Wind Turbine Drive Alignment for Uniform Ring Gear Backlash
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing drive mechanisms in wind turbines experience load variations among drive devices, leading to reduced lifespan due to uneven backlash distribution, which can be exacerbated by manufacturing tolerances and distortions in the ring gear.
Innovation Solution
A method to determine and adjust the positions of drive devices relative to a ring gear by measuring backlashes and obtaining variation information, allowing for uniform backlash distribution and reduced load variation among drive devices.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of manufacture
If drive devices are installed without position adjustment, then installation complexity is reduced, but load distribution becomes uneven and device lifespan decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies preliminary action by measuring backlashes and determining optimal positions of drive devices before final installation. The method calculates position adjustments based on measured backlashes and ring gear variations, then adjusts drive device positions beforehand to ensure uniform load distribution, preventing uneven loading and extending mechanism lifespan.
2Reliability
If position adjustment of drive devices is performed, then load distribution uniformity improves and lifespan extends, but measurement and adjustment complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies self-service by using the existing backlashes in the drive mechanism as measurement indicators. The method measures backlashes between drive devices and ring gear, which automatically reveal the uneven load distribution, then uses these measurements to calculate required position adjustments, making the adjustment process self-guiding and reducing external complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements feedback by measuring backlashes of each drive device, comparing them to determine variations, and using this feedback information to calculate and apply position adjustments. The measured backlashes serve as feedback signals that guide the adjustment process to achieve uniform load distribution across all drive devices.
3Measurement precision
If backlashes are measured at multiple positions, then position determination accuracy improves, but measurement time and process complexity increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies local quality by measuring backlashes at specific local positions of drive devices relative to the ring gear. Instead of measuring all possible positions, the method selectively measures backlashes at key locations (when pinions face reference positions), capturing the essential variation information needed for position determination while minimizing measurement time.
Data Source
AI summary
A method of adjusting a drive mechanism includes measuring backlashes between the ring gear and the plurality of drive devices, and determining about positions of the plurality of drive devices with reference to the ring gear based on the backlashes measured in the measurement step. The measurement step includes: aligning the pinion of one of the plurality of drive devices to face a reference position in a circumferential direction of the ring gear and measuring a backlash between the ring gear and the said one drive device; and aligning the pinion of another one of the plurality of drive devices to face the reference position of the ring gear by revolving the plurality of the drive devices relative to the ring gear, and measuring a backlash between the ring gear and the said another drive device different from the said one drive device whose backlash has been measured.