System for lubricating gears in a wind turbine

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2015114756-A1
Application number	US-201414511224-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Oct 10, 2014
Priority date	Oct 30, 2013
Publication date	Apr 30, 2015
Grant date	—

Abstract

A system for lubricating gears includes a drive pinion configured to interact with bearing teeth. The drive pinion includes an internal axially extending lubricant channel connected to a plurality of radially extending lubricant delivery conduits. The plurality of radially extending lubricant delivery conduits extend from the internal axially extending lubricant channel radially outward to a radial surface of the drive pinion. The system is configured to transport lubricant from the internal lubricant channel through the plurality of lubricant delivery conduits to the radial surface to lubricate the drive pinion and the bearing teeth.

First claim

1 . A system for lubricating gears, the system comprising:
a drive pinion configured to interact with bearing teeth, the drive pinion comprising an internal axially extending lubricant channel connected to a plurality of radially extending lubricant delivery conduits, the plurality of radially extending lubricant delivery conduits extending from the internal axially extending lubricant channel radially outward to a radial surface of the drive pinion; and wherein the system is configured to transport lubricant from the internal lubricant channel through the plurality of lubricant delivery conduits to the radial surface to lubricate the drive pinion and the bearing teeth.

2 . The system of claim 1 , further comprising a distributor disposed at an axial end of the drive pinion, the distributor including a lubricant inlet, and
wherein the distributor is configured to direct lubricant to meshing teeth and to restrict flow of the lubricant to non-meshing teeth.

3 . The system of claim 2 , further comprising a lubricant supply conduit connected to the lubricant inlet.

4 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the drive pinion is a pitch drive pinion in a wind turbine.

5 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the plurality of lubricant delivery conduits terminate in the radial surface in valleys located between teeth of the drive pinion.

6 . The system of claim 1 , further comprising:
an internal lubricant container in the drive pinion, the internal lubricant container connected to the plurality of lubricant delivery conduits, the plurality of lubricant delivery conduits extending from the internal lubricant container radially outward to a radial surface of the drive pinion.

7 . The system of claim 6 , further comprising a container cover disposed at one end of the internal lubricant container, the container cover including a lubricant inlet.

8 . The system of claim 7 , further comprising a lubricant supply conduit connected to the lubricant inlet.

9 . The system of claim 8 , wherein the drive pinion is a pitch drive pinion in a wind turbine.

10 . The system of claim 9 , wherein the plurality of lubricant delivery conduits terminate in the radial surface in valleys located between teeth of the drive pinion.

11 . A system for lubricating gears, the system comprising:
a drive pinion configured to interact with bearing teeth, the drive pinion comprising an internal axially extending lubricant channel connected to a plurality of radially extending lubricant delivery conduits, the plurality of radially extending lubricant delivery conduits extending from the internal axially extending lubricant channel radially outward to a radial surface of the drive pinion; a plurality of check valves located in at least some of the radially extending lubricant delivery conduits, the plurality of check valves are configured to permit lubrication flow only in a radially outward direction; a trigger switch activated piston located in one of the radially extending lubricant delivery conduits, the trigger switch activated piston configured to increase lubrication pressure within the axially extending lubricant channel during meshing of the drive pinion and the bearing teeth; and wherein the system is configured to transport lubricant from the internal axially extending lubricant channel through the plurality of radially extending lubricant delivery conduits to the radial surface to lubricate the drive pinion and the bearing teeth.

12 . The system of claim 6 , further comprising a lubricant container disposed at an axial end of the drive pinion, the lubricant container including a lubricant inlet and a check valve configured to permit lubricant flow only out of the lubricant container, the check valve fluidly connected to the internal axially extending lubricant channel.

13 . The system of claim 12 , further comprising a lubricant supply conduit connected to the lubricant inlet.

14 . The system of claim 11 , wherein the drive pinion is a pitch drive pinion in a wind turbine.

15 . The system of claim 11 , wherein the plurality of radially extending lubricant delivery conduits terminate in the radial surface in valleys located between teeth of the drive pinion.

16 . A system for lubricating gears comprising,
a drive pinion, the drive pinion having a plurality of pinion teeth; a bearing having a plurality of bearing teeth, the bearing configured for use with the drive pinion; a first plate attached to a first axial side of the plurality of bearing teeth in a vicinity of the drive pinion, the first plate comprising one or more lubricant inlets; a second plate attached to a second axial side of the plurality of bearing teeth in a vicinity of the drive pinion, the second plate comprising one or more lubricant outlets, the second plate located substantially opposite to the first plate; wherein the first plate and the second plate are configured to retain lubricant around a portion of the plurality of pinion teeth and the plurality of bearing teeth contained between the first plate and the second plate.

17 . The system of claim 16 , wherein the one or more inlets are connected to a lubricant supply system.

18 . The system of claim 17 , the lubricant supply system further comprising:
one or more lubricant supply conduits; a pump; and a lubricant supply reservoir.

19 . The system of claim 17 , further comprising:
an over-pressure return line connected between the lubricant supply conduit and the lubricant supply reservoir.

20 . The system of claim 16 , wherein the drive pinion is a pitch drive pinion in a wind turbine.

Assignees

• Gen Electric

Inventors

• Xu Junqing
• Liu Shijiang
• Gu Ting

Classifications

• F16H57/0431

  Means for guiding lubricant directly onto a tooth surface or to foot areas of a gear, e.g. by holes or grooves in a tooth flank · CPC title

• F03D11/0008 Primary

  Mechanical Engineering · mapped topic

• F05B2260/79

  Bearing, support or actuation arrangements therefor · CPC title

• F05B2260/98

  Lubrication · CPC title

• F03D80/70 Primary

  Bearing or lubricating arrangements · CPC title