A vertical axis wind turbine system having a vertical mast with one or more turbine units supported thereon. The turbine units are of modular construction for assembly around the foot of the mast; are vertically moveable along the height of the mast by a winch system; and are selectively interlocking with the mast to fix the turbine units in parked positions. The turbine system and each turbine unit includes a network of portals and interior rooms for the passage of personnel through the system, including each turbine unit. The electrical generators, and other sub-components, in the turbine units are of modular construction that permits the selective removal and replacement of component segments, including the transport of component segments through the portals and interior rooms of the turbine system while the turbine units remain supported on the mast. The electrical generators are also selectively convertible between AC generators and DC generators.

A wind turbine is described which includes a support structure, a rotor which includes one or multiple rotor blades and which is situated on the support structure so that the rotor is freely rotatable about a rotation axis, and a generator which is connected to the rotor and which converts the wind energy into electrical energy when the rotor is rotating. The support structure includes a stationary ring on which the rotor is rotatably guided and on which the stator of the generator is situated.

A wind turbine, including a hub, a blade, a blade bearing which is connected to the hub and which enables a rotational movement of the blade relative to the hub, and an adjustment device for adjusting a pitch angle of the blade, wherein the adjustment device includes at least one actuator and wherein an effective direction of an adjustment force of the at least one actuator when adjusting the pitch angle of the blade is tilted in an angle relative to a bearing plane of the blade bearing. One advantage of the wind turbine is that the adjustment force for adjusting the pitch angle is transmitted directly into the blade bearing or the bearing plane. Further, an offset of the attacking point of the adjustment force can be reduced or completely avoided.

A wind turbine is provided, including a hub, a blade shaft which is connected to the hub, a rotor blade which is connected to the blade shaft, a fixed bearing arrangement which is arranged at a blade end) of the blade shaft, and a floating bearing arrangement which is arranged at a hub end of the blade shaft, wherein the bearing arrangements enable a rotational movement of the rotor blade relative to the blade shaft. One advantage of the wind turbine including the bearing arrangements is that a better distribution of the loads is achieved. Further, the serviceability is better compared to bearings with rolling elements.

A wind turbine is provided, including a hub, a blade shaft which is connected to the hub, a rotor blade which is connected to the blade shaft, a fixed bearing arrangement which is arranged at a blade end) of the blade shaft, and a floating bearing arrangement which is arranged at a hub end of the blade shaft, wherein the bearing arrangements enable a rotational movement of the rotor blade relative to the blade shaft. One advantage of the wind turbine including the bearing arrangements is that a better distribution of the loads is achieved. Further, the serviceability is better compared to bearings with rolling elements.

A roller bearing includes an outer ring, an inner ring, at least one row of rollers arranged between the outer ring and the inner ring, and at least one optical fiber cable mounted to the outer ring or the inner ring, the optical fiber cable including at least one Bragg grating. The optical fiber cable is configured such that a signal in the optical fiber cable is usable to determine a preload or load on the roller bearing.

A roller bearing includes an outer ring, an inner ring, at least one row of rollers arranged between the outer ring and the inner ring, and at least one optical fiber cable mounted to the outer ring or the inner ring, the optical fiber cable including at least one Bragg grating. The optical fiber cable is configured such that a signal in the optical fiber cable is usable to determine a preload or load on the roller bearing.

An elastomer bushing for an elastic bearing of a drive train component of a wind turbine, in particular of a gearbox on a housing, such as a machine carrier, of a wind turbine, may include two half-shells each made of an elastomer part having a Shore hardness of more than 85 Shore A. At least one of the half-shells may have an axial rigidity varying in the direction of its longitudinal axis.

An elastomer bushing for an elastic bearing of a drive train component of a wind turbine, in particular of a gearbox on a housing, such as a machine carrier, of a wind turbine, may include two half-shells each made of an elastomer part having a Shore hardness of more than 85 Shore A. At least one of the half-shells may have an axial rigidity varying in the direction of its longitudinal axis.

A wind turbine comprising a tower (2) with a tower wall and having at least one nacelle (3) mounted thereon, and a yaw system (1) interconnecting the tower (2) and at least one nacelle (3) is disclosed. The yaw system (1) comprises a yaw claw (4) comprising an upper radially extending part (5), a lower radially extending part (6) and an axially extending part (7) interconnecting the upper radially extending part (5) and the lower radially extending part (6), thereby defining a space. A sliding bearing connection with at least two axial sliding surfaces (9, 10) and at least one radial sliding surface (11) is arranged between the yaw claw (4) and a flange (8) arranged in the space defined by the yaw claw (4). At least one yaw drive (13) comprising a toothed gear (14) is arranged in meshing connection with a toothed yaw ring (12). The axially extending part (7) of the yaw claw (4) and the meshing connection between the toothed gear (14) and the toothed yaw ring (12) are arranged at the same side of the tower wall.