# US 10,767,702 B2 · Yaw assembly for 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 10,767,702 B2 - Document ID: US10767702B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 15/956,096 - Filed: 2018-04-18 - Published: 2018-08-23 - Granted: 2020-09-08 - Earliest claimed: 2015-05-13 - Assignees: Wind Solutions, LLC - Applicants: Wind Solutions, LLC - Inventors: Christopher James Winslow; Matthew Kenneth King - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US10767702B2 ## CPC - F16C 39/02: using mechanical means - F03D 7/0212: {the rotating axis remaining horizontal} - F03D 80/70: Bearing or lubricating arrangements - F16B 35/04: with specially-shaped head or shaft in order to fix the bolt on or in an object (locking the bolt against turning in the object by the use of accessory parts F16B39/00) - F16C 17/08: for supporting the end face of a shaft or other member, e.g. footstep bearings - F16C 33/6622: {Details of supply and/or removal of the grease, e.g. purging grease} - F16C 33/6625: {Controlling or conditioning the grease supply} - F05B 2240/90: Mounting on supporting structures or systems - 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 - F16B: DEVICES FOR FASTENING OR SECURING CONSTRUCTIONAL ELEMENTS OR MACHINE PARTS TOGETHER, e.g. NAILS, BOLTS, CIRCLIPS, CLAMPS, CLIPS OR WEDGES; JOINTS OR JOINTING (couplings for transmitting rotation F16D) - 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 yaw assembly for a wind turbine may include a bushing configured for securement within a yaw cylinder containing a yaw piston and a yaw pad having a first side configured for engagement with a slew ring of the wind turbine and a second side configured for engagement with the yaw piston, a thrust stem engaged with the bushing and configured to apply force to the yaw pad against the slew ring, the thrust stem biased away from the yaw pad by one or more springs residing within the yaw piston, and an anti-rotation collar disposed at an interface between the thrust stem and the yaw piston, the anti-rotation collar including a flange extending from a bottom-center portion thereof, the flange disposed between the one or more springs and a bottom end of the yaw piston. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A yaw assembly for a wind turbine, comprising: a bushing configured for securement within a yaw cylinder containing a yaw piston and a yaw pad having a first side configured for engagement with a slew ring of the wind turbine and a second side configured for engagement with the yaw piston; a thrust stem engaged with the bushing and configured to apply force to the yaw pad against the slew ring, the thrust stem biased away from the yaw pad by one or more springs residing within the yaw piston; and an anti-rotation collar disposed at an interface between the thrust stem and the yaw piston, the anti-rotation collar comprising a flange extending from a first-center portion thereof, the flange disposed between the one or more springs and a bottom end of the yaw piston. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The yaw assembly of claim 1, where the anti-rotation collar prevents contact between the thrust stem and the yaw piston. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The yaw assembly of claim 1, where the anti-rotation collar inhibits rotation of the thrust stem within the yaw cylinder. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The yaw assembly of claim 1, where the anti-rotation collar limits a rocking motion of the thrust stem within the yaw cylinder. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The yaw assembly of claim 1, where the anti-rotation collar comprises hardened steel. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The yaw assembly of claim 1, further comprising an O-ring between the thrust stem and the anti-rotation collar. ### Claim 7 (depends on 6) The yaw assembly of claim 6, where the O-ring mitigates rocking and rotation of the thrust stem within the yaw cylinder. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The yaw assembly of claim 1, where a shape of the anti-rotation collar resembles an inverted top-hat. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) The yaw assembly of claim 1, where the anti-rotation collar comprises an opening in the first-center portion thereof. ### Claim 10 (depends on 1) The yaw assembly of claim 1, where the first-center portion of the anti-rotation collar is disposed in a stepped-down opening of the yaw piston disposed below the thrust stem. ### Claim 11 (depends on 1) The yaw assembly of claim 1, where the anti-rotation collar prevents the one or more springs from damaging the yaw piston. ### Claim 12 A yaw assembly for a wind turbine, comprising: a yaw piston; a yaw pad having a first side configured for engagement with a slew ring of the wind turbine and a second side configured for engagement with