# US 10,502,264 B1 · Ball plug retention for slewing ring bearing

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- Number: US 10,502,264 B1
- Document ID: US10502264B1
- Status: Granted
- Kind: B1
- Application number: 16/108,480
- Filed: 2018-08-22
- Granted: 2019-12-10
- Earliest claimed: 2018-08-22
- Assignees: General Electric Company
- Applicants: General Electric Company
- Inventors: Dhanesh Chandrashekar Pathuvoth; Adam Daniel Minadeo; William Max Gobeli
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US10502264B1

## CPC

- F16C 19/181: {with angular contact}
- F16C 33/581: {integral with other parts, e.g. with housings or machine elements such as shafts or gear wheels}
- F03D 80/70: Bearing or lubricating arrangements
- F16C 19/18: with two or more rows of balls
- F16C 33/583: {Details of specific parts of races}
- F16C 33/586: {outside the space between the races, e.g. end faces or bore of inner ring}
- F16C 43/06: Placing rolling bodies in cages or bearings
- F05B 2240/50: Bearings
- F05B 2260/79: Bearing, support or actuation arrangements therefor
- F16C 33/585: {of raceways, e.g. ribs to guide the rollers}
- F16C 2226/36: by welding
- F16C 2226/40: with adhesive
- F16C 2226/74: with snap-fit, e.g. by clips
- 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
- F16C: SHAFTS; FLEXIBLE SHAFTS; ELEMENTS OR CRANKSHAFT MECHANISMS; ROTARY BODIES OTHER THAN GEARING ELEMENTS; BEARINGS
- F03D: WIND MOTORS
- 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 bearing assembly for a wind turbine includes a bearing comprising an outer race, an inner race rotatable relative to the outer race, and a plurality of roller elements positioned within at least one raceway defined between the outer and inner races. Further, at least one of the outer race or the inner race defines a radial opening. The bearing assembly also includes at least one ball plug positioned within the radial opening of at least one of the outer race or the inner race. The ball plug(s) is removable such that the plurality of roller elements can be inserted between the outer and inner races. Moreover, at least a portion of the ball plug(s) has a tapered cross-section.

## Claims

### Claim 1

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.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The bearing assembly of claim 1, wherein the outer portion defines a first diameter and the inner portion defines a second diameter, the first diameter tapering to the second diameter in the transitional region.

### Claim 3 (depends on 1)

The bearing assembly of claim 1, further comprising at least one spacer or shim positioned between the exterior retention means and the distal-most end of the obiter portion of the at least one ball bearing plug.

### Claim 4 (depends on 1)

The bearing assembly of claim 1, wherein the inner portion of the at least one ball bearing plug comprises a partial raceway that defines a portion of at least one raceway of at least one of the outer race or the inner race.

### Claim 5 (depends on 1)

The bearing assembly of claim 1, wherein the bearing comprises at least one of a pitch bearing or a yaw bearing of a wind turbine.

### Claim 6

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, the radial opening comprising a tapering diameter;
at least one ball bearing plug comprising an outer portion and an inner portion, the outer portion defining a first diameter, the inner portion defining a second diameter, the first diameter being larger than the second diameter, the 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 being removable such that the plurality of ball bearings can be inserted between the outer and inner races, the inner portion of the at least one ball bearing plug comprising at least one annular recess; and
a plurality of O-rings arranged circumferentially around the inner portion of the at least one ball bearing plug within the at least one annular recess, the plurality of O-rings being aligned in a longitudinal direction of the at least one ball bearing plug.

### Claim 7 (depends on 6)

The bearing assembly of claim 6, wherein the at least one ball bearing plug comprises a varying cross-section that substantially corresponds to the tapering diameter of the radial opening, the varying cross-section located between the outer and inner portions of the at least one ball bearing plug.

### Claim 8 (depends on 6)

The bearing assembly of claim 6, further comprising an exterior retention device arranged adjacent to a distal-most end of the outer portion of the at least one ball bearing plug, the exterior retention device comprising at least one of a locknut or a retention plate and one or more mechanical fasteners that engage with the at least one of the locknut or the retention plate and extend parallel with a longitudinal axis of the at least one ball beating plug.

### Claim 9 (depends on 6)

The bearing assembly of claim 6, further comprising an anti-rotation device engaging an outer surface of the outer portion of the at least one ball bearing plug so as to prevent rotation thereof.

### Claim 10

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 set of radial openings; and,
a set of ball bearing plugs each comprising an outer portion and an inner portion, the outer portion defining a first diameter, the inner portion defining a second diameter, the first diameter being larger than the second diameter, each of the ball bearing plugs positioned within one of the radial openings such that the outer portions thereof contact and abut against each other, the set of ball bearing plugs being removable such that the plurality of ball bearings can be inserted between the outer and inner races.