Wind Turbine Bearing Lubricant Collection Scraper

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Solution Overview

Problem

Lubricant leakage from wind turbine bearings leads to operational inefficiencies, environmental contamination, and aesthetic issues, with existing collection systems being complex and difficult to service.

Innovation Solution

A bearing with a lubricant collection system featuring a scraper attached to one bearing component that scrapes off leaking lubricant and guides it to a collection device using gravitational force, preventing environmental dispersion and facilitating maintenance.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If a bearing system with rotatable scraper and stationary scraper is used to collect lubricant, then lubricant collection effectiveness is improved, but device complexity and difficulty of servicing increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvelubricant collection effectivenessVSAvoidsystem complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent extracts the lubricant collection function from a complex multi-component scraper system and implements it through a single integrated bearing component design. The bearing component itself is structured to collect and contain lubricant leaks internally, eliminating the need for separate rotatable and stationary scrapers while maintaining collection effectiveness.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Solution Approach 2:

The bearing component is designed to perform its own lubricant collection function through its internal structure. The bearing component includes features that automatically contain and manage lubricant leaks without requiring external scraping mechanisms, enabling the system to service itself.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

2Object-affected harmful factors

If a complex scraper system is implemented to collect leaking lubricant, then environmental contamination is reduced, but ease of manufacture and servicing deteriorate

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveenvironmental contaminationVSAvoidmanufacturing simplicity

Core Design Contradiction:

Object-affected harmful factorsVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

The patent merges the lubricant collection function directly into the bearing component structure. The bearing component is designed with integrated features that contain and manage lubricant leaks, combining what were previously separate functions (bearing support and lubricant collection) into a single manufacturable unit, thereby simplifying both manufacturing and servicing.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

3Ease of operation

If lubricant is allowed to leak from the bearing contact faces, then bearing operation is simpler, but loss of substance and environmental damage increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvebearing operation simplicityVSAvoidlubricant loss

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSLoss of substance

Solution Approach 1:

The patent converts the harmful effect of lubricant leakage into a beneficial containment system. The bearing component is designed with internal structures that capture leaking lubricant and redirect it to designated collection areas, transforming what would be waste and environmental pollution into a controlled, recoverable resource that can be reused or properly disposed of.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #22Blessing in disguise (Convert harm into benefit)

Applied Scientific Principles

This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.

Function Achieved in This Case

Effectively collects and contains lubricant leaks, enhancing operational efficiency and reducing environmental impact while simplifying maintenance in wind turbines.

Implementation Method 1

The scraper is also arranged and prepared to guide the lubricant to a lubricant collection device by means of gravitational force

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectGravitational force: Gravitation

Data Source

PatentEP2762737B1Direct drive turbine comprising a bearing and method of collecting a lubricant leaking out of a bearing

Publication Date: 2017.01.18 SIEMENS AG

AI summary

A bearing, which is suitable for a wind turbine, with a lubricant collection system is provided. The bearing comprises a first bearing component with a first contact face and a first front face. It furthermore comprises a second bearing component with a second contact face and a second front face. The first front face is coupled with the first contact face; the second front face is coupled with the second contact face. The first bearing component and the second bearing component are movable relative to each other. The first contact face and the second contact face are prepared and arranged in a way to accommodate a lubricant. Furthermore, the bearing comprises a scraper, which is attached to the first front face and is in contact with the second front face. Finally, the scraper is arranged and prepared to scrape off the lubricant which escapes from in-between the first contact face and the second contact face and adheres to the second front face. The scraper is also arranged and prepared to guide the lubricant to a lubricant collection device by means of gravitational force. Finally, the invention also relates to a method of collecting a lubricant leaking out of a bearing, wherein the bearing is suitable for a wind turbine and comprises a first step of scraping off the lubricant escaping from in-between the first contact face and the second contact face, and a second step of guiding the scraped off lubricant to a lubricant collection device by means of gravitational force.