Gearbox for a wind turbine

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10495070-B2
Application number	US-201815906982-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Feb 27, 2018
Priority date	Feb 28, 2017
Publication date	Dec 3, 2019
Grant date	Dec 3, 2019

Abstract

A gearbox for a wind turbine, which has at least one first and one second shaft, which are arranged parallel to each other and supported in roller bearings. A preload device for the roller bearings is provided, wherein the preload device generates a preload force between the first and the second shaft and is supported with one end on the shafts in each case.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A gearbox for a wind turbine, the gearbox comprising:
at least four roller bearings including a first roller bearing, a second roller bearing, a third roller bearing and a fourth roller bearing;
a first shaft supported by said first roller bearing and said second roller bearing;
a second shaft arranged parallel to said first shaft and supported by said third roller bearing and said fourth roller bearing;
a preload device for said four roller bearings; said preload device having a first end and a second end;
said preload device being configured to generate a preload force between said first shaft and said second shaft; and,
said preload device being supported on said first shaft via said first end and supported on said second shaft via said second end.

2. The gearbox of claim 1 , wherein said preload device includes at least one hydraulic unit.

3. The gearbox of claim 2 further comprising:
a lubricant applied in said gearbox;
said hydraulic unit being configured to, optionally, have a hydraulic fluid applied thereto; and,
said hydraulic fluid being compatible with said lubricant applied in said gearbox.

4. The gearbox of claim 3 , wherein said hydraulic fluid is identical to said lubricant.

5. The gearbox of claim 1 further comprising:
a first further bearing;
a second further bearing;
said first further bearing being a roller bearing or a sliding bearing;
said second further bearing being a roller bearing or a sliding bearing; and,
said preload device being supported on said first shaft via said first further bearing and on said second shaft via said second further bearing.

6. The gearbox of claim 5 further comprising:
a first support ring provided with a first receiver and connected to said first further bearing; and,
a second support ring provided with a second receiver and connected to said second further bearing.

7. The gearbox of claim 2 further comprising:
a first push rod;
a second push rod;
said hydraulic unit having a hydraulic cylinder and a hydraulic piston;
said hydraulic cylinder being connected to said first push rod; and,
said hydraulic piston being connected to said second push rod.

8. The gearbox of claim 2 further comprising:
a push rod;
said hydraulic unit having a hydraulic cylinder and a hydraulic piston; and,
at least one of said hydraulic cylinder and said hydraulic piston being connected to said push rod.

9. The gearbox of claim 1 , wherein:
said first roller bearing and said third roller bearing are configured as floating bearings; and,
said preload device is mounted between said first shaft and said second shaft near said floating bearings.

10. The gearbox of claim 1 , wherein:
said first shaft is an output shaft configured to rotate rapidly;
said second shaft is an intermediate shaft; and,
said preload device acts between said output shaft and said intermediate shaft.

11. The gearbox of claim 2 , wherein:
said preload device has a preload spring; and,
said at least one hydraulic unit is configured, when actuated, to remove a preloading of said preload spring.

Assignees

• Nordex Energy Gmbh

Inventors

• Adler Florian
• Dreher Moritz

Classifications

• F05B2240/54

  Radial bearings · CPC title

• F16C2361/61

  Toothed gear systems, e.g. support of pinion shafts · CPC title

• F16H1/28

  with gears having orbital motion · CPC title

• F05B2270/331

  Mechanical loads · CPC title

• F03D15/00

  Transmission of mechanical power · CPC title