A rotor restraining apparatus (200) and methods for a wind turbine (1). The rotor restraining apparatus has a locking element (204) associated with a rotor (8, 203) of the wind turbine, a rotational axis of said rotor defining an axial direction, the locking element being at least part-circular in form. The locking element comprises a plurality of engagement formations (205) disposed on a periphery thereof. The apparatus also has a restraining member (206), comprising a plurality of engagement formations (207). The restraining member is movable substantially along said axial direction between: (a) a non-restraining position; and (b) a restraining position in which the restraining member engagement formations are able to engage the locking element engagement formations. At least a portion of the restraining member has an arcuate form that substantially matches the curvature of the locking element.

A wind turbine (10) includes a main shaft (34) including a front end (34a), the front end (34a) including a first connecting structure (36). A rotor hub (22) includes a second connecting structure (40), wherein the second connecting structure (40) of the rotor hub (22) is fixed to the first connecting structure (36) of the main shaft (34). A plurality of blades (24) is coupled to the rotor hub (22). A rotor locking disc (32) is carried on the main shaft (34), the rotor locking disc (32) having an outer circumference (32a) and a plurality of recesses (50) on the outer circumference (32a), the recesses (50) having openings (50a) intersecting with the outer circumference (32a). At least one rotor locking pin (30) is movable between a disengaged position relative to at least one of the recesses (50) and an engaged position wherein the pin is located at least partially in one of the recesses (50) for locking the rotor hub (22) against rotation.

A wind turbine (10) includes a first connecting structure (36) associated with the main shaft (34) fixed to a second connecting structure (40) of a rotor hub (22). A plurality of blades (24) is coupled to the rotor hub (22). A rotor locking disc (32) is carried on the main shaft (34). The rotor locking disc (32) has a peripheral region and a plurality of rotor locking elements (50) in the peripheral region for receiving one or more rotor locking pins (30). The first connecting structure (36) includes at least first and second sets of fastener holes (38a, 38b, 38b′). The first set of fastener holes (38a) is located at a position radially inward of the rotor locking elements (50) and the second set of fastener holes (38b, 38b′) is located between adjacent rotor locking elements (50). The first and/or second set of fastener holes (38a, 38b, 38b′) are used to receive fasteners (39a, 39b) to secure the main shaft (34) to the rotor hub (22).

A system for controlling a generator rotor locking pin, comprising a fixed locking pin and a rotor formed with a locking hole, and further comprising a detection reference component synchronously rotating with the rotor and formed with a detection hole, the detection hole radially corresponding to the locking hole; an optical quantity detection component fixed with respect to the rotor; and a control component configured to output a first control instruction to a rotor driving component according to a position signal of the detection hole obtained by the optical quantity detection component. The detection hole is used as an object to be detected, so that the circumferential relative position relationship of the locking hole with respect to the locking pin can be accurately determined, to output the first control instruction to the rotor driving component, thereby accurately centering the locking pin and the locking hole along with the rotation of the rotor. Moreover, in addition to obtaining an accurate centering precision, this solution greatly increases the centering efficiency. On this basis, the present invention further provides a method for controlling a generator rotor locking pin.

A wind turbine (10) includes a main shaft (34) including a front end (34a), the front end (34a) including a first connecting structure (36). A rotor hub (22) includes a second connecting structure (40), wherein the second connecting structure (40) of the rotor hub (22) is fixed to the first connecting structure (36) of the main shaft (34). A plurality of blades (24) is coupled to the rotor hub (22). A rotor locking disc (32) is carried on the main shaft (34), the rotor locking disc (32) having an outer circumference (32a) and a plurality of recesses (50) on the outer circumference (32a), the recesses (50) having openings (50a) intersecting with the outer circumference (32a). At least one rotor locking pin (30) is movable between a disengaged position relative to at least one of the recesses (50) and an engaged position wherein the pin is located at least partially in one of the recesses (50) for locking the rotor hub (22) against rotation.

There is provided a method of controlling a wind turbine on starting or running up the wind turbine before the wind turbine is connected to an electrical supply grid or before the wind turbine is connected to the electrical energy supply grid again. The wind turbine has a rotor having a rotor arresting means, at least one rotor blade and at least one blade angle detection sensor for each rotor blade for detecting the blade angle of the rotor blade. The blade angle of the at least one rotor blade is detected by means of the blade angle detection sensor. Unlocking of the rotor arresting means is blocked until the detected at least one blade angle is within a predetermined angle range. In that way it is possible to ensure that the rotor arresting means is released only when the blades are for example in the feathered position.

A wind turbine (10) includes a first connecting structure (36) associated with the main shaft (34) fixed to a second connecting structure (40) of a rotor hub (22). A plurality of blades (24) is coupled to the rotor hub (22). A rotor locking disc (32) is carried on the main shaft (34). The rotor locking disc (32) has a peripheral region and a plurality of rotor locking elements (50) in the peripheral region for receiving one or more rotor locking pins (30). The first connecting structure (36) includes at least first and second sets of fastener holes (38a, 38b, 38b′). The first set of fastener holes (38a) is located at a position radially inward of the rotor locking elements (50) and the second set of fastener holes (38b, 38b′) is located between adjacent rotor locking elements (50). The first and/or second set of fastener holes (38a, 38b, 38b′) are used to receive fasteners (39a, 39b) to secure the main shaft (34) to the rotor hub (22).

A lock for preventing rotation of a rotor of a wind turbine has a rotatable lock pin, a pin support supportable in a nacelle of the wind turbine and a mechanism for rotating the lock pin. The pin support has a hub-facing face proximate a rotor hub. The rotatable lock pin is rotatably mounted on the pin support. The lock pin has a cammed portion extending away from the hub-facing face toward the hub. The lock pin inserted into a complementary rotor lock aperture on the rotor hub when the pin support is supported in the nacelle. Rotation of the lock pin causes engagement of an exterior surface of the cammed portion with an interior surface of the rotor lock aperture to immobilize the lock pin against the interior surface to prevent relative motion between the lock pin and the aperture to prevent rotation of the rotor.

A control method for a hydraulic control turning system of a generator rotor includes: establishing a length relationship table between multiple hydraulic cylinders of the hydraulic control turning system; selecting a reference hydraulic cylinder; acquiring current lengths of the multiple hydraulic cylinders when the multiple hydraulic cylinders are located at error correction positions; and adjusting lengths of the other hydraulic cylinders corresponding to a next driving stroke to conform with the length relationship table. With such an arrangement, the accumulated dimension error between the hydraulic cylinders may be dynamically corrected during the turning operation, thereby ensuring that the turning pins are accurately aligned with the pin holes in the generator, and the corresponding turning operation is performed after the generator set is locked. Based on this, a control device for a hydraulic control turning system of a generator rotor is further provided.

A turner gear assembly (52) for turning an unbalanced rotor of a wind turbine (10) having a drivetrain (30). The turner gear assembly (52) includes a turner gear (50) configured to couple to the drivetrain (30) and having at least two motors (58a, 58b), and a valve block (78) connectable to the turner gear (50) and having a first flow control valve (106) configured to be in fluid communication with a pump (80) and with the at least two motors (58a, 58b). The first flow control valve (106) is selectively moveable between a first fluid control position (106a) and a second fluid control position (106b). When the first flow control valve (106) is in the first fluid control position (106a), the at least two motors (58a, 58b) operate in parallel and when the first flow control valve (106) is in the second fluid control position (106b), the at least two motors (58a, 58b) operate in series. A method of operating the turner gear assembly is also disclosed.