Wind Turbine Main Bearing Coupling for Shaft Deflection Compensation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Load-dependent deflections of the rotor shaft in wind turbines make reliable coupling to the generator unit difficult, particularly in gearless systems, leading to challenges in achieving a compact design.
Innovation Solution
A main bearing unit with a rolling bearing and a coupling arrangement that allows for offset and deflection compensation by coupling the rotor shaft directly or indirectly to the inner or outer ring, using a rolling element arrangement and elastic elements to transmit torque and reduce the axial construction size of the drive train.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a locating and non-locating bearing combination is used to support the rotor shaft at two bearing positions, then the rotor shaft can be supported, but the construction size becomes adversely large
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines the coupling arrangement and bearing support into a single integrated unit. The coupling arrangement is coupled directly to either the inner ring or outer ring of the rolling bearing, merging functions that were previously separated into distinct components (bearing unit + coupling device + gearbox integration). This integration reduces the overall construction size while maintaining reliable rotor shaft support through the combined structure.
2Power
If the coupling arrangement is integrated into the gearbox unit, then torque can be transmitted to the output shaft, but the axial construction size increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent repositions the coupling arrangement radially by coupling it to the inner or outer ring of the rolling bearing, rather than integrating it axially into the gearbox unit. This dimensional shift allows torque transmission to occur through the bearing structure itself, reducing the axial length requirement while maintaining power transmission capability to the output shaft.
3Adaptability or versatility
If the coupling arrangement is positioned away from the bearing unit, then offset compensation can be achieved, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The bearing unit itself provides offset compensation functionality through its inherent design. The rolling bearing structure, when integrated with the coupling arrangement, naturally accommodates and compensates for offsets between the rotor shaft and output shaft without requiring separate, complex compensation mechanisms. The system serves its own offset compensation needs through the flexible coupling-bearing integration.
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
The solution enables a compact and reliable coupling of the rotor shaft to the generator unit, reducing the construction size of the drive train and facilitating efficient torque transmission while compensating for axial and angular offsets, thereby improving the operational stability of wind turbines.
Implementation Method 1
a rolling bearing (11) with an inner ring (14), an outer ring (12) and a rolling element arrangement (16) taken up between the outer and inner ring
Implementation Method 2
The coupling arrangement (32) comprises an elastic element (50)
Data Source
AI summary
A main bearing unit for supporting the rotor shaft of a wind turbine, including a rolling bearing having an inner ring, an outer ring and a rolling element arrangement received between the outer and inner ring and a coupling arrangement which is designed to couple the rotor shaft to an output shaft of the wind turbine at least indirectly and so as to transmit torque. The rotor shaft is coupled to one of the outer and inner ring so as to transmit torque. The coupling arrangement is coupled so as to transmit torque to the one of the outer and inner ring as the rotor shaft.