System and method for repairing a gearbox of a wind turbine uptower

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11965479-B2
Application number	US-202117204780-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Mar 17, 2021
Priority date	Apr 26, 2019
Publication date	Apr 23, 2024
Grant date	Apr 23, 2024

Abstract

A rotor lock assembly for locking a rotor of a wind turbine. The rotor lock assembly has at least one relocatable rotor lock. The relocatable rotor lock has a housing, a bushing element, a pin shaft position within the bushing element, and a locking mechanism. The housing includes a mounting portion adapted for mounting to a bearing housing adjacent to a rotor lock plate of the rotor.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A repair system for repairing a gearbox of a wind turbine uptower, the gearbox having a gearbox housing formed, at least, of a first portion and a second portion, the repair system comprising:
a lifting apparatus for removably coupling to the first portion of the gearbox housing of the gearbox, the lifting apparatus adapted for lifting the first portion of the gearbox housing relative to the second portion of the gearbox housing;
at least one gearbox housing support member adapted for mounting to the second portion of the gearbox housing so as to provide a support surface for the first portion of the gearbox housing, during a repair procedure of the gearbox, that is offset from the second portion; and
a safety support coupled to a ring gear of the gearbox, the safety support being oriented so as to divert the first portion of the gearbox during an unplanned descent, wherein the safety support comprises a mounting bracket and a force arm, the mounting bracket defining a plurality of fastener openings for coupling to the ring gear, the force arm comprising a first end and a second end, the first end adapted for perpendicularly coupling to the mounting bracket, the second end adapted for positioning below the first portion of the gearbox housing.

2. The repair system of claim 1 , wherein the at least one gearbox housing support member further comprises, at least, a first gearbox housing support member and a second gearbox housing support member, the first gearbox housing support member for positioning between the first portion and the second portion of the gearbox housing adjacent to a windward end of the gearbox, the second gearbox housing support member for positioning between the first portion and the second portion of the gearbox housing.

3. The repair system of claim 2 , wherein the first and second gearbox housing supports comprise first and second support contact regions each defining first and second radii, respectively, the first and second radii adapted to receive and contact different bearings of the gearbox, the first and second gearbox housing supports further comprising first and second support surfaces.

4. The repair system of claim 3 , wherein the first support surface has a longitudinal axis parallel with an axial centerline of the gearbox, and wherein the second support surface has a longitudinal axis perpendicular to the axial centerline of the gearbox.

5. The repair system of claim 1 , wherein the safety support further comprises a reinforcing member coupled between the force arm and the mounting bracket, wherein the force arm is adapted so as to impart a moment on the first portion of the gearbox housing during an unplanned descent of the first portion of the gearbox housing.

6. The repair system of claim 1 , further comprising:
a mechanical device for coupling between the first portion of the gearbox housing and the second portion of the gearbox housing so as to increase a downward force exerted by the first portion of the gearbox housing on the at least one gearbox housing support member.

7. The repair system of claim 1 , wherein the lifting apparatus further comprises an uptower crane, the uptower crane comprising a maximum dimension less than a dimension of an access hatch to the wind turbine.

Assignees

• Gen Electric
• Ge Infrastructure Technology Llc

Inventors

• Manikas Brian William
• Davidson Paul Howard
• Sander Michael Frederick
• Hoyt Jacob Thomas
• Welsh Jason James
• Holmes Kevin L

Classifications

• F03D15/10 Primary

  using gearing not limited to rotary motion, e.g. with oscillating or reciprocating members · CPC title

• B23P6/00

  Restoring or reconditioning objects (straightening or restoring form of sheet metal, metal rods, metal tubes, metal profiles, or specific articles made therefrom B21D1/00, B21D3/00; repairing defective or damaged objects by casting techniques B22D19/10) · CPC title

• B23P6/002

  Repairing turbine components, e.g. moving or stationary blades, rotors, (B23P6/045 takes precedence) · CPC title

• F03D80/50 Primary

  Maintenance or repair · CPC title

• F16H57/021

  Shaft support structures, e.g. partition walls, bearing eyes, casing walls or covers with bearings · CPC title