Sealing ring, wind power generation bearing and manufacturing method

Abstract

The invention relates to a sealing ring for a wind turbine bearing, the sealing ring (1) having a first end (11) and a second end (12) which can be joined to form a circular ring shape, the radial side of the sealing ring (1) being divided into an air side (4) facing the external environment and a grease side (5) facing the internal lubricating grease of the wind turbine bearing, the first end part (11) is provided with a first connecting piece (6) on the grease side face (5), the second end part (12) is provided with a second connecting piece (7) on the grease side face (5), and the first connecting piece (6) and the second connecting piece (7) can be connected in a shape matching mode, so that the first end part (11) and the second end part (12) are connected in a sealing mode.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to a sealing ring for a wind power generation bearing, the sealing ring having an end portion that can be joined to form a circular ring shape, the sealing ring also having a sealing lip for preventing the lubricating grease of the wind power generation bearing from overflowing, and the radial side surface of the sealing ring can be divided into an air side surface facing the external environment and a grease side surface facing the internal grease. Background Art

[0002] At present, wind power generation is a representative of clean energy. In the rotor bearings of wind turbines, rubber seals are widely used to prevent grease leakage and external contamination. These seals usually have multiple leaf springs as reinforcements to ensure their stability under high-speed rotation. These leaf springs are evenly distributed throughout the seal to ensure that it has good elasticity and wear resistance. In addition, the seal has a main lip on the grease side to prevent lubricating grease leakage and a dust lip on the air side to prevent external contamination. When replacing the seal, after removing the old seal, the two ends of the new seal are butt-bonded together by a portable small vulcanizing device to form a complete seal.

[0003] Since this vulcanization is manually operated and lacks a guide device, the cross-sections of the two butt joints are difficult to align, which can cause gaps to form between the sealing lips in the joint area, resulting in grease leakage from the wind turbine bearing. In addition, the joint surface is perpendicular to the end face of the seal ring, and there is no blocking surface in the direction of grease overflow, which further increases leakage. Summary of the invention

[0004] Therefore, the technical problem to be solved by the present invention is to provide an improved sealing ring, which can overcome the shortcomings of the above-mentioned prior art and achieve better sealing of grease.

[0005] The technical problem is solved by a sealing ring for a wind power generation bearing, the sealing ring having a first end and a second end that can be joined to form a circular ring, the side of the sealing ring extending along the radial direction can be divided into an air side facing the external environment and a grease side facing the internal lubricating grease of the wind power generation bearing, wherein the first end has a first connector close to the grease side, and the second end has a second connector close to the grease side, wherein the first connector and the second connector can be connected in a shape-fitting manner, so that the first end and the second end are sealed and joined, and the sealing ring forms a complete circular ring. Through the improved design of the present invention, the sealing ring can provide a more reliable sealing performance than vulcanization through the joining of the connectors, effectively preventing the spillage and contamination of the lubricating grease, and due to the use of a guide tool, the position of the pair of connectors will be very accurate, so when installed on the wind power bearing, as long as the pair of connectors are connected together, the sealing lips on both sides will be accurately connected together and there will be no gap at the joint, and this installation method is also more convenient and labor-saving.

[0006] According to a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the first connector and the second connector are snap-on connectors. The snap-on connector has the advantages of being easy to operate and firmly fixed, making the connection more reliable and firm. The pair of connectors can be square, triangular or trapezoidal and other common hooking forms. In addition, preferably, the first connector and the second connector are respectively embedded in the first end and the second end by vulcanization. When making the sealing ring, the first connector and the second connector are respectively embedded in the first end and the second end by vulcanization, so that they are tightly combined with the sealing ring body. Embedding the connector and the body into one by vulcanization can make the connection more firm and durable, and it is not easy to fall off the connection. It is further preferred that the first connector and the second connector are made of metal material. Metal material has high strength, is suitable for firm connection, and metal material is suitable for vulcanization. The metal connector can be formed by stamping, casting or machining. It is further preferred that the axial width of the first connector is smaller than the axial width of the first end, and the axial width of the second connector is smaller than the axial width of the second end. When making the sealing ring, the axial width of the first connecting member and the second connecting member is smaller than the axial width of the first end and the second end, respectively, so as to ensure that the sealing ring is tighter and more closely fitted when connected. Because the width of the assembly groove in the axial direction of the bearing is smaller than the width of the sealing ring, a tight fit in the axial direction is achieved by compressing the sealing ring. If the width of the connecting member is equal to or greater than the width of the sealing ring, due to the strength of the metal connecting member, the rubber in this part will not be compressed in the axial direction, but will be warped and deformed, which will increase the gap of the sealing ring. By designing the axial width, the sealing ring can be more closely fitted to the bearing, thereby effectively preventing the leakage of lubricating grease.

