# US 12,760,715 B2 · Wind turbine gearbox and method for producing a wind turbine gearbox

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- Number: US 12,760,715 B2
- Document ID: US12760715B2
- Status: Granted
- Kind: B2
- Application number: 18/908,919
- Filed: 2024-10-08
- Published: 2025-01-23
- Granted: 2026-10-13
- Earliest claimed: 2018-03-23
- Assignees: Miba Gleitlager Austria GmbH
- Applicants: Miba Gleitlager Austria GmbH
- Inventors: Johannes Sebastian Hoelzl; Werner Schroettenhamer
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US12760715B2

## CPC

- F03D 80/70: Bearing or lubricating arrangements
- F03D 9/25: the apparatus being an electrical generator (F03D9/22 takes precedence)
- F03D 15/00: Transmission of mechanical power
- F03D 15/10: using gearing not limited to rotary motion, e.g. with oscillating or reciprocating members
- F16C 33/14: Special methods of manufacture; Running-in
- F05B 2240/50: Bearings
- F05B 2260/40311: of the epicyclic, planetary or differential type
- F16C 2204/12: with tin as the next major constituent
- F16C 2204/14: with zinc as the next major constituent
- F16C 2204/20: Alloys based on aluminium
- F16C 2204/34: Alloys based on tin
- F16C 2223/46: by welding, e.g. by using a laser to build a layer
- F16C 2360/31: Wind motors
- F16C 2361/61: Toothed gear systems, e.g. support of pinion shafts
- F16H 2057/085: {Bearings for orbital gears}
- F03D: WIND MOTORS
- F16C: SHAFTS; FLEXIBLE SHAFTS; ELEMENTS OR CRANKSHAFT MECHANISMS; ROTARY BODIES OTHER THAN GEARING ELEMENTS; BEARINGS
- 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
- F16H: GEARING

## Abstract

A wind turbine gearbox, in particular planetary gearbox, has at least one gear which is mounted on an axle, wherein a sliding surface is arranged between the gear and the axle. The sliding surface is arranged on at least one layer of a deposition welded material made from a sliding bearing material. Furthermore, a method produces the wind turbine gearbox.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A wind turbine gearbox having at least one gear which is mounted on an axle, wherein a sliding surface is arranged between the gear and the axle or between the axle and an axle holder, wherein the sliding surface is arranged on at least one layer of a deposition welded material made of a sliding bearing material, and wherein the layer of the deposition welded material is applied directly to an outer shell surface of the axle.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The wind turbine gearbox according to claim 1, wherein the layer of the deposition welded material is applied directly to an inner shell surface of a bore of the gear.

### Claim 3 (depends on 1)

The wind turbine gearbox according to claim 1, wherein the gear is designed as a planetary gear.

### Claim 4 (depends on 1)

The wind turbine gearbox according to claim 1, wherein the deposition welded material consists of or comprises a material selected from a group comprising aluminum base alloys, tin base alloys, bronze base alloys, brass base alloys.

### Claim 5 (depends on 1)

The wind turbine gearbox according to claim 1, wherein the deposition welded material consists of or comprises a material which comprises at least two materials selected from a group comprising aluminum, tin, bronze, brass.

### Claim 6 (depends on 1)

A wind turbine having a rotor and a generator, wherein a wind turbine gearbox, which is operatively connected to the rotor and the generator is arranged between the rotor and the generator, wherein the wind turbine gearbox is designed according to claim 1.

### Claim 7

A method for producing a wind turbine gearbox, having at least one gear which is mounted on an axle, wherein a sliding surface is arranged between the gear and the axle, wherein the method comprises the following steps:
providing the axle;
deposition welding of a sliding bearing material and with that, depositing a layer of a deposition welded material directly onto the axle;
forming the sliding surface on the layer.

### Claim 8 (depends on 7)

The method according to claim 7, wherein laser deposition welding is used as the welding method.

### Claim 9 (depends on 7)

The method according to claim 7, wherein laser powder deposition welding is used as the welding method.

### Claim 10 (depends on 7)

The method according to claim 7, wherein a polymer-based running-in layer is applied using a spraying method.

### Claim 11

A wind turbine gearbox having at least one gear which is mounted on an axle, wherein a sliding surface is arranged between the gear and the axle or between the axle and an axle holder, wherein the sliding surface is arranged on at least one layer of a deposition welded material made of a sliding bearing material, and wherein the gear is designed as a planetary gear.

### Claim 12 (depends on 11)

A wind turbine having a rotor and a generator, wherein a wind turbine gearbox, which is operatively connected to the rotor and the generator is arranged between the rotor and the generator, wherein the wind turbine gearbox is designed according to claim 11.

### Claim 13 (depends on 11)

The wind turbine gearbox according to claim 11, wherein the layer of the deposition welded material is applied directly to an inner shell surface of a bore of the gear.

### Claim 14 (depends on 11)

The wind turbine gearbox according to claim 11, wherein the deposition welded material consists of or comprises a material which comprises at least two materials selected from a group comprising aluminum, tin, bronze, brass.

### Claim 15

A wind turbine gearbox having at least one gear which is mounted on an axle, wherein a sliding surface is arranged between the gear and the axle or between the axle and an axle holder, wherein the sliding surface is arranged on at least one layer of a deposition welded material made of a sliding bearing material, and wherein the deposition welded material consists of or comprises a material selected from a group comprising aluminum base alloys, tin base alloys, bronze base alloys, brass base alloys.

### Claim 16 (depends on 15)

A wind turbine having a rotor and a generator, wherein a wind turbine gearbox, which is operatively connected to the rotor and the generator is arranged between the rotor and the generator, wherein the wind turbine gearbox is designed according to claim 15.

### Claim 17 (depends on 15)

The wind turbine gearbox according to claim 15, wherein the layer of the deposition welded material is applied directly to an inner shell surface of a bore of the gear.

### Claim 18 (depends on 15)

The wind turbine gearbox according to claim 15, wherein the deposition welded material consists of or comprises a material which comprises at least two materials selected from a group comprising aluminum, tin, bronze, brass.