Axial seal for a generator rotor of a wind turbine

Abstract

A sealing arrangement of a wind turbine is provided including an axial seal, a stationary member and a generator rotor for sealing a gap between the stationary member and the generator rotor. Accordingly, the stationary member is arranged between a lubricant chamber and an air chamber and the generator rotor is configured to rotate about a rotational axis, wherein the seal is arranged at an end of the stationary member. The seal includes a first lip configured to contact the generator rotor and the first lip is configured to allow a leakage of lubricant at the contact between the first lip and the generator rotor. The seal further includes a second lip arranged radially outwards with respect of the first lip and the rotational axis.

Claims

1. A sealing arrangement of a wind turbine comprising an axial seal, a stationary member and a generator rotor for sealing a gap between the stationary member and the generator rotor; wherein the stationary member is arranged between a lubricant chamber and an air chamber; wherein the generator rotor is configured to rotate about a rotational axis; wherein the seal is arranged at an end of the stationary member, wherein the seal comprises a first lip configured to contact the generator rotor; wherein the first lip is configured to allow a leakage of lubricant at the contact between the first lip and the generator rotor; wherein the seal further comprises a second lip arranged radially outwards with respect of the first lip and the rotational axis; and wherein the second lip is at least partially lubricated by the leakage of lubricant at the contact between the first lip and the generator rotor.

2. The sealing arrangement according to claim 1, wherein the first lip and/or the second lip extend at least partially in an axial direction with respect to the rotational axis between the stationary member and the generator rotor.

3. The sealing arrangement according to claim 1, wherein the first lip and/or the second lip extend at least partially in a radial direction with respect to the rotational axis between the stationary member and the generator rotor.

4. The sealing arrangement according to claim 1, wherein the lubricant chamber is arranged at the radially inner part of the seal with respect to the rotational axis.

5. The sealing arrangement according to claim 1, wherein the air chamber is arranged at the radially outer part of the seal with respect to the rotational axis.

6. The sealing arrangement according to claim 1, wherein the seal further comprises a third lip and/or further lips, wherein each of the lips is configured to allow a leakage of lubricant at the contact between the respective lip and the generator rotor.

7. The sealing arrangement according to claim 1, wherein each lip is arranged at a separate sealing element.

8. The sealing arrangement according to claim 1, wherein at least two lips are integrally formed with at least one sealing element.

9. The sealing arrangement according to claim 1, wherein the seal comprises an elastomeric material such as rubber.

10. The sealing arrangement according to claim 1, wherein the seal comprises an integrated spring member, wherein the spring member extends at least partially through the first lip.

11. The sealing arrangement according to claim 1, wherein the seal comprises an integrated spring member for each lip, wherein the spring member extends at least partially through the respective lip.

12. The sealing arrangement according to claim 1, wherein the stationary member further comprises a channel for allowing lubricant to flow between the lubricant chamber and the air chamber.

13. The sealing arrangement according to claim 12, wherein the channel extends at least partially towards the seal for lubricating the lips of the seal.

14. The sealing arrangement according to claim 1, wherein the lubricant is oil.

15. A wind turbine comprising a sealing arrangement according to claim 1.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION

(1) Some of the embodiments will be described in detail, with reference to the following figures, wherein like designations denote like members, wherein:

(2) FIG. 1 shows a sealing arrangement according to one embodiment of the invention;

(3) FIG. 2 shows a sealing arrangement according to another embodiment of the invention;

(4) FIG. 3 shows a sealing arrangement according to another embodiment of the invention.

