Bearing with alternative load path for extreme loads

• US 8,459,872 B2
• Filed: 10/10/2008
• Issued: 06/11/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 10/10/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: GE Infrastructure Technology, LLC (GE Vernova, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: General Electric Company
• Inventors: Nies, Jacob J., Bagepalli, Bharat S.
• Primary Examiner(s): Charles, Marcus
• Application Number:
  US12/249,003
• Publication Number:
  US 20100092120A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,705 Days
• Field of Search: 384/126, 384/492, 384/505, 384/513, 384/523, 384/564, 384/569, 384/609, 384618-619, 384/621, 384/445, 290/55, 290/44, 298/980.47, 298/980.59, 298/980.8
• US Class Current: 384/126
• CPC Class Codes: F03D 80/70 Bearing or lubricating arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: F05B 2240/50 Bearings
• CPC Class Codes: F16C 19/10 for axial load mainly
• CPC Class Codes: F16C 19/163 with angular contact
• CPC Class Codes: F16C 19/188 with at least one row for radial load in combination with at least one row for axial load
• CPC Class Codes: F16C 19/522 related to load on the bearing, e.g. bearings with load sensors or means to protect the bearing against overload
• CPC Class Codes: F16C 21/00 Combinations of sliding-contact bearings with ball or roller bearings, for exclusively rotary movement F16C17/24, F16C19/52 take precedence
• 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 33/3706 with concave surfaces conforming to the shape of the rolling elements, e.g. the spacing bodies are in sliding contact with the rolling elements
• CPC Class Codes: F16C 33/3806 Details of interaction of cage and race, e.g. retention, centring
• CPC Class Codes: F16C 33/3837 Massive or moulded cages having cage pockets surrounding the balls, e.g. machined window cages
• CPC Class Codes: F16C 39/02 using mechanical means
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 10/72 Wind turbines with rotation axis in wind direction

Abstract

A bearing is provided having a first race, a second race and one or more rolling elements. The bearing includes an alternate load path for extreme loads, and the alternate load path is formed between the first race and the second race. At least a portion of the extreme loads is diverted away from the rolling elements.

Claims

1. A bearing having a first race, a second race and one or more rolling elements, said bearing comprising:

a load path for normal loads, the load path transmitting load from the first race through the one or more rolling elements to the second race; and

an alternate load path for extreme loads, said alternate load path formed between said first race and said second race substantially bypassing the one or more rolling elements.

2. The bearing of claim 1, wherein a shoulder is formed on said first race, said shoulder forming a portion of said alternate load path.

3. The bearing of claim 1, wherein a shoulder is formed on said second race, said shoulder forming a portion of said alternate load path.

4. The bearing of claim 1, wherein at least one spacing element is arranged between said one or more rolling elements, said at least one spacing element forming a portion of said alternate load path.

5. The bearing of claim 4, wherein said at least one spacing element comprises a cage formed around at least a portion of said one or more rolling elements.

6. The bearing of claim 1 wherein said one or more rolling elements are chosen from at least one of the following group:

a ball, a sphere, a roller, a tapered roller, a barrel shaped roller and a cylindrical element.

7. The bearing of claim 1, wherein said bearing is used as a pitch bearing in one or more blades of a wind turbine.

8. The bearing of claim 1, wherein said bearing is used as a yaw bearing between a nacelle and a tower of a wind turbine.

9. The bearing of claim 1, further comprising:

at least one cavity formed in said first race;

at least one projection formed on said second race, said at least one projection extending at least partially into said at least one cavity;

wherein said alternate load path for extreme loads is formed between said first race, said at least one projection, said at least one cavity and said second race.

10. The bearing of claim 1, further comprising:

at least one shoulder formed on at least one of said first race and said second race, said at least one shoulder forming a portion of said alternate load path;

wherein said at least one shoulder is at least partially contained within a lubricating zone of said bearing.