System and method for removing or installing a main shaft of a wind turbine with a push/pull system configured at an end of the main shaft

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10352305-B2
Application number	US-201715498790-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Apr 27, 2017
Priority date	Apr 27, 2017
Publication date	Jul 16, 2019
Grant date	Jul 16, 2019

Abstract

A method and system for removing or installing a main shaft and attached main bearing assembly of a wind turbine from a bedplate installed atop a wind turbine tower using an assist motive system configured at a downwind end of the main shaft to push or pull the main shaft out of or into the bedplate.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A method for removing an installed main shaft and attached main bearing assembly of a wind turbine from a bedplate in the field, wherein a rotor has been removed from an upwind end of the main shaft, a downwind end of the main shaft has been disconnected from a gearbox, and the gearbox has been removed from the bedplate, the method comprising:
supporting the upwind end of the main shaft with a rigging system, the rigging system suspended from a crane;
with an assist system fixed to the downwind end of the bedplate, pushing the downwind end of the main shaft partway through the bedplate, wherein the main shaft at the downwind end is supported on a bearing unit fixed in the bedplate and the main shaft at the upwind end is supported by the rigging system;
with the crane, supporting the upwind end of the main shaft to unload the bearing unit and slide the main shaft until the downwind end is free of the bearing unit;
with the crane fully supporting the main shaft, horizontally sliding the main shaft out from the bedplate.

2. The method of claim 1 , wherein the assist system is disconnected from the downwind end of the main shaft before or after the bearing unit is unloaded.

3. The method of claim 1 , wherein the assist system is any one or combination of an electrical, hydraulic, pneumatic, or electro/hydraulic system configured in a push mode at the downwind end of the main shaft.

4. The method of claim 3 , wherein the assist system comprises a hydraulic ram assembly, the method comprising configuring multiple hydraulic cylinders with rams at the downwind end of the main shaft in a manner to apply a uniform pushing force to the downwind end of the main shaft.

5. The method of claim 4 , wherein the hydraulic ram assembly includes a plate that bears directly or indirectly against the downwind end of the main shaft, the hydraulic cylinders and rams configured to apply the pushing force to the plate.

6. The method of claim 5 , further comprising fixing a ring to the downwind end of the bedplate around the main shaft, and fixing a rod to the ring for each hydraulic cylinder, the hydraulic cylinders and plate slid onto to the rods in an orientation such that the rams bear against stops on the rods and the cylinders are mounted to the plate.

7. The method of claim 3 , wherein the main shaft has a main bearing assembly fitted thereon adjacent the upwind end of the main shaft, the assist system having a push stroke sufficient to unseat the main bearing assembly and push a center of gravity of the main shaft and main bearing assembly out from the upwind end of the bedplate.

8. A method for installing a main shaft and attached main bearing assembly for a wind turbine in a bedplate in the field, wherein a generator has been removed from the bedplate, the method comprising:
connecting a rigging system to an upwind end of the main shaft, the rigging system suspended from a crane;
with the crane, fully supporting and moving the main shaft through the bedplate until a downwind end of the main shaft is positioned at a bearing unit fixed in the bedplate adjacent the downwind end of the bedplate; and
fixing an assist system to the downwind end of the bedplate in a pull configuration, and pulling the downwind end of the main shaft from the bedplate until the main bearing assembly fixed to the main shaft is seated in the bedplate, the main shaft supported by the bearing unit as it is pulled by the assist system.

9. The method of claim 8 , wherein the rigging system is disconnected from the upwind end of the main shaft after the main bearing assembly is seated in the bedplate.

10. The method of claim 8 , wherein the assist system is any one or combination of an electrical, hydraulic, pneumatic, or electro/hydraulic system configured in a pull mode at the downwind end of the main shaft.

11. The method of claim 10 , wherein the assist system is a hydraulic ram assembly in a pull configuration, the method comprising configuring multiple hydraulic cylinders with rams at the downwind end of the main shaft in a manner to apply a uniform pulling force to the downwind end of the main shaft.

12. The method of claim 11 , wherein the hydraulic ram assembly includes a first plate fixed directly or indirectly to the downwind end of the main shaft, the hydraulic cylinders and rams configured to apply the pulling force to the plate.

13. The method of claim 12 , wherein a pull plate is first fixed to the downwind end of the main shaft, the first plate fixed to the pull plate.

14. The method of claim 11 , wherein the hydraulic ram assembly has a pull stroke sufficient to seat the main bearing assembly in the bedplate.

15. The method of claim 11 , further comprising fixing a ring to the downwind end of the bedplate around the main shaft, and fixing a rod to the ring for each hydraulic cylinder, the hydraulic cylinders and first plate slid onto to the rods in an orientation such that the rams bear against the ring and the cylinders are fixed in position by stops on the rods.

Assignees

• Gen Electric

Inventors

• Vanderwalker Darrick Adam
• Thomas Gregory Clarence
• Qadir Jawan

Classifications

• F05B2230/61

  using auxiliary equipment for lifting or holding · CPC title

• F05B2240/60

  Shafts · CPC title

• F05B2230/70

  Disassembly methods · CPC title

• F03D80/70

  Bearing or lubricating arrangements · CPC title

• Y02E10/722

  Cross-Sectional Technologies · mapped topic