Method for craneless wind turbine pitch bearing indexing
AssigneeInventus Holdings, LLC
InventorEric M. Jacobsen
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A method for re-indexing a wind turbine bearing coupled to a blade and having damaged teeth driven by a motor includes installing temporary support structures between the turbine bearing and the blade to decouple a portion of the turbine bearing having the damaged teeth from the blade. The turbine bearing is re-indexed and the temporary support structures removed. The re-indexed turbine bearing is recoupled to the blade.
Claims19
A method for re-indexing a wind turbine bearing coupled to a blade and having damaged teeth driven by a motor, comprising:
- installing spacers between the turbine bearing and the blade to decouple a portion of the turbine bearing having the damaged teeth from the blade and enable re-indexing of the turbine bearing, wherein each of the spacers is formed as a single plate contacting first fasteners extending from the blade as well as second fasteners extending from the turbine bearing;
- re-indexing the turbine bearing;
- removing the spacers;
- and
- recoupling the re-indexed turbine bearing to the blade.
A method for re-indexing a wind turbine bearing coupled to a blade and having damaged teeth driven by a motor, comprising:
- installing temporary bearings comprising rolling elements between the turbine bearing and the blade to decouple a portion of the turbine bearing having the damaged teeth from the blade, wherein each of the temporary bearings comprises an inner ring secured to the portion of the turbine bearing and an outer ring secured to the blade with the inner ring being movable relative to the outer ring to enable re-indexing of the turbine bearing;
- re-indexing the turbine bearing;
- removing the temporary bearings;
- and
- recoupling the re-indexed turbine bearing to the blade.
A method for re-indexing a wind turbine bearing coupled to a blade and having damaged teeth driven by a motor, comprising:
- installing temporary braces between an outer ring of the turbine bearing and the blade to decouple a portion of the turbine bearing having the damaged teeth from the blade, wherein each of the temporary braces comprises a first end secured to the outer ring, a second end secured to the blade, and an angled portion extending between the first and second ends, wherein the second end is secured to the blade by barrel nuts provided within the blade or by bonding the second end to an outer surface of the blade;
- re-indexing the turbine bearing;
- removing the temporary braces;
- and
- recoupling the re-indexed turbine bearing to the blade.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.