Hybrid Friction Wheel Gearbox Drivetrain for Wind Turbine Applications
AssigneeClipper Windpower, LLC
InventorRichard A. Himmelmann
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A drivetrain for a wind turbine is provided. The drivetrain may include a first stage speed increaser adapted for low speed operations, and a second stage speed increaser adapted for moderate and high speed operations. The first stage speed increaser may include at least one drive wheel being rotatably driven by a main shaft of the wind turbine and at least one driven wheel in frictional communication with the drive wheel. The second stage speed increaser may include a gearbox coupled to each driven wheel and a generator coupled to each gearbox.
Claims20
A drivetrain for a wind turbine, comprising:
- a first stage speed increaser adapted for low speed operations, the first stage speed increaser including at least one drive wheel being rotatably driven by a main shaft of the wind turbine and at least one driven wheel in frictional communication with the drive wheel;
- and
- a second stage speed increaser adapted for moderate and high speed operations, the second stage speed increaser including a gearbox coupled to each driven wheel and a generator coupled to each gearbox.
A drivetrain for a wind turbine, comprising:
- at least one drive wheel rotatably driven by a main shaft of the wind turbine;
- at least one driven wheel forming a friction interface with and being rotatably driven by the drive wheel;
- at least one gearbox coupled to each driven wheel;
- and
- at least one generator coupled to each gearbox.
The drivetrain of claim 9, wherein each of the driven wheels, gearboxes, and generators are translatable relative to the drive wheel so as to effectively vary a speed ratio between at least the drive wheel and the driven wheels.
A wind turbine, comprising:
- a hub;
- a main shaft rotating with the hub;
- and
- a drivetrain coupled to the main shaft, the drivetrain comprising:
- a first stage speed increaser adapted for low speed operations, the first stage speed increaser including a drive wheel being driven by the main shaft and a plurality of driven wheels in frictional communication with the drive wheel;
- and
- a second stage speed increaser adapted for moderate and high speed operations, the second stage speed increaser including a gearbox coupled to each driven wheel and a generator coupled to each gearbox.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.