METHOD FOR DETERMINING THE WEAR OF A SLIDING BEARING MOUNTED IN A WIND TURBINE TRANSMISSION, AND WIND TURBINE TRANSMISSION

Abstract

The invention relates to a method for determining the wear of a sliding bearing (19) arranged in a wind turbine gearbox (7), in particular a planetary gearbox, which sliding bearing (19) serves for mounting a gearbox component (23). A radial displacement of the position of the gearbox component (23) pivoted by means of the sliding bearing (19) is detected by means of a distance sensor (25) arranged in the wind turbine gearbox (7).

Claims

1. A method for determining the wear of a sliding bearing (19) arranged in a wind turbine gearbox (7), in particular a planetary gearbox, which sliding bearing (19) serves for mounting a gearbox component (23), wherein, by means of at least one distance sensor (25), which is arranged in the wind turbine gearbox (7), a radial displacement of the position or a tilting of the gearbox component (23) pivoted by means of the sliding bearing (19) can be detected.

2. The method according to claim 1, wherein the distance sensor (25) detects the displacement of the gearbox component (23) in periodical intervals, and the measured values are saved in a wear chart.

3. The method according to claim 2, wherein, for the radial displacement or tilting, target values with tolerance ranges are predetermined for a certain time of detection, and the actual values detected by means of the distance sensor (25) are compared with said target values, wherein an action is triggered if an actual value lies outside the tolerance range of an assigned target value.

4. A wind turbine gearbox (7), in particular planetary gearbox, having at least one sliding bearing (19) for mounting a gearbox component (23), wherein a wear sensor in the form of a distance sensor (25) is formed for detecting a radial displacement of the position or tilting of the gearbox component (23) pivoted by means of the sliding bearing (19).

5. The wind turbine gearbox according to claim 4, wherein the distance sensor (25) is arranged on a planetary gear carrier (15) and is formed for the detection of the radial displacement of the position or tilting of a planetary gear axle (14), in particular wherein the distance sensor (25) is arranged on the planetary gear carrier (15) so as to detect the distance (26) in the tangential direction.

6. The wind turbine gearbox according to claim 4, wherein a permanent magnet (30) is arranged in the planetary gearbox such that the distance sensor (25), which is arranged on the planetary gear carrier (15) so as to rotate along with it, can be supplied or charged with electricity by means of induction.

7. The wind turbine gearbox according to claim 4, wherein a laser sensor is formed as a distance sensor (25).

8. The wind turbine gearbox according to claim 4, wherein a marking (27) is arranged on the gearbox component (23), which marking (27) serves as a reference for the distance sensor (25), in particular that wherein the marking (27) is formed as a reflector point which is arranged on the planetary gear axle (14).

9. The wind turbine gearbox according to claim 4, wherein the distance sensor (25) is arranged on the bearing seat (24) of the sliding bearing (19).

10. The wind turbine gearbox according to claim 4, wherein the distance sensor (25) is arranged on the bearing seat (24) such that a radial displacement of the position of the gearbox component (23) pivoted by means of the sliding bearing (19) in the main direction of loading (31) can be detected.

Description

[0023] For the purpose of better understanding of the invention, it will be elucidated in more detail by means of the figures below.

[0024] These show in a respectively very simplified schematic representation:

[0025] FIG. 1 a side view of a wind turbine;

[0026] FIG. 2 a half-section of a wind turbine gearbox in the form of a planetary gearbox;

[0027] FIG. 3 a view of a planetary gear carrier with distance sensors arranged thereon.

[0028] First of all, it is to be noted that in the different embodiments described, equal parts are provided with equal reference numbers and/or equal component designations, where the disclo-sures contained in the entire description may be analogously transferred to equal parts with equal reference numbers and/or equal component designations. Moreover, the specifications of location, such as at the top, at the bottom, at the side, chosen in the description refer to the directly described and depicted figure and in case of a change of position, these specifications of location are to be analogously transferred to the new position.

[0029] FIG. 1 shows a wind turbine 1. This wind turbine 1 generally corresponds to the prior art, meaning that it comprises a tower 2 on which a nacelle 3 is arranged, on the front end of which a rotor 4 with rotor blades 5 and on the back end of which a generator 6 are arranged. A wind turbine gearbox 7, which is connected on the one hand to the rotor 4 and on the other hand to the moving member of the generator 6, is arranged between the rotor 4 and the generator 6, i.e. a not further represented moving member of the generator. The wind turbine gearbox 7 serves for increasing the rotation speed of the moving member as compared to the rotor 4. On the lower part of the tower 2, lastly, there is a network connection 8.

