Bearing of a main shaft housing with spring diaphragms

Abstract

The invention relates to a drive arrangement (101, 301) for a wind turbine, comprising a main shaft, a housing (103), a nacelle-mounted support structure (105), and at least one spring element (107, 109); wherein the main shaft is fully supported in the housing (103); and wherein the housing (103) is resiliently mounted in the support structure (105) by means of the at least one spring element (107, 109). The at least one spring element (107, 109) has at least one resilient diaphragm (403).

Description

[0001] The invention relates to a drive arrangement according to the preamble of claim 1.

[0002] DE 10 2021 210 007 A1 discloses a drive assembly for a wind turbine, comprising a main shaft, a housing, a nacelle-mounted support structure, and several spring elements. The main shaft is completely mounted within the housing. The housing is resiliently mounted in the support structure by means of the spring elements. The spring elements are elastomers.

[0003] DE 10 2022 204 900 B3 discloses a further drive arrangement for a wind turbine with a main shaft housing spring-mounted in a nacelle-fixed support structure.

[0004] EP 3 460 270 B1 discloses a spring-loaded plain bearing segment for a wind turbine.

[0005] Elastomers are disadvantageous because they age and their spring action diminishes over time. They also require a lot of space, which is limited in the main shaft housing bearing area.

[0006] The invention is based on the object of providing a drive arrangement for a wind turbine that is improved compared to the solutions known from the prior art. This object is achieved by a drive arrangement according to claim 1. Preferred developments are contained in the subclaims and will become apparent from the following description and the figures.

[0007] The drive assembly according to the invention comprises a main shaft, a housing, a nacelle-mounted support structure, and at least one spring element. A main shaft is an input shaft of a gearbox of the wind turbine. When installed, it is rotationally fixedly connected to a wind-driven rotor of the wind turbine. Preferably, the main shaft is also rotationally fixedly connected to an input—an input shaft or an input-side planetary carrier—of a gearbox of the wind turbine.

[0008] Said housing is preferably joined to a housing of the transmission. In particular, the two housings can be screwed together or connected in one piece.

[0009] The nacelle-fixed support structure is a support structure that is rigidly fixed or fixable relative to a nacelle of the wind turbine, i.e., without the possibility of relative movement. In particular, a machine frame can form the support structure.

[0010] The main shaft is fully supported within the housing. This means that the main shaft is supported by each of its bearings within the housing. Therefore, the main shaft does not have a single bearing that is not supported within the housing.

[0011] Each bearing on the main shaft comprises two bearing rings. A first of the two bearing rings is fixed to the main shaft or is formed integrally with the main shaft. Similarly, a second of the two bearing rings is fixed in the housing or is formed integrally with the housing.

[0012] The housing is at least partially resiliently mounted in the support structure by means of at least one spring element. This means that at least one bearing point where the housing is mounted in the support structure is designed to be resilient. A resilient bearing point allows relative movements between the housing and the support structure. The bearing point has a spring element whose spring forces counteract these relative movements.

[0013] To apply the spring forces, at least one resilient membrane is provided as part of the at least one spring element. This membrane applies the aforementioned spring forces that counteract the relative movements between the housing and the support structure.

[0014] A membrane is a medium formed by a thin layer of material. Relative to its thickness, the membrane has a large surface area. The membrane forms a biaxially stretched surface. In particular, the membrane can be pot- or bowl-shaped.

[0015] A resilient membrane is advantageous in the context of the invention because, due to its flat design, it requires very little space. Therefore, the invention enables space-saving mounting of the housing in the nacelle-mounted support structure.

[0016] In addition to the resilient membrane, the at least one spring element has a first joining point and a second joining point. A joining point refers to a means designed to be joined to another joining point.

[0017] The at least one spring element is joined to the housing at the first joint and to the support structure at the second joint. Specifically, the housing forms a joint that is joined to the first joint. The support structure accordingly forms another joint that is joined to the second joint.

[0018] The joints between the first joint and the housing and the second joint and the support structure can be frictionally, positively, and / or materially connected. In particular, the spring element can be screwed to the housing at the first joint and to the support structure at the second joint. In this case, the first joint and / or the second joint, as well as the corresponding joints of the housing and the support structure, are preferably designed as screw flanges.

[0019] The first joint and the second joint are resiliently connected to each other by the diaphragm. This means that the diaphragm is designed to exert a spring force acting between the first joint and the second joint. As described above, this spring force counteracts relative movements between the housing and the nacelle-mounted support structure, and thus relative movements between the first joint and the second joint.

