PLAIN BEARING PAD AND PLAIN BEARING ARRANGEMENT, AND NACELLE EQUIPPED WITH A PLAIN BEARING ARRANGEMENT FOR A WIND TURBINE

Abstract

A slide bearing pad for a slide bearing arrangement has a bearing surface. On a first circumferential face of the slide bearing pad, a lubricating oil transport groove is configured in the region of the bearing surface. The lubricating oil transport groove may have a radial groove depth and a circumferential groove depth between 10% and 300% of the radial groove depth.

Claims

1. A slide bearing pad (18) for a slide bearing arrangement (9), wherein the slide bearing pad (18) has a bearing surface (20), wherein a lubricating oil transport groove (29) is configured on a first circumferential face (28) of the slide bearing pad (18) in the region of the bearing surface (20).

2. The slide bearing pad (18) according to claim 1, wherein the lubricating oil transport groove (29) has a radial groove depth (33) and a circumferential groove depth (34), wherein the circumferential groove depth (34) is between 10% and 300%, in particular between 20% and 100%, preferably between 60% and 80%, of the radial groove depth (33).

3. The slide bearing pad (18) according to claim 1, wherein a radial groove base (35) is configured as a straight line, viewed in a groove cross-section.

4. The slide bearing pad (18) according to claim 1, wherein a circumferential groove base (36) is configured as a straight line, viewed in a groove cross-section.

5. The slide bearing pad (18) according to claim 1, wherein the slide bearing pad (18) serves to be arranged between an inner ring element (13) and an outer ring element (14), wherein the slide bearing pad (18) is configured to be firmly coupled with the inner ring element (13) in the operating mode and to rotate with same relative to the outer ring element (14), wherein the bearing surface (20), in a spherical cap section (49), has the basic form of a spherical cap with a spherical cap radius (50), wherein the bearing surface (20) of the slide bearing pad (18) is configured to be contact with a mating surface (21) of the outer ring element (14), wherein the lubricating oil transport groove (29) extends in an axial direction of the slide bearing pad (18), wherein the lubricating oil transport groove (29) has a first groove end (38), which is arranged at a first distance (39) from a first front end (37) of the slide bearing pad (18) and has a second groove end (41), which is arranged at a second distance (42) from a second front end (40) of the slide bearing pad (18), wherein a first depression (43) with respect to the bearing surface (20) is configured between the first groove end (38) and the first front end (37) of the slide bearing pad (18) and wherein a second depression (44) with respect to the bearing surface (20) is configured between the second groove end (41) and the second front end (40) of the slide bearing pad (18).

6. The slide bearing pad (18) according to claim 1, wherein the lubricating oil transport groove (29) has a first groove end (38), which is arranged at a first distance (39) from a first front end (37) of the slide bearing pad (18), and has a second groove end (41), which is arranged at a second distance (42) from a second front end (40) of the slide bearing pad (18).

7. The slide bearing pad (18) according to claim 6, wherein a first depression (43) with respect to the bearing surface (20) is configured between the first groove end (38) and the first front end (37) of the slide bearing pad (18) and wherein a second depression (44) with respect to the bearing surface (20) is configured between the second groove end (41) and the second front end (40) of the slide bearing pad (18).

8. The slide bearing pad (18) according to claim 6, wherein the lubricating oil transport groove (29) has a first transition radius (45) to the radial groove base (35) on the first groove end (38) and wherein the lubricating oil transport groove (29) has a second transition radius (46) to the radial groove base (35) on the second groove end (41).

9. The slide bearing pad (18) according to claim 1, wherein the bearing surface (20) of the individual slide bearing pads (18), in a spherical cap section (49), has the basic form of a spherical cap with a spherical cap radius (50).

10. The slide bearing pad (18) according to claim 2, wherein the circumferential groove depth (34) is between 0.5% and 20%, in particular between 1.5% and 10%, preferably between 3% and 7%, of a bearing surface arc length (47) of the bearing surface (20).

