# US 10,480,487 B2 · Hub of a wind turbine > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 10,480,487 B2 - Document ID: US10480487B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 14/240,873 - Filed: 2012-08-27 - Published: 2014-12-04 - Granted: 2019-11-19 - Earliest claimed: 2011-08-25 - Assignees: IMO Holding GmbH - Applicants: Hubertus Frank - Inventors: Hubertus Frank - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US10480487B2 ## CPC - F03D 7/04: Automatic control; Regulation - F03D 1/0691: {of the hub} - F03D 7/0224: {Adjusting blade pitch} - F03D 80/70: Bearing or lubricating arrangements - F16C 19/16: with a single row of balls - F16C 33/581: {integral with other parts, e.g. with housings or machine elements such as shafts or gear wheels} - F16C 35/04: in the case of ball or roller bearings - F05B 2260/79: Bearing, support or actuation arrangements therefor - F16C 2300/14: Large applications, e.g. bearings having an inner diameter exceeding 500 mm - F16C 2360/31: Wind motors - Y02E 10/72: Wind turbines with rotation axis in wind direction - F03D: WIND MOTORS - F16C: SHAFTS; FLEXIBLE SHAFTS; ELEMENTS OR CRANKSHAFT MECHANISMS; ROTARY BODIES OTHER THAN GEARING ELEMENTS; BEARINGS - F05B: INDEXING SCHEME RELATING TO WIND, SPRING, WEIGHT, INERTIA OR LIKE MOTORS, TO MACHINES OR ENGINES FOR LIQUIDS COVERED BY SUBCLASSES F03B, F03D AND F03G - Y02E: REDUCTION OF GREENHOUSE GAS [GHG] EMISSIONS, RELATED TO ENERGY GENERATION, TRANSMISSION OR DISTRIBUTION ## Abstract A wind turbine hub having both blades mounted thereon by means of blade bearings adjustable about the longitudinal axes thereof. The turbine includes means for effecting multi-axes adjustments of a plurality of elements relative to one another. The elements are rotatable about bearings having selectively oriented axes of rotation, each bearing comprising two parts rotatable relative to each other. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A hub of a wind turbine having rotor blades adjustable about their longitudinal axes and mounted to the hub by means of blade bearings, wherein the hub comprises: a hub body comprising a jacket, the jacket defining an interior space and having a plurality of openings extending completely through the jacket and communicating with the interior space; an outer ring formed integral with the jacket and extending about the perimeter of one of the plurality of openings extending through the jacket, the outer ring comprising an outer surface facing away from the jacket, an inner surface facing the interior space, and an annular opening defined by an annular surface; an inner ring sized to be rotatably received in the annular opening of the outer ring; an inner sealing plate mounted to the inner surface so as to seal the inner ring from the interior space; an outer sealing plate facing away from the jacket; wherein the inner ring comprises a circumferentially-extending sidewall extending between the inner sealing plate and the outer sealing plate, the circumferentially-extending sidewall having an inner surface and an outer surface; a gearbox comprising a central sun gear and a plurality of planetary gears disposed about the central sun gear; wherein the outer ring extends radially outboard of the jacket such that the inner surface of the outer ring defines a concave curved region facing the interior space, and such that the outer surface of the outer ring defines a convex curved region facing away from the jacket; wherein an inner rim is formed in the annular surface of the outer ring such that the inner rim extends around the annular opening of the outer ring, and at least one outer raceway is formed in the annular surface of the outer ring such that the at least one outer raceway extends around the annular opening of the outer ring, the at least one outer raceway being disposed concentric with the inner rim and axially outboard of the inner rim; wherein at least one inner raceway is formed in the outer surface of the circumferentially-extending sidewall of the inner ring, such that when the inner ring is mounted in the annular opening defined by the outer ring, the at least one inner raceway is aligned with the at least one outer raceway formed in the annular surface of the outer ring; wherein the inner sealing plate of the inner ring and the outer sealing plate of the inner ring are configured to be screwed together via fasteners disposed in a plurality of coronally arranged fastening bores extending parallel to a rotational axis of the inner ring; wherein the inner surface of the circumferentially-extending sidewall of the inner ring comprises a first toothed region extending circumferentially about the inner surface of the circumferentially-extending side wall of the inner ring; wherein the inner rim of the annular surface of the outer ring comprises a second toothed region extending circumferentially about the inner rim; wherein the plurality of planetary gears of the gearbox engage the first toothed region of the inner ring and the second toothed region of the inner rim, such that when the sun gear is rotated, the plurality of planetary gears rotate about the sun gear and simultaneously engage the first toothed region and the second toothed region; wherein the number of teeth H1 of the first toothed region differ from the number of teeth H2 of the second toothed region by a tooth differential ΔZ, and further wherein ΔZ is equal to the number of planetary gears in the gearbox, such that single-piece planetary gears are arranged around the sun gear at equidistant intervals, thereby resulting in a high speed ratio and high torque reduction in the force required to rotate the sun gear. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The hub in accordance with claim 1, wherein the at least one outer raceway of each of a plurality of bearings having differently oriented axes of rotation is formed from a common base body shaping the hub body of the wind turbine. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The hub in accordance with claim 1, wherein the jacket of the hub body is sleeve-shaped and provided with through-holes, so as to comprise a rotationally symmetric body. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The hub in accordance with claim 1, wherein none of the rotor blades engages the plurality of openings in the hub body. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The hub in accordance with claim 1, wherein a rear end face of the rotor blade butts flush against a connection surface of an inner ring and is screwed together therewith. