Hub hydraulic assembly for a wind turbine rotor

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-12486825-B2
Application number	US-202418922554-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Oct 22, 2024
Priority date	Oct 31, 2023
Publication date	Dec 2, 2025
Grant date	Dec 2, 2025

Abstract

A hub hydraulic assembly for a wind turbine rotor is provided that includes plural support structures distributed circumferentially about a rotation axis of the hub is provided. In a first angular section of the circumferential distribution, a first support structure is provided and in a second different angular section of the circumferential distribution, a second support structure is provided. The first support structure includes at least a first support cantilever having a mounting end configured to be mounted to the hub and a free end, wherein at least one hydraulic component of the hub hydraulic assembly is mounted to the first support cantilever. The second support structure includes at least a second support cantilever having a mounting end configured to be mounted to the hub and a free end, wherein at least one hydraulic component of the hub hydraulic assembly is mounted to the second support cantilever.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1 . A hub hydraulic assembly for a wind turbine rotor, wherein the hub hydraulic assembly comprises:
a plurality of support structures distributed circumferentially about a rotation axis of a hub, wherein in a first angular section of the circumferential distribution, a first support structure is provided and wherein in a second different angular section of the circumferential distribution, a second support structure is provided, wherein: the first support structure comprises a first support cantilever and a second support cantilever, the first support cantilever and the second support cantilever of the first support structure being mechanically independent from one another, the first support cantilever and the second support cantilever of the first support structure each respectively having a mounting end configured to be mounted to the hub and a free end, each respective free end of the first support cantilever and the second support cantilever of the first support structure not mechanically connected or rigidly fixed to other cantilevers or hub parts except at the mounting end, each respective free end having freedom of movement in at least two directions that are mutually perpendicular relative to a respective longitudinal axis of the first support cantilever and the second support cantilever of the first support structure, wherein at least one hydraulic component of the hub hydraulic assembly is mounted to the first support cantilever and/or to the second support cantilever of the first support structure, the second support structure comprises a first support cantilever and a second support cantilever, the first support cantilever and the second support cantilever of the second support structure being mechanically independent from one another, the first support cantilever and the second support cantilever of the second support structure each respectively having a mounting end configured to be mounted to the hub and a free end, each respective free end of the first support cantilever and the second support cantilever of the second support structure not mechanically connected or rigidly fixed to other cantilevers or hub parts except at the mounting end, each respective free end having freedom of movement in at least two directions that are mutually perpendicular relative to a respective longitudinal axis of the first support cantilever and the second support cantilever of the second support structure, each respective cantilever of the first support cantilever and the second support cantilever of the first support structure and of the second support structure being mechanically independent from one another permit load decoupling, which inhibits structural fatigue wear in the support structures.

2 . The hub hydraulic assembly according to claim 1 , further comprising a third support structure provided in a third different angular section of the circumferential distribution, wherein the third support structure comprises at least a third support cantilever having a mounting end mounted to the hub and a free end, wherein at least one hydraulic component of the hub hydraulic assembly is mounted to the third support cantilever.

3 . The hub hydraulic assembly according to claim 1 , wherein each support structure is associated with a rotor blade of the wind turbine rotor, wherein each support structure supports hydraulic components of the hub hydraulic assembly for operating a hydraulic pitch drive of the respective rotor blade.

4 . The hub hydraulic assembly according to claim 1 , wherein at least one support cantilever of at least one of the support structures or of each support structure supports at least 2, 3, 4, 5, or 6 accumulators of the hub hydraulic assembly.

5 . The hub hydraulic assembly according to claim 1 , wherein at least one support cantilever of at least one of the support structures or of each support structure supports at least one hydraulic manifold of the hub hydraulic assembly.

6 . The hub hydraulic assembly according to claim 1 , wherein at least one support cantilever of at least one of the support structures or of each support structure supports at least one grease pump of the hub hydraulic assembly.

7 . The hub hydraulic assembly according to claim 1 , wherein at least the first support cantilever and the second support cantilever are configured to be mounted at the respective mounting end to the hub by a full moment connection.

8 . The hub hydraulic assembly according to claim 1 , wherein at least the first support cantilever and the second support cantilever are configured to be mounted to an inner side of a wall of a hub body of the hub.

9 . The hub hydraulic assembly according to claim 1 , wherein at least the first support cantilever and the second support cantilever each comprises a single integral beam or plate that includes the mounting end, wherein the beam or plate extends in a longitudinal direction away from the mounting end.

10 . The hub hydraulic assembly according to claim 1 , wherein the first support cantilever and/or the second support cantilever comprises a mount configured to support at least 2, 3, or 4 hydraulic components of the hub hydraulic assembly, wherein the mount is formed integrally with a cantilevered beam or plate of the support cantilever.

11 . The hub hydraulic assembly according to claim 1 , wherein at least one of the support structures or each support structure comprises a platform configured to carry a person, wherein the platform is mounted to a support cantilever of the support structure on a side of the support cantilever that faces the rotation axis.

12 . The hub hydraulic assembly according to claim 1 , wherein at least one support cantilever comprises a central structure that provides the free end of the respective support cantilever,
wherein the central structure comprises a support platform that extends substantially perpendicular to the rotation axis between the plurality of support structures for supporting a person and/or wherein the central structure comprises a central manifold connected by flexible hoses to two or more hydraulic manifolds mounted to respective two or more of the plurality of support structures.

13 . A wind turbine rotor hub including a hub hydraulic assembly according to claim 1 .

14 . A method of assembling a hub hydraulic assembly of a wind turbine rotor, the method comprising distributing a plurality of support structures circumferentially about a rotation axis of the hub, wherein in a first angular section of the circumferential distribution, a first support structure is provided and wherein in a second different angular section of the circumferential distribution, a second support structure is provided, wherein distributing the plurality of support structures comprises:
mounting a first support cantilever and a second support cantilever of the first support structure in the first angular section, the first support cantilever and the second support cantilever of the first support structure being mechanically independent from one another, wherein the first support cantilever and the second support cantilever of the first support structure each respectively comprises a mounting end and a free end, not mechanically connecting or rigidly fixing each respective free end of the first support cantilever and the second support cantilever of the first support structure to other cantilevers or hub parts except at the mounting end, each respective free end having freedom of movement in at least two directions that are mutually perpendicular relative to a respective longitudinal axis of the first support cantilever and

Assignees

• Siemens Gamesa Renewable Energy As

Inventors

• Alvarez Olivera Johann
• Arunachalam Yuhendran
• Hansen Klaus Hjorth
• Hoerning Kenneth Traelle
• Joergensen Kristian Sigsgaard
• Makkinni Rupesh
• Patra Abhishek
• Thomsen Anders Elkjaer
• Yildiz Berk

Classifications

• F03D13/104

  Rotor installation, e.g. installation of blades · CPC title

• F05B2230/60

  Assembly methods · CPC title

• F05B2240/21

  for wind turbines · CPC title

• F03D1/0691 Primary

  of the hub · CPC title

• Y02E10/72

  Wind turbines with rotation axis in wind direction · CPC title