the yaw piston; a thrust stem disposed within the yaw piston and configured to apply force to the yaw pad against the slew ring, the thrust stem biased away from the yaw pad by one or more springs residing within the yaw piston; a threaded bushing configured for threading into a yaw cylinder containing the yaw piston; an anti-rotation collar disposed between the one or more springs and the yaw piston; and at least three force adjustment members disposed through the threaded bushing and engageable with the thrust stem for applying a force thereto, each of the force adjustment members movable and lockable relative to the threaded bushing for adjustment of the force applied to the thrust stem against a biasing of the one or more springs. ### Claim 13 (depends on 12) The yaw assembly of claim 12, where one or more of the at least three force adjustment members comprise screws. ### Claim 14 (depends on 12) The yaw assembly of claim 12, further comprising a lock nut threaded onto one of the at least three force adjustment members, the lock nut rotatable for moving and locking an associated force adjustment member relative to the threaded bushing. ### Claim 15 (depends on 12) The yaw assembly of claim 12, where the at least three force adjustment members comprise an integer number, N, force adjustment members spaced apart at intervals of about 360/N-degrees from one another about the threaded bushing. ### Claim 16 (depends on 12) The yaw assembly of claim 12, further comprising a mating surface on a top of the threaded bushing, the mating structure configured for gripping with a tool to facilitate screwing the threaded bushing into and out of the yaw cylinder. ### Claim 17 (depends on 12) The yaw assembly of claim 12, further comprising a channel disposed through the threaded bushing, the channel configured to receive a lubricant therein for lubricating one or more components of the yaw assembly. ### Claim 18 A yaw assembly for a wind turbine, comprising: a threaded bushing configured for threading into a yaw cylinder containing a yaw piston, a yaw pad having a first side configured for engagement with a slew ring of the wind turbine and a second side configured for engagement with the yaw piston, and a thrust stem configured to apply force to the yaw pad against the slew ring, where the thrust stem is biased away from the yaw pad by one or more springs; an anti-rotation collar disposed between the one or more springs and the yaw piston; and at least three force adjustment members disposed through the threaded bushing, each of the force adjustment elements movable and lockable relative to the threaded bushing, where movement of the force adjustment members adjusts a force applied to the thrust stem when the threaded bushing is threaded into the yaw cylinder. ### Claim 19 (depends on 18) The yaw assembly of claim 18, where one or more of the at least three force adjustment members comprise screws. ### Claim 20 A yaw assembly for a wind turbine, comprising: a yaw piston; a yaw pad having a first side configured for engagement with a slew ring of the wind turbine and a second side configured for engagement with the yaw piston; a thrust stem disposed within the yaw piston and configured to apply force to the yaw pad against the slew ring, the thrust stem biased away from the yaw pad by one or more springs residing within the yaw piston; a threaded bushing configured for threading into a yaw cylinder containing the yaw piston; a channel disposed through the threaded bushing, the channel configured to receive a lubricant therein for lubricating one or more components of the yaw assembly; and at least three force adjustment members disposed through the threaded bushing and engageable with the thrust stem for applying a force thereto, each of the force adjustment members movable and lockable relative to the threaded bushing for adjustment of the force applied to the thrust stem against a biasing of the one or more springs. ### Claim 21 (depends on 20) The yaw assembly of claim 20, where one or more of the at least three force adjustment members comprise screws. ### Claim 22 (depends on 20) The yaw assembly of claim 20, further comprising a lock nut threaded onto one of the at least three force adjustment members, the lock nut rotatable for moving and locking an associated force adjustment member relative to the threaded bushing. ### Claim 23 (depends on 20) The yaw assembly of claim 20, where the at least three force adjustment members comprise an integer number, N, force adjustment members spaced apart at intervals of about 360/N-degrees from one another about the threaded bushing. ### Claim 24 (depends on 20) The yaw assembly of claim 20, further comprising a mating surface on a top of the threaded bushing, the mating structure configured for gripping with a tool to facilitate screwing the threaded bushing into and out of the yaw cylinder.