# US 11,306,698 B2 · Pitch apparatus and wind turbine having pitch apparatus > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 11,306,698 B2 - Document ID: US11306698B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 16/069,069 - Filed: 2017-12-25 - Published: 2021-07-08 - Granted: 2022-04-19 - Earliest claimed: 2017-07-28 - Assignees: Beijing Goldwind Science & Creation Windpower Equipment Co., Ltd. - Applicants: Beijing Goldwind Science & Creation Windpower Equipment Co., Ltd. - Inventors: Yongjun Guo; Chunmei Yuan; Xingwen Dai - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US11306698B2 ## CPC - F03D 7/0224: {Adjusting blade pitch} - F03D 1/0658: {Arrangements for fixing wind-engaging parts to a hub} - F03D 7/024: {of individual blades} - F03D 15/00: Transmission of mechanical power - F03D 80/70: Bearing or lubricating arrangements - F05B 2260/504: using flat or V-belts and pulleys - F05B 2260/74: by turning around an axis perpendicular the rotor centre line - F05B 2260/76: the adjusting mechanism using auxiliary power sources - F05B 2260/79: Bearing, support or actuation arrangements therefor - Y02E 10/72: Wind turbines with rotation axis in wind direction - 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 Provided is a pitch apparatus of a wind turbine. The wind turbine includes a wheel hub and multiple blades. The pitch apparatus includes a pitch bearing, a transmission element and a driving mechanism for driving the transmission element. The pitch bearing includes a bearing inner race and a bearing outer race. The bearing inner race is fixedly connected to the blade; the bearing outer race is fixedly connected to the wheel hub. The transmission element is driven by the driving mechanism, and drives the blade and the bearing inner race to rotate relative to the wheel hub. A load level of ultimate bending moment for a blade root and a safety factor of the pitch apparatus increase, failure risks of the pitch bearing, bolts and the transmission belt are reduced. A wind turbine having pitch apparatus is provided. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A pitch apparatus applied in a wind turbine, wherein the wind turbine comprises a wheel hub and a blade; wherein the pitch apparatus comprises: a pitch bearing; a transmission element; a connection plate; and a driving mechanism for driving the transmission element; wherein the pitch bearing comprises; a bearing inner race; and a bearing outer race; wherein the bearing inner race is fixedly connected to the blade, the bearing outer race is fixedly connected to the wheel hub, the transmission element is driven by the driving mechanism, and drives the blade and the bearing inner race to rotate relative to the wheel hub, wherein the connection plate is fixedly connected with and extends outwardly past an outermost circumference of a blade root of the blade in a radial direction of the blade root, and the transmission element is arranged on an outer circumferential surface of the connection plate, the radial direction of the blade root being perpendicular to a pitch axis of the blade. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The pitch apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the connection plate is arranged between the bearing inner race and the blade; or the connection plate is arranged on a periphery of the blade root of the blade. ### Claim 3 (depends on 2) The pitch apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the connection plate comprises the following elements arranged in a radial direction: an inner circumferential portion; an outer circumferential portion; and a middle transition portion connecting the inner circumferential portion and the outer circumferential portion. ### Claim 4 (depends on 3) The pitch apparatus according to claim 3, wherein the inner circumferential portion is a ring and comprises a plurality of first axial through holes arranged in a circumferential direction; wherein the bearing inner race comprises a plurality of second axial through holes corresponding to the plurality of first axial through holes; wherein a bearing inner race connection bolt is fastened to the blade through one of the plurality of second axial through holes and one of the plurality of first axial through holes in the sequence listed. ### Claim 5 (depends on 3) The pitch apparatus according to claim 3, wherein the connection plate is ring-shaped or partially ring-shaped, wherein the inner circumferential portion is fixed to the periphery of the blade root of the blade. ### Claim 6 (depends on 5) The pitch apparatus according to claim 5, wherein the inner circumferential portion is provided with a plurality of inserting projections extending inwardly in the radial direction, the periphery of the blade root of the blade is provided with a plurality of inserting grooves, and each of the plurality of inserting projections is fixed into a respective one of the plurality of inserting grooves. ### Claim 7 (depends on 5) The pitch apparatus according to claim 5, wherein the connection plate consists of a plurality of arc-segment portions, a circumferential angle of the plurality of arc-segment portions each is less than or equal to 180°. ### Claim 8 (depends on 3) The pitch apparatus according to claim 3, wherein the connection plate comprises at least one of the following structural characteristics: an axial thickness of the middle transition portion is less than or equal to an axial thickness of the outer circumferential portion; a plurality of lightening holes is formed on the middle transition portion; the outer circumferential portion is ring-shaped or partially ring-shaped, or the outer circumferential portion and the middle transition portion are ring-shaped or partially ring-shaped; and a toothed structure is formed on the outer circumferential surface of the connection plate. ### Claim 9 (depends on 3) The pitch apparatus according to claim 3, wherein the outer circumferential portion comprises an axially extending portion. ### Claim 10 (depends on 9) The pitch apparatus according to claim 9, wherein a lightening hole is arranged in the middle transition portion. ### Claim 11 (depends on 3) The pitch apparatus according to claim 3, wherein a radial cross-section of the outer circumferential portion is T-shaped or L-shaped. ### Claim 12 (depends on 3) The pitch apparatus according to claim 3, wherein the connection plate is formed integrally with the blade. ### Claim 13 (depends on 12) The pitch apparatus according to claim 12, wherein the outer circumferential portion comprises an axially extending portion. ### Claim 14 (depends on 3) The pitch apparatus according to claim 3, wherein the connection plate is formed integrally with the bearing inner race. ### Claim 15 (depends on 14) The pitch apparatus according to claim 14, wherein the outer circumferential portion comprises an axially extending portion. ### Claim 16 (depends on 1) The pitch apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the connection plate is formed integrally with the blade. ### Claim 17 (depends on 16) The pitch apparatus according to claim 16, wherein the connection plate is ring-shaped or partially ring-shaped. ### Claim 18 (depends on 1) The pitch apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the connection plate is formed integrally with the bearing inner race. ### Claim 19 (depends on 18) The pitch apparatus according to claim 18, wherein the connection plate is ring-shaped or partially ring-shaped. ### Claim 20 A wind turbine, comprising a pitch apparatus, a wheel hub and a blade, wherein the pitch apparatus comprises: a pitch bearing; a transmission element; a connection plate; and a driving mechanism for driving the transmission element; wherein the pitch bearing comprises: a bearing inner race; and a bearing outer race; wherein the bearing inner race is fixedly connected to the blade, the bearing outer race is fixedly connected to the wheel hub, the transmission element is driven by the driving mechanism, and drives the blade and the bearing inner race to rotate relative to the wheel hub, wherein the connection plate is fixedly connected with and extends outwardly past an outermost circumference of a blade root of the blade in a radial direction of the blade root, and the transmission element is arranged on an outer circumferential surface of the connection plate, the radial direction of the blade root being perpendicular, to a pitch axis of the blade.