11. The slide bearing pad (18) according to claim 1, wherein a lubricating oil feeder (51) is configured between the lubricating oil transport groove (29) and the bearing surface (20).

12. A slide bearing arrangement (9), comprising: an inner ring element (13); an outer ring element (14); and at least one slide bearing element (15), which is arranged between the inner ring element (13) and the outer ring element (14), wherein the slide bearing element (15) comprises at least two slide bearing pads (18), wherein a bearing surface (20) of the slide bearing pad (18) and a mating surface (21) of the outer ring element (14), or a mating surface (21) of the inner ring element (13), are in contact with each other, wherein the slide bearing pad (18) is configured according to claim 1.

13. The slide bearing arrangement (9) according to claim 12, wherein a circumferential lubricating oil distribution groove (30) is configured on a circumference (48) of the outer ring element (14), wherein a lubricating oil bore (31) is configured, which flow-connects the lubricating oil distribution groove (30) with the mating surface (21), wherein the lubricating oil bore (31) opens into in an oil pocket (32) in the region of the mating surface (21).

14. A nacelle (2) for a wind turbine (1), the nacelle (2) comprising: a nacelle housing (4); a rotor shaft (16); a rotor hub (6), which is arranged on the rotor shaft (16); and a rotor bearing arrangement (8) for mounting the rotor shaft (16) on the nacelle housing (4), wherein the rotor bearing arrangement (8) comprises multiple slide bearing pads (18) according to claim 1.

Description

[0045] For the purpose of better understanding of the invention, it will be elucidated in more detail by means of the figures below.

[0046] These show in a respectively very simplified schematic representation:

[0047] FIG. 1 a schematic representation of a wind turbine;

[0048] FIG. 2 a perspective representation of a first exemplary embodiment of a slide bearing arrangement;

[0049] FIG. 3 a perspective view of a longitudinal section of the first exemplary embodiment of the slide bearing arrangement;

[0050] FIG. 4 a perspective view of the first exemplary embodiment of a rotor shaft with slide bearing pads arranged thereupon;

[0051] FIG. 5 a longitudinal section of another exemplary embodiment of the slide bearing arrangement;

[0052] FIG. 6 another exemplary embodiment of a slide bearing pad in a perspective representation;

[0053] FIG. 7 a sectional representation of the slide bearing pad in accordance with the intersecting line VII-VII from FIG. 6;

[0054] FIG. 8 another exemplary embodiment of a slide bearing pad in a perspective representation.

[0055] 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 disclosures filled into 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.

[0056] FIG. 1 shows, in a schematic representation, a first exemplary embodiment of a wind turbine 1 for generating electric energy from wind energy. The wind turbine 1 comprises a nacelle 2, which is received on a tower 3 so as to be rotatable. The nacelle 2 comprises a nacelle housing 4, which forms the main structure of the nacelle 2. Arranged in the nacelle housing 4 of the nacelle 2 are the electrotechnical components such as a generator of the wind turbine 1, for example.

[0057] Further, a rotor 5 is configured, which has a rotor hub 6 with rotor blades 7 arranged thereupon. The rotor hub 6 is considered part of the nacelle 2. The rotor hub 6 is received on the nacelle housing 4 by means of a rotor bearing arrangement 8 so as to be rotatably movable. In particular, it is provided that a slide bearing arrangement 9 in accordance with the invention, which slide bearing arrangement 9 will be described in more detail below, is used as rotor bearing arrangement 8. In particular, it can be provided that the rotor hub 6 is arranged on a rotor shaft 16, wherein the rotor shaft 16 is mounted in the rotor bearing arrangement 8.

