Gearbox assembly and method for maintaining an gearbox assembly

Abstract

This assembly (400) has a housing (402) for high speed components and a collar (404) located at the output end of the housing and extending radially inward from an outer surface of the housing (402), where the collar retains lubricant (406) in the gearbox when the gearbox is stationary. The collar includes a gap (502), such that one or more of the high speed components can pass through the gap in the collar and such that components offset from the central axis of the gearbox are not impeded by the collar. The high speed components include a high speed shaft (408) and a mechanical pump (410), both of which are offset from the central axis of the gearbox. The housing comprises a cover (410) having one or more holes (510) such that one or more of the high speed components can pass through the gap in the collar.

Claims

1. An assembly for a horizontally mounted planetary gearbox, the assembly comprising: high speed components of the gearbox; in which the high speed component includes a bearing housing, the bearing housing including engagement means for one or more guide bars; and a housing for the high speed components; and a collar located at the output end of the housing and extending radially inward from an outer surface of the housing; wherein the collar retains lubricant in the gearbox when the gearbox is stationary, in which the housing comprises a cover, and in which the cover is reversibly connected to the collar, thereby facilitating access to the high speed components for maintenance.

2. The assembly according to claim 1, in which the collar includes a gap.

3. The assembly according to claim 2, in which one or more of the high speed components pass through the gap in the collar.

4. The assembly according to claim 3, in which the high speed component includes a high speed shaft.

5. The assembly according to claim 3, in which the high speed component includes a mechanical pump.

6. The assembly according to claim 1, in which the cover comprises one or more holes.

7. The assembly according to claim 6, in which one or more of the high speed components pass through the holes in the cover.

8. The assembly according to claim 7, in which the high speed component includes a high speed shaft.

9. The assembly according to claim 7, in which the high speed component includes a mechanical pump.

10. The assembly according to claim 7, in which the high speed component includes a high speed intermediate shaft.

11. The assembly according to claim 1, in which a diameter of the cover is less than a diameter of the housing.

12. An assembly for a horizontally mounted planetary gearbox, the assembly comprising: high speed components of the gearbox; in which the high speed component includes a bearing housing, the bearing housing including engagement means for one or more guide bars; and a housing for the high speed components; and a collar located at the output end of the housing and extending radially inward from an outer surface of the housing; wherein the collar retains lubricant in the gearbox when the gearbox is stationary, in which the high speed component includes a high speed intermediate shaft assembly comprising a gear, the gear including one or more holes through which one or more guide bars can pass for engagement with the bearing housing, wherein the high speed intermediate shaft assembly can be moved along the guide bars and out of the housing.

13. The assembly according to claim 12, in which the high speed intermediate shaft assembly can be supported by an external hoist prior to disengagement of the guide bars.

14. A gearbox comprising the assembly according to claim 12.

15. A wind turbine comprising the gearbox according to claim 14.

16. A method for maintaining an assembly for a horizontally mounted planetary gearbox according to claim 12, the method comprising the steps of: (a) removing the high speed shaft assembly; (b) checking a level of lubricant within the gearbox and if the level of lubricant is above a height of the collar draining sufficient lubricant by means of a mechanical pump so that the level of lubricant is below a height of the collar; (c) removing the mechanical pump; (d) removing a rear cover; (c) engaging the guide bars with the bearing housing; (f) moving the high speed intermediate shaft assembly along the guide bars and out of the housing; (g) supporting the high speed intermediate shaft assembly by an external hoist; (h) disengaging the guide bars; and (i) lowering the assembly onto a support platform for servicing.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

(1) The invention will now be described with reference to FIGS. 1-4:

(2) FIG. 1 shows an external view of an offshore wind turbine;

(3) FIG. 2 shows a schematic diagram of a wind turbine gear box;

(4) FIG. 3 shows a prior art cover for a gearbox;

(5) FIG. 4 shows a schematic of an assembly of the present invention;

(6) FIG. 5 shows a schematic of a method for maintaining a high speed intermediate assembly;

(7) FIG. 6 shows a view of an assembly of the present invention;

(8) FIG. 7 shows a schematic view illustrating a method for maintaining an assembly of the present invention; and

(9) FIG. 8 shows a view of an assembly of the present invention.

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION

(10) Referring now to FIGS. 4 and 5, an assembly 400 for a horizontally mounted planetary gearbox comprises high speed components of the gearbox; a housing 402 for the high speed components; and a collar 404 located at the output end of the housing and extending radially inward from an outer surface of the housing 402. This arrangement means that the collar retains lubricant 406 in the gearbox when the gearbox is stationary.

(11) The collar includes a gap 502, which means that one or more of the high speed components pass through the gap in the collar. It also means that components offset from the central axis of the gearbox are not impeded by the collar. The high speed components include a high speed shaft 408 and a mechanical pump 410, both of which are offset from the central axis of the gearbox.

(12) The housing comprises a cover 410 comprising one or more holes 510. This means that one or more of the high speed components can pass through the holes in the collar. The high speed components include a high speed shaft 414, a mechanical pump 412, and a high speed intermediate shaft 408. The first two of these are offset with respect to the central axis of the gearbox, and the third is coaxial. The cover comprises means for reversible connection to the collar. This means that the cover has a diameter which is smaller than the diameter of the housing, which facilitates its removal from the housing.

(13) The assembly also includes engagement means for one or more guide bars, and a high speed intermediate shaft assembly comprising a gear 420, the gear including one or more holes 422 through which one or more guide bars 520 can pass for engagement. Referring to FIG. 6, this means that the high speed intermediate shaft assembly can be moved along the guide bars and out of the housing. Preferably, the high speed intermediate shaft assembly can be supported by an external hoist prior 602 to disengagement of the guide bars.

(14) According to another aspect, the present invention includes a method for maintaining an assembly for a horizontally mounted planetary gearbox of the type disclosed above, the method comprising the steps of: (a) removing the high speed shaft assembly; (b) checking a level of lubricant within the gearbox and if the level of lubricant is above a height of the collar draining sufficient lubricant by means of a mechanical pump so that the level of lubricant is below a height of the collar; (c) removing the mechanical pump; (d) engaging the guide bars with the bearing housing; (e) moving the high speed intermediate shaft assembly along the guide bars and out of the housing; (d) supporting the high speed intermediate shaft assembly by the external hoist; (g) disengaging the guide bars; and (h) lowering the assembly onto a support platform for servicing.

(15) The assembly of the present invention is suitable for any gear box, which when mounted and stationery is a substantially horizontal plane so that oil is retained by the collar.

(16) The present invention also includes a gearbox comprising the assembly disclosed above, and a wind turbine comprising such a gearbox.