028] Figure 3 A first embodiment of the support position is shown;

[0029] Figure 4 An exploded view of the first embodiment is shown;

[0030] Figure 5 A second embodiment showing the support position;

[0031] Figure 6 A third embodiment showing the support position;

[0032] Figure 7 A fourth embodiment showing the support position;

[0033] Figure 8 A fifth embodiment showing the support position; and

[0034] Figure 9 The sixth embodiment of the support position is shown. Detailed Implementation Plan

[0035] Figure 1 The illustrated drive unit 101 includes a wind-driven rotor 103, a main shaft 105, a transmission mechanism 107, a generator 109, and a frame 111. The main shaft 105 is configured as the input shaft of the transmission mechanism 107. The rotor 103 is connected, via the main shaft 105, to the planetary gear carrier 113 of the first planetary gear stage of the transmission mechanism 107 in a rotationally inverse manner. The transmission mechanism 107 alters the driving torque applied to the main shaft 105 by the rotor 103 and transfers it to the generator 109. The frame 111 is part of the nacelle of the wind power generation equipment.

[0036] The drive system, consisting of the spindle 105, transmission mechanism 107, and generator 109, is housed within a single housing structure 115. Accordingly, the spindle 105 is supported within the housing structure 115 by means of two main bearings 117. These two main bearings 117, which may be constructed from one or more bearing units respectively, constitute the single support location for the spindle 105.

[0037] The planetary gear carrier 113 does not have its own bearings. Instead, it is supported by the spindle 105. For this purpose, it is screwed to the spindle 105.

[0038] The housing structure 115 consists of multiple parts that are rigidly screwed together. The housing structure 115 is elastically supported within the frame 111 by means of an elastic body 119.

[0039] Each elastic body 119 is a portion of the support position 201 shown in Figures 2A and 2B. The support positions 201 can be oriented as shown in Figure 2A, i.e., their longitudinal axes extend parallel to the rotation axis 203 of the main shaft 105. Alternatively, they can be oriented as shown in Figure 2B, with their longitudinal axes orthogonal to the rotation axis 203.

[0040] The drive unit 101 has exactly four support positions 201. An embodiment for the construction of the support positions 201 is described below. Figures 3 to 1 As shown in Figure 0. A common feature of these embodiments is that the frame 111 has two eyelets 301 at each support position 201. Eyelets 303 of the housing structure 115 are aligned with the two eyelets 301. Pins 305 are inserted into the eyelets 301 of the frame 111 and into the corresponding eyelets 303 of the housing structure 115. These pins secure the corresponding eyelets 303 of the housing structure 115 within the eyelets 301 of the frame 111.

[0041] Four support positions 201 according to Figure 3 Each has a hollow cylindrical elastomer 307. They are located within their respective apertures 303 in the shell structure 111. The hollow cylindrical elastomers 307 are used to transmit radial forces.

[0042] Two of the four support positions 201 also each have two disc-shaped elastomers 309. They are located in the axial intermediate space between the apertures 303 of the housing structure 111 and the apertures 301 of the frame 111, respectively. Accordingly, the elastomers 309 are used to absorb forces in the axial direction.

[0043] exist Figures 4 to 1 In the embodiment shown in 0, with Figure 3 The difference in the illustrated embodiment is that the elastomer is not arranged within the aperture 303 of the housing structure 115, but rather within the aperture 301 of the frame 111. The hollow cylindrical elastomer 401 is used here to guide forces in the radial direction.

[0044] Figure 4The corresponding exploded view is shown. It can be seen that not only the eyelet 301 of the frame 111 but also the elastomer 401 are constructed as two pieces. The eyelet 301 consists of a one-piece base 403 and a screw-on bridge-shaped component 405. The elastomer 401 is correspondingly composed of two half-shells. This two-piece implementation of the eyelet 301 and the elastomer 401 simplifies the assembly and replacement of the elastomer 401.

