Torque limiter, wind turbine and wind turbine generator

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9441609-B2
Application number	US-201314029146-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Sep 17, 2013
Priority date	Sep 24, 2012
Publication date	Sep 13, 2016
Grant date	Sep 13, 2016

Abstract

In a torque limiter, wedge-shaped spaces are formed between inner and outer rings so as to be arranged in the circumferential direction. In each wedge-shaped space, there are arranged a first roller and a second roller that transmit torque between the inner and outer rings by being brought into wedge-engagement when the inner and outer rings rotate relative to each other in one direction and in the other direction, respectively. Between the first and second rollers, there is arranged an urging device that urges the first and second rollers in such directions that the first and second rollers are brought into wedge-engagement. Each wedge-shaped space is formed such that when the torque becomes equal to or higher than a predetermined value, a first wedge angle of the first roller or a second wedge angle of the second roller becomes such an angle that wedge-engagement of the roller is cancelled.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A torque limiter, comprising:
an inner ring;
an outer ring;
cam faces that are formed on one of an outer peripheral face of the inner ring and an inner peripheral face of the outer ring, and that define, in cooperation with the other one of the outer peripheral face of the inner ring and the inner peripheral face of the outer ring, a plurality of wedge-shaped spaces arranged in a circumferential direction, in each of which a clearance in a radial direction between the inner ring and the outer ring gradually becomes smaller toward each of both sides of the wedge-shaped space in the circumferential direction;
first rollers each of which is arranged in a corresponding one of the wedge-shaped spaces and transmits a first torque between the inner ring and the outer ring by being brought into wedge-engagement with the inner ring and the outer ring, at one side in the wedge-shaped space in the circumferential direction when the inner ring and the outer ring rotate relative to each other in one direction;
second rollers each of which is arranged in a corresponding one of the wedge-shaped spaces and transmits a second torque between the inner ring and the outer ring by being brought into wedge-engagement with the inner ring and the outer ring, at the other side in the wedge-shaped space in the circumferential direction when the inner ring and the outer ring rotate relative to each other in the other direction that is a direction opposite to the one direction; and
urging devices each of which is arranged between a corresponding one of the first rollers and a corresponding one of the second rollers, and urges the first roller and the second roller in such directions that the first roller and the second roller are brought into the wedge-engagement, wherein
each of the wedge-shaped spaces is formed such that when the first torque becomes higher than or equal to a predetermined value, a first wedge angle of the first roller becomes such an angle that the wedge-engagement of the first roller is cancelled, and when the second torque becomes higher than or equal to the predetermined value, a second wedge angle of the second roller becomes such an angle that the wedge-engagement of the second roller is cancelled,
at the one side in the circumferential direction, of a portion of one of the outer peripheral face of the inner ring and the inner peripheral face of the outer ring, the portion facing a corresponding one of the cam faces, there is formed a first protruded portion that is protruded into a corresponding one of the wedge-shaped spaces and that has a first arc face having a curvature greater than a curvature of the one of the outer peripheral face of the inner ring and the inner peripheral face of the outer ring, and
at the other side in the circumferential direction, of a portion of the one of the outer peripheral face of the inner ring and the inner peripheral face of the outer ring, the portion facing a corresponding one of the cam faces, there is formed a second protruded portion that is protruded into a corresponding one of the wedge-shaped spaces and that has a second arc face having a curvature greater than the curvature of the one of the outer peripheral face of the inner ring and the inner peripheral face of the outer ring.

2. The torque limiter according to claim 1 , further comprising restriction portions each of which is formed on one of the outer peripheral face of the inner ring and the inner peripheral face of the outer ring, restrains a corresponding one of the first rollers from moving toward the other side in the circumferential direction when the wedge-engagement of the first roller is cancelled, and restrains a corresponding one of the second rollers from moving toward the one side in the circumferential direction when the wedge-engagement of the second roller is cancelled.

3. A wind turbine, comprising:
a motor that is able to rotate in a forward rotation direction and a reverse rotation direction, and a speed reducer, the motor and the speed reducer constituting a pitch drive device used to adjust a pitch angle of a blade that is rotated upon reception of force of wind or a yaw drive device that turns a nacelle that supports the blade, relative to a tower; and
the torque limiter according to claim 1 , which interrupts torque transmission to the motor or to the speed reducer when a torque that is higher than or equal to a predetermined value is applied due to external force.

4. A wind turbine, comprising:
a motor that is able to rotate in a forward rotation direction and a reverse rotation direction, and a speed reducer, the motor and the speed reducer constituting a pitch drive device used to adjust a pitch angle of a blade that is rotated upon reception of force of wind or a yaw drive device that turns a nacelle that supports the blade, relative to a tower; and
the torque limiter according to claim 2 , which interrupts torque transmission to the motor or to the speed reducer when a torque that is higher than or equal to a predetermined value is applied due to external force.

5. A wind turbine generator, comprising:
the wind turbine according to claim 3 ; and
a generator that generates electricity as the blade of the wind turbine is rotated upon reception of force of wind.

6. A wind turbine generator, comprising:
the wind turbine according to claim 4 ; and
a generator that generates electricity as the blade of the wind turbine is rotated upon reception of force of wind.

Assignees

• Jtekt Corp

Inventors

• Fujiwara Hideki

Classifications

• F16D2041/0665

  characterised by there being no cage other than the inner and outer race for distributing the intermediate members · CPC title

• F16D43/20

  controlled by torque, e.g. overload-release clutches, slip-clutches with means by which torque varies the clutching pressure · CPC title

• F16D7/00 Primary

  Slip couplings, e.g. slipping on overload, for absorbing shock (combined with yielding shaft couplings F16D3/14; fluid slip couplings F16D31/00 - F16D35/00) · CPC title

• F16D41/066

  all members having the same size and only one of the two surfaces being cylindrical · CPC title

• F03D7/02 Primary

  the wind motors having rotation axis substantially parallel to the air flow entering the rotor · CPC title