SUPPORT ASSEMBLY

Abstract

A support assembly for carrying at least a part of the load of a drive train, a canopy structure and/or other components arranged inside a nacelle of a wind turbine includes a bed frame structurally establishing a connection between the drive train and/or the nacelle and a tower of the wind turbine, and a support structure coupled to the bed frame configured to support at least a part of the load of the canopy structure and/or components arranged inside the nacelle, wherein the support assembly further includes a coupling means to couple the support structure to the bed frame, wherein the coupling means includes a plurality of pins configured to be inserted in insertion holes.

Claims

1. A support assembly for carrying at least a part of a load of a drive train, a canopy structure and/or other components arranged inside a nacelle of a wind turbine, the support assembly comprising: a bed frame structurally establishing a connection between the drive train and/or the nacelle and a tower of the wind turbine; a support structure coupled to the bed frame configured to support at least a part of the load of the canopy structure and/or other components arranged inside the nacelle; and a coupling means to couple the support structure to the bed frame, wherein the coupling means comprises a plurality of pins configured to be inserted in insertion holes.

2. The support assembly according to claim 1, wherein the plurality of pins are arranged at the support structure and the insertion holes are arranged at the bed frame.

3. The support assembly according to claim 1, wherein the plurality of pins are arranged at the bed frame and the insertion holes are arranged at the support structure.

4. The support assembly according to claim 2, wherein the plurality of pins are inserted inside the support structure during transport to reduce a width of the support structure and avoid damages to the plurality of pins.

5. The support assembly according to claim 3, wherein the plurality of pins are inserted inside the bed frame during transport to reduce a width of the bed frame and avoid damages to the plurality of pins.

6. The support assembly according to claim 1, further comprising hydraulic actuators for engaging the plurality of pins in the insertion holes.

7. The support assembly according to claim 6, wherein the hydraulic actuators are configured to keep the plurality of pins in an inserted position during operation of the wind turbine when the plurality of pins might loosen, by pressing against the plurality of pins to reinsert the plurality of pins in the insertion holes.

8. The support assembly according to claim 6, wherein the hydraulic actuators have an adjustable stroke.

9. The support assembly according to claim 1, wherein a yaw system is arranged at the bed frame to yaw the nacelle of the wind turbine.

10. The support assembly according to claim 1, wherein the support structure comprises a plurality of load carrying beams or bars coupled together.

11. The support assembly according to claim 1, wherein the support structure comprises a floor level support where components of the wind turbine are supported.

12. The support assembly according to claim 1, wherein the support structure comprises an upper level support where a main bearing, a gearbox and/or a generator of a drive train of the wind turbine, are supported.

13. The support assembly according to claim 2, further comprising a control system to monitor an insertion depth of the plurality of pins in the insertion holes.

14. The support assembly according to claim 12, wherein a warning message is displayed by the control system when a pin loosens outside tolerance values set at the control system.

15. A method for coupling a support structure to a bed frame of a support assembly of a wind turbine, the support assembly comprising a coupling means to couple the support structure to the bed frame, wherein the coupling means comprises a plurality of pins configured to be inserted in insertion holes, the method comprising: placing the support structure at a position where the plurality of pins are slid in the insertion holes to couple the support structure to the bed frame; and inserting the plurality of pins into the insertion holes by means of hydraulic actuators.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION

[0041] Some of the embodiments will be described in detail, with reference to the following figures, wherein like designations denote like members, wherein:

[0042] FIG. 1 shows a schematic cross-sectional view of a wind turbine;

[0043] FIG. 2 shows a support assembly comprising a support structure and a bed frame coupled together with a plurality of pins;

[0044] FIG. 3 shows a plurality of hydraulic actuators attached to the bed frame of the support assembly;

[0045] FIG. 4 shows the bed frame of FIG. 3 coupled to the support structure of the support assembly, wherein the pistons of the hydraulic actuators are outside the cylinder barrels and therefore pressing the pins in the insertion holes of the support structure;

[0046] FIG. 5 shows a drive train and electrical components of a wind turbine supported by the support assembly;

[0047] FIG. 6 shows a cross sectional view of FIG. 5, wherein the hydraulic actuators arranged inside the bed frame can be seen in this figure; and

[0048] FIG. 7 shows a cross sectional view of FIG. 5 from another perspective, wherein the hydraulic actuators with the pistons outside the cylinder barrels can be seen.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0049] FIG. 1 shows a schematic cross-sectional view of a wind turbine 1. The wind turbine 1 comprises a tower 8 on top of which a nacelle 2 is rotatably mounted. A hub 3 is connected to the nacelle 2. A plurality of blades 4 are mounted on the hub 3.

