Radial Locking Ring for Wind Turbine Rotor Shaft Maintenance
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing locking systems for wind turbine rotor shafts are bulky, making transportation and assembly challenging and restricting access to the rotor hub, while also requiring replacement of the entire rotor hub for defect repair.
Innovation Solution
A compact locking ring system with radial locking recesses that can be attached to the rotor shaft, allowing for radial movement to block rotation, enabling a more compact drive train design and allowing maintenance access without needing the rotor hub installed.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a locking washer system is used to lock the rotor, then the rotor can be locked in position, but the dimensions of the drive train significantly increase making transportation and assembly difficult
Solution Approach 1:
The locking system is divided into separate functional components: a locking ring with locking recesses that can be attached to the rotor shaft, and a separate locking device with a locking structure. This segmentation allows the locking function to be achieved without requiring a bulky integrated locking washer, thereby reducing drive train dimensions while maintaining locking capability.
Solution Approach 2:
The locking structure achieves locking through predominantly radial movement into the locking recesses, rather than through axial engagement as in traditional locking washers. This dimensional change in the locking mechanism allows for a more compact design that reduces the overall volume of the drive train while maintaining effective locking.
2Reliability
If a locking washer system is used, then the rotor can be locked, but access from the nacelle to the rotor hub is restricted
Solution Approach 1:
The locking device is designed to be mounted on the rotor shaft independently of the rotor hub assembly. By extracting the locking function from the rotor hub structure itself, maintenance personnel can access the rotor hub from the nacelle without the locking mechanism blocking the access path, while the locking capability remains intact.
3Ease of manufacture
If locking systems are installed before rotor hub installation, then assembly is simplified, but defect repair requires replacing the entire rotor hub
Solution Approach 1:
The locking ring is designed as a separate, replaceable component that can be attached to the rotor shaft independently of the rotor hub. This segmentation allows the locking ring to be removed, replaced, or repaired without affecting the rotor hub assembly, enabling defect repair without replacing the entire rotor hub while still allowing for simplified assembly procedures.
Solution Approach 2:
The locking ring and locking device are designed as separate serviceable components that can be independently removed and replaced. If a defect occurs in the locking mechanism, only the locking ring or locking device needs to be replaced rather than the entire rotor hub, allowing for cost-effective repair while maintaining assembly simplicity during initial installation.
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2a
Figure 2b
AI summary
An embodiment of a device 100 for locking a rotor shaft 101 of a wind turbine comprises a one- or multi-part locking ring 102, which is attached to a rotor shaft 101 of a wind turbine, wherein the locking ring 102 has a plurality of locking recesses 104. The device further comprises a locking device 106, which is configured to block rotation of the rotor shaft 101 by a predominantly radial movement of a locking structure 108 into one of the locking recesses 104 or the plurality of locking recesses.