In one aspect, a pitch bearing for coupling a rotor blade to a hub of a wind turbine may include an outer race defining a first outer raceway wall. The first outer raceway wall may define a center of curvature. The pitch bearing may also include an inner race defining a first inner raceway wall. The
In one aspect, a pitch bearing for coupling a rotor blade to a hub of a wind turbine may include an outer race defining a first outer raceway wall. The first outer raceway wall may define a center of curvature. The pitch bearing may also include an inner race defining a first inner raceway wall. The first inner raceway wall may define a center of curvature. In addition, the pitch bearing may include a plurality of roller elements disposed between the first inner and outer raceway walls. Each roller element may define a geometric center. Moreover, the center of curvature for each of the raceway walls may be offset from the geometric center of each roller element.
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1. A pitch bearing for coupling a rotor blade to a hub of a wind turbine, the pitch bearing comprising: an outer race configured to be coupled to the hub, the outer race defining a first outer raceway wall and a second outer raceway wall, the first outer raceway wall defining a curved profile having
1. A pitch bearing for coupling a rotor blade to a hub of a wind turbine, the pitch bearing comprising: an outer race configured to be coupled to the hub, the outer race defining a first outer raceway wall and a second outer raceway wall, the first outer raceway wall defining a curved profile having a center of curvature;an inner race rotatable relative to the outer race and configured to be coupled to the rotor blade, the inner race defining a first inner raceway wall and a second inner raceway wall, the first inner raceway wall defining a curved profile having a center of curvature;a first plurality of roller elements disposed between the first inner and outer raceway walls, each of the first plurality of roller elements defining a geometric center, a single contact point being defined directly between each adjacent pair of roller elements of the first plurality of roller elements;a second plurality of rollers disposed between the second inner and outer raceway walls, each of the second plurality of roller elements defining a geometric center; anda raceway rib extending between the first and second plurality of roller elements, the raceway rib forming an extension of the outer race and separating the first outer raceway wall from the second outer raceway wall, the raceway rib extending radially inwardly from the outer race to a radial location located radially inwardly relative to a reference line extending directly between the geometric centers of each of the first and second plurality of roller elements,wherein the center of curvature for each of the first inner raceway wall and the first outer raceway wall is offset from the geometric center of each of the first plurality of roller elements,wherein an open axial gap is defined directly between the raceway rib and an outer circumference of the inner race along an axial length of the raceway rib defined between the first and second outer raceway walls. 2. The pitch bearing of claim 1, wherein the center of curvature for each of the first inner raceway wall and the first outer raceway wall is offset from the geometric center of each of the first plurality of roller elements by a distance ranging from about 0.1 mm to about 5 mm. 3. The pitch bearing of claim 1, wherein each of the second inner and outer raceway walls define a curved profile having a center of curvature, wherein the center of curvature for each of the second inner raceway wall and the second outer raceway wall is offset from the geometric center of each of the second plurality of roller elements. 4. The pitch bearing of claim 1, wherein a lubrication port is defined through the outer race, the lubrication port configured to supply a lubricant from a location outside the pitch bearing to a location between the first and second plurality of roller elements. 5. The pitch bearing of claim 4, wherein the lubrication port is defined within the raceway rib such that the lubricant is supplied through the outer race and into the open axial gap. 6. The pitch bearing of claim 1, wherein a first gap is defined between the inner and outer races along an upper portion of the pitch bearing and a second gap is defined between the inner and outer races along a lower portion of the pitch bearing, further comprising a first sealing mechanism disposed within the first gap directly between the inner and outer races and a second sealing mechanism disposed within the second gap directly between the inner and outer races. 7. The pitch bearing assembly of claim 1, wherein each of the first plurality of roller elements defines an outer contact point with the first outer raceway wall and an inner contact point with the first inner raceway wall, the inner and outer contact points being aligned along a reference line defining a contact angle ranging from about 15 degrees to about 85 degrees. 8. The pitch bearing of claim 1, wherein the raceway rib extends radially inwardly relative to the reference line such that an angle is defined between the reference line and a radially inner end of the raceway rib that ranges from greater than 0 degrees to about 60 degrees. 