[0030] As these components are generally known from the prior art for wind turbines 1, reference is made here to the relevant literature on this subject. However, it should be mentioned that the wind turbine 1 is not obligatorily limited to the type represented in FIG. 1.

[0031] FIG. 2 shows an exemplary embodiment of the wind turbine gearbox 7 in the form of a simple planetary gearbox in a side view.

[0032] The planetary gearbox 7 has a sun gear 9 connected in a motion-coupled manner to a shaft 10 leading to the generator rotor. The sun gear 9 is surrounded by multiple planetary gears 11, for example two, preferably three or four. Both the sun gear 9 and the planetary gears 11 have outer end toothings 12, 13 which are engaged in a meshing arrangement, wherein these end toothings 12, 13 are schematically represented in FIG. 2.

[0033] The planetary gears 11 are held in the planetary carrier 15 by means of a planetary gear axle 14, wherein a first receiving section 16 and a second receiving section 17 are provided in the planetary carrier 15. As it can be seen in FIG. 2, it can be provided that the planetary gears 11 are solidly coupled with a planetary gear axle 14, and the planetary gear axles 14 are rotatably held in the receiving sections 16, 17.

[0034] In particular, it can be provided that the planetary gear axles 14 are mounted in the receiving sections 16, 17 by means of sliding bearings 19. The sliding bearings 19 can be designed, for example, in the form of sliding bearing bushes.

[0035] In an alternative exemplary embodiment, it can be provided that the planetary gear axles 14 are clamped in the receiving sections 16, 17, and the planetary gears 11 are pivoted, by means of sliding bearings 19, on the planetary gear axles 14 so as to be rotatable relative to them.

[0036] An internal gear 20 is arranged to surround the planetary gears 11, which internal gear 20 has an internal toothing 21 which is engaged in a meshing arrangement with the end toothing 13 of the planetary gears 11. The internal gear 20 is motion-coupled with a rotor shaft 22 of the rotor of the wind turbine. The end toothings 12, 13 and/or the internal toothing 21 can be formed as spur toothing, as helical toothing or as double helical toothing.

[0037] As such planetary gearboxes 7 are in principle also already known from the prior art, for example from the previously cited document regarding the prior art, further explanations are su-perfluous here.

[0038] In this document, the term gearbox component 23 is used for the component which is pivoted, by means of the sliding bearing 19, on another component, which is referred to as bearing seat 24, so as to be rotatable relative to the same.

[0039] For example, the planetary gear 11 can be referred to as gearbox component 23 if it is pivoted, by means of the sliding bearing 19, on the planetary gear axle 14 so as to be rotatable relative to the same.

[0040] In another exemplary embodiment, the planetary gear axle 14 can be referred to as gearbox component 23 if it is pivoted, by means of the sliding bearing 19, on the receiving sections 16, 17 so as to be rotatable relative to them.

[0041] In FIG. 3, a further and possibly independent embodiment of the wind turbine gearbox 7 is shown, wherein again equal reference numbers and/or component designations are used for equal parts as in the preceding FIGS. 1 and 2. In order to avoid unnecessary repetitions, it is pointed to/reference is made to the detailed description in FIGS. 1 and 2 preceding it.

[0042] In FIG. 3, the planetary carrier 15 is shown in a frontal view according to the view III-III from FIG. 2.

[0043] As it can be seen in FIG. 3, it can be provided that distance sensors 25 are formed which serve for the detection of the position and/or the position displacement of the gearbox component 23. The distance sensors 25 can serve, in particular, for detecting the radial displacement of the position of the gearbox component 23. In this case, the gearbox component 23 is the planetary gear axle 14 which is pivoted, by means of the sliding bearings 19, in the planetary carrier 15 so as to be rotatable.

[0044] By means of the distance sensor 25, a distance 26 of the surface of the planetary gear axle 14 to the distance sensor 25 can be detected. The change in the measured distance 26 over time gives information on the wear condition of the sliding bearing 19.