[0007] According to a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the first connector and the second connector are stamped parts or cast parts. Different manufacturing methods can be used according to different requirements. If the sealing ring is small in size and has high precision requirements, a connector made by stamping can be used; if the sealing ring is large in size and has low precision requirements, a connector made by casting can be used. . It is also preferred that the sealing ring has a plurality of metal reinforcements in the circumferential direction, wherein the first connector and the second connector are between two of the metal reinforcements. These metal reinforcements are evenly distributed throughout the sealing ring, and can press the sealing lip of the sealing ring more firmly onto the wind bearing to ensure that the sealing ring has good elasticity and wear resistance. In addition, since reinforcements are provided at both ends of the connector, the connection stability of the connector is enhanced.

[0008] According to a preferred embodiment of the present invention, an inclined joint surface is formed at the junction of the first end and the second end, and the joint surface forms an acute angle with the grease side surface, and the direction of the acute angle is the same as the rotation direction of the wind power generation bearing. This design enables the joint surface to form a certain angle relative to the radial side surface of the sealing ring. When the bearing rotates, the grease entering the gap of the joint surface will be subjected to the reverse thrust of the blocking surface, so that the lubricating grease will flow back to the grease side surface, thereby making it more difficult for the lubricating grease to be lost during operation, further improving the sealing performance of the sealing ring. It is further preferred that the above-mentioned acute angle is in the range of 20° to 80°. When installing the sealing ring, the angle between the inclined joint surface and the grease side surface is preferably between 20 degrees and 80 degrees to ensure the best sealing performance of the sealing ring. This angle range can be optimized according to the actual application situation so as to achieve the best effect under different environments and conditions.

[0009] The technical problem of the present invention can also be solved by a wind power generation bearing having a sealing ring with the above-mentioned characteristics.

[0010] In addition, the technical problem of the present invention can also be solved by a method for manufacturing a sealing ring for a wind power generation bearing. The manufacturing method comprises the following steps:

[0011] First, the basic shape of the sealing ring is formed by vulcanization. The circumference of the basic shape of the sealing ring will be larger than the actual circumference of the sealing ring, so that the required circumference can be cut according to actual needs in the subsequent steps;

[0012] Secondly, the first end and the second end that can be joined are processed based on the basic shape. The sealing ring can be cut according to actual needs to obtain the actual required size. After cutting, the first end and the second end that can be joined will be formed to form a complete sealing ring;

[0013] Finally, a first connecting piece is vulcanized and attached to the first end near the grease side of the sealing ring, and a second connecting piece is vulcanized and attached to the second end near the grease side, so that the first connecting piece and the second connecting piece can be connected in a form-fitting manner, thereby sealingly joining the first end and the second end. The connecting piece is manufactured separately and then bonded to the sealing ring by vulcanization, so that the first end and the second end can be combined to form a manufactured sealing ring.

[0014] In the above steps, it is also preferred to manufacture the first connector and the second connector by stamping or casting. In addition, in the step of processing the first end and the second end that can be joined, it is preferred that the first end and the second end are formed by beveling according to the circumference actually required, so as to obtain the ends that can be combined in the simplest way. In the above beveling step, the beveled surface forms an acute angle α with the grease side surface, and the direction of the acute angle is the same as the rotation direction of the wind power bearing, which further improves the sealing performance of the sealing ring. In addition, the second connector is roughly U-shaped, and in the additional vulcanization step, rubber particles are filled into the hollow part of the U, so that the second connector can be better fixed. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0015] The preferred embodiments of the present invention are further described below in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.

[0016] Figure 1 A cross-sectional view of a sealing ring designed according to the prior art is shown;

[0017] Figure 2 A schematic diagram showing the grease side of an assembled sealing ring designed according to a first embodiment of the present invention is shown;

[0018] Figure 3 A schematic diagram showing the grease side of a sealing ring designed according to a first embodiment of the present invention and not yet assembled;

[0019] Figure 4 A schematic diagram of the grease side of an assembled sealing ring designed according to a second embodiment of the present invention is shown;

[0020] Figure 5 A schematic diagram showing the grease side of a sealing ring designed according to a second embodiment of the present invention that has not yet been assembled;

[0021] Figure 6 A top view of a sealing ring according to the present invention is shown.