[0020] The membrane, the first joint, and / or the second joint are preferably rotationally symmetrical. The membrane is preferably rotationally symmetrical in the narrow sense, meaning it can be mapped onto itself by rotating it through any angle around its axis of symmetry. The first joint and / or the second joint can be rotationally symmetrical in the broad sense. This means they can be mapped onto themselves by rotating it through one or more angles less than 360° around their axis of symmetry. Rotationally symmetrical spring elements according to the development are advantageous because they are easy to manufacture and install.

[0021] Alternatively, the first joint and / or the second joint are / or are not rotationally symmetrical. In particular, the first joint can be rotationally symmetrical, while the second joint is not rotationally symmetrical. According to a further development, the first joint and / or the second joint have different dimensions in the longitudinal and transverse directions. The first joint and / or the second joint therefore extend to different distances in the longitudinal and transverse directions. The extension in the longitudinal direction refers to an extension along a longitudinal axis. This is an axis that runs orthogonal to a vertical axis of the spring element. Accordingly, the extension in the transverse direction refers to an extension along a transverse axis. This runs orthogonal to the vertical axis and orthogonal to the longitudinal axis.

[0022] A non-rotationally symmetrical design of the first joint and / or the second joint is advantageous because it results in different spring stiffnesses in the longitudinal and transverse directions. This allows the spring element to be adapted to the longitudinal and transverse forces to be absorbed by the housing.

[0023] In the case of a rotationally symmetric first joint and / or second joint, the vertical axis of the spring element coincides with an axis of symmetry of the first joint and / or the second joint. In the case of a non-rotationally symmetric first joint and / or second joint, the vertical axis is preferably identical to a geometric center axis of the spring element or the membrane.

[0024] In a preferred embodiment, the vertical axis runs orthogonally to a rotational axis of the main shaft. The aforementioned longitudinal axis preferably runs parallel to the rotational axis. The orientation of the vertical axis of the spring element according to the embodiment takes into account the main direction of the introduction of supporting forces through the housing.

[0025] In addition to the at least one spring element described above, the arrangement preferably comprises at least two spring elements. In this case, a further spring element is part of the arrangement. This preferably has the same features as the above-mentioned at least one spring element. In particular, the two spring elements can be structurally identical. Two technical means or arrangements of means are structurally identical if they match in their physical features—in particular with regard to their material and geometric properties—within the scope of the manufacturing tolerances that occur. The vertical axes of the at least one spring element and the further spring element preferably run parallel to one another.

[0026] In a preferred embodiment, the at least one spring element is made of metal, preferably spring steel. Compared to elastomers, metal has the advantage of virtually unlimited aging resistance.

[0027] Preferably, the at least one spring element is formed as a single piece. In particular, the membrane, the first joint, and / or the second joint can be connected to one another as a single piece.

[0028] A weight force of the housing and / or the main shaft is preferably introduced at least partially into the nacelle-mounted support structure via the at least one spring element. The individual means of the arrangement are developed accordingly. In detail, this means that the housing is developed to absorb a weight force of the main shaft and, together with its own weight force, to introduce it into the at least one spring element. This spring element is developed to absorb the weight force and to introduce it into the nacelle-mounted support structure. This, in turn, is developed to absorb the forces introduced by the at least one spring element.

[0029] Preferably, the components of the arrangement are further developed to absorb and transmit forces from a drive torque applied to the transmission housing, analogous to the weight forces of the housing and / or the main shaft. According to the further development, the drive torque is introduced at least partially into the nacelle-mounted support structure via the at least one spring element. Furthermore, the arrangement is preferably designed to absorb and transmit further forces acting on the housing, such as forces acting on the wind-driven rotor.

[0030] Preferred embodiments of the invention are illustrated in the figures. Corresponding reference numerals indicate identical or functionally equivalent features. In detail: Fig. 1 a drive arrangement for a wind turbine in side view; Fig. 2 the drive arrangement in the front view; Fig. 3 an alternative drive arrangement; Fig. 4 a cross-sectional view of a spring element; Fig. 5 a top view of the spring element; and Fig. 6 a plan view of an alternative spring element.

[0031] The Fig. The drive assembly 101 shown in Figure 1 comprises a housing 103 for a main shaft, a machine support 105 forming a nacelle-fixed support structure, and spring elements. In the side view of Fig. 1, a first spring element 107 and a second spring element 109 are visible.

[0032] The housing 103 has four torque arms. Two torque arms are located on each side of the housing. Fig. 1 shows a first torque support 110 and a second torque support 111.

[0033] The housing 103 is supported in the machine support 105 via the torque supports. Each torque support is resiliently mounted in the machine support 105 by a spring element. Thus, the first torque support 110 is resiliently mounted in the machine support 105 by the first spring element 107. The second torque support 111 is correspondingly resiliently mounted in the machine support 105 by the second spring element 109.

