초록 ▼

A hydraulic speed control device for limiting the speed of a wind turbine rotor by controlling the deployment of rotor braking devices includes four fluidicly interconnected elements: one or more fluid cylinders, a relief valve, an accumulator, and a check valve. Each of the fluid cylinders is mecha

A hydraulic speed control device for limiting the speed of a wind turbine rotor by controlling the deployment of rotor braking devices includes four fluidicly interconnected elements: one or more fluid cylinders, a relief valve, an accumulator, and a check valve. Each of the fluid cylinders is mechanically coupled between a blade and an associated rotor braking device, and controls the movement of the rotor braking device between its aligned and braking positions. The relief valve opens to fluidicly connect the fluid cylinders and the accumulator when the rotational speed of the rotor exceeds a limit value. The accumulator receives fluid through the relief valve when the relief valve opens, thereby reducing the fluid pressure in the fluid cylinders and allowing the rotor braking devices to move from their aligned positions to their braking positions. The check valve permits fluid flow from the accumulator toward the fluid cylinders to return the rotor braking devices to their aligned positions when the rotational speed of the rotor has sufficiently slowed.

대표청구항 ▼

A wind turbine apparatus comprising: a wind turbine rotor having one or more blades; one or more rotor braking devices each coupled to one of said blades, wherein each rotor braking device is movable between an aligned position for normal operation of said rotor and a braking position for slowing sa

A wind turbine apparatus comprising: a wind turbine rotor having one or more blades; one or more rotor braking devices each coupled to one of said blades, wherein each rotor braking device is movable between an aligned position for normal operation of said rotor and a braking position for slowing said rotor, and wherein the centrifugal force acting on said rotor braking devices during rotation of said rotor tends to move said rotor braking devices from said aligned positions to said braking positions; one or more fluid cylinders each mechanically coupled to a blade and its associated rotor braking device, wherein the fludic pressure within said fluid cylinders opposes the movement of the said rotor braking devices from said aligned positions to said braking positions; a variable orifice connected to said fluid cylinders for regulating the flow of fluid from the fluid cylinders and the deployment time of the rotor braking devices; pressure difference valve means fluidically coupled between said variable orifice and an accumulator for opening when the pressure within said fluid cylinders exceeds the pressure in the accumulator by a predetermined amount; accumulator means for receiving pressur from said fluid cylinders by way of said variable orifice when said pressure difference valve means is open so that the stored fluid is at at pressure which is intermediate between the pressure in said fluid cylinders and the pressure in said accumulator at the time the relief valve opens; and check valve means fluidically coupled in parallel with said pressure difference valve means between said accumulator means and said variable orifice for permitting pressurized fluid at said intermediate pressure to flow therethrough only in the direction from said accumulator means towards said fluid cylinders to return said braking devices to said aligned positions when the pressure in said accumulator means exceeds the pressure in said fluid cylinders, wherein said fluid cylinders pressure difference valve means, accumulator means, and check valve means form a pressurized, closed, fluidic system.