US 12,350,772 B1Granted

Apparatus and method for extracting a seized yaw piston from a wind turbine housing

OwnerChad Badertscher, Zachary Chervinko +1inventors

InventorsChad Badertscher, Zachary Chervinko, David Feltman

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Abstract

A device and method for removing a seized yaw piston from a wind turbine housing is disclosed. The device features a boring plug with retention screws to secure the piston during operation and mounting plates for attaching the boring motor. The boring motor operates a cutter to remove the piston's core. The rotary motor is manually rotated allowing the cutting wheel to create a separating cut designed to sever a mushroomed ring from the barrel of the yaw piston. A puller tool, equipped with expandable wedge plates and a puller screw, grips the piston barrel through the separating cut. A hydraulic actuator, connected to the puller screw, applies force to extract the piston barrel. A tube spacer ensures proper alignment, and manual tools assist in breaking the mushroomed ring for easy removal.

Claims15

Dependent claims

A device for removing a yaw piston seized inside a housing of a wind turbine, comprising:

(A) a boring motor configured for manual controllable axial material removal from the yaw piston;
(B) a boring plug configured for threaded insertion into the housing comprising a plug flange, a threaded boring barrel, and a boring hole,
(C) wherein the boring plug further comprises a plurality of retention screws, threadably extending from the plug flange and through the threaded boring barrel, configured to press against a piston rim, to prevent movement of the yaw piston during operation of the boring motor;
(D) a boring mounting plate configured to releasably attach the boring motor to the boring plug;
(E) a boring cutter configured to remove a center core from the yaw piston,
(F) a boring shaft operably connecting the boring cutter to the boring motor;
wherein the boring shaft is configured to pass through the boring hole and into a piston cavity, and to rotate the boring cutter at a predefined speed to facilitate removal of the center core;
(G) a rotary motor configured for manual, controllable axial rotation of a cutting wheel, the cutting wheel being operably connected to the rotary motor via a cutting wheel shaft;
(H) a rotary mounting plate configured to releasably attach to the rotary motor;
(a) wherein the rotary mounting plate, with the rotary motor attached, is configured to rest on a housing rim, positioning the cutting wheel at a ring cut-off plane;
(b) wherein the rotary motor is further configured for manual circular movement, enabling a separating cut along the ring cut-off plane, to separate a mushroomed piston ring from a piston barrel;
(I) a puller tool, configured to fit inside the piston barrel resting on a piston puck, having
(a) two wedge plates, semicircular in shape with edges, sandwiched together by a clamp;
(b) the two wedge plates further comprising a threaded wedge hole positioned between them;
(J) a puller screw configured to be inserted through the threaded wedge hole to spread the two wedge plates apart into the separating cut made by the cutting wheel, providing a grip to extract the piston barrel from the housing;
(K) a hydraulic tubular actuator configured to provide force by extending or retracting, enabling controlled movement of the puller screw;
(L) a threaded connector configured to releasably attach the puller screw to the hydraulic tubular actuator;
(M) a tube spacer configured to provide spacing between the housing and the hydraulic tubular actuator;
(N) a plurality of manual tools for breaking the mushroomed piston ring enabling removal of the mushroomed piston ring and the piston puck.

16 more elements

A method for removing a yaw piston seized inside a housing of a wind turbine, comprising the steps of:

(A) threading a boring plug into the housing, the boring plug comprising a plug flange, a threaded boring barrel, and a boring hole;
(B) extending a plurality of retention screws from the plug flange through the threaded boring barrel to press against a piston rim, securing the yaw piston in place;
(C) attaching a boring motor to the boring plug using a boring mounting plate;
(D) using a plurality of mounting screws to releasably mount the boring mounting plate to the boring plug;
(E) passing a boring shaft through the boring hole and into a piston cavity, the boring shaft operably connecting the boring motor to a boring cutter;
(F) rotating the boring cutter about its longitudinal axis using the boring motor at a predefined speed to remove a center core from the yaw piston;
(G) removing the boring motor, the boring plug, and the boring cutter;
(H) installing a rotary motor onto a rotary mounting plate,
(I) connecting a cutting wheel to the rotary motor via a cutting wheel shaft;
(J) placing the rotary mounting plate onto the housing rim so that the cutting wheel is positioned at a ring cut-off plane;
(K) manually rotating the rotary motor in a circular motion, causing the cutting wheel to create a separating cut along the ring cut-off plane, severing a mushroomed piston ring from a piston barrel;
(L) removing the rotary motor and the cutting wheel;
(M) vacuuming debris created by the cutting wheel;
(N) inserting a puller tool into the piston barrel, the puller tool comprising two wedge plates each semicircular in shape with sharp edges held together by a clamp;
(O) inserting a puller screw through a threaded wedge hole positioned between the two wedge plates and rotating the puller screw to spread the two wedge plates apart into the separating cut, gripping the piston barrel;
(P) attaching a hydraulic tubular actuator to the puller screw via a threaded connector and activating the hydraulic tubular actuator to apply force to the puller screw;
(Q) using a tube spacer to provide separation between the hydraulic tubular actuator and the housing during operation;
(R) activating the hydraulic tubular actuator to extract the piston barrel from the housing by pulling it upward along with the puller tool;
(S) breaking the mushroomed piston ring using a plurality of manual tools enabling removal of the mushroomed piston ring and the piston puck.

16 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Facts

Application: 18/927,996Filed 26 Oct 2024 · us provisional application
Priority: 26 Oct 2023
Granted: 8 Jul 2025
Term ends: Not estimatedThe source records don’t support an estimate.

Classification9 codes

B23P 19/04
Machines for simply fitting together or separating metal parts or objects, or metal and non-metal parts, whether or not involving some…
B23P 6/02
Restoring or reconditioning objects: pistons or cylinders
B23P 19/025
For connecting objects by press fit or for detaching same: for detaching only
F03D 80/50
Details, components or accessories not provided for in groups F03D1/00 - F03D17/00: maintenance or repair