A method of operating a wind energy installation having a rotor with at least one rotor blade that is angularly adjustable by an adjustment drive. In response to the occurrence of at least one special operating case, in particular at least one malfunction case, the rotor blade is adjusted in a direction of a shutdown position by the adjustment drive. In the shutdown position, a supply of energy from an energy storage device to the adjustment drive is switched off and/or a pitch brake for holding the rotor blade in its current position is closed. In response to at least one activation signal, the rotor blade is adjusted by the adjustment drive in an adjustment mode of operation while the special operating case is still ongoing, in particular while the malfunction case is still ongoing.

The present disclosure is directed to a rotor blade assembly for a wind turbine that controls pitch bearing load distribution. The assembly includes a rotor blade having a body shell extending between a blade root and tip, a pitch bearing at an interface between the blade root and a hub of the wind turbine, and plurality of blade bolts coupling the blade root to the hub through the pitch bearing. The pitch bearing includes an outer bearing race and an inner bearing race rotatable relative to the outer race. Thus, in one embodiment, the blade bolts couple the blade root to the hub through the inner race of the pitch bearing. Further, each of the blade bolts has a first end and a second end defining a length therebetween and at least two of the blade bolts have varying lengths so as to distribute loads experienced by the pitch bearing.

A rotor for a wind turbine, to a rotor blade for a wind turbine, to a blade-fastening element for the fastening of a rotor blade, to a wind turbine, and to a method for mounting a rotor. A rotor for a wind turbine, comprising at least one rotor blade which extends from a blade tip to a face side, a hub having a blade-fastening element which, at the rotor-blade side thereof, has a blind hole for receiving a longitudinal bolt for the fastening of a rotor blade to the blade-fastening element, wherein the rotor blade has a fastening region which is of tubular form and which is arranged adjoining the face side, wherein the fastening region has at its outer circumferential surface and/or at its inner circumferential surface at least one thickened portion.

A wind turbine and a method for assembling a wind turbine is disclosed. The wind turbine, including a first portion, a second portion which is connectable to the first portion, and a spring element which is connected to the first portion and which protrudes therefrom, wherein the spring element configured to guide the second portion towards the first portion and, and wherein the spring element is configured to be deformed while the second portion is guided towards the first portion. Assembly operations are simplified since an elastic guiding system is provided which reduces movements between portions to be connected. In particular, a duration of assembly operations may be reduced.

The present invention relates to adjustment and/or drive units which can be used in wind power plants for adjusting the azimuth angle of the nacelle of the wind power plant or the pitch angle of the rotor blades, wherein such an adjustment and/or drive unit has at least two adjusting drives for rotating two assemblies which are mounted so as to be rotatable relative to each other, and has a control device for controlling the adjusting drives. The control device controls the adjusting drives in such a manner that the adjusting drives are braced relative to each other during the rotation of the two assemblies and/or when the assemblies are at standstill. The invention further relates to a wind power plant comprising such an adjustment and/or drive unit, and to a method for controlling such an adjustment and/or drive unit. According to the invention, the control device comprises a bracing-adjustment device for variably adjusting the intensity of the bracing of the adjusting drives as a function of a variable external load on the assemblies being adjusted, wherein the intensity can be determined by means of a load determining device. According to another aspect of the invention, an overload protection is included, wherein the individual loads of the individual adjusting drives are determined by load determining devices and, in the event that an adjusting drive reaches overload, the distribution of the drive torques is modified in such a manner that the adjusting drive reaching overload is relieved or at least not further loaded, and at least one further adjusting drive is more heavily loaded in a supporting manner or is less heavily loaded in a bracing manner.

A rotor assembly for a wind turbine includes a rotor blade extending between a blade root and a blade tip, a rotatable hub, a pitch bearing arranged between the rotor blade and a hub of the wind turbine, and a stiffener ring. The pitch bearing has an outer race, an inner race rotatable relative to the outer race, and a plurality of roller elements arranged between the outer race and the inner race. The stiffener ring is arranged between one of the inner race or the outer race of the pitch bearing and the blade root. Further, the stiffener ring has a symmetrical shape so as to provide uniform stiffness to the pitch bearing so as to provide a uniform stiffness to the pitch bearing.

A wind turbine rotor includes a hub, a plurality of blades, and a pitch system for rotating a blade substantially along its longitudinal axis. The pitch system includes a bearing, a motor, and a gear system, wherein the gear system has a driving pinion operationally connected with the motor, an annular gear arranged to mesh with the driving pinion. Additional gear teeth are arranged to mesh with other parts of the gear system in a predefined blade position for wind speeds at or below a nominal wind speed such that upon movement from the predefined blade position, the additional gear teeth come into contact with the other parts of the gear system before the driving pinion comes into contact with the annular gear.

Rolling bearing (1) comprising an inner ring (3), an outer ring (2), at least one row of rolling elements which are arranged between raceways formed on the rings (2, 3) and a ring gear (6) that has a circumference of less than 360° and is fixed to one of the rings (2). The ring gear (6) is formed of a single gear segment (7) which has a circumference substantially equal to the circumference of the ring gear (6) and is provided on its inner or outer peripheral surface with a plurality of meshing means (7b) and fixed only to one of either the inner or outer rings (3) of the rolling bearing (1).

A hub assembly permits a rotor portion of a horizontal axis, fluid-driven turbine (e.g., with three or more blades) to teeter relative to a hub shaft. An outer hub member configured to receive turbine blades is permitted to rotate relative to the inner hub member. Multiple rocker members interposed between the inner hub member and the outer hub member include curved end surfaces that are configured to permit pivotal movement between the rocker members and corresponding features protruding from a hub shaft of the inner hub member. Torque receiving surfaces associated with features protruding from the hub shaft are permitted to slide relative to torque transmitting surfaces of the rocker members.

In one aspect, a dual pitch bearing configuration for coupling a rotor blade to a hub of a wind turbine. The dual pitch bearing configuration including a first pitch bearing and at least one additional pitch bearing disposed axially a distance L.sub.B from the first pitch bearing. The dual pitch bearing configuration further including one or more spacers disposed between the first pitch bearing and the at least one additional pitch bearing and extending the distance L.sub.B. The dual pitch bearing disposed radially within one of a blade root of the rotor blade, a hub extension or a bearing housing and coupled thereto. The dual pitch bearing configuration minimizing moment loading on the first pitch bearing and the at least one additional pitch bearing. A wind turbine including the dual pitch bearing configuration is further disclosed.