[0050] The nacelle 2 comprises a canopy structure and a support assembly 10. The canopy structure is mounted on the support assembly 10. The support assembly 10 supports the canopy structure and other components of the nacelle 2 such as the drive train installed inside the nacelle 2. The drive train comprises a main bearing 5 connected to the hub 3, a gearbox 6 connected to the main bearing 5 and a generator 7 connected to the gearbox 6.

[0051] FIG. 2 shows a support assembly 10 comprising a support structure 11 and a bed frame 12 coupled together with a plurality of pins 21. The support structure 11 comprises a plurality of load carrying beams coupled together. Additionally, the support structure 11 comprises a floor level support where components of the wind turbine 1 can be supported. Additionally, the support structure 11 comprises an upper level support where components of the wind turbine 1 can be supported. The different horizontally oriented beam sets are connected together by vertical and diagonal beams.

[0052] The support assembly 10 further comprises a coupling means 20 to couple the support structure 11 to the bed frame 12, wherein the coupling means 20 comprises a plurality of pins 21 inserted in insertion holes.

[0053] FIG. 3 shows a plurality of hydraulic actuators 22 attached to the bed frame 12 of the support assembly 10. There are four hydraulic actuators 22 attached. The hydraulic actuator are hydraulic cylinders used to give a unidirectional force through a unidirectional stroke by means of a pressurized hydraulic fluid to press the pins 21 inside the insertion holes. The hydraulic cylinder comprises a cylinder barrel, in which a piston connected to a piston rod moves back and forth.

[0054] FIG. 4 shows the bed frame 12 of FIG. 3 coupled to the support structure 11 of the support assembly 10, wherein the pistons of the hydraulic actuators 22 are outside the cylinder barrels and therefore pressing the pins 21 in the insertion holes of the support structure 11.

[0055] FIG. 5 shows a drive train and electrical components of a wind turbine 1 supported by the support assembly 10. The main bearing 5 is supported by the bed frame 12. The gearbox 6 is partly supported by the bed frame 12 and partly supported by the support structure 11. The generator 7 is supported by the support structure 11. The drive train is arranged at the upper level support of the support structure 11. Electrical equipment 9, such as a converter and a control unit is arranged at the floor level support of the support structure 11.

[0056] FIG. 6 shows a cross sectional view of FIG. 5, wherein the hydraulic actuators 22 arranged inside the bed frame 12 can be seen in this figure. Arranging the hydraulic actuators 22 inside the bed frame protects the hydraulic actuators 22 from damage during transport, installation and operation of the wind turbine 1.

[0057] FIG. 7 shows a cross sectional view of FIG. 5 from another perspective, wherein the hydraulic actuators 22 with the pistons outside the cylinder barrels can be seen.

[0058] Although the present invention has been disclosed in the form of preferred embodiments and variations thereon, it will be understood that numerous additional modifications and variations could be made thereto without departing from the scope of the invention.

[0059] For the sake of clarity, it is to be understood that the use of “a” or “an” throughout this application does not exclude a plurality, and “comprising” does not exclude other steps or elements.

REFERENCE LIST

[0060] 1 Wind turbine [0061] 2 Nacelle [0062] 3 Hub [0063] 4 Blade [0064] 5 Main bearing [0065] 6 Gearbox [0066] 7 Generator [0067] 8 Tower [0068] 9 Electrical equipment [0069] 10 Support assembly [0070] 11 Support structure [0071] 12 Bed frame [0072] 20 Coupling means [0073] 21 Pins [0074] 22 Hydraulic actuators