[0058] The rotor bearing arrangement 8, which serves to mount the rotor hub 6 on the nacelle housing 4 of the nacelle 2, is configured for receiving a radial force 10 and an axial force 11. The axial force 11 is a result of the force of the wind. The radial force 10 is a result of the weight of the rotor 5 and acts on the center of gravity of the rotor 5. As the center of gravity of the rotor 5 lies outside of the rotor bearing arrangement 8, a tilting moment 12 is caused in the rotor bearing arrangement 8 by the radial force 10. The tilting moment 12 can equally be caused by an uneven load on the rotor blades 7. This tilting moment 12 can be absorbed by means of a second bearing arrangement, which is arranged at a distance to the rotor bearing arrangement 8. The second bearing arrangement can be configured in the region of the generator, for example.

[0059] FIG. 2 shows a first exemplary embodiment of the slide bearing arrangement 9 integrated in the nacelle 2. Of course, the slide bearing arrangement 9 represented in FIG. 2 can also be used in any and all other industrial applications outside of wind turbines. The slide bearing arrangement 9 is represented in FIG. 2 in a perspective view.

[0060] FIG. 3 shows the first exemplary embodiment of the slide bearing arrangement 9 in a perspective sectional representation.

[0061] Subsequently, the slide bearing arrangement 9 is described by means of a combination of FIGS. 2 and 3.

[0062] As can be seen from FIGS. 2 and 3, it can be provided that the slide bearing arrangement 9 has an inner ring element 13 and an outer ring element 14. Arranged between the inner ring element 13 and the outer ring element 14 is a slide bearing element 15, which serves to mount the inner ring element 13 relative to the outer ring element 14 in a rotational slide bearing arrangement.

[0063] In the exemplary embodiment which is represented in FIGS. 2 and 3, the inner ring element 13 is configured as rotor shaft 16. Of course, the inner ring element 13 can also be any other type of shaft. Further, it is also conceivable that the inner ring element 13 is configured as an independent component, which is received on a shaft, in particular on a rotor shaft 16.

[0064] As can be seen particularly readily from FIG. 3, it can be provided that the outer ring element 14 is received in a bearing block 17. In particular, it can be provided that the bearing block 17 is coupled with the nacelle housing 4, or is alternatively also directly shaped in the nacelle housing 4. In this exemplary embodiment, it can therefore be provided that the outer ring element 14 is rigidly coupled with the nacelle housing 4 and the inner ring element 13 is rotatable, by means of the slide bearing element 15, relative to the outer ring element 14 with respect to an axis of rotation 19.

[0065] Further, it can be provided that the bearing block 17 serves directly as outer ring element 14.

[0066] Therefore, the rotor shaft 16 is received in the nacelle housing 4, by means of the slide bearing arrangement 9, so as to be rotatable.

[0067] As can further be seen from FIGS. 2 and 3, it can be provided that the slide bearing element comprises multiple individual slide bearing pads 18, which are arranged across the circumference so as to be distributed between the inner ring element 13 and the outer ring element 14.

[0068] Due to the structure shown in FIG. 3, the individual slide bearing pads 18 are firmly coupled with the inner ring element 13 in the operating mode of the slide bearing arrangement 9 and therefore rotate with same relative to the outer ring element 14. To enable the rotational movement between the inner ring element 13 and the outer ring element 14, a bearing surface is configured on each of the individual slide bearing pads 18, which rests against a mating surface 21 of the outer ring element 14 in the ready mode of the slide bearing arrangement 9. The mating surface 21 is arranged on an inner face 22 of the outer ring element 14.

[0069] The bearing surface 20 of the slide bearing pad 18 and the mating surface 21 of the outer ring element 14 are configured as sliding surfaces, which slide against each other during operation of the slide bearing arrangement 9. In particular, it can be provided that the mating surface 21 of the outer ring element 14 is configured as a hard, wear-resistant surface, which can be formed by a hardened steel, for example. The bearing surface 20 of the slide bearing pad 18 can be formed from a slide bearing raw material that is soft in comparison to the mating surface 21. Of course, it is also conceivable that the bearing surface 20 has a slide coating.

