Gear Tooth Replacement Lip for Wind Turbine Pitch Wear Repair
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Wind turbine pitch systems experience wear and damage on gear teeth, leading to aerodynamic imbalance and mechanical stress, which can result in the inability to pitch the axis if left unchecked.
Innovation Solution
An apparatus for replacing at least one tooth of a gear, featuring an elongate anchoring lip with anchoring holes and a tooth block with replacement gear teeth, designed to be attached to the gear using existing fastening apertures, thereby mimicking the configuration and function of the original teeth.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the bearing is replaced to fix worn gear teeth, then the reliability of the pitch system is improved, but the loss of time and manufacturing cost increase significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The invention segments the gear repair problem by replacing only the damaged teeth rather than the entire bearing assembly. The denture apparatus provides individual tooth replacements that can be installed separately, allowing the majority of the functional bearing to remain in place while only the worn teeth are addressed.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention applies local quality by providing targeted repair at the specific location of damaged teeth. The denture apparatus with replacement teeth restores the worn areas while leaving the rest of the bearing unchanged, concentrating the repair effort where it is most needed rather than replacing the entire component.
2Reliability
If indexing is used to relocate worn teeth, then the reliability is temporarily maintained, but the operational time is lost and the solution is not permanent
Solution Approach 1:
The invention applies preliminary action by pre-manufacturing the denture apparatus with replacement teeth that are designed to match the original gear teeth specifications. This allows the replacement teeth to be installed directly without requiring operational indexing or temporary adjustments, providing an immediate and permanent solution.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention uses disposable replacement teeth in the denture apparatus that can be installed once and provide permanent repair. Rather than relying on temporary indexing solutions that require periodic maintenance, the replacement teeth are designed to last the remaining service life of the bearing.
3Reliability
If the entire bearing is replaced, then all damaged teeth are fixed, but the cost and time consumption increase unnecessarily
Solution Approach 1:
The invention segments the bearing replacement problem into individual tooth replacements. The denture apparatus provides only the necessary replacement teeth rather than requiring the entire bearing assembly to be manufactured and installed, significantly reducing material costs and manufacturing complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention applies local quality by providing repair only where damage exists. The denture apparatus with replacement teeth restores the specific worn areas while leaving the functional portions of the bearing in place, avoiding the unnecessary cost and complexity of replacing the entire bearing assembly.
Data Source
AI summary
An apparatus for replacing at least one tooth of a gear includes an elongate anchoring lip having a laterally extending lip body with at least one anchoring hole extending longitudinally therethrough. The lip body is bounded within a lateral plane by transversely spaced front and rear lip faces and laterally spaced first and second side edges. A tooth block extends longitudinally from a selected one of the front and rear lip faces. The tooth block includes at least one replacement gear tooth extending longitudinally therealong. The tooth block is spaced laterally apart from at least one of the first and second side edges, with at least a portion of the lip body extending laterally between the tooth block and the at least one of the first and second side edges.