WIND TURBINE WITH GEAR INDICATING WEAR

• US 20110138951A1
• Filed: 09/28/2010
• Published: 06/16/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 09/28/2010
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: General Electric Company
• Original Assignee: General Electric Company
• Inventors: Pemrick, James Warren, Mashue, Aaron John
• Application Number:
  US12/891,912
• Publication Number:
  US 20110138951A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 74/457
• CPC Class Codes: F16H 2001/2881 comprising two axially spaced central gears, i.e. ring or sun gear, engaged by at least one common orbital gear wherein one of the central gears is forming the output
• CPC Class Codes: F16H 2057/012 of gearings
• CPC Class Codes: F16H 55/17 Toothed wheels worm wheels F16H55/22; chain wheels F16H55/30
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 74/19 Gearing
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 74/19949 Teeth

Abstract

A wind turbine is provided having a tower, a nacelle supported by the tower and a rotor with one or more blades and a hub. A gearbox is connected to the rotor and includes one or more gears having a wear indicating line that facilitates identification of gear wear. The wear indicating lines are located on side surfaces of the one or more gears.

Claims

1. A wind turbine comprising:

a tower;

a nacelle supported by the tower;

a rotor comprising one or more blades and a hub;

a gear box connected to the rotor, the gearbox comprising one or more gears having at least one wear indicating line that facilitates identification of gear wear;

wherein the at least one wear indicating line is located on side surfaces of the one or more gears.

2. The wind turbine of claim 1, further comprising a plurality of teeth on each of the one or more gears, wherein the at least one wear indicating line is located on side surfaces of the plurality of the teeth.

3. The wind turbine of claim 1, wherein the at least one wear indicating line is comprised of a recessed groove.

4. The wind turbine of claim 3, wherein the at least one wear indicating line is segmented and comprised of a plurality of alternating grooved regions and flush regions.

5. The wind turbine of claim 1, wherein the at least one wear indicating line is comprised of a raised rib.

6. The wind turbine of claim 5, wherein the at least one wear indicating line is segmented and comprised of a plurality of alternating ribbed regions and flush regions.

7. The wind turbine of claim 1, wherein the at least one wear indicating line is comprised of a roughened surface.

8. The wind turbine of claim 1, wherein the at least one wear indicating line is comprised of at least one of:

a polished surface, a reflective surface, a fluorescent material, a phosphorescent material and a magnetic material.

9. The wind turbine of claim 1, wherein the at least one wear indicating line is comprised of at least two or more of:

a recessed groove, a raised rib, a roughened surface, a polished surface, a reflective surface, a fluorescent material, a phosphorescent material and a magnetic material.

10. The wind turbine of claim 1, wherein the at least one wear indicating line is spaced a predetermined distance from bearing surfaces of the one or more gears.

11. A gearbox for a wind turbine comprising:

one or more gears having at least one wear indicating line that facilitates identification of gear wear;

wherein the at least one wear indicating line is located on side surfaces of the one or more gears.

12. The gearbox of claim 11, further comprising a plurality of teeth on each of the one or more gears, wherein the at least one wear indicating line is located on side surfaces of the plurality of the teeth.

13. The gearbox of claim 11, wherein the at least one wear indicating line is comprised of recessed grooves.

14. The gearbox of claim 13, wherein the at least one wear indicating line is segmented and comprised of a plurality of alternating grooved regions and flush regions.

15. The gearbox of claim 11, wherein the at least one wear indicating line is comprised of raised ribs.

16. The gearbox of claim 15, wherein the at least one wear indicating line is segmented and comprised of a plurality of alternating ribbed regions and flush regions.

17. The gearbox of claim 11, wherein the at least one wear indicating line is comprised of a roughened surface.

18. The gearbox of claim 11, wherein the at least one wear indicating line is comprised of at least one:

a polished surface, a reflective surface, a fluorescent material, a phosphorescent material and a magnetic material.

19. The gearbox of claim 11, wherein the at least one wear indicating line is comprised of at least two or more of:

a recessed groove, a raised rib, a roughened surface, a polished surface, a reflective surface, a fluorescent material, a phosphorescent material and a magnetic material.

20. The gearbox of claim 11, wherein the at least one wear indicating line is spaced a predetermined distance from bearing surfaces of the one or more gears.