System and Method for Removing or Installing a Main Shaft of a Wind Turbine

• US 20170211547A1
• Filed: 01/27/2016
• Published: 07/27/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 01/27/2016
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: GE Infrastructure Technology, LLC (General Electric Company)
• Original Assignee: General Electric Company
• Inventors: Thomas, Gregory Clarence, Ohl, JR., Richard Arland, Trojcak, Charles Wade, Signore, Jonathan Paul
• Granted Patent: US 10,443,572 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• CPC Class Codes: F03D 13/10 Assembly of wind motors; Arrangements for erecting wind motors
• CPC Class Codes: F03D 80/50 Maintenance or repair
• CPC Class Codes: F05B 2230/60 Assembly methods
• CPC Class Codes: F05B 2230/61 using auxiliary equipment for lifting or holding
• CPC Class Codes: F05B 2230/70 Disassembly methods
• CPC Class Codes: F05B 2240/61 hollow
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 10/72 Wind turbines with rotation axis in wind direction
• CPC Class Codes: Y02P 70/50 Manufacturing or production processes characterised by the final manufactured product

Abstract

The present disclosure is directed to a system and method for removing or installing a main shaft of a drivetrain assembly of a wind turbine to and from a nacelle installed atop a wind turbine tower. The rail system includes at least one support component configured to support the main shaft. Further, the support component is configured horizontally with respect to the main shaft. The rail system also includes at least one sliding component connected between the support component and the main shaft. Thus, the sliding component is configured to move horizontally with respect to the support component so as to slide the main shaft between an installed position and an uninstalled position.

Claims

1. A rail system for removing or installing a main shaft of a drivetrain assembly of a wind turbine to and from a nacelle installed atop a wind turbine tower, the rail system comprising:

at least one support component configured to support the main shaft, the support component configured substantially horizontally with respect to the main shaft; and

,

at least one sliding component connected between the support component and the main shaft,

wherein the sliding component is configured to move horizontally with respect to the support component so as to slide the main shaft between an installed position and an uninstalled position.

2. The rail system of claim 1, wherein the at least one support component is configured above or below the main shaft.

3. The rail system of claim 1, wherein the at least one support component further comprises parallel support arms.

4. The rail system of claim 3, further comprising at least one sliding component configured with each of the parallel support arms.

5. The rail system of claim 4, wherein each of the parallel support arms comprises a track and each of the sliding components comprises at least one rolling element configured within each track.

6. The rail system of claim 5, wherein each of the sliding components further comprises at least one strap connected between each rolling element and the main shaft.

7. The rail system of claim 6, wherein the straps are configured circumferentially around the main shaft.

8. The rail system of claim 3, wherein the parallel support arms are secured to each other via at least one rod component configured perpendicularly with the parallel support arms.

9. The rail system of claim 3, further comprising a structural support configured with each of the parallel support arms.

10. The rail system of claim 9, wherein the structural supports are secured to a bedplate of the wind turbine via one or more fasteners.

11. The rail system of claim 1, further comprising a push component configured to push or pull the main shaft during removal or installation thereof.

12. The rail system of claim 11, wherein the push component is mounted to an aft end of a bearing housing of the main shaft.

13. A method for removing an installed main shaft of a drivetrain assembly of a wind turbine from a nacelle installed atop a wind turbine tower, the method comprising:

mounting at least one support component within the nacelle of the wind turbine in a substantially horizontal orientation with respect to the main shaft;

securing at least one sliding component to the support component and to the main shaft; and

,

horizontally sliding the main shaft from within the nacelle to an outside location of the nacelle via the sliding component.

14. The method of claim 13, further comprising lowering the main shaft to a ground location via a crane.

15. The method of claim 13, wherein mounting at least one support component within the nacelle in the substantially horizontal orientation with respect to the main shaft further comprises:

securing parallel support arms above or below the main shaft, wherein each of the parallel support arms comprises a track.

16. The method of claim 15, wherein securing at least one sliding component between the support component and to the main shaft further comprises:

securing a rolling element within each of the tracks of the parallel support arms, and

securing a strap to each rolling element and circumferentially around the main shaft.

17. The method of claim 15, further comprising securing at least one rod component perpendicularly between the parallel support arms.

18. The method of claim 15, further comprising anchoring the parallel support arms to the nacelle.

19. The method of claim 15, further comprising mounting a push component to an aft end of a bearing housing of the main shaft, wherein the push component is configured to push or pull the main shaft during removal or installation thereof.

20. A method for installing a main shaft of a drivetrain assembly of a wind turbine within a nacelle installed atop a wind turbine tower, the method comprising:

mounting parallel support arms above the main shaft within the nacelle of the wind turbine in a substantially horizontal orientation with respect to the main shaft, each of the parallel support arms comprising a track;

securing at least one sliding component within each of the tracks of the parallel support arms;

lifting the main shaft from a ground location to the nacelle installed atop the tower;

securing the main shaft to the sliding component; and

,

horizontally sliding the main shaft within the nacelle via the sliding component.