Wind Turbine Main Bearing Seal Replacement Without Disassembly
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Solution Overview
Problem
The existing radial seals in wind turbine main bearings wear out over time, leading to inadequate sealing and lubricant leakage, requiring complex disassembly for replacement and resulting in suboptimal sealing when new seals are installed.
Innovation Solution
A method involving the use of spacers within the seal cavity to relocate the sealing location, allowing for the replacement of radial seals without disassembling the main bearing, by moving spacers from one side of the seal cavity to the other to provide a new sealing surface for the new seal.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If radial seals are replaced in the same location, then seal replacement is achieved, but inadequate sealing occurs due to wear grooves causing lubricant leakage
Solution Approach 1:
The patent relocates the seal from the original position (first side of seal cavity) to a new position (opposing second side of seal cavity) by moving spacers. This spatial relocation to another dimension within the seal cavity eliminates the wear groove problem while maintaining sealing functionality.
Solution Approach 2:
Spacers are used as intermediary elements to define the seal position. By moving the spacers from the first side to the second side of the seal cavity, the seal location is changed without requiring disassembly of the bearing, and the spacers mediate between the seal and the bearing components.
2Ease of repair
If complex disassembly is performed to replace seals, then seal replacement is achieved, but maintenance complexity and time increase
Solution Approach 1:
The spacers are extracted as separate, movable components from the seal assembly. This allows the seal position to be changed by simply relocating the spacers without disassembling the bearing or other critical components, significantly simplifying the replacement process.
Solution Approach 2:
The seal position is made dynamic and adjustable through the movable spacers. Instead of a fixed seal position requiring complex disassembly for replacement, the spacers can be moved along the shaft to relocate the seal, enabling easy maintenance while preserving bearing integrity.
3Productivity
If spacers are moved to relocate seals, then seal replacement is simplified, but spacer repositioning complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The seal cavity is segmented into distinct regions (first side and opposing second side) using spacers as dividers. This segmentation allows independent relocation of spacers to create new seal positions without affecting other components, simplifying the overall replacement process despite the repositioning action.
Data Source
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AI summary
A method 100 for replacing an existing radial seal 62 positioned around a shaft 34 and adjacent to a bearing 54 includes providing at least one spacer 66, 68 in a seal cavity 64 of the existing radial seal 62. The method 100 also includes removing a cover 65 of the existing radial seal 62. The method 100 further includes removing the at least one spacer 66, 68. In addition, the method 100 includes removing the existing radial seal 62 from around the shaft. Moreover, the method 100 includes replacing the existing radial seal 62 with a new radial seal. Further, the method 100 includes moving the spacer 66, 68s from a first side of the seal cavity 64 to an opposing, second side of the seal cavity 64 to provide a new sealing location for the new radial seal. Thus, the method 100 also includes securing the cover 65 adjacent to the new radial seal.