(5) FIG. 4 shows a sealing arrangement according to another embodiment of the invention;

(6) FIG. 5 shows a sealing arrangement according to another embodiment of the invention;

(7) FIG. 6 shows a sealing arrangement according to another embodiment of the invention;

(8) FIG. 7 shows a sealing arrangement according to another embodiment of the invention;

(9) FIG. 8 shows two different orientations of sealing lips with respect to the rotational axis;

(10) FIG. 9 shows two different orientations of sealing lips with respect to the rotational axis; and

(11) FIG. 10 shows a sealing lip comprising a spring member.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

(12) FIG. 1 shows a sealing arrangement of a wind turbine comprising an axial seal 10, a stationary member 16 and a generator rotor 13 for sealing a gap between the stationary member 16 and the generator rotor 13. The stationary member 16 is arranged between a lubricant chamber 12 and an air chamber 11. The generator rotor 13 is configured to rotate about a rotational axis 15. The seal 10 is arranged at an end of the stationary member 16. The seal 10 comprises a first lip 5 configured to contact the generator rotor 13. The first lip 5 is configured to allow a leakage of lubricant at the contact between the first lip 5 and the generator rotor 13. The seal 10 further comprises a second lip 6 arranged radially outwards with respect of the first lip 5 and the rotational axis 15. The second lip 6 is at least partially lubricated by the leakage of lubricant at the contact between the first lip 5 and the generator rotor 13. The first lip 5 and the second lip 6 extend partially in an axial direction and partially in a radial direction towards the rotational axis 15 between the stationary member 16 and the generator rotor 13. The lubricant chamber 12 is arranged at the radially inner part of the seal 10 with respect to the rotational axis 15. The first lip 5 is arranged at the first sealing element 1. The second lip 6 is arranged at the second sealing element 2. The stationary member 16 further comprises a channel 23 for allowing lubricant to flow between the lubricant chamber 11 and the air chamber 12, the channel 23 extends radially between the lubricant chamber 11 and the air chamber 12. The stationary member 16 further comprises a seal clamping plate 21 for holding the seal 10 in position. The seal clamping plate 21 is fastened to the stationary member 16 by fastening means 24 such as a bolt.

(13) FIG. 2 shows the sealing arrangement according to another embodiment of the invention. In this figure, no channel 23 is present, so the lubrication of the second lip 6 is achieved by leakage of lubricant at the contact between the first lip 5 and the generator rotor 13.

(14) FIG. 3 shows the sealing arrangement according to another embodiment of the invention. In this embodiment, the first lip 5 and the second lip 6 are integrally formed with the first sealing element 1.

(15) FIG. 4 shows the sealing arrangement according to another embodiment of the invention. In this embodiment, the seal 10 further comprises a third lip 7, wherein each of the lips 5, 6, 7 is configured to allow a leakage of lubricant at the contact between the respective lip 5, 6, 7 and the generator rotor 13.

(16) FIG. 5 shows the sealing arrangement according to another embodiment of the invention. In this embodiment, the seal 10 further comprises a third lip 7, wherein each lip 5, 6, 7 is arranged at a separate sealing element 1, 2, 3. A channel 23 is provided at the stationary member 16 extending towards each separation of the separate sealing elements 1, 2, 3 to lubricate the region between each separate sealing element 1, 2, 3, thereby providing sufficient lubrication to each lip 5, 6, 7.

(17) FIG. 6 shows the sealing arrangement according to another embodiment of the invention. In this embodiment, the first lip 5 and the second lip 6 extend partially in an axial direction and partially in a radial direction away from the rotational axis 15 between the stationary member 16 and the generator rotor 13.

(18) FIG. 7 shows the sealing arrangement according to another embodiment of the invention. In this embodiment, a channel 23 is provided between each separate sealing element 1, 2 to lubricate the region between the separate sealing elements 1, 2.

(19) FIGS. 8 and 9 show two different orientations of sealing lips 5 with respect to the rotational axis 15.

(20) FIG. 10 shows the sealing arrangement according to another embodiment of the invention. The seal 10 comprises an integrated spring member 25, wherein the spring member 25 extends through the first lip 5. The spring member 25 can be made of steel and ensures constant contact lip force and compensates for the bearing deflections in the axial direction.

(21) Although the present invention has been disclosed in the form of 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.

(22) 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 NUMBERS

(23) 1 First sealing element 2 Second sealing element 3 Third sealing element 5 First lip 6 Second lip 7 Third lip 10 Seal 11 Air chamber 12 Lubricant chamber 13 Generator rotor 14 Housing 15 Rotational axis 16 Stationary member 21 Seal clamping plate 23 Channel 24 Fastening means 25 Spring member