Ball plug retention for slewing ring bearing

A bearing assembly for a wind turbine, comprising;

• a bearing comprising an outer race, an inner race rotatable relative to the outer race, and a plurality of ball bearings positioned within at least one raceway defined between the outer and inner races, at least one of the outer race or the inner race defining a radial opening;
• at least one ball bearing plug positioned within the radial opening of at least one of the outer race or the inner race, the at least one ball bearing plug comprising an outer portion and an inner portion, the at least one ball bearing plug being removable such that the plurality of ball bearings can be inserted between the outer and inner races, at least a portion of the at least one ball bearing plug comprising a tapered cross-section, the tapered cross-section is positioned between the outer portion and the inner portion of the at least one ball bearing plug so as to define a transitional region thereof;
• and
• an exterior retention device arranged exterior to a distal-most end of the outer portion of the at least one ball bearing plug,
• a plurality of O-rings arranged circumferentially around the inner portion of the at least one ball bearing plug within at least one annular recess of the inner portion, the plurality of O-rings being aligned in a longitudinal direction of the at least one ball bearing plug.