Rolling bearing, notably for ship's propeller or for wind turbine

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9541133-B2
Application number	US-201314059970-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Oct 22, 2013
Priority date	Oct 22, 2012
Publication date	Jan 10, 2017
Grant date	Jan 10, 2017

Abstract

Rolling bearing ( 1 ) comprising an inner ring ( 3 ), an outer ring ( 2 ), at least one row of rolling elements which are arranged between raceways made on the rings ( 2, 3 ) and an ring gear ( 6 ) fixed to one of the rings ( 2 ). The ring gear ( 6 ) is formed of at least two independent gear segments ( 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12 ) which are each provided on their inner or outer peripheral surface with a plurality of meshing means ( 7 b, 8 b, 9 b, 10 b, 11 b , 12 b ) and fixed only to one of either the inner or outer rings ( 3 ) of the rolling bearing ( 1 ), the circumference of the ring gear ( 6, 20 ) being substantially equal to the circumference of the combination of the independent gear segments.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. A rolling bearing comprising:
an inner ring having a first axial end, a second axial end, and a cylindrical inner surface,
an outer ring,
at least one row of rolling elements disposed between the inner and outer rings, and
a ring gear fixed to the cylindrical inner surface of the inner ring, wherein the ring gear is formed of at least two independent gear segments, each of the at least two independent gear segments, when viewed in axial cross-section, having first and second axial sections adjacently located side-by-side so as not to radially overlap, the first axial section defining a first gear segment inner radius, the second axial section having first and second radially extending surfaces between which are located a plurality of teeth such that the plurality of teeth are located entirely on the second axial section and configured to extend radially inwardly therefrom, the plurality of teeth defining a dedendum circle forming a second gear segment inner radius, the first gear segment inner radius being greater than the second gear segment inner radius, the ring gear being completely radially overlapped by the inner ring such that, when viewed in axial cross-section, no portion of the ring gear extends axially past either of the first axial end or the second axial end of the inner ring in a direction away from the at least one row of rolling elements, a maximum outer diameter of the ring gear is equal to or less than a diameter of the cylindrical inner surface of the inner ring,
and wherein the circumference of the ring gear is substantially equal to the circumference of the combination of the at least two independent gear segments.

2. The rolling bearing according to claim 1 , wherein the first axial section further comprises at least one radial drilling designed to cooperate with an attachment means provided on the inner ring.

3. The rolling bearing according to claim 2 , wherein the circumference of the ring gear is less than or equal to 360°.

4. The rolling bearing according to claim 3 , wherein the ring gear is formed of four independent gear segments each extending circumferentially over substantially 90°.

5. The rolling bearing according to claim 3 , wherein the ring gear is formed of six independent gear segments each extending circumferentially over substantially 60°.

6. The rolling bearing according to claim 3 , wherein the circumference of the ring gear is less than or equal to 120°.

7. A wind turbine comprising:
a nacelle, mounted on a mast and enclosing a generator intended to produce electrical energy,
a rotor provided with a hub supporting at least two blades, and
a rolling bearing mounted between the hub and a blade, the rolling bearing including,
an inner ring having a first axial end, a second axial end, and a cylindrical inner surface,
an outer ring,
at least one row of rolling elements disposed between the inner and outer rings, and
a ring gear fixed to the cylindrical inner surface of the inner ring, wherein the ring gear is formed of at least two independent gear segments, each of the at least two independent gear segments, when viewed in axial cross-section, having first and second axial sections adjacently located side-by-side so as not to radially overlap, the first axial section defining a first gear segment inner radius, the second axial section having first and second radially extending surfaces between which are located a plurality of teeth such that the plurality of teeth are located entirely on the second axial section and configured to extend radially inwardly therefrom, the plurality of teeth defining a dedendum circle forming a second gear segment inner radius, the first gear segment inner radius being greater than the second gear segment inner radius, the ring gear being completely radially overlapped by the inner ring such that, when viewed in axial cross-section, no portion of the ring gear extends axially past either of the first axial end or the second axial end of the inner ring in a direction away from the at least one row of rolling elements, a maximum outer diameter of the ring gear is equal to or less than a diameter of the cylindrical inner surface of the inner ring, and wherein
the circumference of the ring gear is substantially equal to the circumference of the combination of the independent gear segments.

8. A rolling bearing comprising:
an inner ring,
an outer ring having a first axial end, a second axial end, and a cylindrical outer surface,
at least one row of rolling elements disposed between the inner and outer rings, and
a ring gear fixed to the cylindrical outer surface of the outer ring, wherein the ring gear is formed of at least two independent gear segments, each of the at least two independent gear segments, when viewed in axial cross-section, having first and second axial sections adjacently located side-by-side so as not to radially overlap, the first axial section defining a first gear segment outer radius, the second axial section having first and second radially extending surfaces between which are located a plurality of teeth such that the plurality of teeth are located entirely on the second axial section and configured to extend radially outwardly therefrom, the plurality of teeth defining a dedendum circle forming a second gear segment outer radius, the first gear segment outer radius being less than the second gear segment outer radius, the ring gear being completely radially overlapped by the outer ring such that, when viewed in axial cross-section, no portion of the ring gear extends axially past either of the first axial end or the second axial end of the outer ring in a direction away from the at least one row of rolling elements, a minimum inner diameter of the ring gear is equal to or greater than a diameter of the cylindrical outer surface of the outer ring, and
wherein the circumference of the ring gear is substantially equal to the circumference of the combination of the at least two independent gear segments.

Assignees

• Skf Ab

Inventors

• Noirot Jean-Baptiste
• Magny Jean-Baptiste
• Bouron Cyril
• Ovize Pascal

Classifications

• Y02E10/72

  Wind turbines with rotation axis in wind direction · CPC title

• Y02E10/721

  Cross-Sectional Technologies · mapped topic

• F16C33/581 Primary

  integral with other parts, e.g. with housings or machine elements such as shafts or gear wheels · CPC title

• Y10T74/1993

  Segmental rim · CPC title

• F03D7/0224

  Adjusting blade pitch · CPC title