[0034] Fig. 2 shows a cross-section of the same drive assembly 101. The cross-section can run through the first torque arm 110 or the second torque arm 111. In both cases, the same view results.

[0035] In the Fig. 1 and Fig. In the drive assembly 101 shown in Figure 2, the spring elements 107, 109 are arranged between the respective torque support 110, 111 and the machine support 105. The spring elements 107, 109 are located entirely within a space extending between the torque supports 110, 111 and the machine support 105. This is advantageous because it results in a comparatively simple design. However, the spring elements 107, 109 require a space corresponding to the aforementioned space.

[0036] An alternative drive arrangement 301 for reducing the installation space requirement of the spring elements 107, 109 is shown in Fig. 3. Here, the spring elements 107, 109 are arranged below the machine support 105 or on a side of the machine support 105 facing away from the housing 103. The housing 103 and the spring elements 107, 109 are therefore located on different sides of the machine support 105. The machine support 105 runs according to Fig. 3 between the housing 103 and the spring elements 107, 109.

[0037] In order to connect the housing 103 or the torque supports 110, 111 with the respective spring element 107, 109, a connecting means 303 is provided. This is shown in Fig. 3 is cylindrical in shape. The connecting element 303 extends through a recess in the machine support 105 and is joined on one end face to the housing 103 or the respective torque support 110, 111. On the opposite end face, the connecting element 303 is joined to the respective spring element 107, 109.

[0038] To install the spring elements according to Fig. 1 and Fig. 2 with the housing 103 or the respective torque support 110, 111 or according to Fig. 3 with the respective connecting means 303, the spring elements each have a Fig. 4. The first screw flange 401 is screwed to a corresponding screw flange of the housing 103 or the respective torque support 110, 111 or the connecting means 103. The first screw flange is resiliently connected to a second screw flange 405 via a resilient diaphragm 403. The diaphragm 403 is preferably made of spring steel.

[0039] In the second screw flange 405, the spring element 107, 109 is screwed to the machine support 105.

[0040] The Fig. The embodiment of the spring element 107, 109 shown in Figure 5 is rotationally symmetrical. Specifically, the first screw flange, the membrane 403, and the second screw flange 405 are rotationally symmetrical with respect to a vertical axis of the spring element 107, 109.

[0041] A non-rotationally symmetric alternative shows Fig.6. Here, only the first screw flange 401 is rotationally symmetrical. The second screw flange 405 has an oval shape. Accordingly, the membrane 403 connecting the first screw flange 401 to the second screw flange 405 is also not rotationally symmetrical. Reference symbol 101 Drive arrangement 103 housings 105 machine carriers 107 spring element 109 Spring element 110 Torque support 111 Torque support 301 Drive arrangement 303 lanyards 401 screw flange 403 Membran 405 screw flange

Claims

[1] Drive arrangement (101, 301) for a wind turbine, comprising a main shaft, a housing (103), a nacelle-fixed support structure (105) and at least one spring element (107, 109); wherein the main shaft is completely mounted in the housing (103); and wherein the housing (103) is resiliently mounted in the support structure (105) by means of the at least one spring element (107, 109); characterized by , that the at least one spring element (107, 109) has at least one resilient membrane (403), a first joint (401) and a second joint (405); wherein the at least one spring element (107, 101) is joined to the housing (103) in the first joint (401) and to the support structure (105) in the second joint (405); and wherein the membrane (403) resiliently connects the first joint (401) and the second joint (405). [2] Arrangement (101, 301) according to the preceding claim; characterized bythat the membrane (403), the first joint (401) and / or the second joint (405) are rotationally symmetrical. [3] Arrangement (101, 301) according to claim 1; characterized by that the first joint (401) and / or the second joint (405) extend to different distances in the longitudinal direction and in the transverse direction. [4] Arrangement (101, 301) according to one of the preceding claims; characterized by that a vertical axis of the spring element (107, 109) runs orthogonal to a rotation axis of the main shaft. [5] Arrangement (101, 301) according to one of the preceding claims; characterized by that the at least one spring element (107, 109) is made of metal. [6] Arrangement (101, 301) according to one of the preceding claims; characterized by that the at least one spring element (107, 109) is designed in one piece. [7] Arrangement (101, 301) according to one of the preceding claims; characterized bythat a weight force of the housing (103) and / or the main shaft is introduced at least partially into the nacelle-fixed support structure (105) via the at least one spring element (107, 109). [8] Arrangement (101, 301) according to one of the preceding claims; characterized by that a drive torque with which the housing (103) is acted upon is introduced at least partially into the nacelle-fixed support structure (105) via the at least one spring element (107, 109).

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