ROTOR MAIN BEARING OF A NACELLE FOR A WIND TURBINE

Abstract

A nacelle for a wind turbine includes a nacelle housing; a rotor hub; a rotor bearing for bearing the rotor hub on the nacelle housing, wherein the rotor bearing has at least one inner ring element and at least one outer ring element, wherein at least one sliding bearing element is formed between the inner ring element and the outer ring element. The sliding bearing element is inseparably connected to the inner ring element or the sliding bearing element is inseparably connected to the outer ring element.

Claims

1. A nacelle (2) for a wind turbine (1), the nacelle (2) comprising: a nacelle housing (4); a rotor hub (6); a rotor bearing (8) for bearing the rotor hub (6) on the nacelle housing (4), wherein the rotor bearing (8) has at least one inner ring element (12) and at least one outer ring element (13), wherein at least one sliding bearing element (14) is formed between the inner ring element (12) and the outer ring element (13), wherein the sliding bearing element (14) is inseparably connected to the inner ring element (12) or wherein the sliding bearing element (14) is inseparably connected to the outer ring element (13).

2. The nacelle (2) according to claim 1, wherein the inner ring element (12) is formed as an integral part of a rotor shaft (15) for receiving the rotor hub (6) or as an integral part of the rotor hub (6) itself.

3. The nacelle (2) according to claim 1, claim 1, wherein the outer ring element (13) is formed as an integral part of the nacelle housing (4) or of a bearing block (17) accommodated in the nacelle housing (4).

4. The nacelle (2) according to claim 1, wherein the sliding bearing element (14) is materially bonded to the inner ring element (12) or wherein the sliding bearing element (14) is materially bonded to the outer ring element (13).

5. The nacelle (2) according to claim 1, wherein the sliding bearing element (14) is formed as a coating, which is applied directly onto the inner ring element (12) or the outer ring element (13).

6. The nacelle (2) according to claim 1, wherein the sliding bearing element (14) is embodied for simultaneous radial bearing and axial bearing of the rotor hub (6).

7. The nacelle (2) according to claim 6, wherein the sliding bearing element (14) has other material properties in the region of the radial bearing than it has in the region of the axial bearing.

8. The nacelle (2) according to claim 1, wherein the sliding bearing element (14) has a sliding surface (16) in the form of a spherical cap.

9. The nacelle (2) according to claim 1, wherein the inner ring element (12) and/or the outer ring element (13) is formed being parted in the axial direction.

10. The nacelle (2) according to claim 9, wherein the ring element (12, 13), on which the sliding bearing element (14) is not arranged, is formed being parted in the axial direction.

11. A method for producing a nacelle (2) for a wind turbine (1), the method comprising the method steps: providing a nacelle housing (4); providing a rotor hub (6); providing a rotor bearing (8) for bearing the rotor hub (6) on the nacelle housing (4), wherein the rotor bearing (8) has at least one inner ring element (12) and at least one outer ring element (13), wherein at least one sliding bearing element (14) is formed between the inner ring element (12) and the outer ring element (13), wherein, for providing the rotor bearing (8), the sliding bearing element (14) is inseparably connected to the inner ring element (12) or that wherein the sliding bearing element (14) is inseparably connected to the outer ring element (13).

12. The method according to claim 11, wherein the sliding bearing element (14) is applied to the inner ring element (12) or the outer ring element (13) by coating.

13. The method according to claim 12, wherein, after coating the inner ring element (12) or the outer ring element (13), the coating is brought into the desired shape by mechanical processing.

14. The method according to claim 11, wherein the sliding bearing element (14) is applied to the inner ring element (12) or to the outer ring element (13) by magnetic pulse welding by means of a magnetic force generator.

Description

[0063] FIG. 1 a schematic representation of a wind turbine;

[0064] FIG. 2 a cross-section of a first exemplary embodiment of a nacelle in a highly schematic representation;

[0065] FIG. 3 a cross-section of a second exemplary embodiment of a nacelle in a highly schematic representation.

[0066] 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.

[0067] FIG. 1 shows a schematic representation of a wind turbine 1 for generating electrical energy from wind energy. The wind turbine 1 comprises a nacelle 2, which is rotatably received on a tower 3. The nacelle 2 comprises a nacelle housing 4, which forms the main structure of the nacelle 2. In the nacelle housing 4 of the nacelle 2, the electrotechnical components such as a generator of the wind turbine 1 are arranged.

[0068] Moreover, a rotor 5 is formed, which has a rotor hub 6 with rotor blades 7 arranged thereon. The rotor hub 6 is considered part of the nacelle 2. The rotor hub 6 is received so as to be ro-tatable on the nacelle housing 4 by means of a rotor bearing 8.

[0069] The rotor bearing 8, which serves for bearing the rotor hub 6 on the nacelle housing 4 of the nacelle 2, is configured for absorbing a radial force 9, an axial force 10 and a tilting torque 11. The axial force 10 is caused by the force of the wind. The radial force 9 is caused by the weight force of the rotor 5 and is effective at the center of gravity of the rotor 5. As the center of gravity of the rotor 5 is outside the rotor bearing 8, the tilting torque 11 is generated in the rotor bearing 8 by the radial force 9. The tilting torque 11 may also be caused by an uneven load of the rotor blades 7.

