Plain bearing assembly and method for installing segments of a plain bearing

Abstract

A segmented plain bearing assembly (1), in particular in a wind turbine (10), comprises at least one segmented plain bearing (2, 3), the plain bearing segments (8, 9) of which are held on a bearing housing (4). Assembly plans (Ma, Mk, Mr) which differ from one another and according to which the individual plain bearing segments (8, 9) can be assembled are defined by the bearing housing (4).

Description

[0001] sliding bearing arrangement and

[0002] Method for assembling segments of a plain bearing

[0003] The invention relates to a sliding bearing arrangement comprising at least one segmented sliding bearing, in particular in the form of a hydrodynamic bearing. The invention further relates to a method for assembling segments of a sliding bearing.

[0004] EP 3 662 168 B1 discloses a fluid bearing for a wind turbine. This fluid bearing comprises a plurality of bearing segments arranged in a bearing housing. Each individual bearing segment is supported within the housing by a support structure. The support structures each comprise several elastomer layers and a plurality of plates made of a non-compressible material, with each plate positioned between two elastomer layers. The elastomer layers are designed to allow the bearing segments to tilt parallel and / or perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the fluid bearing.

[0005] Another sliding bearing device, which is designed in particular for supporting a rotor hub of a wind turbine, is known, for example, from DE 10 2017 006 957 A1. The known sliding bearing device comprises sliding bearing pads positioned at an angle to its central axis, which are flexibly attached to a ring element radially and / or axially.

[0006] A bearing arrangement for a rotor in a stationary housing, described in DE 10 2019 102 430 A1, comprises several housing-side sliding bearing segments, each with a sliding surface facing a shaft. Angle adjustment elements are located between the sliding bearing segments and the housing, with a surface of the angle adjustment element facing the respective sliding bearing segment being either convex or concave. A spring-elastic element rests against the sliding bearing segment. Another sliding bearing arrangement with spring-loaded pads, i.e., sliding bearing segments, is described in EP 2 474 733 B1. This sliding bearing arrangement is designed as a blade bearing for a wind turbine. During operation of the wind turbine, a parameter is to be monitored that allows conclusions to be drawn about the load with which the supported blade is subjected.

[0007] The replacement of segments of a plain bearing is addressed, for example, in documents AT 521884 A1 and EP 3 219 984 A1. Both documents concern bearings in wind turbines. In the latter case, replacing a bearing segment is described as being done via an opening in the collar of a shaft.

[0008] A device described in DE 10 2020 108 248 B3 for mounting and dismounting a bearing segment of a bearing arrangement for a wind turbine rotor comprises a receiving element in which an arrangement consisting of a bearing segment, a spring element, and a fastening element can be positioned as a unit. The spring element is to be arranged between the bearing segment and the fastening element, as in the mounting position on the wind turbine.

[0009] Documents DE 34 14 910 A1 and EP 2 762 735 A1, for example, deal with the lubrication of tilting segment plain bearings. Both documents focus in particular on the geometry of lubricant-conducting structures.

[0010] The invention is based on the objective of further developing segmented sliding bearings, suitable for example for wind turbines, also with regard to their assembly, compared to the aforementioned prior art.

[0011] This problem is solved according to the invention by a sliding bearing arrangement with the features of claim 1. Likewise, the problem is solved by a method for assembling segments of a sliding bearing designed according to claim 10. The embodiments and advantages of the invention explained below in connection with the assembly method also apply mutatis mutandis to the device, i.e., the sliding bearing arrangement, and vice versa. A disassembly method, which is also a feature of the invention, results from the reverse sequence of the assembly steps. The sliding bearing arrangement can, in particular, be a hydrodynamic sliding bearing.

[0012] The sliding bearing arrangement according to the application comprises at least one segmented sliding bearing, the sliding bearing segments of which are held on a bearing housing, wherein the bearing housing provides different mounting schemes in which the individual sliding bearing segments can be mounted.

[0013] The invention is based on the premise that segmented plain bearings can offer advantages over rolling bearings in large bearing applications, since the bearing components to be assembled—and potentially disassembled at a later time—are easier to handle due to the segmentation. Various assembly and disassembly schemes for bearing segments include, for example, bringing radial bearing segments close to a supporting structure in the axial direction of the bearing arrangement, or inserting axial bearing segments in the radial direction of the segmented bearing. As already mentioned, threading bearing segments into place is also a possible assembly concept.