[0070] As can be seen particularly readily from FIG. 3, it can be provided that the individual slide bearing pads 18 each have a bearing surface 20 that is cambered, viewed in an axial direction.

[0071] As can further be seen from FIG. 3, it can be provided that a cover 24 is arranged on an axial front end 23 of the bearing block 17. The cover 24 serves to close up the interior of the bearing block 17.

[0072] As can further be seen from FIG. 3, it can be provided that a lubricating oil reservoir 25 is adjoined to the cover 24, which lubricating oil reservoir 25 serves to receive lubricating oil 26.

[0073] In particular, it can be provided here that a pass-through opening 27 is configured in the cover 24, through which the lubricating oil 26 from the lubricating oil reservoir 25 can flow into the interior of the bearing block 17.

[0074] Of course, it is also conceivable that the lubricating oil reservoir 25 is arranged at a different site in the bearing block 17.

[0075] FIG. 4 shows the rotor shaft 16 with the slide bearing pads 18 arranged thereupon in a perspective view, wherein the same reference numbers and/or the same component designations as in the preceding FIGS. 1 to 3 are used again. To avoid unnecessary repetitions, the detailed description in the preceding FIGS. 1 to 3 should be noted and/or is referred to.

[0076] As can be seen from FIG. 4, the individual slide bearing pads 18 can be received on the inner ring element 14 so as to be distributed across the circumference and spaced apart from one another in a circumferential direction.

[0077] As can be seen from FIG. 5, it can be provided that a circumferential lubricating oil distribution groove 30 is configured on a circumference of the outer ring element 14. The lubricating oil distribution groove 30 can be configured on the surface on which the outer ring element 14 rests against the bearing block 17. The lubricating oil distribution groove 30 can therefore be bounded by the outer ring element 14 and the bearing block 17 and therefore form a fluid canal for transporting a lubricating oil. Further, it can be provided that a lubricating oil bore 31 is configured, which flow-connects the lubricating oil distribution groove 30 with the mating surface 21. This has the advantage that the slide bearing pads 18 can be supplied with lubricating oil via the lubricating oil distribution groove 30 by means of an oil pump.

[0078] Further, it can be provided that the lubricating oil bore 31 opens into an oil pocket 32. The oil pocket 32 can extend in an axial direction of the outer ring element 14.

[0079] Further, it can be provided that a seal is arranged on both sides of the lubricating oil distribution groove 30, which seal serves to seal the lubricating oil distribution groove 30 between the outer ring element 14 and the bearing block 17.

[0080] FIG. 6 shows the slide bearing pad 18 in a first perspective representation. FIG. 7 shows the slide bearing pad 18 from FIG. 6 in a sectional representation.

[0081] As can be seen from FIG. 6, it can be provided that a lubricating oil transport groove 29 is configured on a first circumferential face 28 of the slide bearing pad 18. The lubricating oil transport groove 29 can be configured in the region of the bearing surface 20. In particular, it can be provided that the lubricating oil transport groove 29 interrupts the bearing surface 20.

[0082] As can be seen from FIG. 7, it can be provided that the lubricating oil transport groove 29 has a radial groove depth 33. Further, the lubricating oil transport groove 29 can have a circumferential groove depth 34. In particular, it can be provided here that the lubricating oil transport groove 29 has a radial groove base 35 and a circumferential groove base 36.

[0083] As can be seen particularly readily from FIG. 6, it can be provided that a first groove end 38 is configured on a first front end 37 of the slide bearing pad 18, which first groove end 38 is arranged at a first distance 39 from the first front end 37.

[0084] As can further be seen from FIG. 6, it can be provided that a second groove end 41 is configured in the region of a second front end 40 of the slide bearing pad. The second groove end 41 can be arranged at a second distance 42 from the second front end 40.

[0085] As can further be seen from FIG. 6, it can be provided that a first depression 43 is configured in the region of the first groove end 38. The first depression 43 can in particular be configured in the form of a depression in relation to the bearing surface 22. As can further be seen from FIG. 6, it can be provided that a second depression 44 is configured in the region of the second groove end 41. The second depression 44 can form a depression in relation to the bearing surface 20.

