Modular coupling of a wind turbine gearbox to a generator

A transmission of an assembly for use in a drive-train of a wind turbine, the assembly comprising:

• a generator;
• a module having at least one bearing, a support structure and either a shaft or a hub;
• the at least one bearing having an inner race and an outer race;
• the shaft or the hub of the module being mounted on the support structure by the at least one bearing so as to rotate in the support structure, the inner race of the at least one bearing being fixed on one of the support structure and the shaft or the hub of the module, and the outer race of the at least one bearing being fixed on the other one of the support structure and the shaft or the hub of the module;
• the shaft or the hub of the module being connectable, in a rotationally fixed manner, to a shaft of the transmission;
• a rotor of the generator being fixable to the shaft or the hub of the module;
• the support structure being fixable to a housing of either the transmission or the generator such that the support structure is rotationally fixed relative thereto, and the housing of the generator being connectable to the housing of the transmission such that the rotor of the generator, and the support structure, the at least one bearing and at least a portion of the shaft or the hub of the module are arranged within the housing of the generator;
• the rotor of the generator being fixable to the housing of the transmission by at least one assembly safety device;
• the module, comprising the at least one bearing, the support structure and either the shaft or the hub, being attachable in the drive train within the housing of the generator and when the rotor of the generator is fixed to the housing of the transmission by the assembly safety device, the module is detachable from the housing of the generator for removal of the module from the drive train;
• and
• the module is attachable to and removable from the housing of the transmission while at least a first part of the housing of the generator is fixed to the support structure.

A method for removing a module of an assembly for use in a drive-train of a wind turbine, the assembly having a transmission and a generator, and the module having at least one bearing, a support structure and either a shaft or a hub, the at least one bearing having an inner race and an outer race, the shaft or the hub of the module is mounted to rotate on and relative to the support structure by the at least one bearing, the inner race of the at least one bearing being fixed on one of the support structure and the shaft or the hub of the module, and the outer race of the at least one bearing being fixed on the other one of the support structure and the shaft or the hub of the module, the shaft or the hub of the module is connectable in a rotationally fixed manner to a shaft of the transmission, a rotor of the generator is fixable to the shaft or the hub of the module, the support structure is fixable to a housing of either the transmission or the generator such that, when the support structure is fixed thereto, relative rotation of the support structure is prevented and the shaft or the hub of the module is rotatable relative to the support structure, the rotor of the generator is fixable by at least one assembly safety device, and the module having the at least one bearing, the support structure and either the shaft or the hub is attachable and removable when the rotor of the generator is fixed to the housing of the transmission by the at least one assembly safety device, the method comprising:

• fixing the rotor of the generator to the housing of the transmission via the assembly safety device;
• releasing the fixing of the rotor of the generator to the shaft of the module or to the hub;
• releasing the fixing of the support structure to the housing of the transmission or the generator;
• and
• removing the module having the at least one bearing, the support structure and either the shaft or the hub of the module while the rotor of the generator is fixed to the housing of the transmission via the assembly safety device.