[0014] The solution proposed in the application differs from these approaches in that it suggests a combination of different assembly schemes for one and the same plain bearing. It has been shown that this approach can better accommodate the specific requirements, particularly those of large bearings, such as those in wind turbines, without unduly increasing the manufacturing effort for the individual bearing components. The various assembly schemes can, in particular,

[0015] - an axial mounting path,

[0016] - a radial mounting path,

[0017] - include a kinked mounting path. This applies to axial bearings as well as radial bearings and bearings that absorb forces in both the radial direction and in at least one axial direction.

[0018] A radial mounting path can be modified in such a way that the bearing segment to be mounted is not brought exactly in a radial direction to its position in which it is to be fixed, but at an angle to an imaginary radial beam that originates from the central axis of the sliding bearing.

[0019] Possible combinations of two assembly schemes that are implemented for one and the same plain bearing can, for example, be as follows:

[0020] - Combination of an axial mounting path with a radial mounting path,

[0021] - Combination of an axial mounting path with a kinked mounting path,

[0022] - Combination of a radial assembly path with a kinked assembly path, whereby in each of these cases, for example, several different assembly paths can be specified, which are subsumed under the term "radial assembly path". Similarly, kinked assembly paths in various forms are conceivable. For example, in the case of an axial or radial bearing, it is intended that bearing segments located in the upper area of ​​the bearing are mounted and, if necessary, dismounted radially or obliquely to the radial direction using a crane, whereas in the lower area of ​​the bearing, individual bearing segments are mounted or dismounted axially.

[0023] In the case of a radial bearing arrangement, for example, it may be intended that only segments located in the lower part of the bearing are mounted or dismounted in the axial direction, whereas those in the upper part of the bearing are mounted or dismounted in the radial direction. This is particularly advantageous for large bearings, as the segments in the upper part of the bearing are subject to less gravitational load than those in the lower part. The number of bearing segments arranged above a horizontal plane defined by the bearing's axis of rotation may be less than the number of bearing segments arranged below this plane in cases where an asymmetrical bearing load is expected. This applies regardless of the design, such as a pillow block bearing, in which the bearing segments are housed.

[0024] Furthermore, variations of the plain bearing arrangement are possible in which some or all of the bearing segments of the same plain bearing have both an axial and a radial mounting direction. The direction in which an individual bearing segment is to be mounted or – for example, in the case of maintenance or repair – dismounted, can be selected to suit the surrounding structure.

[0025] Regarding the axial mounting of a bearing segment, commonly referred to as a pad, two sub-variants are conceivable for one and the same plain bearing. In the first sub-variant, one bearing segment can be mounted from a first axial direction, whereas at least one further plain bearing segment can be mounted from the opposite axial direction, which represents the second sub-variant of the axial mounting path. The pads to be mounted from different axial directions can be of the same or different designs.

[0026] Each sliding bearing segment, regardless of the intended mounting path, can be constructed of either a single material or a combination of materials. In the latter case, a sliding layer can be located on a support. Furthermore, various measures can be taken to allow at least a slight degree of tilting of the bearing segment, either around a single defined axis or around multiple axes. For this purpose, the bearing segment or a supporting element can, for example, have a tapered, elastically compliant cross-sectional area. The bearing segment can also be supported by a tilting bearing or a spherical bearing. Adjustment options for the bearing segment can be provided in various directions; in the case of a radial bearing segment, this is particularly important in the radial direction, and in the case of a axial bearing segment, it is particularly important in the axial direction.

[0027] The sliding bearing arrangement can provide not only two different mounting paths for a given sliding bearing, as already explained, but also, for example, three different mounting paths: an axial, a radial, and a bent path. If the axial mounting options are divided into the two aforementioned sub-variants, a total of four different paths result.

[0028] Even assembly paths described as kinked, meaning those that involve a change in the feed direction when installing a bearing segment, allow for various design options that can be implemented for one and the same plain bearing. For example, in the case of a kinked assembly path, the bearing segment may first be advanced radially towards its installation location, and then the feed direction may be changed by 90°, allowing the bearing segment to continue moving tangentially to the bearing until it is secured at the designated location within the plain bearing.

[0029] An alternative design for a kinked mounting path involves first advancing the bearing segment axially and then displacing it tangentially. This mounting scheme resembles a bayonet fitting and also includes a 90° kink in the mounting path. In each variant of the kinked mounting path, it is possible to thread multiple bearing segments through the same opening in a supporting component of the sliding bearing assembly. The tangential displacement of the bearing segment extends, for example, over an angle of 20 to 30 degrees around the circumference of the bearing. Similarly, the tangential movement can cover angles of less than 20 degrees or more than 30 degrees, up to 90 degrees depending on the design of the sliding bearing. The tangential movement of at least one bearing segment can be a clockwise or counterclockwise rotation.In addition to at least one axial mounting path and at least one radial mounting path, both sub-variants of the kinked mounting path can be specified using one and the same sliding bearing.