[0022] “Axial direction” refers to the direction of the central axis of the bearing to which the seal ring is mounted, “circumferential direction” refers to the circumferential direction based on the central axis of the bearing, and “radial direction” refers to the radial direction based on the central axis of the bearing. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0023] Figure 1 A sealing ring 1 for a rotor bearing of a wind turbine in an existing design is shown, which is used to prevent grease leakage and external contamination. The sealing ring 1 has a plurality of reinforcements 2, such as metal leaf springs that can be used as reinforcements, to ensure the stability of the sealing ring 1 under high-speed rotation. These reinforcements 2 are evenly distributed throughout the sealing ring 1, which can press the sealing lip of the sealing ring 1 more firmly onto the bearing to ensure that the sealing ring 1 has good elasticity and wear resistance. The sealing ring 1 usually has a main lip and a dust lip. The main lip is close to the grease side 5 and can effectively prevent grease leakage. The dust lip is close to the air side 4 and can prevent dust and dirt in the air from entering the inside of the bearing and affecting its normal operation. This design effectively protects the inside of the bearing from contamination and keeps the bearing in normal working condition. As Figure 1 As shown, in the prior art, the two ends of the sealing ring 1 are usually connected by vulcanization. Since the vulcanization is manually operated and lacks a guide device, it is difficult to align the cross-sections of the two butt joints, which will cause a gap to form between the sealing lips in the joint area, thereby causing the lubricating grease of the wind turbine bearing to leak. In addition, since the joint surface 3 is difficult to align, it may occur Figure 1 The curved surface shown here may cause the grease that is flowing back to the inner side of the seal to be suddenly pushed back to the outside, increasing the risk of grease leakage.

[0024] Figure 2 and Figure 3 The sealing ring designed according to the first embodiment of the present invention is shown, and the two ends of the sealing ring are connected by a first connecting member 6 and a second connecting member 7. The first connecting member 6 and the second connecting member 7 are a pair of metal clips that can form a form-fitting connection. The first connecting member 6 is arranged on the first end 11 of the sealing ring 1, and the second connecting member 7 is arranged on the second end 12 of the sealing ring 1. Figure 3 As shown, the first connector 6 and the second connector 7 are both close to the grease side 5, and the first end 11 and the second end 12 of the sealing ring are sealed and engaged through the snap connection of the first connector 6 and the second connector 7, thereby preventing the lubricating grease from overflowing. The width of the first connector 6 and the second connector 7 must be smaller than the width of the sealing ring 1. Because the width of the assembly groove of the sealing ring 1 in the axial direction of the bearing is smaller than the width of the sealing ring, the axial tight fit is achieved by compressing the sealing ring 1. If the width of the connectors 6 and 7 is equal to or greater than the width of the sealing ring 1, due to the strength of the metal, the rubber in this part cannot be compressed axially, and warping deformation will occur, which will increase the gap of the sealing ring.

[0025] Figure 4 and Figure 5The sealing ring designed according to the second embodiment of the present invention is shown. The same parts as the first embodiment are not repeated here, and the differences are mainly described here. In the first embodiment, the first connecting member 6 and the second connecting member 7 are stamping parts, while in the second embodiment, the first connecting member and the second connecting member are both castings. Different manufacturing methods can be used according to different needs. If the sealing ring size is small and the precision requirement is high, a connecting member made by stamping can be used; if the sealing ring size is large and the precision requirement is low, a connecting member made by casting can be used.

[0026] like Figure 2 As shown in FIG. 1 , after the first connecting member 6 and the second connecting member 7 are connected, a joint surface 3 is formed at their intersection. The joint surface 3 is an inclined plane. Figure 6 In the top view of the seal ring 1 shown, the joint surface 3 and the grease side surface 5 form an acute angle α, which is in the same direction as the rotation direction R of the shaft, thereby forming a blocking plane. During operation, the lubricating grease in the joint surface 3 will be subjected to a centrifugal force directed toward the grease side surface 5, so that the lubricating grease will flow back to the grease side surface 5. The range of the acute angle α is preferably between 20° and 80°.

