Provided is a grease collection arrangement for collecting waste grease from a grease lubricated rotor blade pitch bearing of a wind turbine, whereby the grease collection arrangement includes at least one waste grease collector and multiple extraction tubes, wherein each one of the multiple extraction tubes is connected to the at least one waste grease collector and the multiple extraction tubes are configured to being connected to multiple grease outlets of the rotor blade pitch bearing, whereby the grease collection arrangement is configured such that the waste grease from the rotor blade pitch bearing can flow into the at least one waste grease collector by gravity and centrifugal forces.

Provided is a grease collection arrangement for collecting waste grease from a bearing, including a plurality of grease extraction valves, wherein each grease extraction valve is connected to a grease outlet of the bearing, an extraction line extending from each grease extraction valve to a common extraction line, a vacuum apparatus configured to create an under-pressure in the extraction lines, and a control module configured to selectively open and close a grease extraction valve. Also provided is a method of collecting waste grease from a bearing lubrication circuit using the grease collection arrangement.

A fluid system for a wind turbine, which is particularly beneficial when the wind turbine is operating at low power, such as during idling operational mode. Fluid accumulates in a fluid storage device before being released intermittently, for example by fluid bursts or pulses, to one or more consumer units, including but not limited to bearings. The fluid system advantageously enables fluid, such as lubricant, to be sufficiently distributed to the one or more consuming units even if the pump used to supply fluid to the consuming units is operating at low power.

A method involves directing lubricant to different consumers which are to be monitored via their lubricant. The lubricant is drained through drain lines connected to the consumers and directed to a tank. At least some the lubricant in the drain lines or the consumers is extracted into extraction lines. Flow from the extraction lines is selectively directed to a measurement device, which then measures a characteristic of the lubricant. A system for carrying out such a method is also provided, wherein the system includes a multiplexer for selectively directing flow from the extraction lines.

A pump system for supplying lubricant to components of a wind turbine comprises: a pump for pumping lubricant through a fluid circuit of the wind turbine; a drive means for driving the pump; and, a gearbox arrangement arranged to couple the drive means to the pump. The gearbox arrangement comprises a rotatable input shaft configured to be driven by the drive means and a rotatable output shaft configured to drive the pump. The input shaft is rotatable in a first direction of rotation and a second direction of rotation when driven by the drive means. The output shaft is rotatable in the first direction of rotation, and the speed of rotation of the output shaft is determined by an operational mode of the gearbox arrangement. In a first mode of operation, when the input shaft rotates in the first direction of rotation at a first speed of rotation, the gearbox arrangement is configured to drive the output shaft to rotate also in the first direction of rotation at the first speed of rotation. In a second mode of operation, when the input shaft rotates in the second direction of rotation at the first speed of rotation, the gearbox arrangement is configured to drive the output shaft to rotate in the first direction of rotation at a second speed of rotation.

A wind turbine drive train component (22) comprising a rotating shaft (61) with a radial seal (50) is provided. The radial seal (50) comprises a stationary part and a rotating part. The stationary part comprises a ring (51) with an inner edge and an outer edge, the inner edge being configured for contactlessly surrounding the shaft (61). The rotary part comprising a disc (52), coaxially connected to the shaft (61) for rotation therewith and comprising a flange (53) that wraps around the outer edge of the ring (51). The radial seal (50) further comprises an annular air lock gap (55) for containing an amount of lubrication fluid (64) and thereby closing off the air lock gap (55) when the rotary part rotates at a rotational speed above a predetermined threshold speed, the annular air lock gap (55) being formed by an inner surface of the flange (53), an outer part of the opposing parallel surface of the disc (52) and the outer edge of the ring (51).

A powertrain component (21, 22, 23) for a wind turbine (100) is provided, comprising a powertrain component housing (20) with at least one rotating part (49) and a dry sump 5 lubrication system for lubricating the rotating part (49). The lubrication system comprises a dry sump lubricant tank (51, 52, 53) and a pump (60) for pumping the lubricant from the tank (51, 52, 53) towards a lubricant release point, the lubricant release point being provided at a level above at least part of the rotating part (49) for receiving the lubricant from the tank (51, 52, 53) and allowing the lubricant to lubricate the rotating part (49). 10 The tank (51, 52, 53) is integrated in or directly attached to the powertrain component housing (20) at a level below the at least one rotating part (49).

A lubricant application device includes a base body configured to be mounted to an end surface of a gear. The base body includes a port configured to be connected to a source of lubricant and a holder for holding a lubricant applicator supported by the base body. A lubricant passage connects the port to the holder, and a lubricant applicator is mounted in the holder. The lubricant applicator is a coiled wire defining an internal passage for carrying the lubricant and may include a first length of coils with no axial spacing and a second length of coils that are axial spaced.

A lubrication system for a main bearing positioned around a main shaft of a wind turbine includes a seal ring positioned around the shaft adjacent to the bearing, at least one gear adjacent to the seal ring, a mechanical lubricant pump arranged to engage the at least one gear, and at least one lubricant for providing lubrication to the bearing. Thus, as the shaft rotates, the gear(s) drives the lubricant pump such that the pump continuously provides the lubricant to the bearing so long as the shaft is rotating.

A lubricant dispenser for filling a lubricant reservoir of a wind turbine is provided. The lubricant dispenser includes a carrier configured to receive a lubricant container, wherein the carrier includes at least a first and second support for supporting a first and second end of the lubricant container and. The lubricant dispenser further includes a flow connection having a first end configured to be coupled to the lubricant container and a second end configured to be coupled to the lubricant reservoir, and a squeeze mechanism that is mechanically coupled to the second support and that is actuatable to move the second support towards the first support such that a lubricant container disposed between the first and second supports is squeezed, whereby the content of the lubricant container is discharged through the flow connection. A wind turbine lubrication system and method of refilling a wind turbine lubricant reservoir are provided.