[0030] The number of segmented plain bearings that can be included in the plain bearing arrangement is not subject to any theoretical limitations. For example, the plain bearing arrangement may comprise two or three segmented plain bearings for supporting the same shaft. Each of the two or three plain bearings can specify a plurality of mounting configurations in which the bearing segments of the respective plain bearing are to be installed.

[0031] In a possible further development, at least one bearing segment of the plain bearing, optionally several bearing segments, and in particular each bearing segment, is supported by a combination of a rigid support element and an elastic support element. The support elements can be adjustable, allowing, in particular, the bearing clearance to be adjusted. The elastic support element is, for example, in the form of a metallic spring or an insert made of a non-metallic material, such as an elastomer. Regardless of the type of support provided to the bearing segments, these are not necessarily uniformly distributed around the circumference of the plain bearing assembly.

[0032] If the sliding bearing arrangement consists of two sliding bearings, these are in particular in the form of an axial sliding bearing and a radial sliding bearing, each in a segmented design. Regardless of the type and number of sliding bearings belonging to the same sliding bearing arrangement, the sliding bearing arrangement may include devices for oil supply, sensors (including those for temperature and / or force measurement), actuators, and devices for evaluation and control, including software. The patented method for mounting segments of a sliding bearing is generally characterized by the fact that individual segments of the sliding bearing are attached to a bearing housing in at least three different mounting schemes, comprising an axial mounting path, a radial mounting path, and at least one kinked mounting path.

[0033] The assembly method can be used not only for bearings in wind turbines, but also for other bearings, especially large bearings, for example in mining and the basic materials industry.

[0034] Several embodiments of the invention are explained in more detail below with reference to a drawing. This drawing shows, in some cases schematically:

[0035] Fig. 1 Components of a sliding bearing arrangement in front view,

[0036] Fig. 2 shows the arrangement according to Fig. 1 in side view,

[0037] Fig. 3 shows a schematic top view of a section of a sliding bearing arrangement with several sliding bearing segments provided for axial support.

[0038] Fig. 4 shows the arrangement according to Fig. 3 in a front view,

[0039] Fig. 5 shows a sliding bearing arrangement modified compared to the design according to Fig. 3 in a view comparable to Fig. 4.

[0040] Fig. 6 shows a modified placement of an axial bearing segment in a segmented sliding bearing arrangement compared to Fig. 3.

[0041] Fig. 7 shows another possibility of receiving a sliding bearing segment intended for axial support in a sliding bearing arrangement which is designed as a hydrodynamic support,

[0042] Fig. 8 shows a sliding bearing segment intended for radial mounting in a segmented sliding bearing arrangement; Fig. 9 shows a section of a sliding bearing arrangement with radial bearing segments that can be mounted from opposite axial directions.

[0043] Fig. 10 shows a first sliding bearing segment of the arrangement according to Fig. 9,

[0044] Fig. 11 shows a second sliding bearing segment of the arrangement according to Fig. 9,

[0045] Fig. 12 shows a symbolic representation of a sliding bearing arrangement, by which various assembly schemes relating to individual sliding bearing segments are realized.

[0046] Unless otherwise stated, the following explanations apply to all embodiments. Corresponding or essentially equivalent parts are marked with the same reference numeral in all figures.

[0047] A sliding bearing arrangement, designated by reference numeral 1, is designed as a hydrodynamic bearing and comprises at least one segmented sliding bearing 2, 3, namely an axial sliding bearing 2 and / or a radial sliding bearing 3. A bearing housing 4 is attached to an surrounding structure 5 and is either manufactured as a single piece or, as illustrated in Fig. 1, composed of several bearing parts 6, 7, thus giving the basic form of a pillow block housing. The sliding bearing segments 8, 9, which are held on the bearing housing 4 and belong to the sliding bearing arrangement 1, are in the form of axial sliding bearing segments 8 and / or radial sliding bearing segments 9. In each of the cases described, the entire sliding bearing arrangement 1 is part of a wind turbine 10. In particular, the sliding bearing arrangement 1 is the main rotor bearing of the wind turbine 10.

