In a main bearing replacement method for a wind turbine power generation facility including a nacelle, a rotor head rotatably supported by the nacelle, a drive shaft to which rotation of the rotor head is transmitted, a main bearing disposed between the rotor head and the nacelle, and a coupling connecting the rotor head and the drive shaft on a radially inner side of the main bearing, the wind turbine power generation facility includes a main bearing sleeve fitted and fixed to an inner ring of the main bearing and mounted with the rotor head, and the main bearing is replaced at least while the main bearing sleeve is fitted and fixed to the inner ring of the main bearing.

A main bearing assembly of a wind turbine includes at least one main bearing with a rotation axis and at least one bearing row in which a rotor shaft of the wind turbine is mounted. The main bearing assembly has at least one stationary bearing ring, a circulating bearing ring and rolling elements. A method of extending the service life or servicing the main bearing assembly includes rotating the stationary bearing ring about the rotation axis of the main bearing assembly. Alternatively, only a new stationary bearing ring, preferably with at least two bearing ring segments is installed instead of a damaged outer ring, in particular without further important bearing components such as the inner ring being exchanged.

A propulsion unit includes a housing supported on a vessel. A propeller shaft extends in the housing. The propeller shaft is rotatably supported with a first bearing and a second bearing. A propeller is attached to at least one end of the propeller shaft. The first bearing includes a first radial bearing and a first thrust bearing. The first radial bearing is a sliding bearing positioned axially inside the first thrust bearing. The first bearing is positioned at the first end of the housing and the second bearing being positioned at the second end of the housing or vice a versa.

Bearing assemblies and methods of using bearings are provided in the present disclosure. In one embodiment, a bearing ring is provided having a plurality of carrier components removably coupled therewith. Each carrier component may carry one or more bearing elements. Upon wearing of the bearing elements beyond a desired amount, the carrier components may be removed from the bearing ring and installed in a different bearing ring to place the mearing elements at their original bearing surface radius. In another embodiment, individual bearing elements may be radially adjustable relative to the bearing ring to define and redefine the radius of a radial bearing surface.

The stub shaft bearing for a stub shaft can be replaced while the stub shaft remains installed in a hydroelectric unit. A runner hub lifting device may be positioned within a discharge ring surrounding a runner hub. The runner hub lifting device may lift the runner hub, and a stub shaft bearing may be removed from a stub shaft. The stub shaft bearing may be disassembled into bearing sections while located in a chamber in the hydroelectric unit. The bearing sections may be removed from the chamber through a service hatch in the chamber. A replacement stub shaft bearing may be moved into the chamber and installed on the stub shaft. The runner hub lifting device may lower the runner hub.

A method for performing uptower maintenance of a wind turbine in order to replace the main bearing on the turbine shaft is disclosed. Embodiments of this method to perform maintenance may include installing a rotor lock to resist rotation of the main shaft during maintenance, providing a lifting device in order to elevate the main shaft, removing the main bearing from its main bearing housing, and installing a replacement split main bearing. A crane may also be installed uptower to assist in the maintenance.

A drive shaft has a central tubular portion formed of a polymer composite with imbedded fibers. It extends between a first end and a second end. The central tubular portion has an outer peripheral surface. There is at least one ring on the outer peripheral surface of the central tubular portion. A method of repairing a composite material tube includes the steps of (a) identifying a damaged area on a composite tube, and (b) placing a patch on a surface of the tube and over the damaged area.

A snap ring for guiding rolling elements between an inner ring and an outer ring of a bearing assembly includes an annular body having an axially facing side surface and a radially extending flange. The body is circular and has a circumferential gap between a first end of the body and a second end of the body and a recess in the side surface near the gap. The recess is configured such that a tool is introducible into the recess from outside the bearing assembly in order to remove the snap ring from the bearing assembly.

Provided is a fluid film bearing, especially for a rotor hub in a wind turbine, including an inner part that supports a rotating outer part, wherein the inner part includes multiple radial pads distributed along the outer circumference of the inner part, each of the radial pads having at least one radial pad sliding surface, wherein the radial pad sliding surfaces support at least one outer part sliding surface of the outer part in the radial direction.

A mobile milling machine includes a cutting rotor disposed along a rotor drum delineating a drum rotation axis and accommodated in a rotor chamber delineated by chamber enclosure. To rotatably support the rotor drum with respect to the chamber enclosure, the rotor drum can include a bearing end and the chamber enclosure can include a bearing bore that are adapted to form a drum bearing assembly. The drum bearing assembly may include a bearing hub and a bushing configured to make a sliding frictional contact along complementary taper surfaces. The floating bushing may be floatingly retained in a chamber door of the chamber enclosure.