Coupling and drive train for a wind turbine

Abstract

A coupling for a drive train of a wind turbine between the gearbox and the generator has a drive-side coupling hub, an output-side coupling hub and an intermediate section. The coupling has a torque limiter. In order to create a generic drive train, which is designed such that in the event of an overload, significantly higher energies can be absorbed, the torque limiter has more than two friction elements, in particular disks.

Claims

1. A coupling for a drive train of a wind turbine between a transmission and a generator, wherein wherein the coupling has a coupling hub on a drive input side, and a coupling hub a the drive output side, and an intermediate section, wherein the coupling has a torque limiter, and wherein the torque limiter has more than two friction elements, in particular disks.

2. The coupling in accordance with claim 1, wherein the friction elements are designed as friction flanges.

3. The coupling in accordance with claim 2, wherein the friction flanges are designed with an internal set of teeth without friction linings, and wherein the friction flanges are designed with an external set of teeth with friction linings.

4. The coupling in accordance with claim 2, wherein the friction flanges are designed with an external set of teeth without friction linings, and wherein the friction flanges are designed with an internal set of teeth with friction linings.

5. The coupling in accordance with claim 1, wherein four friction elements, in particular friction flanges, are provided in the torque limiter.

6. The coupling in accordance with claim 1, wherein the contact pressure of the friction elements, in particular the friction flanges, can be adjusted.

7. The coupling in accordance with claim 1, wherein the coupling has an intermediate coupling section, and wherein the torque limiter is integrated in the intermediate coupling section.

8. The coupling in accordance with claim 7, wherein the friction flanges are alternately held once on the outer face in the intermediate coupling section, and once on the inner face in the intermediate coupling section, and wherein a friction lining is arranged between each of the alternately held friction flanges.

9. The coupling in accordance with claim 7, wherein the friction flanges are held in the intermediate coupling section with a tongue-and-groove joint.

10. The coupling in accordance with claim 7, wherein the friction flanges are acted upon by a central disc spring, or by plate discspring assemblies, which are integrated into the intermediate coupling section.

11. The coupling in accordance with claim 1, wherein the torque limiter is arranged in the coupling hub.

12. The coupling in accordance with claim 2, wherein the contact pressure of the friction flanges can be adjusted using clamping nuts, or clamping screws.

13. A drive train for a wind turbine with the coupling in accordance with claim 1.

14. A wind turbine with the drive train, with the coupling in accordance with claim 1.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0014] In what follows the invention is explained with reference to an example of embodiment that is shown in the figures. In detail:

[0015] FIG. 1: shows the basic configuration of the head of a wind turbine with a coupling with a torque limiter;

[0016] FIG. 2: shows a first form of embodiment of a torque limiter for wind turbines, in which a central disc spring is integrated in the intermediate coupling section;

[0017] FIG. 3: shows a detailed illustration of the form of embodiment in FIG. 2;

[0018] FIG. 4: shows a further illustration of a torque limiter in an unexploded view;

[0019] FIG. 5: shows another view of the form of embodiment shown in FIG. 4;

[0020] FIG. 6: shows a third form of embodiment of the invention, in which the torque limiter is integrated into the coupling hub.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0021] FIG. 1 shows the general construction of the head of a wind turbine 1. The drive train 2 is located between the rotor 3 and the generator 4. The drive train also features a coupling with a torque limiter 5.

[0022] FIG. 2 shows a first form of embodiment of such a torque limiter 5. The latter is integrated into the drive train 2 with connecting flanges 18 and 8, whereby the coupling with the torque limiter 5 can rotate between the opposing connecting flanges 18 and 8 if a certain overload is reached.

[0023] In FIG. 3, the form of embodiment in FIG. 2 is shown once again, this time in an exploded view. In the left-hand region, starting from the connecting flange 18, a tube 21 with an inner flange 22 is featured, whereby this inner flange 22 has outwardly directed toothing, onto which the friction flanges 19 with the internal toothing are pushed. Onto the latter is pushed the outer flange 23 with the internal toothing 24. The said internal toothing 24 corresponds with the friction flanges 20 with external toothing. The friction flanges, which are pushed on alternately, are pushed against the tube 21 in the left-hand region of the figure. In the end region on the right-hand side of the figure, the flanges that are pushed on alternately could theoretically fall out. However, this is prevented by the sequence of disc springs or discspring assemblies 11, a bearing 12, a retaining ring 13 and an adjusting nut 14 with grub screws 15 fitted to the latter.

[0024] FIGS. 4 and 5 show a second variant of the inventive torque limiter 5 for the drive train of a wind turbine. Identical parts are identified with the same reference numbers. In contrast to the first form of embodiment, which is shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, here the right-hand end region is not secured with a disc spring 11, but with disc spring assemblies 11a and clamping screws 17 fitted to the latter. The disc spring assemblies 11a exert a contact pressure on the overload system 9, 19, and 20, via a pressure flange 16.

[0025] FIG. 6 shows a third form of embodiment of the inventive torque limiter 5 for the drive train of a wind turbine. Here, the two connecting flanges, namely the outer flange 23 and the inner flange 22, are formed in one piece with the friction flanges 19, 20, whereby the friction flanges 19, 20 are arranged alternately on the inner flange 22 and the outer flange 23. If the set torque is exceeded, relative movements occur between the friction flanges 19, 20. The friction flanges 19 are fitted with friction linings 9, which enable particularly good heat dissipation, and particularly good adjustability of the torque at which relative movements occur at the friction flanges 20.