Bearing For Wind Turbine

• US 20120237152A1
• Filed: 09/14/2010
• Published: 09/20/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 09/15/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Ricardo UK Limited (Ricardo PLC)
• Original Assignee: Ricardo UK Limited (Ricardo PLC)
• Inventors: Wheals, Jonathan Charles
• Granted Patent: US 9,556,901 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 384/548
• CPC Class Codes: F16C 19/26 with a single row of rollers
• CPC Class Codes: F16C 19/52 with devices affected by abnormal or undesired conditions
• CPC Class Codes: F16C 2226/16 by wedge action, e.g. by tapered or conical parts
• CPC Class Codes: F16C 2300/14 Large applications, e.g. bearings having an inner diameter exceeding 500 mm
• CPC Class Codes: F16C 2360/31 Wind motors
• CPC Class Codes: F16C 25/06 Ball or roller bearings
• CPC Class Codes: F16C 35/073 between shaft and inner race ring
• CPC Class Codes: F16C 35/078 using pressure fluid as mounting aid
• CPC Class Codes: F16C 41/001 Integrated brakes or clutches for stopping or coupling the relatively movable parts
• CPC Class Codes: F16D 1/09 with radial clamping due to axial loading of at least one pair of conical surfaces tapered keys F16D1/0882
• CPC Class Codes: F16D 1/091 and comprising a chamber including a tapered piston moved axially by fluid pressure to effect clamping
• CPC Class Codes: F16D 2001/0906 using a hydraulic fluid to clamp or disconnect, not provided for in F16D1/091

Abstract

A bearing assembly (12) for a rotating element (13) has one race (15) adapted to be fixed relative to ground (11) and to selectively be free for arcuate movement relative to ground. A selective locking device (18) can be provided for the relatively fixed/movable race (15).

Claims

1. A bearing assembly for a rotating element and comprising a race adapted to be fixed relative to ground in use, wherein the assembly is further adapted to selectively free said race for arcuate movement relative to ground.

2. A bearing assembly according to claim 1, and comprising an inner race, and an outer race concentric with the inner race, one of the races being adapted for fixing against rotation on a ground element.

3. An assembly according to claim 1, and further including a locking device adapted to engage one of said races on demand.

4. An assembly according to claim 3, wherein said locking device is adapted to engage a peripheral surface of one of the inner and outer races.

5. An assembly according to claim 4, wherein said locking device is adapted to engage a circumferential surface of one of the inner and outer races.

6. An assembly according to claim 5, wherein said locking device is an axially movable wedge.

7. An assembly according to claim 3, and further including a thruster for said locking device.

8. An assembly according to claim 7, wherein said thruster comprises a cam ring rotatable about the rotational axis of said bearing assembly.

9. An assembly according to claim 7, and further including apparatus for arcuately advancing one of said races on demand.

10. An assembly according to claim 9, wherein said apparatus comprises said thruster.

11. An assembly according to claim 1, and confined with a tubular envelope defined by the outer diameter of said outer race and the inner diameter of said inner race.

12. A bearing assembly for a rotating element and comprising a race adapted to be fixed relative to ground in use, wherein the assembly is further adapted to selectively free said race for arcuate movement relative to ground, the bearing assembly comprising an inner race, and an outer race concentric with the inner race, one of the races being adapted for fixing against rotation on a ground element, further including a locking device adapted to engage one of said races on demand.

13. An assembly according to claim 12, wherein said locking device is adapted to engage a peripheral surface of one of the inner and outer races.

14. An assembly according to claim 13, wherein said locking device is adapted to engage a circumferential surface of one of the inner and outer races.

15. An assembly according to claim 14, wherein said locking device is an axially movable wedge.

16. An assembly according to claim 12, and further including a thruster for said locking device.

17. An assembly according to claim 16, wherein said thruster comprises a cam ring rotatable about the rotational axis of said bearing assembly.

18. An assembly according to claim 16, and further including apparatus for arcuately advancing one of said races on demand.

19. An assembly according to claim 18, wherein said apparatus comprises said thruster.

20. An assembly according to claim 12, and confined with a tubular envelope defined by the outer diameter of said outer race and the inner diameter of said inner race.