One-piece coupling for a wind turbine drive shaft
AssigneeGeneral Electric Company
InventorsHarvey H. Kaura, Scott Denton Thomason
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A coupling arrangement is provided for connecting shaft components. The coupling arrangement includes a first shaft component having an end with a recess defined therein, and a second shaft component axially aligned with the first shaft component and seated within the recess. The first shaft component has an outer diameter surface in a region concentric with the recess. A single-piece clamping disk has a matching inner diameter surface and a circumferentially extending groove defined in the inner diameter surface, as well as a radially extending injection channel defined between an outer diameter surface of the clamping disk and the groove.
Claims14
A coupling arrangement for connecting drivetrain components of a wind turbine, said coupling arrangement comprising:
- a first shaft component having an end with a recess defined therein,
- a second shaft component axially aligned with said first shaft component and seated within said recess;
- said first shaft component comprising an outer diameter surface in a region concentric with said recess;
- a single-piece clamping disk having an inner diameter surface and a circumferentially extending groove defined in said inner diameter surface, said clamping disk further comprising a radially extending injection channel defined between an outer diameter surface and said groove;
- and
- wherein said upon application of a pressurized fluid into said injection channel, said clamping disk radially expands for sliding movement of said clamping disk along said outer diameter surface of said first shaft component from a release position to a locking position, and upon release of fluid pressure said clamping disk radially retracts and clamps onto said outer diameter surface of said first shaft component to couple said second shaft component within said recess of said first shaft component.
A wind turbine, comprising:
- a rotor;
- a main drive shaft coupled to said rotor;
- a gearbox or generator having an input shaft;
- a coupling arrangement configured between said main drive shaft and said input shaft, said coupling arrangement further comprising:
- a recess defined in one of said main drive shaft or said input shaft, wherein the other of said input shaft or main drive shaft has an end coaxially seated within said recess;
- an outer diameter surface defined on the one of said main drive shaft or said input shaft having said recess defined therein;
- a single-piece clamping disk having an inner diameter surface and a circumferentially extending groove defined in said inner diameter surface, said clamping disk further comprising a radially extending injection channel defined between an outer diameter surface of said clamping disk and said groove;
- and
- wherein said upon application of a pressurized fluid into said injection channel, said clamping disk radially expands for sliding movement of said clamping disk along said outer diameter surface from a release position to a locking position, and upon release of fluid pressure said clamping disk radially retracts and clamps onto said outer diameter surface to rotationally couple said main drive shaft to said input shaft.
A coupling arrangement for rotationally connecting axially aligned shaft components, said coupling arrangement comprising:
- a first shaft component having an end with a recess defined therein,
- a second shaft component axially aligned with said first shaft component and seated within said recess;
- said first shaft component comprising an outer diameter surface in a region concentric with said recess;
- a single-piece clamping disk having an inner diameter surface and a circumferentially extending groove defined in said inner diameter surface, said clamping disk further comprising a radially extending injection channel defined between an outer diameter surface and said groove;
- and
- wherein said upon application of a pressurized fluid into said injection channel, said clamping disk radially expands for sliding movement of said clamping disk along said outer diameter surface from a release position to a locking position, and upon release of fluid pressure said clamping disk radially retracts and clamps onto said outer diameter surface to couple said second shaft component within said recess of said first shaft component.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.