[0045] In order to improve the measurement accuracy, it can be provided that, on the gearbox component 23, a marking 27 is formed, which cooperates with the distance sensor 25. In the present exemplary embodiment according to FIG. 3, for example, the distance sensor 25 is designed in the form of a laser sensor and the marking 27 in the form of a reflector for reflecting a laser beam 28 of the distance sensor 25. In this process, the distance 26 is measured between the distance sensor 25 and the surface of the marking 27.

[0046] In particular, the distance sensor 25 can be arranged on the planetary carrier 15 such that the laser beam 28 acts, in the tangential direction, on a rotation center diameter, on which the individual rotation centers 29 of the planetary gear axle 14 are arranged. Since the main direction of loading 31 of the planetary gear axles 14, as well, extends to the rotation center diameter in the tangential direction, the laser beam 28 therefore lies in parallel with the main direction of loading 31 of the planetary gear axles 14. Therefore, the relevant wear in the main direction of loading 31 can be detected.

[0047] Moreover, one or multiple permanent magnet(s) 30 may be arranged in the internal gear 20, to which the planetary carrier 15 rotates. Due to these permanent magnets 30, an energy supply of the distance sensors 25 can be achieved by means of induction. Moreover, it can be provided that the distance sensors 25 are equipped with a wireless signal transmission means, by means of which the measured distance can be transmitted to a receiving location.

[0048] In a first exemplary embodiment, it can be provided, as depicted in FIG. 3, that a separate distance sensor 25 is formed for each of the planetary gear axles 14. Therefore, the wear condition of each of the sliding bearings 19 assigned to the planetary gear axles 14 can be moni-tored.

[0049] In a further exemplary embodiment that is not depicted, it can also be provided that only one distance sensor 25 is formed, which detects the displacement of one of the planetary gear axles 14, and that it is assumed that all sliding bearings of the planetary gear axles 14 are subject to the same wear.

[0050] In a further exemplary embodiment that is not depicted, it can be provided that the planetary gears 11 are pivoted, by means of the sliding bearings 19, on the planetary gear axles 14 so as to be rotatable relative to them. In such an exemplary embodiment, the distance sensor 25 can, for example, directly detect the position and/or the displacement of the planetary gear 11.

[0051] The exemplary embodiments show possible embodiment variants, and it should be noted in this respect that the invention is not restricted to these particular illustrated embodiment variants of it, but that rather also various combinations of the individual embodiment variants are possible and that this possibility of variation owing to the teaching for technical action provided by the present invention lies within the ability of the person skilled in the art in this technical field.

[0052] The scope of protection is determined by the claims. However, the description and the draw-ings are to be adduced for construing the claims. Individual features or feature combinations from the different exemplary embodiments shown and described may represent independent inventive solutions. The object underlying the independent inventive solutions may be gath-ered from the description.

[0053] All indications regarding ranges of values in the present description are to be understood such that these also comprise random and all partial ranges from it, for example, the indication 1 to 10 is to be understood such that it comprises all partial ranges based on the lower limit 1 and the upper limit 10, i.e. all partial ranges start with a lower limit of 1 or larger and end with an upper limit of 10 or less, for example 1 through 1.7, or 3.2 through 8.1, or 5.5 through 10.

[0054] Finally, as a matter of form, it should be noted that for ease of understanding of the structure, elements are partially not depicted to scale and/or are enlarged and/or are reduced in size.

LIST OF REFERENCE NUMBERS

[0055] 1 wind turbine 31 main direction of loading [0056] 2 tower [0057] 3 nacelle [0058] 4 rotor [0059] 5 rotor blade [0060] 6 generator [0061] 7 wind turbine gearbox [0062] 8 network connection [0063] 9 sun gear [0064] 10 shaft [0065] 11 planetary gear [0066] 12 end toothing sun gear [0067] 13 end toothing planetary gear [0068] 14 planetary gear axle [0069] 15 planetary carrier [0070] 16 first receiving section [0071] 17 second receiving section [0072] 18 bearing seat [0073] 19 sliding bearing [0074] 20 internal gear [0075] 21 internal toothing [0076] 22 rotor shaft [0077] 23 gearbox component [0078] 24 bearing seat [0079] 25 distance sensor [0080] 26 distance [0081] 27 marking [0082] 28 laser beam [0083] 29 rotation center [0084] 30 permanent magnet