초록 ▼

The current invention relates to a pivot linkage device comprising at least one rolling bearing comprising at least one inner cage, one outer cage and a plurality of rolling elements denoted as the bearing components, the device further comprising means for protection against high voltage transients

The current invention relates to a pivot linkage device comprising at least one rolling bearing comprising at least one inner cage, one outer cage and a plurality of rolling elements denoted as the bearing components, the device further comprising means for protection against high voltage transients, wherein said protection means are exclusively formed by said bearing components, said bearing components being loaded by loading means arranged in such a manner that a direct electrical connection exists between these components. The current invention also relates to a method for protecting a bearing against high voltage transients by applying a preloading to the bearing's components.

대표청구항 ▼

1. A pivot linkage device comprising a shaft and a housing, the shaft and the housing being rotatable with respect to each other, the pivot linkage device comprising at least one rotatable rolling bearing, each rolling bearing comprising at least one inner race, one outer race and a plurality of rol

1. A pivot linkage device comprising a shaft and a housing, the shaft and the housing being rotatable with respect to each other, the pivot linkage device comprising at least one rotatable rolling bearing, each rolling bearing comprising at least one inner race, one outer race and a plurality of rolling elements, the inner race of said bearing being attached to the shaft, the outer race being attached to the housing, said rolling bearing comprising static parts and rotating parts as the rolling bearing rotates, said static parts and said rotating parts including one of the inner race and the outer race, said rotating parts further including said rolling elements, the rotating and static parts of said rolling bearing being initially separated by a lubrication layer,wherein the pivot linkage device applies a load to at least one of the inner race, the outer race, and the rolling elements of each rolling bearing, said load depending upon the type and dimensions of the rolling bearing,said load being applied to reduce the thickness of the lubrication layer to a point where a direct electrical connection is created between the rotating and the static parts of said rolling bearing, during the rotation of said rolling bearing, which protects the pivot linkage device against high voltage transients. 2. The pivot linkage device according to claim 1, wherein the pivot linkage device comprises two rolling bearings in an opposed-mounting construction, the inner races of the two rolling bearings being attached to the shaft and resting on shoulders, the outer races being attached to the housing, the pivot linkage device comprising a compression spring configured to apply said load, said load tending to put the outer races of the two rolling bearings away from each other. 3. The pivot linkage device according to claim 1, wherein the pivot linkage device comprises two rolling bearings in an opposed-mounting construction, the inner races of the two rolling bearings being attached to the shaft and resting on shoulders, the outer races being attached to the housing and resting on shoulders formed by grooves realized in the housing, the load resulting from determined dimensions of the assembly comprising the outer races, the inner races, the shoulders and the grooves, said load being generated by determining the distance between the shoulders formed by the grooves realized in the housing and the distance between the shoulders formed around the shaft so that the inner races tend to be put closer to each other, while the outer races tend to be put away from each other. 4. The pivot linkage device according to claim 1, wherein the pivot linkage device comprises one rolling bearing, the shaft being force-inserted in the inner race, and the outer race being force-inserted in the housing to apply said load as a pre-load. 5. The pivot linkage device according to claim 1, wherein said at least one rolling bearing is formed by a cross roller bearing comprising rollers, the outer race of said cross roller bearing being formed by two parallel outer rings separated by a gap having an adjustable width, said load being formed by the efforts applied on said rollers, the efforts applied on said rollers depending on the width of the gap. 6. The pivot linkage device according to claim 5, wherein the housing comprises two shoulders and a screw, the two parallel outer rings resting on the two shoulders, the two shoulders being formed in two distinct parts, joined by means of a screw, the width of said gap being adjustable by tightening or loosening of the screw. 7. The pivot linkage device according to claim 1, wherein said at least one rolling bearing is formed by a wire ball bearing, a set of a plurality of balls being caged between two inner wires and two outer wires, the two outer wires resting on two shoulders formed in the housing in two distinct parts, joined by means of a screw, said load being adjustable by tightening or loosening of the screw. 8. A method of protecting a pivot linkage device against high voltage transients, the pivot linkage device comprising a shaft and a housing, the shaft and the housing being rotatable with respect to each other, the pivot linkage device comprising at least one rotatable rolling, each rolling bearing comprising at least one inner race, one outer race and a plurality of rolling elements, the inner race of said bearing being attached to the shaft, the outer race being attached to the housing, said bearing components comprising static parts and rotating parts as the rolling bearing rotates, said static parts and said rotating parts including one of the inner race and the outer race, said rotating parts further including said rolling elements, the rotating and static parts of said rolling bearing being initially separated by a lubrication layer, wherein the method comprises a step of applying a load to at least one of the inner race, the outer race, and the rolling elements of each bearing component, said load depending upon the type and dimensions of the rolling bearing,said load being applied to reduce the thickness of the lubrication layer to a point where a direct electrical connection is created between the rotating and the static parts of said rolling bearing, during the rotation of said rolling bearing, which protects the pivot linkage device against high voltage transients. 9. A wind turbine comprising a pivot linkage device, wherein the pivot linkage device comprises a shaft and a housing, the shaft and the housing being rotatable with respect to each other, the wind turbine comprising blades mounted around the shaft of the pivot linkage device, the pivot linkage device comprising at least one rotatable rolling bearing, each rolling bearing comprising at least one inner race, one outer race and a plurality of rolling elements, the inner race of said rolling bearing being attached to the shaft, the outer race being attached to the housing, said rolling bearing comprising static parts and rotating parts as the rolling bearing rotates, said static parts and said rotating parts including one of the inner race and the outer race, said rotating parts further including said rolling elements, the rotating and static parts of said rolling bearing being initially separated by a lubrication layer,wherein the pivot linkage device is configured to apply applies a load to at least one of the inner race, the outer race, and the rolling elements of each rolling bearing, said load depending upon the type and dimensions of the rolling bearing,said load being applied to reduce the thickness of the lubrication layer to a point where a direct electrical connection is created between the rotating and the static parts of said rolling bearing, during the rotation of said rolling bearing, which protects the pivot linkage device against high voltage transients. 10. A radar system comprising at least one rotating antenna, the radar system comprising at least one a pivot linkage device, wherein the pivot linkage device comprises a shaft and a housing, the shaft and the housing being rotatable with respect to each other, the rotating antenna being attached to the shaft of the pivot linkage device, the pivot linkage device comprising at least one rotatable rolling bearing, each rolling bearing component comprising at least one inner race, one outer race and a plurality of rolling elements, the inner race of said rolling bearing being attached to the shaft, the outer race being attached to the housing, said rolling bearing comprising static parts and rotating parts as the rolling bearing rotates, said static parts and said rotating parts including one of the inner race and the outer race, said rotating parts further including said rolling elements, the rotating and static parts of said rolling bearing being initially separated by a lubrication layer,wherein the pivot linkage device applies a load to at least one of the inner race, the outer race, and the rolling elements of each bearing component, said load depending upon the type and dimensions of the rolling bearing,said load being applied to reduce the thickness of the lubrication layer to a point where a direct electrical connection is created between the rotating and the static parts of said rolling bearing, during the rotation of said rolling bearing, which protects the pivot linkage device against high voltage transients.