# US 10,502,193 B2 · Repair method for a gearbox assembly 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 10,502,193 B2 - Document ID: US10502193B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 15/967,651 - Filed: 2018-05-01 - Published: 2018-10-04 - Granted: 2019-12-10 - Earliest claimed: 2017-03-29 - Assignees: General Electric Company - Applicants: General Electric Company - Inventors: Rong Li; Jonathan Paul Signore; Tingyu Zhang; Wei Zheng; Souvik Porel; Priyangu C. Patel; James Edward Cencula - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US10502193B2 ## CPC - F03D 80/50: Maintenance or repair - F03D 15/00: Transmission of mechanical power - F16H 37/041: {for conveying rotary motion with constant gear ratio} - F05B 2230/80: Repairing, retrofitting or upgrading methods - F05B 2260/4031: as in toothed gearing - F16H 57/021: Shaft support structures, e.g. partition walls, bearing eyes, casing walls or covers with bearings - F16H 2057/02078: {for wind turbines} - F16H 2057/0235: {specially adapted to allow easy accessibility and repair} - Y02E 10/72: Wind turbines with rotation axis in wind direction - Y02P 70/50: Manufacturing or production processes characterised by the final manufactured product - F03D: WIND MOTORS - F16H: GEARING - 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 - Y02P: CLIMATE CHANGE MITIGATION TECHNOLOGIES IN THE PRODUCTION OR PROCESSING OF GOODS ## Abstract A repair method for a gearbox assembly for a wind turbine is disclosed. The gearbox includes a gearbox housing having an upwind end and a downwind end, a gear assembly configured within the gearbox housing, at least one shaft configured with the gear assembly and extending from the gearbox housing to a generator of the wind turbine, and a sleeve assembly configured with the gearbox housing. Further, the sleeve assembly is removable so as to provide additional space in the gearbox housing during at least one of disassembly or assembly of the gearbox assembly such that the various components can be easily repaired and/or replaced. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A method for uptower repair and/or replacement of a gearbox of a wind turbine, the gearbox operably coupled to a generator via a gearbox shaft and housed within a nacelle mounted atop a tower of the wind turbine, the method comprising: removing one or more downwind securement components of a gearbox shaft of the gearbox; removing a downwind gearbox bearing of the gearbox, supporting the gearbox shaft via at least one support component; removing at least one sleeve assembly that is embedded within a gearbox housing so as to create additional space for repair and/or replacement of one or more gearbox components; moving the gearbox shaft towards the generator with an inner race of an upwind gearbox bearing installed thereon and an outer race of the upwind gearbox bearing remaining in place; and removing the outer race of the upwind gearbox bearing from the gearbox housing after the gearbox shaft is moved. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein removing the downwind gearbox bearing of the gearbox further comprises: mounting a tooling device at the downwind end of the gearbox housing of the gearbox; and, securing the gearbox shaft and the downwind gearbox bearing into the tooling device. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the one or more downwind securement components of the gearbox shaft of the gearbox comprise at least one of a cover plate, an oil slinger, an anti-rotation pin, an oil shield ring, or a lock nut. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the at least one support component comprises at least one of straps or slings. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, further comprising removing a pressing plate from the upwind gearbox bearing before removing the first sleeve that is embedded within the upwind end of the gearbox housing. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the inner race and the outer race of the upwind gearbox bearing remain in place as the shaft is moved. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, further comprising moving the gearbox shaft away from at least one of a gearbox shaft pinion or one or more bull gears before moving the gearbox shaft towards the generator. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein removing at least one sleeve assembly that is configured with the gearbox housing further comprises removing a first sleeve at an upwind end of the gearbox housing. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the inner race and the outer race of the upwind gearbox bearing are installed on the gearbox shaft as the shaft is moved. ### Claim 10 (depends on 9) The method of claim 9, wherein removing at least one sleeve assembly that is configured with the gearbox housing further comprises removing at least one additional sleeve that is embedded within at least one of the upwind end or a downwind end of the gearbox housing. ### Claim 11 A method for repairing and/or replacing one or more gearbox components of a wind turbine gearbox uptower, the method comprising: removing one or more downwind securement components of a gearbox shaft of the gearbox; removing a downwind gearbox bearing of the gearbox; supporting the gearbox shaft via at least one support component; removing at least one sleeve assembly that is embedded within an upwind end of a gearbox housing; moving the gearbox shaft towards the generator with an inner race of an upwind gearbox bearing installed thereon and an outer race of the upwind gearbox bearing remaining in place; removing the outer race of the upwind gearbox bearing from the gearbox housing; and, repairing at least one of the downwind gearbox bearing, the upwind gearbox bearing, or the gearbox shaft. ### Claim 12 (depends on 11) The method of claim 11, wherein the sleeve assembly is at least partially embedded within the gearbox housing. ### Claim 13 (depends on 11) The method of claim 11, further comprising removing at least one additional sleeve assembly located at the downwind end of the gearbox housing.