[0045] Figure 5 An elastomer 501 having a hollow cylindrical section and a disc-shaped section is also shown. The hollow cylindrical section is radially located between the corresponding pin 305 and the eyelet 301 of the frame 111. This section is used to transmit forces in the radial direction. In order to transmit forces in the axial direction, the disc-shaped section extends within the axial intermediate space between the corresponding eyelet 303 of the housing structure 115 and the eyelet 301 of the frame 111.

[0046] according to Figures 6 to 8 The eyelet 303 of the housing structure 111 is fixed to the pin 305 by means of a retaining ring 600. The elastomer here is also composed of a hollow cylindrical section 307 and a disc-shaped section 309. However, the disc-shaped section 309 is located in the intermediate space between the eyelet 301 of the frame 111 and the end cap 601, and the end cap is screwed to the pin 305 by means of two bolts 603 each.

[0047] Figure 7 An alternative screw-on connection for end cap 601 is shown. Here, a single bolt 701 passes through the entire pin 305 and both end caps 601. Bolt 701 is tightened relative to end cap 601 by means of nut 703.

[0048] according to Figure 8 The disc-shaped section 309 is tapered. The end plate 601 has a corresponding shell-shaped recess. This prevents the elastomer from deforming strongly radially under axial load.

[0049] Figure 9 A two-piece embodiment of the pin 305 is shown. Here, the pin 305 forms a shoulder 901, which replaces the retaining ring to axially fix the pin 305 in the eyelet 303.

[0050] List of reference numerals

[0051] 101 drive unit

[0052] 103 rotor

[0053] 105 spindle

[0054] 107 Transmission Mechanism

[0055] 109 generator

[0056] 111 rack

[0057] 113 Planetary Gear Carrier

[0058] 115 Shell Structure

[0059] 117 main bearing

[0060] 119 elastomer

[0061] 201 Support Position

[0062] 203 Rotation Axis

[0063] 301 eyelet

[0064] 303 hole

[0065] 305 pins

[0066] 307 elastomer

[0067] 309 elastomer

[0068] 401 elastomer

[0069] 403 matrix

[0070] 405 bridge-shaped component

[0071] 501 elastomer

[0072] 600 clasp

[0073] 601 end cap

[0074] 603 bolts

[0075] 701 bolts

[0076] 703 Nut

[0077] 901 shoulder

Claims

1. A drive unit (101) for a wind power generation device, the drive unit having a main shaft (105), a single housing (115) for a drive system consisting of the main shaft (105), a transmission mechanism (107), and a generator (109), and a support structure (111) rigidly fixed about the housing; wherein, The main shaft (105) is fully supported in the housing (115) by means of at least two axially spaced main bearings; characterized in that, The housing (115) is at least partially spring-loaded and supported in the support structure (111).

2. The driving device (101) according to claim 1; characterized in that, The housing (115) is fully spring-loaded and supported in the support structure (111).

3. The driving device according to claim 1; characterized in that, The housing (115) is partially spring-loaded and partially rigidly supported in the support structure (111).

4. The driving device (101) according to any one of claims 1 to 3; characterized in that, It has a planetary gear carrier (113) carried by the main shaft (105).

5. The driving device (101) according to any one of claims 1 to 3; characterized in that, Having one or more elastomers (307, 309, 401, 501), the housing (115) is elastically supported in the support structure (111) by means of the one or more elastomers.

6. The driving device (101) according to claim 5; characterized in that, A first elastomer (307) and a second elastomer (309) have different hardnesses; wherein, The first elastic body (307) is arranged in the radial intermediate space between the housing (115) and the support structure (111); and wherein, The second elastic body (309) is arranged in the axial intermediate space between the housing (115) and the support structure (111).

7. The driving device (101) according to any one of claims 1 to 3; characterized in that, It has at least one pin (305) and at least two holes (301, 303) aligned with each other; wherein, The housing (115) and the support structure (111) each have at least one of the holes (301, 303); and wherein, The pin (305) extends into the eyelet (301, 303).

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