Wind Turbine Plain Bearing Pads for Axial and Radial Load Absorption
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing plain bearings for wind turbines struggle with efficient absorption of both axial and radial forces, and maintenance is cumbersome due to the need for complete disassembly.
Innovation Solution
A plain bearing design featuring curved bearing surfaces, removal openings in the outer ring element, and a retaining ring system that allows for easy replacement of individual pads without disassembly, combined with a sensor system for monitoring wear and lubrication management.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Strength
If the plain bearing is designed as a complete assembled unit, then the structural integrity and load-bearing capacity are improved, but the maintenance complexity and disassembly time increase significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The plain bearing is divided into modular components: individual replaceable pads, an inner ring element, and an outer ring element. The pads can be independently removed through the removal opening without disassembling the entire bearing structure, enabling selective maintenance while preserving overall structural integrity.
2Ease of manufacture
If the bearing pads are designed with flat surfaces, then the manufacturing simplicity is improved, but the ability to absorb radial and axial forces simultaneously is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The bearing pads are designed with curved bearing surfaces instead of flat surfaces. This curvature enables the pads to effectively absorb both radial forces and axial forces simultaneously while maintaining manufacturability through standard machining processes.
3Strength
If the outer ring element is designed as a solid continuous structure, then the structural strength is improved, but the ease of pad replacement is reduced due to complete disassembly requirements
Solution Approach 1:
A removal opening is extracted from the outer ring element, creating an access pathway that allows individual pads to be removed and replaced without disassembling the entire bearing. The removal opening maintains sufficient structural strength while enabling quick maintenance operations.
4Duration of action of stationary object
If the bearing surfaces are designed with complex curvature profiles, then the sliding properties and service life are improved, but the manufacturing precision requirements increase
Solution Approach 1:
The curved bearing surfaces are implemented only in the specific contact regions where load absorption and sliding occur, rather than throughout the entire bearing structure. This localized curvature achieves improved sliding properties and service life while keeping manufacturing precision requirements manageable.
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 design effectively absorbs both axial and radial forces, extends the service life, and simplifies maintenance by enabling pad replacement while the bearing is assembled, thus improving operational efficiency and reducing downtime.
Implementation Method 1
the individual plain bearing pads have the basic shape of a spherical cap with a spherical cap radius in a spherical cap section and have a transition radius in a transition section
Implementation Method 2
a porous material, such as a sponge, is placed in the removal opening during the operating state of the plain bearing to temporarily absorb lubricating oil
Implementation Method 3
a bearing surface of the plain bearing element and a counter surface of the outer ring element abut one another
Data Source
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AI summary
The invention relates to a plain bearing arrangement (9) comprising: - an inner ring element (13); - an outer ring element (14); - at least one plain bearing element (15) arranged between the inner ring element (13) and the outer ring element (14), the plain bearing element (15) comprising at least two plain bearing pads (18), wherein the individual plain bearing pads (18) each have a bearing surface (20) which is convex as seen looking in the axial direction, and the largest diameter (26) of the bearing surface (20) is located at a vertex (25) of the bearing surface (20).