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The hub as set forth in claim 1, wherein the second toothed region is provided on the hub body next to the at least one inner raceway for rolling elements of a blade bearing. ### Claim 7 (depends on 6) The hub as set forth in claim 6, wherein at least one row of the teeth of the second toothed region is offset from the at least one inner raceway in parallel with the axis of rotation, toward the interior space of the base body. ### Claim 8 (depends on 7) The hub as set forth in claim 7, wherein the at least one row of teeth is offset from the at least one inner raceway radially to the axis of rotation, and toward the axis of rotation. ### Claim 9 (depends on 8) The hub as set forth in claim 8, wherein the at least one row of teeth is straight-toothed. ### Claim 10 (depends on 1) The hub as set forth in claim 1, wherein for each of said blade bearings, a thrust surface for at least one seal is provided on the hub body concentrically with the at least one outer raceway, and offset outwardly in relation to the hub body away from a center thereof. ### Claim 11 (depends on 1) The hub in accordance with claim 1, wherein for each blade bearing, a fastening means for at least one of a cover plate and a bearing shield is provided on the hub body concentrically with each of the at least one inner raceway and the at least one outer raceway, offset inwardly in relation to the hub body toward a center thereof. ### Claim 12 (depends on 11) The hub in accordance with claim 11, wherein the fastening means comprise fastening bores arranged coronally around an axis of rotation. ### Claim 13 (depends on 2) The hub according to claim 2, wherein the at least one inner raceway disposed opposite to the at least one outer raceway incorporated into the outer ring is incorporated in a convex surface region of the respective inner ring. ### Claim 14 (depends on 13) The hub in accordance with claim 13, wherein the inner ring comprising the at least one inner raceway is additionally provided with a circumferential row of teeth of the first toothed region disposed concentrically with the at least one inner raceway for rolling elements of a rolling bearing. ### Claim 15 (depends on 14) The hub in accordance with claim 14, wherein the row of teeth is offset from the at least one inner raceway radially to the axis of rotation, and toward the axis of rotation. ### Claim 16 (depends on 13) The hub in accordance with claim 13, wherein a cover plate is mounted to the inner ring. ### Claim 17 (depends on 1) The hub in accordance with claim 1, wherein a drive pinion is mounted on a selected one of the cover plate and a bearing shield provided on the hub body. ### Claim 18 (depends on 17) The hub in accordance with claim 17, wherein the drive pinion is disposed concentrically with an axis of rotation of a rolling bearing. ### Claim 19 (depends on 18) The hub in accordance with claim 18, wherein the plurality of planetary gears is arranged in an annular space between outer teeth of the sun gear coupled to at least one of a drive motor, the cover plate or the bearing shield, and the first toothed region. ### Claim 20 (depends on 19) The hub in accordance with claim 19, wherein the planetary gears are mounted without a spider. ### Claim 21 (depends on 20) The hub in accordance with claim 20, wherein the planetary gears are hollow. ### Claim 22 (depends on 1) The hub in accordance with claim 1 wherein H1≠H2. ### Claim 23 A hub of a wind turbine having rotor blades adjustable about their longitudinal axes and mounted to the hub by means of blade bearings, wherein the hub comprises: a hub body comprising a jacket, the jacket defining an interior space and having a plurality of openings extending completely through the jacket and communicating with the interior space; an outer ring formed integral with the jacket and extending about the perimeter of one of the plurality of openings extending through the jacket, the outer ring comprising an outer surface facing away from the jacket, an inner surface facing the interior space, and an annular opening defined by an annular surface; an inner ring sized to be rotatably received in the annular opening of the outer ring; an inner sealing plate mounted to the inner surface so as to seal the inner ring from the interior space; an outer sealing plate facing away from the jacket; wherein the inner ring comprises a circumferentially-extending sidewall extending between the inner sealing plate and the outer sealing plate, the circumferentially-extending sidewall having an inner surface and an outer surface; a gearbox comprising a central sun gear and a plurality of planetary gears disposed about the central sun gear; wherein the outer ring extends radially outboard of the jacket such that the inner surface of the outer ring defines a concave curved region facing the interior space, and such that the outer surface of the outer ring defines a convex curved region facing away from the jacket; wherein an inner rim is formed in the annular surface of the outer ring such that the inner rim extends about the annular opening of the outer ring, and at least one outer raceway is formed in the annular surface of the outer ring such that the at least one outer raceway extends around the annular opening of the outer ring, the at least one outer raceway being disposed concentric with the inner rim and axially outboard of the inner rim; wherein at least one inner raceway is formed in the outer surface of the circumferentially-extending sidewall of the inner ring, such that when the inner ring is mounted in the annular opening defined by the outer ring, the at least one inner raceway is aligned with the at least one outer raceway formed in the annular surface of the outer ring; wherein the inner sealing plate of the inner ring and the outer sealing plate of the inner ring are configured to be screwed together via fasteners disposed in a plurality of coronally arranged fastening bores extending parallel to a longitudinal axis of the rotor blade, so that none of the rotor blades engages in any one of the plurality of openings in the hub body; wherein the inner surface of the circumferentially-extending sidewall of the inner ring comprises a first toothed region extending circumferentially about the inner surface of the circumferentially-extending side wall of the inner ring; wherein the inner rim of the annular surface of the outer ring comprises a second toothed region extending circumferentially about the inner rim; wherein the plurality of planetary gears of the gearbox engage the first toothed region of the inner ring and the second toothed region of the inner rim, such that when the sun gear is rotated, the plurality of planetary gears rotate about the sun gear and simultaneously engage the first toothed region and the second toothed region; wherein the number of teeth H1 of the first toothed region differ from the number of teeth H2 of the second toothed region by a tooth differential ΔZ, and further wherein ΔZ is equal to the number of planetary gears in the gearbox, such that single-piece planetary gears are arranged around the sun gear at equidistant intervals, thereby resulting in a high speed ratio and high torque reduction in the force required to rotate the sun gear.