MACHINE SYSTEM HAVING A LUBRICATION SYSTEM

• US 20130288843A1
• Filed: 10/17/2011
• Published: 10/31/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 10/15/2010
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Vestas Wind Systems A/S
• Original Assignee: Vestas Wind Systems A/S
• Inventors: Demtrder, Jens, Baum, Jochen, Rschoff, Ralf
• Application Number:
  US13/878,709
• Publication Number:
  US 20130288843A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 475/160
• CPC Class Codes: F01M 5/00 Heating, cooling, or controlling temperature of lubricant arrangement of lubricant coolers in engine cooling system F01P11/08; Lubrication means facilitating engine starting
• CPC Class Codes: F01M 5/001 Heating
• CPC Class Codes: F01M 5/002 Cooling
• CPC Class Codes: F01M 5/005 Controlling temperature of lubricant
• CPC Class Codes: F05B 2260/98 Lubrication
• CPC Class Codes: F16H 57/0413 Controlled cooling or heating of lubricant; Temperature control therefor
• CPC Class Codes: F16H 57/0436 Pumps

Abstract

The present invention relates to a machine system comprising a machine having at least a first section and a second section, the first section having a first velocity and the second section having a second velocity, the second velocity being different from the first velocity, and a lubrication system comprising at least one tank having one lubricant, the lubrication system being connected to the first and second sections. Furthermore, the invention relates to a wind turbine comprising the machine system.

Claims

1. A machine system comprising:

a machine having at least a first section and a second section, the first section having a first velocity and the second section having a second velocity, the second velocity being different from the first velocity,

a lubrication system comprising at least one tank having one lubricant, the lubrication system being connected to the first and second sections, wherein at least one property of the lubricant is changed before the lubricant is introduced into at least one of the sections.

2. The machine system according to claim 1, wherein the property of the lubricant is a temperature and/or a viscosity.

3. The machine system according to claim 1, wherein the tank comprises a heat exchanger.

4. The machine system according to claim 1, wherein the machine comprises a plurality of sections, each having a velocity which is different from the velocities of the other sections.

5. The machine system according to claim 1, wherein at least one heat exchanger is arranged between the tank and the machine for changing the temperature of the lubricant before it is introduced into a section of the machine.

6. The machine system according to claim 1, wherein a heat transfer system is arranged in connection with each section.

7. The machine system according to claim 1, wherein the lubricant is led back into the tank after having been in a section of the machine.

8. The machine system according to claim 1, wherein the sections of the machine have at least partially fluid-tight separations.

9. The machine system according to claim 1, wherein the temperature of the lubricant present in the tank is maintained above a predetermined level.

10. The machine system according to claim 9, wherein the predetermined level is between 0 degrees Celsius and 70 degrees Celsius, preferably between 0 degrees Celsius and 30 degrees Celsius.

11. The machine system according to claim 1, wherein the temperature of the lubricant introduced into the first section is between 30 degrees Celsius and 50 degrees Celsius.

12. The machine system according to claim 1, wherein the temperature of the lubricant introduced into the second section is between 50 degrees Celsius and 80 degrees Celsius.

13. The machine system according to claim 1, wherein the machine is a gearbox.

14. The machine system according to claim 1, wherein the first section and/or the second section comprise(s) a plurality of stages, each stage having individual stage velocities.

15. The machine system according to claim 14, wherein the stage velocities comprised in the same section may be substantially identical to or different from each other.

16. The machine system according to claim 15, wherein the sections and/or stages comprise movable gear parts and/or bearings.

17. The machine system according to claim 13, wherein the gearbox has planetary gear stages, is a planetary coupled gearbox or is a differential gearbox.

18. The machine system according to claim 1, wherein the lubrication system comprises pressure sensors adapted to measure a pressure of the lubricant, at least at an inlet to the sections.

19. The machine system according to claim 18, wherein the pressure sensors are connected to a control unit which is adapted to control a pump to ensure that a flow, and thereby the pressure, of the lubricant has a predetermined level before the lubricant is introduced into a specific section.

20. The machine system according to claim 1, wherein an inlet flow of lubricant to a first section is different from an inlet flow of lubricant to a second section.

21. The machine system according to claim 1, wherein the lubrication system comprises temperature sensors adapted to measure a temperature of the lubricant, at least at an inlet to the sections.

22. The machine system according to claim 21, wherein the temperature sensors are connected to a control unit which is adapted to control the heat exchanger to ensure that the temperature of the lubricant has a predetermined level before the lubricant is introduced into a specific section.

23. A wind turbine comprising the machine system according to claim 1.

24. The wind turbine according to claim 23, wherein the machine system is a gearbox system.

25. A method for lubricating a machine system, the machine system comprising:

a machine having at least a first section and a second section, the first section having a first velocity and the second section having a second velocity, the second velocity being different from the first velocity,

a lubrication system comprising at least one tank having one lubricant, the lubrication system being connected to the first and second sections, wherein the method comprises the step of changing at least one property of the lubricant before the lubricant is introduced into at least one of the sections.

26. The method according to claim 25, wherein the property of the lubricant is a temperature and/or a viscosity.

27. The method according to claim 25, wherein a temperature of the lubricant is changed before it is introduced into a section of the machine by means of at least one heat exchanger arranged between the tank and the machine.

28. The method according to claim 25, wherein the lubricant is led back into the tank after having been in a section of the machine.

29. The method according to claim 25, wherein the temperature of the lubricant present in the tank is maintained above a predetermined level.

30. The method according to claim 29, wherein the predetermined level is between 0 degrees Celsius and 70 degrees Celsius, preferably between 0 degrees Celsius and 30 degrees Celsius.

31. The method according to claim 25, wherein the temperature/viscosity of the lubricant introduced into the first section is between 30 degrees Celsius and 50 degrees Celsius.

32. The method according to claim 25, wherein the temperature of the lubricant introduced into the second section is between 50 degrees Celsius and 80 degrees Celsius.

33. The method according to claim 25, wherein a pressure of the lubricant is measured by a pressure sensors, at least at an inlet to the sections.

34. The method according to claim 33, wherein the pressure sensors are connected to a control unit which is adapted to control a pump to ensure that a flow, and thereby the pressure, of the lubricant has a predetermined level before the lubricant is introduced into a specific section.

35. The method according to claim 25, wherein an inlet flow of lubricant to a first section is different from an inlet flow of lubricant to a second section.

36. The method according to claim 25, wherein a temperature of the lubricant is measured by temperature sensors, at least at an inlet to the sections.

37. The method according to claim 36, wherein the temperature sensors are connected to a control unit which is adapted to control the heat exchanger to ensure that the temperature of the lubricant has a predetermined level before the lubricant is introduced into a specific section.