Wind Turbine Gearbox Assembly for Axial Locking With Rotation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Wind turbine gearboxes face issues with bearing damage due to axial displacement of the planet carrier during transportation and assembly, leading to reduced bearing and gearbox lifetime.
Innovation Solution
An assembly for a gearbox with a housing element and rotational element connected via movable, form-fitting connections that prevent axial movement while allowing rotational movement, using features like grooves and screws to secure the connection element, ensuring the rotational element can be rotated and positioned accurately during assembly and transportation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Stability of the object's composition
If the planet carrier is connected to the housing via a fixed connection during transportation and assembly, then axial displacement is prevented, but relative rotation between the planet carrier and housing is blocked
Solution Approach 1:
The connection between the planet carrier and housing transitions from a fixed state during transportation to a rotatable state during operation. The bearing allows the planet carrier to be fixed axially while permitting rotation once installed in the gearbox, resolving the contradiction between stability during transport and rotational freedom during assembly.
Solution Approach 2:
The connection system is segmented into two functional phases: a transportation phase where axial positioning is secured, and an operational phase where rotation is enabled. This segmentation allows the same connection to serve different purposes at different stages, preventing axial displacement while enabling necessary rotation.
2Ease of operation
If the planet carrier is left unconnected during transportation, then rotational freedom is maintained, but axial displacement occurs causing bearing damage
Solution Approach 1:
The bearing is pre-installed in the planet carrier before transportation, with the understanding that it will be protected from axial displacement once the planet carrier is connected to the housing. This preliminary installation requires that axial positioning be secured during transport to prevent damage before the bearing can perform its function.
Solution Approach 2:
The connection state dynamically changes from unconnected (allowing rotation) to connected (protecting bearing). The bearing's protective function is activated once the planet carrier is secured to the housing, preventing axial displacement while maintaining the ability to rotate during operation.
3Stability of the object's composition
If a fixed connection is used between housing and planet carrier, then axial position is secured, but assembly flexibility is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The bearing acts as an intermediary element between the planet carrier and housing, providing axial positioning while allowing rotation. This intermediary component resolves the contradiction by decoupling the axial and rotational degrees of freedom, securing axial position without permanently fixing the rotational relationship.
Data Source
AI summary
In at least one embodiment, the assembly for a gearbox for a wind turbine includes a housing element, a rotational element, a bearing, a first connection feature for connecting the housing element to a connection element and a second connection feature for connecting the rotational element to the connection element. The rotational element is arranged rotatably with respect to the housing element via the bearing. At least one of the first and the second connection feature is configured to form a movable, form-fitting connection such that, when the housing element and the rotational element are connected to the connection element via the first and the second connection feature, a relative axial movement between the rotational element and the housing element is prevented but a relative rotation between the rotational element and the housing element is enabled.