Wind Turbine Drivetrain Bolt Bridge for Bearing Axial Retention

The tight-fitting ring is segmented into multiple discrete bolts arranged in an annular pattern. Each bolt independently contributes to preventing axial displacement, collectively providing the same stabilizing function as the continuous ring while being much easier to install and remove individually.

The bolts are inserted through the drivetrain component and engage with threaded holes in the bearing assembly, creating a nested fastening structure. The lock nuts are then threaded onto the bolts, forming another nested layer that secures the entire assembly, allowing for easy assembly and disassembly.

Instead of machining complex external threads on the shaft and internal threads in the ring, the solution inverts the approach by using standard unthreaded shaft geometry with separate bolt fasteners that have their own threads. This reverses the manufacturing complexity from high-precision shaft/ring threading to standard bolt threading, significantly reducing costs.

The invention replaces expensive, precision-machined threaded components with standard, readily available bolts and lock nuts. These common fasteners are much cheaper to manufacture and purchase, providing the same functional outcome without the high manufacturing costs associated with custom-threaded shafts and rings.

The expensive precision-machined ring is replaced with inexpensive standard bolts and lock nuts. These common fasteners achieve the same axial positioning stability function without requiring precision machining, dramatically reducing production costs while maintaining functional performance.

The continuous precision ring is segmented into multiple discrete bolt fasteners. This segmentation allows each bolt to be a simple, inexpensive component rather than requiring the entire ring to be precision-machined, reducing overall production costs while maintaining positioning stability through the collective action of multiple fasteners.