[0048] In the embodiment shown in Figures 1 and 2, individual sliding bearing segments 8 are indicated for axial support. As illustrated in Figures 1 and 2, different mounting paths Mr and Ma, in which the sliding bearing segments 8 can be mounted and, if necessary, also dismounted, differ from one another. Thus, according to Figures 1 and 2,

[0049] Figures 1 and 2 show that the sliding bearing segments 8 located in the upper region of the bearing housing 4 can be mounted and dismounted radially, i.e., with the radial mounting path Mr. In contrast, the sliding bearing segment 8 shown as an example, located in the lower region of the bearing housing 4, has an axial mounting path Ma. Regarding the mechanical load on the sliding bearing segments 8 during operation of the wind turbine 10, there are no differences between the sliding bearing segments 8 arranged in the upper half of the bearing housing 4 and those arranged in the lower half. The shape of the sliding bearing segments 8 is not realistically depicted in Figure 1. A connection of the sliding bearing segments 8 to the bearing housing 4 is indicated, which allows at least a slight tilting of the sliding bearing segments 8.

[0050] Figures 3 and 4 illustrate one way of mounting several axial sliding bearing segments 8, which are threaded through a single opening 11 in the bearing housing 4. Each sliding bearing segment 8 is first displaced radially and then moved tangentially to the sliding bearing 2 into its intended installation position. Figure 3 also shows two support elements 12, each of which supports an axial sliding bearing segment 8. The support elements 12 can also serve as adjustment elements.

[0051] The embodiment shown in Fig. 5 has similarities to the embodiment shown in Figs. 3 and 4 in that the axial sliding bearing segments 8 to be mounted are first displaced in a first direction and then in a direction bent at 90° to this direction. In contrast to the embodiment shown in Figs. 3 and 4, in the case of Fig. 5, the first direction is the axial direction of the sliding bearing 2. An opening in the bearing housing 4 provided for threading the axial sliding bearing segments 8 is designated 13 in this case. The displacements of the axial sliding bearing segments 8 in the tangential direction required during assembly are indicated in Fig. 5 by a double arrow.

[0052] The arrangement according to Fig. 6 differs from the arrangement according to Figures 3 and 4 in that the axial sliding bearing segment 8 is supported not only on a rigid support element 12 but also on an elastic support element 14. The support elements 12, 14 can be brought into their intended position together with the sliding bearing segment 8 or independently of the sliding bearing segment 8.

[0053] Another possible installation situation for an axially supported sliding bearing segment 8 is shown in Fig. 7. In this case as well, the sliding bearing segment 8 is supported in the bearing housing 4 by a combination of a rigid support element 12 and an elastic support element 14.

[0054] Figure 8 shows a sliding bearing segment 9, which serves for the radial support of a shaft. Several sliding bearing segments 9 of this type are arranged around the axis of rotation of the shaft, and thus around the central axis of the sliding bearing arrangement 1, in a distribution that is not necessarily uniform. A non-uniform arrangement of the sliding bearing segments 9 is particularly suitable in cases where the shaft is subjected to a large proportion of the load by gravity.

[0055] Unlike the axial sliding bearing segments 8 in the embodiments shown in Figures 1 to 7, the sliding bearing segment 9 in Figure 8 has a curved sliding surface 15. The section of the sliding bearing segment 9 containing the sliding surface 15 is separated from a plate-shaped base section 16 of the same sliding bearing segment 9 by a spring section 17, which allows for a slight tilting of the sliding surface 15. The entire sliding bearing segment 9 in Figure 8 is constructed in one piece and, in principle comparable to the embodiments shown in Figures 6 and 7, is connected to the bearing housing 4 via a rigid support element 12 and an elastic support element 14.

[0056] Figures 9 to 11 illustrate one way of attaching uniform plain bearing segments 9 to a bearing housing 4. In the arrangement shown in Figures 9 to 11, a first radial plain bearing segment 9 is attached to the bearing housing 4 from the left, while the next plain bearing segment 9 in the circumferential direction of the plain bearing 3 is attached to the bearing housing 4 from the right. Means for fastening the plain bearing segments 9 to the bearing housing 4 are not shown in Figures 9 to 11.

[0057] In the case of Fig. 12, it is assumed that twelve different positions P1 to P12, as in a clock, are available for mounting plain bearing segments 8, 9. In the case of Fig. 12, only axial plain bearing segments 8 are to be mounted on a bearing housing 4. Alternatively, radial plain bearing segments 9 or a combination of axial plain bearing segments 8 and radial plain bearing segments 9 could be used.

