Wind turbine power transmission system

US9771924B2 · kind B2 · utility

Assignee

• Vestas Wind Systems A/S · DK

Inventors

• Jens Demtröder · Rønde, DK
• Christoph Bugiel · Strasbourg, FR
• Andreas Lakämper · Kirchheimbolanden, DE
• Michael Lundgaard Bitsch · Hillsboro, US
• Ralf Rüschoff · Datteln, DE
• Antonino Pizzuto · Bad Breisig, DE
• Søren Skovlund

Key dates

• Filing date: Oct 17, 2011
• Grant date: Sep 26, 2017
• Expiry date: Jan 26, 2035

Classification

• Technology area (CPC Y): Emerging Cross-Sectional Technologies
• CPC primary: Y10T29/49009
• WIPO field: Engines, pumps, turbines
• WIPO sector: Mechanical engineering

Abstract

A power transmission system for increasing the rotational speed from a rotor of a wind turbine comprises a main shaft configured to be driven by the rotor, a support structure, and a gearbox. The support structure includes at least one bearing supporting the main shaft for rotation about the main axis, with no other degrees of freedom between the main shaft and support structure. The gearbox includes a gearbox housing rigidly coupled to the support structure and a gearbox input member coupled to the main shaft. The gearbox housing supports the gearbox input member for rotation about the main axis without any other degrees of freedom, and the gearbox input member is coupled to the main shaft with translational degrees of freedom in all directions and rotational degrees of freedom about axes perpendicular to the main axis.