Wind Turbine Pitch Assembly With Secondary Pinion for Micro-Pitching
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing pitch assemblies in wind turbines experience micro-pitching due to backlash between the pitch drive pinion and the gear teeth, leading to damage to the pitch bearing.
Innovation Solution
A pitch assembly design that incorporates a secondary pinion made of deformable material, which engages a second set of gear teeth and eliminates backlash by allowing the secondary pinion to rotate without backlash, thereby minimizing micro-pitching.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of manufacture
If backlash is required between the pitch drive pinion and the gear teeth per assembly instruction, then the pitch assembly can be easily assembled and manufactured, but micro-pitching occurs which causes damage to the pitch bearing
Solution Approach 1:
A secondary pinion is introduced as an intermediary element between the primary pitch drive pinion and the gear teeth. This secondary pinion absorbs the backlash through its deformable material construction, allowing the primary pinion to maintain the required clearance for easy assembly while the secondary pinion eliminates micro-pitching by maintaining continuous contact with the gear teeth through elastic deformation.
Solution Approach 2:
The secondary pinion is constructed from deformable material that changes its physical parameters under load. When engaged with the gear teeth, the deformable material compresses elastically to eliminate backlash, dynamically adjusting its dimensions to maintain continuous contact and prevent micro-pitching while allowing the primary pinion to retain assembly clearance.
2Reliability
If a secondary pinion made of deformable material is added to eliminate backlash, then micro-pitching is minimized and pitch bearing damage is reduced, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The secondary pinion serves as a mediator that simplifies the overall system reliability by absorbing the harmful backlash effects. Although it adds a component, it eliminates the need for complex control systems or multiple adjustment mechanisms, providing a passive, reliable solution that reduces micro-pitching through its material properties rather than complex mechanics.
Solution Approach 2:
By changing the material parameter of the secondary pinion to be deformable, the invention achieves backlash elimination through material compliance rather than complex mechanical adjustments. This single parameter change in material selection provides a simple yet effective solution that minimizes micro-pitching without requiring complex control systems or multiple active components.
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 effectively minimizes micro-pitching in the pitch assembly, reducing damage to the pitch bearing and enhancing the operational reliability of wind turbines.
Implementation Method 1
The secondary pinion is constructed of a deformable material such that backlash is eliminated between the secondary pinion and the plurality of gear teeth
Data Source
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AI summary
A pitch assembly for a wind turbine includes a pitch bearing comprising an inner race, an outer race, and a plurality of gear teeth arranged on one of the inner race or the outer race. The pitch assembly further includes a pitch drive mechanism having a pitch drive motor and a primary pitch drive pinion. The primary pitch drive pinion is configured to rotate one of the inner race or the outer race of the pitch bearing about a pitch axis by engaging with a first set of the plurality of gear teeth. The pitch assembly also includes a secondary pinion engaging a second set of the plurality of gear teeth. The secondary pinion is constructed of a deformable material such that backlash is eliminated between the secondary pinion and the plurality of gear teeth, thereby minimizing micro-pitching of the pitch assembly.