Torque Support Perpendicular Abutment Wind Turbine

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Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional torque supports for wind power plants are often oversized and heavier due to a standardized design, which compromises strength optimization, and their complex geometry makes dimensioning difficult, leading to potential failures from improper assembly and shear or bending stresses.

Innovation Solution

A torque support with a radially extending arm and a connection piece where the abutment surfaces are perpendicular to the supporting force, allowing for a strength-optimized design with reduced parts and simplified assembly, using a force-fitting connection such as screws or welding, and optionally a damping unit to manage torque peaks.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If a standardized design is used for the torque support, then adaptability to different manufacturers' devices is improved, but the torque support becomes heavier and more voluminous

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveadaptability to different manufacturers' devicesVSAvoidweight of torque support

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSWeight of stationary object

Solution Approach 1:

The torque support is divided into two separate components: a standardized torque plate and an individually adapted connection piece. This segmentation allows the torque plate to be optimized for strength and weight, while the connection piece provides adaptability to different manufacturers' devices without adding excess weight to the core structural component.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The connection piece acts as an intermediary element between the standardized torque support and the manufacturer-specific device. It bridges the interface, providing adaptability while allowing the main torque support structure to remain standardized and optimized.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Weight of stationary object

If a strength-optimized design is used for the torque support, then weight and volume are reduced, but adaptability to individual installation conditions deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveweight of torque supportVSAvoidadaptability to individual installation conditions

Core Design Contradiction:

Weight of stationary objectVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

By segmenting the torque support into a standardized torque plate and an adaptable connection piece, the design allows the torque plate to be strength-optimized while the connection piece handles adaptability requirements for different installation conditions.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

Different parts of the system have different properties: the torque plate is designed with strength-optimized geometry and material properties, while the connection piece is designed with adaptability properties to match specific installation conditions. Each component has locally optimized quality for its specific function.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #3Local quality

3Adaptability or versatility

If a multi-part arm with connection pieces is used, then adaptability to individual geometric particular features is improved, but the number of individual parts increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveadaptability to individual geometric particular featuresVSAvoidnumber of individual parts

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The connection piece merges multiple functions into a single component: it provides geometric adaptation to manufacturer-specific devices, serves as a mounting interface, and transmits forces. This consolidation reduces the number of separate parts compared to traditional multi-part arm designs.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

4Ease of operation

If conventional screw connections are used in the torque support, then ease of assembly is improved, but reliability deteriorates due to bending or shear stress

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveease of assemblyVSAvoidreliability of torque support

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

Instead of using conventional screw connections that are subjected to bending or shear stress, the invention inverts the force transmission approach by using abutment surfaces that transmit forces through direct bearing. This reversal of the connection mechanism eliminates the harmful stress types on fasteners.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #13The other way round (Inversion)

Solution Approach 2:

The design converts the potential harm of complex force transmission into a benefit by using simple abutment surfaces. The connection piece's abutment surface against the arm's abutment surface creates a direct load path that benefits from simplicity and reliability, turning the complexity of force transmission into a straightforward bearing contact.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #22Blessing in disguise (Convert harm into benefit)

Data Source

PatentUS9523356B2Torque support

Publication Date: 2016.12.20 ZF FRIEDRICHSHAFEN AG

AI summary

A torque support is disclosed for transmitting a supporting force of a gear mechanism of a wind power plant to a carrying mechanism. The torque support has a connection piece, the abutment surfaces of which, which are subjected to the supporting force, are arranged in a manner substantially perpendicular to the supporting force.