Bearing monitoring by pressure sensor
AssigneeVestas Wind Systems A/S
InventorChristian Bager
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A wind turbine has a bearing housing, a rolling element bearing within the bearing housing and a space within the bearing housing for containing grease for lubricating the rolling element bearing. A shaft is rotatably supported by the rolling element bearing. A pressure sensor in fluid communication with the space measures the pressure of grease in the space within the bearing housing.
Claims15
A wind turbine comprising:
- a bearing housing;
- a rolling element bearing within the bearing housing and a space within the bearing housing for containing grease for lubricating the rolling element bearing;
- a shaft rotatably supported by the rolling element bearing;
- and, a pressure sensor,
- wherein the pressure sensor is in fluid communication with the space and configured to measure the pressure of grease in the space within the bearing housing.
A method of assembling or retro-fitting a wind turbine comprising a bearing housing, a rolling element bearing within the bearing housing and a space within the bearing housing for containing grease for lubricating the rolling element bearing, and a shaft rotatably supported by the rolling element bearing, the method comprising:
- fitting a pressure sensor such that it is in fluid communication with the space and configured to measure the pressure of grease in the space within the bearing housing.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.