ROLLING BEARING ARRANGEMENT

Abstract

A bearing arrangement may be employed in a rotor shaft of a wind turbine. The rotor shaft may transfer rotation of a hub with rotor blades to a generator. The bearing arrangement may include a hub-side rolling bearing and a generator-side rolling bearing. The hub-side rolling bearing may be configured as a radial roller bearing. The generator-side rolling bearing may be configured as a three-row roller rotary connection. The hub-side rolling bearing may include a closed cage with windows for guiding rolling elements. Rows of the closed cage may be separated by a central web. Further, at least one of the generator-side rolling bearing or the hub-side rolling bearing may comprise inductively hardened raceways.

Claims

1.-15. (canceled)

16. A bearing arrangement for a rotor shaft of a wind turbine, wherein the rotor shaft transfers rotation of a hub with rotor blades to a generator, the bearing arrangement comprising: a hub-side rolling bearing configured as a radial roller bearing; and a generator-side rolling bearing configured as a three-row roller rotary connection.

17. The bearing arrangement of claim 16 wherein the hub-side rolling bearing is configured as a multi-row roller bearing.

18. The bearing arrangement of claim 16 wherein the hub-side rolling bearing is configured as a double-row roller bearing.

19. The bearing arrangement of claim 16 wherein the hub-side rolling bearing is configured as a cylindrical roller bearing.

20. The bearing arrangement of claim 16 wherein the hub-side rolling bearing has a closed cage for guiding rolling elements.

21. The bearing arrangement of claim 20 wherein the rolling elements are guided in windows of the closed cage.

22. The bearing arrangement of claim 20 wherein the rolling elements of the hub-side rolling bearing are arranged in rows, wherein the rows in the closed cage are separated by a central web.

23. The bearing arrangement of claim 20 wherein the rolling elements of the hub-side rolling bearing are guided in a pin cage.

24. The bearing arrangement of claim 16 wherein the generator-side rolling bearing includes a closed cage for guiding rolling elements.

25. The bearing arrangement of claim 24 wherein the rolling elements of the generator-side rolling bearing are guided in windows of the closed cage.

26. The bearing arrangement of claim 24 wherein the rolling elements of the generator-side rolling bearing are guided in a pin cage.

27. The bearing arrangement of claim 16 wherein at least one of the generator-side rolling bearing or the hub-side rolling bearing comprises inductively hardened raceways.

28. The bearing arrangement of claim 16 wherein the generator-side rolling bearing has integrated bearing gap seals.

29. The bearing arrangement of claim 16 comprising a hub-side hydrostatic element.

30. The bearing arrangement of claim 16 comprising a hub-side sliding bearing.

31. The bearing arrangement of claim 16 wherein the hub-side rolling bearing is configured as a floating bearing, wherein the generator-side rolling bearing is configured as a fixed bearing.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0021] FIG. 1 shows, schematically, a bearing arrangement for the rotor shaft of a wind turbine according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention.

[0022] FIG. 2 shows, schematically, a hub-side rolling bearing and a generator-side rolling bearing according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention.

EMBODIMENTS OF THE INVENTION

[0023] FIG. 1 depicts, schematically, a bearing arrangement for the rotor shaft of a wind turbine according to a possible design of the invention in a radial sectional illustration. In the wind turbine, the hub is connected to the generator via a rotor shaft, by which means the rotation of the hub is transmitted to the generator and is converted into electrical energy there. According to the invention, the shaft is rotatably mounted by means of two rolling bearing arrangements 3 and 4. According to their position relative to hub and generator, the two rolling bearing arrangements 3 and 4 are designated as a hub-side bearing 3 and as a generator-side bearing 4. In the drawing, the hub side corresponds to the left-hand side and the generator side to the right-hand side.

[0024] In this embodiment, the hub-side bearing 3 is formed by two rows of cylindrical rollers 5, which roll between the two bearing rings during the rotation. The cylindrical rolling elements transmit the forces between the two bearing rings substantially in the radial direction and are thus optimally suitable to absorb the high radial forces which are produced by the weight of the hub and the rotor blades.

[0025] The generator-side rolling bearing 4 in this embodiment is formed by a three-row roller rotary connection. The roller rotary connection comprises three rows of cylindrical rolling elements, of which one roller element row transmits forces in the radial direction, while two further rolling element rows transmit forces in the axial direction.

[0026] FIG. 2 illustrates, schematically, a hub-side rolling bearing 3 and a generator-side rolling bearing 4 according to a possible embodiment of the invention. Both rolling bearings 3 and 4 are illustrated in a radial section, wherein, in comparison to FIG. 1, only the upper of the two sectional surfaces is depicted in each case, and the lower sectional surfaces are located symmetrically with respect to the axis of rotation, mirrored in the opposite position of the respective rolling bearing.

[0027] The hub-side bearing 3 in this embodiment is formed by two rows of cylindrical rollers 5 which, during the rotation, roll between the two bearing rings. In the unloaded state, each roller 5 forms line contacts at two mutually opposite points. The loading is transmitted from one contact to the opposite contact by a stress curve in the interior of the rolling element. As a result of the position and shape of the rolling elements 5, the bearing 3 illustrated is substantially a pure radial bearing, so that the stresses between the contacts run substantially radially, and the associated pressure lines 7 likewise point in the radial direction.

[0028] The generator-side rolling bearing 4 in this embodiment is formed by a roller rotary connection 4. Here, the transmission of force between the two bearing rings is provided by three rows of cylindrical rolling elements 6, 6. In the first row, the cylindrical rolling elements 6 are arranged parallel to the axis of rotation and roll between two radially spaced raceways of the two bearing rings. Two further rows of cylindrical rolling elements 6, on the other hand, are arranged perpendicular to the axis of rotation and each roll on two axially spaced raceways of the two bearing rings. In the drawing, in addition the pressure lines 8, 8 of all the rolling elements 6, 6 are depicted. The pressure lines 8 of the rolling elements 6 of the first row point in the radial direction and represent the main transmission direction of the first rolling element row 6, which transmits radial forces between the two bearing rings. The pressure lines 8 of the two other rolling element rows, on the other hand, run parallel to the axis of rotation and represent the main transmission direction of the rolling elements 6. As a result of the combination of purely axial and purely radial pressure lines 8, 8, the roller rotary connection 4 can advantageously absorb forces in both directions and is therefore not only capable of bearing the weight of the rotor shaft but also intercepts the axial forces of the shaft and thus prevents said forces being transmitted to the generator.

LIST OF DESIGNATIONS

[0029] 3 Hub-side rolling bearing [0030] 4 Generator-side rolling bearing [0031] 5 Rolling element of the hub-side rolling bearing [0032] 6 Radially arranged rolling element of the generator-side rolling bearing [0033] 6 Axially arranged rolling element of the generator-side rolling bearing [0034] 7 Pressure lines of the hub-side rolling bearing [0035] 8 Radial pressure lines of the generator-side rolling bearing [0036] 8 Axial pressure lines of the generator-side rolling bearing