Emergency lubrication for wind turbine gearboxes

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2016298609-A1
Application number	US-201415035814-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Oct 24, 2014
Priority date	Nov 25, 2013
Publication date	Oct 13, 2016
Grant date	—

Abstract

A system for emergency lubrication, with a lubricant pump ( 113 ) and with at least one outlet opening ( 125 ) for delivering lubricant to at least a first lubrication point ( 107 ) of a transmission ( 101 ), in particular a transmission of a wind turbine. The system includes a first cavity ( 203 ), and the lubricant pump ( 113 ) is designed to convey at least some of the lubricant into the first cavity ( 203 ). The first cavity ( 203 ) is designed to store the lubricant intermediately and to act upon the intermediately stored lubricant with positional energy. In addition, there is a lubricant-conveying connection between the first cavity ( 203 ) and the outlet opening ( 125 ).

First claim

1 - 8 . (canceled)

9 . A system for emergency lubrication comprising:
a lubricant pump ( 113 ); at least one outlet opening ( 125 ) for delivering lubricant to at least a first lubrication point ( 107 ) of a transmission ( 101 ); a first cavity ( 203 ); the lubricant pump ( 113 ) being designed to convey at least some of the lubricant into the first cavity ( 203 ); the first cavity ( 203 ) being designed to store the lubricant intermediately and to act upon the intermediately stored lubricant with positional energy; and a lubricant-conveying connection between the first cavity ( 203 ) and the outlet opening ( 125 ).

10 . The system according to claim 9 , further comprising:
at least one means ( 201 , 209 ) for acting upon the intermediately stored lubricant with a pressure.

11 . The system according to claim 10 , further comprising:
a container ( 117 ) so that the container ( 117 ) forms the first cavity ( 203 ); a piston ( 201 ) that is movable within the container ( 117 ); and at least one means ( 209 ) for acting upon the piston ( 201 ) with a force in such manner that the piston ( 201 ) pressurizes the lubricant stored intermediately in the first cavity ( 203 ).

12 . The system according to claim 9 , further comprising:
a second cavity ( 205 ); a lubricant-conveying connection ( 207 ) between the second cavity ( 205 ) and a lubricant reservoir ( 111 ); the lubricant reservoir ( 111 ) serves as immersion lubrication for at least one second lubrication point ( 103 , 105 ) of the transmission ( 101 ); the lubricant pump ( 113 ) is designed to convey at least some of the lubricant from the lubricant reservoir ( 111 ) into the first cavity ( 203 ); the lubricant can flow back from the first lubrication point ( 107 ) into the lubricant reservoir; and at least one coupling means ( 201 ) for coupling the first cavity ( 203 ) and the second cavity ( 205 ) such that an outflow of a quantity of lubricant from the first cavity ( 203 ) is accompanied by an inflow of an equal quantity of lubricant from the lubricant reservoir ( 111 ) into the second cavity ( 205 ).

13 . The system according to claim 12 , wherein the coupling means ( 201 ) couples the first cavity ( 203 ) and the second cavity ( 205 ) in such manner that a reduction of volume of the first cavity ( 203 ) is accompanied by an increase of volume of the second cavity ( 205 ), whereas a total volume of the first cavity ( 203 ) and the second cavity ( 205 ) remains substantially constant.

14 . A system for emergency lubrication comprising:
a lubricant pump ( 113 ); at least one outlet opening ( 125 ) for delivering lubricant to at least a first lubrication point ( 107 ) of a transmission ( 101 ); a first cavity ( 203 ); the lubricant pump ( 113 ) being designed to convey at least some of the lubricant into the first cavity ( 203 ); the first cavity ( 203 ) being designed to store the lubricant intermediately and to act upon the intermediately stored lubricant with positional energy; a lubricant-conveying connection between the first cavity ( 203 ) and the outlet opening ( 125 ); at least a piston ( 201 , 209 ) for acting upon the intermediately stored lubricant with a pressure; a container ( 117 ) for forming the first cavity ( 203 ); the piston ( 201 ) being movable within the container ( 117 ); at least one means ( 209 ) for acting upon the piston ( 201 ) with a force such that the piston ( 201 ) pressurizes the lubricant stored intermediately in the first cavity ( 203 ); a second cavity ( 205 ); a lubricant-conveying connection ( 207 ) between the second cavity ( 205 ) and a lubricant reservoir ( 111 ); the lubricant reservoir ( 111 ) serving as immersion lubrication for at least one second lubrication point ( 103 , 105 ) of the transmission ( 101 ); the lubricant pump ( 113 ) conveying at least some of the lubricant from the lubricant reservoir ( 111 ) into the first cavity ( 203 ); the lubricant being able to flow back from the first lubrication point ( 107 ) into the lubricant reservoir; the piston ( 201 ) coupling the first cavity ( 203 ) and the second cavity ( 205 ), such that an outflow of a quantity of lubricant from the first cavity ( 203 ) is accompanied by an inflow of an equal quantity of lubricant from the lubricant reservoir ( 111 ) into the second cavity ( 205 ); the container ( 117 ) forming the second cavity ( 205 ); and the piston ( 201 ) separating the first cavity ( 203 ) from the second cavity ( 205 ).

15 . The system according to claim 14 , wherein the container ( 117 ) is arranged at least partly inside the lubricant reservoir ( 111 ).

16 . The system according to claim 15 , wherein all the lubricant delivered by the lubricant pump ( 113 ) passes into the first cavity ( 203 ).

17 . A system for emergency lubrication of a transmission with lubricant, the system comprising
a lubricant pump ( 113 ) for conveying the lubricant into a first cavity ( 203 ); a lubricant-conveying connection between the first cavity ( 203 ) and at least one outlet opening ( 125 ), and the at least one outlet opening ( 125 ) delivering at least some of the lubricant from the first cavity ( 203 ) to at least a first lubrication point ( 107 ) of the transmission ( 101 ); and the first cavity ( 203 ) being designed to store the lubricant intermediately and to act upon the intermediately stored lubricant with positional energy.

Assignees

• Zahnradfabrik Friedrichshafen
• Zf Wind Power Antwerpen Nv

Inventors

• Bogaert Roger
• Van Den Donker Michiel

Classifications

• F16N7/40

  in a closed circulation system · CPC title

• F16H2061/0034

  Accumulators for fluid pressure supply; Control thereof · CPC title

• F16H57/0442

  for supply in case of failure, i.e. auxiliary supply · CPC title

• F16H57/045

  Lubricant storage reservoirs, e.g. reservoirs in addition to a gear sump for collecting lubricant in the upper part of a gear case · CPC title

• F16N2260/50

  After-lubrication · CPC title