Main shaft assembly of a wind turbine
AssigneeGeneral Electric Renovables Espana, S.L.
InventorsRobert Peter Slack, Roberto Leal Rodriguez, Michael A. Garry, Matteo Bellucci
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A main shaft assembly of a wind turbine and method for manufacturing the same are provided. Accordingly, the main shaft assembly includes a structural/shaft body defining a cavity therein. The shaft body is configured to transmit a load of the wind turbine developed in response to the wind. An inner body is located within the cavity. The inner body is non-loadbearing with respect to the load. At least one sensor is coupled to the inner body and positioned within the cavity for detecting a deflection of the shaft body in response to the load.
Claims17
A shaft assembly of a wind turbine, the shaft assembly comprising:
- a shaft body defining a cavity therein and a load path for transmitting a load generated by the wind turbine in response to wind;
- an inner body disposed within the cavity and coupled to the shaft body, the inner body being non loadbearing with respect to the load, wherein the shaft body and the inner body are concentric and have a synchronized rate of rotation about an axis;
- and
- at least one sensor coupled to the inner body at a first axial location along the axis and positioned within the cavity for detecting a deflection of the shaft body in response to the load,
- wherein the inner body is coupled to the shaft body at a second axial location within the cavity, the inner body forming a cantilever extending at least axially between the second axial location and the at least one sensor.
A component assembly of a wind turbine, the assembly comprising:
- a wind turbine component comprising:
- an outer body defining a cavity therein, the outer body defining a load path for transmitting a load of the wind turbine therethrough, and
- an inner body disposed within the cavity of the outer body, the inner body being non loadbearing with respect to the load;
- and
- at least one sensor coupled to the inner body at a first axial location along the axis and positioned within the cavity for detecting a deflection of the outer body in response to the load,
- wherein the inner body is coupled to the shaft body at a second axial location within the cavity, the inner body forming a cantilever extending at least axially between the second axial location and the at least one sensor.
A method for manufacturing a shaft assembly of a wind turbine, the method comprising:
- forming a shaft body defining a cavity extending in a radial direction and a load path for transmitting a load generated by the wind turbine in response to a wind;
- disposing an inner body within the cavity in axial and rotational alignment with an axis of the shaft body, the inner body being non loadbearing with respect to the load;
- and
- coupling at least one sensor to the inner body at a first axial location along the axis within the cavity, the at least one sensor being configured to detect a radial deflection of the shaft body in response to the load,
- coupling the inner body to the shaft body at a second axial location within the cavity so as to form a cantilever extending at least axially between the second axial location and the at least one sensor, wherein the at least one sensor has a first sensitivity at a first cantilever axial length and a second sensitivity corresponding to a second cantilever axial length, the second cantilever axial length being greater than the first cantilever axial length and the second sensitivity may be greater than the first sensitivity.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.