IPC분류정보
국가/구분 |
United States(US) Patent
등록
|
국제특허분류(IPC7판) |
|
출원번호 |
US-0271863
(2005-11-10)
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등록번호 |
US-7331761
(2008-02-19)
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발명자
/ 주소 |
- Hansen,Scott A.
- VanLangevelede,David J.
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출원인 / 주소 |
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대리인 / 주소 |
Price, Heneveld, Cooper, DeWitt & Litton, LLP
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인용정보 |
피인용 횟수 :
16 인용 특허 :
5 |
초록
▼
A pitch bearing and related method for wind electric turbines has an annularly-shaped first bearing ring connected with an associated wind turbine blade, and includes a first raceway groove. An annularly-shaped second bearing ring is connected with the rotor portion of the wind turbine, and includes
A pitch bearing and related method for wind electric turbines has an annularly-shaped first bearing ring connected with an associated wind turbine blade, and includes a first raceway groove. An annularly-shaped second bearing ring is connected with the rotor portion of the wind turbine, and includes a second raceway groove aligned with the first raceway groove. Rolling elements are positioned in the first and second raceway grooves to rotatably interconnect the two bearing rings. A gear segment is formed on one of the bearing rings, and is configured to engage a pitch drive portion of the wind turbine to pivot the blade axially between different pitch angles. The gear segment has an arcuate measure of less than 200 degrees to facilitate economical manufacture.
대표청구항
▼
The invention claimed is: 1. In a wind electric turbine of the type having a rotor hub supporting at least one radially extending blade, and a pitch drive for axially pivoting said blade between different pitch angles, the improvement of a pitch bearing, comprising: an annularly-shaped outer bearin
The invention claimed is: 1. In a wind electric turbine of the type having a rotor hub supporting at least one radially extending blade, and a pitch drive for axially pivoting said blade between different pitch angles, the improvement of a pitch bearing, comprising: an annularly-shaped outer bearing ring operably connected with one of said blade and said rotor hub and including a first raceway groove and a radially outwardly extending edge portion; an annularly-shaped inner bearing ring operably connected with the other of said blade and said rotor hub, configured for close mating reception within said outer bearing ring, and including a second raceway groove aligned with said first raceway groove in said outer bearing ring, and a radially inwardly extending edge portion; a plurality of rolling elements disposed in said first and second raceway grooves to rotatably interconnect said outer bearing ring and said inner bearing ring; and a gear segment integrally formed on one of said radially outwardly extending edge portion of said outer bearing ring and said radially inwardly extending edge portion of said inner bearing ring, and engaging said pitch drive to pivot said blade axially between the different pitch angles; said gear segment having an arcuate measure of less than 200 degrees to facilitate economical manufacture. 2. A wind electric turbine as set forth in claim 1, wherein: said gear segment has an arcuate measure of around 100 degrees. 3. A wind electric turbine as set forth in claim 1, wherein: said pitch drive includes a motor operably connected with said rotor hub, and a gear operably connected with said motor and meshed with said gear segment on said first bearing ring, whereby activation of said motor axially pivots said blade between the different pitch angles. 4. A wind electric turbine as set forth in claim 1, wherein: said balls and said first and second raceway grooves are configured to provide four point contact therebetween. 5. A wind electric turbine as set forth in claim 1, wherein: said inner and outer bearing rings are constructed from selectively hardened steel. 6. A wind electric turbine as set forth in claim 1, wherein: said inner and outer bearing rings include a zinc coating to inhibit oxidation; and at least a portion of said inner and outer bearing rings is painted to inhibit oxidation. 7. A wind electric turbine as set forth in claim 1, wherein: said inner and outer bearing rings include a pair of axially spaced apart first and second raceway grooves, each having said balls disposed therein. 8. A wind electric turbine as set forth in claim 1, including: at least one seal disposed operably between said inner bearing ring and said outer bearing ring, and configured to retain lubrication for said balls in said first and second raceway grooves. 9. In a wind electric turbine of the type having a rotor hub supporting at least one radially extending blade, and a pitch drive for axially pivoting said blade between different pitch angles, the improvement of a pitch bearing, comprising: an annularly-shaped first bearing ring operably connected with said blade and including a first raceway groove; an annularly-shaped second bearing ring operably connected with said rotor hub, configured for mating engagement with said first bearing ring, and including a second raceway groove aligned with said first raceway groove in said first bearing ring; a plurality of rolling elements disposed in said first and second raceway grooves to rotatably interconnect said first bearing ring and said second bearing ring; a gear segment formed on one of said first bearing ring and said second bearing ring, and engaging said pitch drive to pivot said blade axially between the different pitch angles; said gear segment having an arcuate measure of less than 200 degrees to facilitate economical manufacture; and wherein said bearing members comprise a plurality of balls closely received in said first and second raceway grooves; and said balls and said first and second raceway grooves are configured to provide four point contact therebetween. 