Wind Turbine Rotor Lock With Cammed Pins for Easier Maintenance

The lock mechanism is divided into separate modular components: a lockable component (pin support with clamps) that can be independently positioned on main bearing supports, and lock pins that are inserted through support apertures in the beam. This segmentation allows each component to be installed and positioned independently, simplifying the overall installation process while maintaining effective rotor locking.

The beam acts as an intermediary structural element that connects the lockable component (mounted on main bearing supports) to the rotor hub. The beam with support apertures provides a stable mounting structure that bridges the gap between the stationary main bearing supports and the rotating rotor hub, enabling effective force transmission without direct mounting on the component to be replaced.

The lock mechanism is divided into separate modular components: a pin support supportable on main bearing supports or main bearing support extensions in a nacelle of the wind turbine, the pin support comprising a beam and first and second clamps situated proximate ends of the beam, the clamps mountable on the main bearing supports or main bearing support extensions, the beam comprising a hub-facing face proximate a rotor hub of the wind turbine and a gearbox-facing face opposite the hub-facing face when the pin support is supported on the main bearing supports or main bearing support extensions, the beam further comprising support apertures through the beam extending between the hub-facing face and a gearbox-facing face; first and second rotatable lock pins inserted through the support apertures to rotatably mounted the lock pins on the pin support, each lock pin comprising a first cylindrical portion having a first central axis rotatably mounted through one of the support apertures and a cammed portion comprising a second cylindrical portion having a second central axis, the second cylindrical portion having a smaller diameter than the first cylindrical portion, the second cylindrical portion extending from an end of the first cylindrical portion such that the first and second central axes are not colinear, the cammed portion protruding from and extending away from the hub-facing face of the pin support toward the hub, the first cylindrical portion protruding from the gearbox-facing face, the lock pins inserted into complementary first and second rotor lock apertures, respectively, on the rotor hub when the pin support is supported on the main bearing supports or main bearing support extensions; first and second lock pin brackets, the first lock pin connected to the first bracket proximate a first end of the first bracket, the second lock pin connected to the second bracket proximate a first end of the second bracket; and, a turnbuckle for rotating the lock pins, the turnbuckle comprising a frame and first and second ends, the first end of the turnbuckle connected to the first bracket proximate a second end of the first bracket, the second end of the turnbuckle connected to the second bracket proximate a second end of the second bracket, whereby rotation of the frame of the turnbuckle causes the second end of the first bracket and the second end of the second bracket to move arcuately thereby causing the first and second lock pins connected proximate the first ends of the first and second brackets to rotate so that exterior surfaces of the cammed portions engage with interior surfaces of the complementary apertures to apply forces in opposite directions at the interior surfaces of the apertures to immobilize the lock pins in the respective apertures against the interior surfaces to prevent relative motion between the lock pins and the apertures to prevent rotation of the rotor

The cammed portions of the lock pins are designed to automatically engage with the interior surfaces of the rotor lock apertures when the lock pins are rotated into position. The cammed geometry causes the exterior surfaces of the cammed portions to wedge against the interior surfaces, creating self-locking forces that secure the rotor without requiring additional locking mechanisms or complex adjustment procedures.