[0086] As can further be seen from FIG. 6, it can be provided that a first transition radius 45 is configured between the radial groove base 35 of the lubricating oil transport groove 29 and the first groove end 38.

[0087] Further, it can be provided that a second transition radius 46 is configured between the radial groove base 35 and the second groove end 41.

[0088] As can further be seen from FIG. 6, it can be provided that a lubricating oil feeder 51 is configured between the lubricating oil transport groove 29 and the bearing surface 20. As can be seen from FIG. 6, the lubricating oil feeder 51 can be configured graduated and comprise a first graduation level 52, a second graduation level 53 and a third graduation level 54. Of course, also more, or fewer, individual graduation levels can be configured.

[0089] As can be seen from FIG. 7, it can be provided that the bearing surface 20 has a bearing surface arc length 47. The bearing surface arc length 47 is measured in a circumferential direction of the bearing surface 20. In particular, the bearing surface arc length 47 is measured at the smallest diameter of the bearing surface 20.

[0090] As can be readily seen from FIG. 6, it can be provided that the bearing surface 20 is configured in the shape of a spherical cap. In particular, it can be provided that a spherical cap section 49 is configured, which has a spherical cap radius 50.

[0091] FIG. 8 shows another embodiment of the slide bearing pad 18 that is optionally independent in itself, wherein the same reference numbers and/or the same component designations as in the preceding FIGS. 1 to 7 are used again. To avoid unnecessary repetitions, the detailed description in the preceding FIGS. 1 to 7 should be noted and/or is referred to.

[0092] As can be seen from FIG. 8, it can be provided that the radial groove base 35 has a first subregion 55, a second sub-region 56 and a third sub-region 57 across its extension. Of course, also more, or fewer, individual sub-regions can be configured.

[0093] The exemplary embodiments show possible embodiment variants, wherein 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.

[0094] The scope of protection is determined by the claims. However, the description and the drawings 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 gathered from the description.

[0095] Any and all specifications of value ranges in the description at issue are to be understood to comprise any and all sub-ranges of same, for example the specification 1 to 10 is to be understood to mean that any and all sub-ranges starting from the lower limit 1 and from the upper limit 10 are comprised therein, i.e. any and all sub-ranges start at a lower limit of 1 or larger and end at an upper limit of 10 or less, e.g. 1 to 1.7, or 3.2 to 8.1, or 5.5 to 10.

[0096] 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.

TABLE-US-00001 Table of reference numbers List of reference numbers 1 wind turbine 2 nacelle 3 tower 4 nacelle housing 5 rotor 6 rotor hub 7 rotor blade 8 rotor bearing arrangement 9 slide bearing arrangement 10 radial force 11 axial force 12 tilting moment 13 inner ring element 14 outer ring element 15 slide bearing element 16 rotor shaft 17 bearing block 18 slide bearing pad 19 axis of rotation 20 bearing surface 21 mating surface 22 inner face 23 axial front end of bearing block 24 cover 25 lubricating oil reservoir 26 lubricating oil 27 pass-through opening 28 circumferential face 29 lubricating oil transport groove 30 lubricating oil distribution groove 31 lubricating oil bore 32 oil pocket 33 radial groove depth 34 circumferential groove depth 35 radial groove base 36 circumferential groove base 37 first front end 38 first groove end 39 first distance 40 second front end 41 second groove end 42 second distance 43 first depression 44 second depression 45 first transition radius 46 second transition radius 47 bearing surface arc length 48 circumference of outer ring element 49 spherical cap section 50 spherical cap radius 51 lubricating oil feeder 52 first graduation level 53 second graduation level 54 third graduation level 55 first sub-region of radial groove base 56 second sub-region of radial groove base 57 third sub-region of radial groove base