10. In a wind electric turbine of the type having a rotor hub supporting at least one radially extending blade, and a pitch drive for axially pivoting said blade between different pitch angles, the improvement of a pitch bearing, comprising: an annularly-shaped first bearing ring operably connected with said blade and including a first raceway groove; an annularly-shaped second bearing ring operably connected with said rotor hub, configured for mating engagement with said first bearing ring, and including a second raceway groove aligned with said first raceway groove in said first bearing ring; a plurality of rolling elements disposed in said first and second raceway grooves to rotatably interconnect said first bearing ring and said second bearing ring; a gear segment formed on one of said first bearing ring and said second bearing ring, and engaging said pitch drive to pivot said blade axially between the different pitch angles; said gear segment having an arcuate measure of less than 200 degrees to facilitate economical manufacture; and at least one seal disposed operably between said first bearing ring and said second bearing ring, and configured to retain lubrication for said bearing members in said first and second raceway grooves. 11. In a method for making a wind electric turbine of the type having a rotor hub supporting at least one radially extending blade, and a pitch drive for axially pivoting the blade between different pitch angles, the improvement comprising: forming an annularly-shaped first pitch bearing ring with a first raceway groove; forming an annularly-shaped second pitch bearing ring with a second raceway groove; positioning one of the first and second pitch bearing rings within the other of the first and second pitch bearing rings, such that the first raceway groove aligns with the second raceway groove; forming a plurality of rolling elements shaped for close reception in the first and second raceway grooves; positioning the rolling elements in the first and second raceway grooves in a predetermined circumferentially-shaped arrangement to rotatably interconnect the first and second pitch bearing rings; forming a gear segment on one of the first and second pitch bearing rings with an arcuate measure of less than 200 degrees to facilitate economical manufacture; operably connecting the blade with one of the first and second pitch bearing rings; operably connecting the rotor hub with the other of the first and second pitch bearing rings; engaging the pitch drive with the gear segment to pivot the blade axially between the different pitch angles; providing the pitch drive with a motor operably connected with one of the rotor hub and the blade, and a pinion gear operably connected with the motor; and meshing the pinion gear with the gear segment, whereby activation of the motor axially pivots the blade between the different pitch angles. 12. A method as set forth in claim 11, wherein: the first bearing ring defines an inner bearing ring; the second bearing ring defines an outer bearing ring; and said positioning step includes inserting the inner bearing ring into the outer bearing ring for close mating reception therein. 13. A method as set forth in claim 11, wherein: said gear forming step comprises forming the gear segment along one of a radially inwardly extending edge portion of the inner bearing ring and a radially outwardly extending edge portion of the outer bearing ring. 14. A method as set forth in claim 11, wherein: said gear forming step comprises forming the gear segment with an arcuate measure of around 100 degrees. 15. A method as set forth in claim 11, including: forming a plurality of circumferentially spaced apart fastener apertures axially through the inner bearing ring; and wherein said connecting step comprises positioning a plurality of fasteners in the fastener apertures in the inner bearing ring, and detachably connecting the same with the blade. 16. A method as set forth in claim 11, including: forming a plurality of circumferentially spaced apart fastener apertures axially through the outer bearing ring; and wherein said connecting step comprises positioning a plurality of fasteners in the fastener apertures in the outer bearing ring, and detachably connecting the same with said rotor hub. 17. A method as set forth in claim 11, including: installing at least one seal operably between the inner bearing ring and the outer bearing ring to retain lubrication for the rolling elements in the first and second raceway grooves. 18. A method as set forth in claim 11, wherein: said rolling element forming step comprises forming balls. 19. A pitch bearing for wind turbines of the type having a rotor hub supporting at least one radially extending blade, and a pitch drive for axially pivoting the blade between different pitch angles, comprising: an annularly-shaped outer bearing ring configured for operable connection with one of the blade and the rotor hub, and including a first raceway groove and a radially outwardly extending edge portion; an annularly-shaped inner bearing ring configured for operable connection with the other of the blade and the rotor hub, and closely received within said outer bearing ring, and including a second raceway groove aligned with said first raceway groove in said outer bearing ring, and a radially inwardly extending edge portion; a plurality of rolling elements disposed in said first and second raceway grooves to rotatably interconnect said outer bearing ring and said inner bearing ring; and a gear segment formed integrally on one of said radially outwardly extending edge portion of said outer bearing ring and said radially inwardly extending edge portion of said inner bearing ring, and configured to engage the pitch drive to pivot the blade axially between the different pitch angles; said gear segment having an arcuate measure of less than 200 degrees to facilitate economical manufacture. 20. A pitch bearing as set forth in claim 19, wherein: said gear segment has an arcuate measure of around 100 degrees. 21. A pitch bearing as set forth in claim 19, wherein: said rolling elements comprise a plurality of balls closely received in said first and second raceway grooves. 22. A pitch bearing as set forth in claim 19, wherein: said balls and said first and second raceway grooves are configured to provide four point contact therebetween. 23. A pitch bearing as set forth in claim 19, wherein: said inner and outer bearing rings are constructed from selectively hardened steel. 24. A pitch bearing as set forth in claim 19, wherein: said inner and outer bearing rings include a zinc coating to inhibit oxidation; and at least a portion of said inner and outer bearing rings is painted to inhibit oxidation. 25. A pitch bearing as set forth in claim 19, wherein: said inner and outer bearing rings include a pair of axially spaced apart first and second raceway grooves, each having said balls disposed therein. 26. A pitch bearing as set forth in claim 19, including: at least one seal disposed operably between said inner bearing ring and said outer bearing ring, and configured to retain lubrication for said balls in said first and second raceway grooves.
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