Radial Locking Arrangement for Wind Turbines
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current locking arrangements in wind turbines face issues with large tolerances and misalignments between locking pins and holes, leading to alignment problems, high costs due to increased dimensions and harsh working conditions, and concentration of shear forces that result in potential failure of locking pins.
Innovation Solution
A locking arrangement with a locking member featuring a working plane where compression forces are concentrated, allowing for improved strength and the use of multiple parallel working planes, and an actuator for driving the locking member into and out of position, which can be mechanical, electric, or hydraulic.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If locking pins are made bigger to withstand harsh working conditions and high loads, then strength and reliability are improved, but manufacturing costs become undesirably high
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the fundamental parameter of force direction from shear to compression. By designing the locking pin to be driven radially inward rather than axially, and by creating a conical locking surface, the system transforms the loading condition. This allows smaller, less expensive locking pins to withstand the same operational loads because compression strength is higher than shear strength for the same material and geometry.
2Reliability
If multiple locking pins are provided to withstand high loads, then reliability is improved, but alignment problems and costs increase
Solution Approach 1:
The locking pin is divided into functional segments: a radial driving portion, a conical locking surface, and a engagement portion. This segmentation allows each part to perform its specific function optimally while reducing the overall complexity and improving manufacturability compared to multiple separate locking pins that would be required to handle high loads with conventional axial locking mechanisms.
Solution Approach 2:
By changing the locking mechanism from multiple axial locking pins to a single radial locking pin with conical geometry, the system reduces the number of alignment-critical interfaces. The conical surface provides self-aligning characteristics, reducing sensitivity to manufacturing tolerances and assembly precision while maintaining the ability to withstand high loads through compression.
3Reliability
If locking pins are driven axially into locking holes, then the locking function is achieved, but large tolerances and misalignments cause alignment problems
Solution Approach 1:
The patent inverts the conventional axial locking approach by using radial inward driving. Instead of driving the locking pin axially into a hole, the pin is driven radially inward along a conical surface. This inversion fundamentally changes the alignment requirements, as the conical geometry provides inherent self-aligning characteristics that accommodate manufacturing tolerances while ensuring reliable locking engagement.
Data Source
AI summary
A locking arrangement includes at least a rotatable part, a stationary part with respect to the first part, and a locking member having locking protrusions. At least one working plane passing through the locking protrusions is defined in a locking position where compression forces are concentrated which are reaction forces to external forces tending to rotate the parts relative to each other. The parts have locking protrusions defining gaps for receiving the locking protrusions in the locking position for preventing the parts from being rotated to each other.