9. The pitch bearing of claim 1, wherein the open axial gap extends radially along an entire radial distance defined between the raceway rib and the outer circumference of the inner race. 10. A pitch bearing for coupling a rotor blade to a hub of a wind turbine, the pitch bearing comprising: an outer race configured to be coupled to the hub, the outer race defining a first outer raceway wall and a second outer raceway wall;an inner race rotatable relative to the outer race and configured to be coupled to the rotor blade, the inner race defining a first inner raceway wall and a second inner raceway wall, the inner race being at least partially spaced apart from the outer race such that a first gap is defined as extending from the inner race to the outer race along an upper portion of the pitch bearing and a second gap is defined as extending from the inner race to the outer race along a lower portion of the pitch bearinga first plurality of roller elements disposed between the first inner and outer raceway walls and a second plurality of roller elements disposed between the second inner and outer raceway walls;a raceway rib extending between the first and second plurality of roller elements such that an axial gap is defined between the first and second plurality of roller elements along an axial direction of the pitch bearing, the raceway rib forming an extension of the outer race;a first sealing mechanism extending fully across the first gap so as to seal the first gap and a second sealing mechanism extending fully across the second gap so as to seal the second gap; anda lubrication port defined through the outer race so as to extend through the raceway rib, the lubrication port configured to supply a lubricant from a location outside the pitch bearing to a location within the axial gap defined between the first and second plurality of roller elements. 11. The pitch bearing of claim 10, wherein each of the first inner and outer raceway walls defines a curved profile having a center of curvature and each of the first plurality of roller elements defines a geometric center, wherein the center of curvature for each of the first inner raceway wall and the first outer raceway wall is offset from the geometric center of each of the first plurality of roller elements. 12. The pitch bearing of claim 10, wherein each of the first plurality of roller elements defines an outer contact point with the first outer raceway wall and an inner contact point with the first inner raceway wall, the inner and outer contact points being aligned along a reference line defining a contact angle ranging from about 15 to about 85. 13. The pitch bearing of claim 10, wherein each of the first plurality of roller elements defines a geometric center and each of the second plurality of roller elements defines a geometric center, wherein the raceway rib extends radially inwardly from the outer race to a radial location located radially inwardly relative to a reference line extending directly between the geometric centers of each of the first and second plurality of roller elements. 14. The pitch bearing of claim 13, wherein the raceway rib extends radially inwardly relative to the reference line such that an angle is defined between the reference line and a radially inner end of the raceway rib that ranges from greater than 0 degrees to about 60 degrees. 15. The pitch bearing of claim 10, wherein the axial gap corresponds to an open axial gap defined directly between the raceway rib and an outer circumference of the inner race along an axial length of the raceway rib defined between the first and second outer raceway walls. 16. A pitch bearing for coupling a rotor blade to a hub of a wind turbine, the pitch hearing comprising: an outer race configured to be coupled to the hub, the outer race defining a first outer raceway wall and a second outer raceway wall, the first outer raceway wall defining a curved profile having a center of curvature;an inner race rotatable relative to the outer race and configured to be coupled to the rotor blade, the inner race defining a first inner raceway wall and a second inner raceway wall, the first inner raceway wall defining a curved profile having a center of curvature;a first plurality of roller elements disposed between the first inner and outer raceway walls, each of the first plurality of roller elements defining a geometric center;a second plurality of rollers disposed between the second inner and outer raceway walls, each of the second plurality of roller elements defining a geometric center; anda raceway rib extending between the first and second plurality of roller elements, the raceway rib forming an extension of the outer race and separating the first outer raceway wall from the second outer raceway wall, the raceway rib extending radially inwardly from the outer race to a radial location located radially inwardly relative to a reference line extending directly between the geometric centers of each of the first and second plurality of roller elements,wherein the center of curvature for each of the first inner raceway wall and the first outer raceway wall is offset from the geometric center of each of the first plurality of roller elements,wherein an open axial gap is defined directly between the raceway rib and an outer circumference of the inner race along an axial length of the raceway rib defined between the first and second outer raceway walls,wherein the raceway rib extends radially inwardly relative to the reference line such that an angle is defined between the reference line and a radially inner end of the raceway rib that ranges from greater than 0 degrees to about 60 degrees. 17. The pitch bearing of claim 16, wherein the angle ranges from about 15 degrees to about 45 degrees. 18. The pitch bearing of claim 16, wherein a lubrication port is defined through the outer race, the lubrication port configured to supply a lubricant from a location outside the pitch bearing to a location between the first and second plurality of roller elements. 19. The pitch bearing of claim 16, wherein the open axial gap extends radially along an entire radial distance defined between the raceway rib and the outer circumference of the inner race. 20. The pitch bearing of claim 16, wherein a first gap is defined between the inner and outer races along an upper portion of the pitch bearing and a second gap is defined between the inner and outer races along a lower portion of the pitch bearing, further comprising a first sealing mechanism disposed within the first gap directly between the inner and outer races and a second sealing mechanism disposed within the second gap directly between the inner and outer races.
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이 특허에 인용된 특허 (15)
Jacob Werner (Frankfurt am Main DEX) Gtze Horst F. (Bodelshausen DEX), Annular multi-row bearing with shaped-wire races.
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