Splittable pitch tube

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10935004-B2
Application number	US-201716078023-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jan 26, 2017
Priority date	Feb 23, 2016
Publication date	Mar 2, 2021
Grant date	Mar 2, 2021

Abstract

A pitch tube includes a first tube part and a second tube part. The first tube part and the second tube part are detachably connected to each other.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. A pitch tube for housing cables to be used in performing an adjustment of a pitch angle of a propeller of a wind turbine, the pitch tube comprising:
a first tube part; and
a second tube part;
wherein the first tube part and the second tube part are configured to be detachably connected to each other so as to form a hollow body configured to carry the cables to be used in performing the adjustment of the pitch angle of the propeller of the wind turbine,
wherein the first tube part includes a support surface and the second tube part includes a support surface,
wherein the support surface of the first tube part and the support surface of the second tube part support each other in at least one radial direction,
wherein the first tube part includes a second support surface and the second tube part includes a second support surface,
wherein the second support surface of the first tube part and the second support surface of the second tube part support each other in at least one radial direction,
wherein a first region of the first tube part and a first region of the second tube part are axially offset relative to each other,
wherein a second region of the first tube part and a second region of the second tube part are detachably connected to each other,
wherein the second region of the first tube part is axially positioned between the support surface and the second support surface of the first tube part,
wherein the second region of the second tube part is axially positioned between the support surface and the second support surface of the second tube part,
wherein the support surface of the first tube part and the support surface of the second tube part are conical, and
wherein the second support surface of the first tube part and the second support surface of the second tube part are conical.

2. The pitch tube of claim 1 , wherein the first support surfaces and/or the second support surfaces are cylindrical or conical.

3. A pitch tube for housing cables to be used in performing an adjustment of a pitch angle of a propeller of a wind turbine, the pitch tube comprising:
a first tube part;
a second tube part; and
grub screws positioned inside the second tube part,
wherein the first tube part and the second tube part are configured to be detachably connected to each other so as to form a hollow body configured to carry the cables to be used in performing the adjustment of the pitch angle of the propeller of the wind turbine,
wherein the first tube part and the second tube part are configured to be detachably connected to each other by being configured to form a screwed connection with each other, and
wherein the grub screws are configured to preserve the screwed connection formed between the first tube part and the second tube part.

4. The pitch tube of claim 3 , wherein a first region of the first tube part and a first region of the second tube part are axially offset relative to each other.

5. The pitch tube of claim 4 , wherein a second region of the first tube part and a second region of the second tube part are detachably connected to each other.

6. The pitch tube of claim 3 , wherein the first tube part has a first threading,
wherein the second tube part has a second threading, and
wherein the first threading and the second threading are configured to be screwed together.

7. The pitch tube of claim 6 , wherein the first threading and the second threading are axially aligned.

8. The pitch tube of claim 3 , wherein the first tube part includes a support surface and the second tube part includes a support surface, and
wherein the support surface of the first tube part and the support surface of the second tube part support each other in at least one radial direction.

9. The pitch tube of claim 8 , wherein the first tube part includes a second support surface and the second tube part includes a second support surface;
wherein the second support surface of the first tube part and the second support surface of the second tube part support each other in at least one radial direction.

10. The pitch tube of claim 9 , wherein a first region of the first tube part and a first region of the second tube part are axially offset relative to each other,
wherein a second region of the first tube part and a second region of the second tube part are detachably connected to each other,
wherein the second region of the first tube part is axially positioned between the support surface and the second support surface of the first tube part;
wherein the second region of the second tube part is axially positioned between the support surface and the second support surface of the second tube part.

11. The pitch tube of claim 10 , wherein the support surface of the first tube part and the support surface of the second tube part are conical, and
wherein the second support surface of the first tube part and the second support surface of the second tube part are conical.

12. A gearbox for a wind turbine, the gearbox comprising:
an input shaft; and
a pitch tube configured to house cables configured to carry signals for performing an adjustment of a pitch angle of a propeller of the wind turbine, the pitch tube comprising:
a first tube part, and
a second tube part,

wherein the first tube part and the second tube part are configured to be detachably connected to each other, and
wherein the pitch tube extends through the input shaft.

13. The gearbox of claim 12 , wherein the first tube part includes a support surface and the second tube part includes a support surface, and
wherein the support surface of the first tube part and the support surface of the second tube part support each other in at least one radial direction.

14. The gearbox of claim 13 , wherein the first tube part includes a second support surface and the second tube part includes a second support surface;
wherein the second support surface of the first tube part and the second support surface of the second tube part support each other in at least one radial direction.

15. The gearbox of claim 14 , wherein a first region of the first tube part and a first region of the second tube part are axially offset relative to each other,
wherein a second region of the first tube part and a second region of the second tube part are detachably connected to each other,
wherein the second region of the first tube part is axially positioned between the support surface and the second support surface of the first tube part;
wherein the second region of the second tube part is axially positioned between the support surface and the second support surface of the second tube part.

16. The gearbox of claim 15 , further comprising grub screws positioned inside the second tube part,
wherein the first tube part and the second tube part are configured to be detachably connected to each other by being configured to form a screwed connection with each other, and
wherein the grub screws are configured to maintain the screwed connection formed between the first tube part and the second tube part.

17. The gearbox of claim 12 , wherein the input shaft is integrally connected with a rotor shaft of a rotor of a generator of the wind turbine.

18. The gearbox of claim 12 , wherein the first tube part is detachably connected to the input shaft.

19. The gearbox of claim 18 , wherein the first tube part is detachably connected to the input shaft via a threaded connection.

Assignees

• Zahnradfabrik Friedrichshafen
• Zf Wind Power Antwerpen Nv

Inventors

• Fischer Steffen
• Strasser Dirk

Classifications

• Y02E10/72

  Wind turbines with rotation axis in wind direction · CPC title

• F03D80/85 Primary

  Cabling · CPC title

• F03D80/50

  Maintenance or repair · CPC title

• F05B2240/00

  Components · CPC title