[0070] The rotor bearing 8 according to the invention can have a diameter of 0.5 m to 5 m, for example. Of course, it is also conceivable that the rotor bearing 8 is smaller or larger.

[0071] FIG. 2 shows the nacelle housing 4 and the rotor hub 6 in a schematic sectional representation, wherein the structure, in particular its dimensions, are highly schematized. As can be seen from FIG. 2, it may be provided that the rotor bearing 8 has at least one inner ring element 12 and least one outer ring element 13. At least one sliding bearing element 14 is arranged between the inner ring element 12 and the outer ring element 13.

[0072] As can be seen from FIG. 2, it may be provided that the inner ring element 12 is coupled with the rotor hub 6. In particular, it may be provided that a rotor shaft 15 is formed, on which the rotor hub 6 is arranged. The inner ring element 12 can be received directly on the rotor shaft 15.

[0073] In yet another exemplary embodiment that is not depicted, it may of course also be provided that the inner ring element 12 is fastened to the nacelle housing 4, and that the rotor hub 6 is coupled with the outer ring element 13.

[0074] As can be seen from FIG. 2, it may be provided that both the inner ring element 12 and the outer ring element 13 are V-shaped, and two sliding bearing elements 14 are each formed so as to be spaced apart from each other on the V-shaped flank between the two ring elements 12, 13, which sliding bearing elements 14 are arranged at an angle to one another. As can further be seen from FIG. 2, it can be provided that the sliding bearing elements 14 are arranged directly on the inner ring element 12. Hence, a sliding surface 16 may be formed between the sliding bearing elements 14 and the outer ring element 13. In an arrangement of the sliding bearing elements 14 as it is shown in FIG. 2, the sliding surfaces 16 may also be arranged in a V-shape.

[0075] As can also be seen from FIG. 2, it may be provided that the inner ring element 12 is designed to be parted with regard to its axial extension or, alternatively, along a central axis, in order to make the assembly of the rotor bearing 8 easier.

[0076] In an exemplary embodiment that is not depicted, it is of course also conceivable that the inner ring element 12 does not form a groove as shown in the exemplary embodiment of FIG. 2, but rather that the V-shaped arrangement has a reverse formation, so that a V-shaped projec-tion is formed on the inner ring element 12. In this case, it may be provided for the purpose of an easier assembly that the outer ring element 13 is designed to be parted in its axial extension or, alternatively, along a central axis.

[0077] Both in a design with an inner ring element 12 partible in the axial extension and in a design with an outer ring element 13 partible in the axial extension, it may be provided that the individual parts of the respective partibly designed ring element 12, 13 are formed so as to be axially adjustable relative to one another, in order to be able to compensate for example the wear of the sliding bearing elements 14. In particular, it may be provided that due to the axial ad-justability of the individual parts of the ring elements 12, 13 relative to one another, the bearing gap can be adjusted.

[0078] In FIG. 3, a further and possibly independent embodiment of the nacelle 2 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.

[0079] As can be seen from FIG. 3, it can be provided that the sliding bearing element 14 is formed as a coating which is applied directly onto the inner ring element 12, wherein the inner ring element 12 is embodied as an integral part of the rotor shaft 15 for receiving the rotor hub 6.

[0080] In this exemplary embodiment, the sliding bearing element 14 has a sliding surface 16 in the form of a spherical cap. Here, the sliding bearing element 14 is embodied for simultaneous radial bearing and axial bearing of the rotor hub 6.

[0081] As can further be seen from FIG. 3, it can be provided that the outer ring element 13 is embodied as an integral part of a bearing block 17 received in the nacelle housing 4. As can further be seen from FIG. 3, it can be provided that the bearing block 17 is embodied being parted into an upper part and a lower part along a central axis.

[0082] In a further embodiment variant, which is not shown, it can be provided that the sliding bearing element 14 has a conical or V-shaped design for simultaneous radial bearing and axial bearing of the rotor hub 6.

[0083] In a further embodiment variant, which is not shown, it can be provided that the sliding bearing element 14 has a cylindrical radial sliding bearing running surface and has an axial sliding bearing running surface on the front side for simultaneous radial bearing and axial bearing of the rotor hub 6. This axial sliding bearing running surface can, for example, be designed in the form of a stepping.

[0084] 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 technical teaching provided by the present invention lies within the ability of the person skilled in the art in this technical field.

[0085] The scope of protection is determined by the claims. Nevertheless, the description and draw-ings are to be used 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 gathered from the description.

[0086] 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.

[0087] 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

[0088] 1 Wind turbine [0089] 2 Nacelle [0090] 3 Tower [0091] 4 Nacelle housing [0092] 5 Rotor [0093] 6 Rotor hub [0094] 7 Rotor blade [0095] 8 Rotor bearing [0096] 9 Radial force [0097] 10 Axial force [0098] 11 Tilting torque [0099] 12 Inner ring element [0100] 13 Outer ring element [0101] 14 Sliding bearing element [0102] 15 Rotor shaft [0103] 16 Sliding surface [0104] 17 Bearing block