WIND TURBINE TORQUE LIMITING CLUTCH SYSTEM
First Claim
1. In a wind turbine power generating system comprising a wind turbine connected to a speed increasing gearbox having a high speed output shaft and an electrical generator having an input shaft, the improvement comprising:
- a coupling system interconnecting said output and input shafts, said coupling system being asymmetrical, having a first characteristic slip torque in a first forward rotational drive direction, and a second characteristic slip torque in a second reverse rotational drive direction.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A wind turbine power generating system includes a wind turbine connected to a speed increasing gearbox having an output shaft. An electrical generator having an input shaft is also provided. An asymmetrical coupling interconnects the input and output shafts. The coupling includes a first torque limiting clutch in series connection with a one-way clutch between the input and output shafts. A second torque limiting clutch is provided in parallel connection with the one-way clutch between the input and output shafts. The first and second torque limiting clutches have different characteristic slip torques. The interconnection of the clutches, and the implementation of the one-way clutch, provides for effective operation of the first and second torque limiting clutches in opposite rotational directions of the input and output shafts. The second torque limiting clutch has a characteristic slip torque that is a fraction of the first torque limiting clutch, the second torque limiting clutch providing protection against reverse impulse loads.
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Citations
20 Claims
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1. In a wind turbine power generating system comprising a wind turbine connected to a speed increasing gearbox having a high speed output shaft and an electrical generator having an input shaft, the improvement comprising:
a coupling system interconnecting said output and input shafts, said coupling system being asymmetrical, having a first characteristic slip torque in a first forward rotational drive direction, and a second characteristic slip torque in a second reverse rotational drive direction. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16)
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17. A wind turbine power generating system, comprising:
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a wind turbine connected to a speed increasing gearbox having a high speed output shaft; an electrical generator having an input shaft; and an asymmetrical torque limiting coupling interconnecting said input and output shafts, said asymmetrical torque limiting coupling comprising a first torque limiting clutch in series connection with a one-way clutch between said input and output shafts, and a second torque limiting clutch in parallel connection with said one-way clutch between said input and output shafts, said first and second torque limiting clutches having different characteristic slip torques. - View Dependent Claims (18, 19, 20)
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Specification