[0027] Although possible embodiments are described by way of example in the above description, it should be understood that there are still a large number of variations of embodiments through all known and easily conceivable combinations of technical features and embodiments of the skilled person, such as the connection mode of the connector and the materials that may be used. It should also be understood that the exemplary embodiment is only an example and that such an embodiment in no way limits the scope of protection, application and construction of the present invention. The above description is more to provide a technical guide for converting at least one exemplary embodiment to the skilled person, wherein various changes can be made, especially changes in the functions and structures of the components, as long as they do not depart from the scope of protection of the claims.

[0028] Reference numerals list

[0029] 1 Sealing ring

[0030] 11 First end

[0031] 12 Second end

[0032] 2 Reinforcement

[0033] 3 Joint surface

[0034] 4 Air side

[0035] 5 Grease side

[0036] 6 First connecting piece

[0037] 7 Second connecting piece

[0038] R Wind turbine bearing rotation direction

[0039] α Acute angle

Claims

1. A sealing ring for a wind power generation bearing, the sealing ring (1) having a first end (11) and a second end (12) that can be engaged, the radial side of the sealing ring (1) can be divided into an air side (4) facing the external environment and a grease side (5) facing the wind power generation bearing, wherein: The first end (11) has a first connecting piece (6) close to the grease side (5), and the second end (12) has a second connecting piece (7) close to the grease side (5), wherein the first connecting piece (6) and the second connecting piece (7) can be connected in a shape-fitting manner, so that the first end (11) and the second end (12) are sealedly joined.

2. The sealing ring according to claim 1, characterized in that: The first connecting member (6) and the second connecting member (7) are connected in a snap-fit ​​manner.

3. The sealing ring according to claim 1, characterized in that: The first connecting member (6) and the second connecting member (7) are respectively embedded in the first end portion (11) and the second end portion (12) by vulcanization.

4. The sealing ring according to claim 3, characterized in that: The first connecting member (6) and the second connecting member (7) are made of metal material.

5. The sealing ring according to claim 4, characterized in that: The axial width of the first connecting member (6) is smaller than the axial width of the first end portion (11), and the axial width of the second connecting member (7) is smaller than the axial width of the second end portion (12).

6. The sealing ring according to claim 4, characterized in that: The first connecting member (6) and the second connecting member (7) are stamped parts or cast parts.

7. The sealing ring according to claim 1, characterized in that: The sealing ring (1) has a plurality of metal reinforcements (2) in the circumferential direction, wherein the first connecting member (6) and the second connecting member (7) are located between two of the metal reinforcements (2).

8. The sealing ring according to any one of claims 1 to 7, characterized in that: The joint surface (3) of the first end (11) and the second end (12) forms an acute angle (α) with the grease side surface (5), and the direction of the acute angle (α) is the same as the rotation direction (R) of the wind power generation bearing.

9. The sealing ring according to claim 8, characterized in that: The value of the acute angle (α) is in the range of 20° to 80°.

10. A wind power generation bearing, characterized in that: The wind power generation bearing comprises a seal ring according to any one of claims 1 to 9.

11. A method for manufacturing a sealing ring for a wind power generation bearing, the manufacturing method comprising: - forming the basic shape of the sealing ring by vulcanization; - processing a first end portion (11) and a second end portion (12) capable of being joined together on the basis of the basic shape; - A first connecting member (6) is vulcanized and attached to the first end (11) near the grease side (5) of the sealing ring, and a second connecting member (7) is vulcanized and attached to the second end (12) near the grease side (5), and the first connecting member (6) and the second connecting member (7) can be connected in a shape-fitting manner, so that the first end (11) and the second end (12) are sealed together.

12. The manufacturing method according to claim 11, characterized in that: The first connecting member (6) and the second connecting member (7) are manufactured by stamping or casting.

13. The manufacturing method according to claim 11, characterized in that: In the step of machining the first end portion (11) and the second end portion (12) that can be joined, the first end portion (11) and the second end portion (12) are formed by chamfering according to the circumference actually required.

14. The manufacturing method according to claim 13, characterized in that: In the beveling step, the beveled surface forms an acute angle (α) with the grease side surface (5), and the direction of the acute angle (α) is the same as the rotation direction (R) of the wind power generation bearing.

15. The manufacturing method according to claim 11 or 12, characterized in that: The second connecting member is U-shaped, and in the vulcanization additional step, rubber particles are filled into the hollow portion of the U-shape.

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