[0058] In positions P11, P12, and P1, a radial mounting path Mr is provided. In positions P2, P3, P9, and P10, a kinked mounting path Mk is provided. For positions P2 and P3, a common opening 11, as sketched in Fig. 3, is available. After the sliding bearing segments 8 have been pushed through this opening 11, they are displaced tangentially, as illustrated by arrows in Fig. 12, and thus brought into their final positions P2 and P3. The kinked mounting path Mk therefore includes a tangential mounting section Mt. The same applies to the axial sliding bearing segments 8, which are to be mounted at positions P9 and P10.

[0059] At positions P4 and P8, a purely axial mounting path Ma is provided. In contrast, at positions P5, P6, and P7, an axial feed of the sliding bearing segments 8 is combined with a displacement in the tangential direction, so that in each of these cases a kinked mounting path Mk is given. The tangential mounting section Mt attributable to the kinked mounting path Mk extends, as can be seen in Fig. 12, over an angle of less than 20 degrees in the case of the sliding bearing segment 8 to be mounted at position P5. In contrast, the sliding bearing segment 8 to be mounted at position P6 is to be displaced tangentially around the circumference of the sliding bearing 2 over an angle of more than 30 degrees, but less than 50 degrees, in the sketched embodiment. (List of reference symbols)

[0060] 1. Sliding bearing arrangement

[0061] 2-segmented plain bearing, axial plain bearing

[0062] 3-segmented plain bearing, radial plain bearing

[0063] 4 bearing housings

[0064] 5. Environmental design

[0065] 6 Bearing part

[0066] 7 Bearing part

[0067] 8 Axial plain bearing segment

[0068] 9 radial plain bearing segment

[0069] 10 wind turbines

[0070] 11 Opening

[0071] 12 rigid support elements

[0072] 13 Opening

[0073] 14 elastic support elements

[0074] 15 sliding surface

[0075] 16 Basic section

[0076] 17 Spring section

[0077] Ma assembly path, axial

[0078] MK assembly path, bent

[0079] Mr. Mounting path, radial

[0080] Mt tangential assembly section

[0081] P1 P12 Mounting positions on the bearing housing

Claims

Patent claims 1. Plain bearing arrangement (1) comprising at least one segmented plain bearing (2, 3) whose plain bearing segments (8, 9) are held on a bearing housing (4), wherein the bearing housing (4) provides different mounting schemes (Ma, Mk, Mr) in which the individual plain bearing segments (8, 9) can be mounted.

2. Plain bearing arrangement (1 ) according to claim 1 , characterized in that the assembly schemes (Ma, Mk, Mr) comprise an axial assembly path (Ma), a radial assembly path (Mr) and a kinked assembly path (Mk), wherein at least two different assembly paths (Ma, Mk, Mr) of one and the same plain bearing (2, 3) are defined by the bearing housing (4).

3. Sliding bearing arrangement (1 ) according to claim 2, characterized in that one and the same sliding bearing (2, 3) specifies all three mentioned mounting paths (Ma, Mk, Mr).

4. Sliding bearing arrangement (1 ) according to claim 2 or 3, characterized in that the axial mounting path (Ma) comprises two sub-variants, namely mounting from a first axial direction in the case of a first sliding bearing segment (8, 9) and mounting from the opposite axial direction in the case of at least one further sliding bearing segment (8, 9).

5. Sliding bearing arrangement (1 ) according to one of claims 2 to 4, characterized in that the kinked mounting path (Mk) includes a tangential mounting section (Mt).

6. Sliding bearing arrangement (1 ) according to claim 5, characterized in that the kinked mounting path (Mk) comprises two sub-variants, namely firstly a combination of radial and tangential mounting section and secondly a combination of axial and tangential mounting section.

7. Sliding bearing arrangement (1 ) according to claim 6, characterized in that both sub-variants of the kinked mounting path (Mk) are specified by one and the same sliding bearing (2, 3) in addition to at least one axial mounting path (Ma) and at least one radial mounting path (Mr).

8. A sliding bearing arrangement (1) according to any one of claims 1 to 7, characterized in that the sliding bearing segment (8, 9) is supported on a combination of a rigid support element (12) and an elastic support element (14).

9. A sliding bearing arrangement (1) according to any one of claims 1 to 8, characterized in that it comprises an axial sliding bearing (2) and a radial sliding bearing (3), each in a segmented design.

10. Method for assembling segments (8, 9) of a plain bearing (2, 3), wherein individual segments (8, 9) of the plain bearing (2, 3) are attached to a bearing housing (4) in at least three different assembly schemes (Ma, Mk, Mr) comprising an axial assembly path (Ma), a radial assembly path (Mr) and at least one kinked assembly path (Mk).

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