# US 2014/0193263 A1 · Lubrication systems for bearing assemblies > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 2014/0193263 A1 - Document ID: US20140193263A1 - Status: Published application - Kind: A1 - Application number: 14/135,291 - Filed: 2013-12-19 - Published: 2014-07-10 - Earliest claimed: 2013-01-10 - Assignees: Alstom Renovables EspañA, S.L. - Inventors: Pierre Pasquet - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20140193263A1 ## CPC - F16N 7/385: {Central lubrication systems} - F03D 80/70: Bearing or lubricating arrangements - F16C 33/6674: {related to the amount supplied, e.g. gaps to restrict flow of the liquid} - F16N 7/40: in a closed circulation system - F16N 29/00: Special means in lubricating arrangements or systems providing for the indication or detection of undesired conditions; Use of devices responsive to conditions in lubricating arrangements or systems - F16C 2360/31: Wind motors - F16N 2250/04: Pressure - F16N 2250/40: Flow - Y02E 10/72: Wind turbines with rotation axis in wind direction - F16N: LUBRICATING - F03D: WIND MOTORS - F16C: SHAFTS; FLEXIBLE SHAFTS; ELEMENTS OR CRANKSHAFT MECHANISMS; ROTARY BODIES OTHER THAN GEARING ELEMENTS; BEARINGS - Y02E: REDUCTION OF GREENHOUSE GAS [GHG] EMISSIONS, RELATED TO ENERGY GENERATION, TRANSMISSION OR DISTRIBUTION ## Abstract A lubrication system is disclosed for a bearing assembly, the bearing assembly having at least one bearing. The lubrication system may comprise a pump circuit, an injection circuit, an extraction circuit and at least one three-way valve. The pump circuit may comprise at least a pump. The injection circuit may provide lubricant to the bearing during an injection mode of operation. The extraction circuit may extract lubricant from the bearing during an extraction mode of operation. A flow combination topology of the first three-way valve may allow operation of the lubrication system in the injection mode or in the extraction mode or in both modes simultaneously. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A lubrication system for a bearing assembly, the bearing assembly having at least one bearing, comprising: a pump circuit, having at least a pump; a lubricant injection circuit for providing lubricant to the bearing during an injection mode of operation; a lubricant extraction circuit for extracting used lubricant from the bearing during an extraction mode of operation; and at least a first three-way valve, having a first port coupled to the pump circuit, a second port coupled to the lubricant injection circuit and a third port coupled to the lubricant extraction circuit, wherein the first three-way valve allows operation of the lubrication system in the injection mode or in the extraction mode or in both modes simultaneously. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The lubrication system according to claim 1, further comprising a first monitoring element, coupled to the lubricant injection circuit, for measuring the volume of lubricant injected in the bearing during the injection mode and a second monitoring element, coupled to the lubricant extraction circuit, for measuring the volume of lubricant extracted during the extraction mode. ### Claim 3 (depends on 2) The lubrication system according to claim 2, wherein the first three-way valve is operable in response to a volume of lubricant measured by at least one of the first and second monitoring elements. ### Claim 4 (depends on 3) The lubrication system according to claim 3, wherein the first three-way valve defines a passageway between the pump and the lubricant extraction circuit for extracting lubricant when the first monitoring element indicates a lubricant volume is above a desired value and wherein the first three-way valve defines a passageway between the pump and the lubricant injection circuit for injecting lubricant when the second monitoring element indicates a volume below a desired value. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The lubrication system according to claim 1, further comprising a local pressure measuring instrument, coupled to the bearing, for measuring a pressure of lubricant at a proximal point of the bearing. ### Claim 6 (depends on 5) The lubrication system according to claim 5, wherein the lubricant extraction circuit includes a first lubricant extraction sub-circuit and a second lubricant extraction sub-circuit, the first lubricant extraction sub-circuit being coupled to the bearing substantially at or near the proximal point, and wherein the second lubricant extraction sub-circuit is coupled to the bearing at a point substantially removed from the proximal point, whereby the first lubricant extraction sub-circuit is selectively operated in response to a lubricant pressure measurement above a desired value and measured by the local pressure measuring instrument at the proximal point. ### Claim 7 (depends on 5) The lubrication system according to claim 5, wherein the lubricant injection circuit includes a first lubricant injection sub-circuit and a second lubricant injection sub-circuit, the first lubricant injection sub-circuit being coupled to the bearing substantially at or near the proximal point, and wherein the second lubricant injection sub-circuit is coupled to the bearing at a point substantially removed from the proximal point, whereby the first lubricant injection sub-circuit is selectively operated in response to a lubricant pressure measurement below a desired value and measured by the local pressure measuring instrument at the proximal point. ### Claim 8 (depends on 6) The lubrication system according to claim 6, wherein each sub-circuit further comprises a monitoring element. ### Claim 9 (depends on 2) The lubrication system according claim 2, wherein at least one monitoring element is a flow meter. ### Claim 10 (depends on 2) The lubrication system according to claim 2, wherein at least one monitoring element is a manometer. ### Claim 11 (depends on 1) The lubrication system according to claim 1, wherein the lubricant injection circuit and the lubricant extraction circuit are coupled to a plurality of bearings. ### Claim 12 (depends on 11) The lubrication system according to claim 11, wherein the lubricant injection circuit includes a plurality of lubricant injection devices, each coupled to a bearing of the plurality of bearings, respectively, wherein each lubricant injection device comprises a plurality of injection lines, each injection line being coupled to the respective bearing at a different point. ### Claim 13 (depends on 11) The lubrication system according to claim 11, wherein the lubricant extraction circuit includes a plurality of lubricant extraction devices, each coupled to a bearing of the plurality of bearings, respectively, wherein each lubricant extraction device comprises a plurality of extraction lines, each extraction line being coupled to the respective bearing at a different point. ### Claim 14 (depends on 13) The lubrication system according to claim 13, wherein the lubricant injection circuit includes a plurality of lubricant injection devices, each coupled to a bearing of the plurality of bearings, respectively, wherein each lubricant injection device comprises a plurality of injection lines, each injection line being coupled to the respective bearing at a different point, and wherein the lubricant injection devices are arranged in series in the lubricant injection circuit and the lubricant extraction devices are arranged in series in the lubricant extraction circuit, respectively. ### Claim 15 (depends on 14) The lubrication system according to claim 14, further comprising a second three-way valve coupled to the pump, wherein the first three-way valve is coupled to a first lubricant injection device and to a first lubricant extraction device, and the second three-way valve is coupled to a last lubricant injection device and to a last lubricant extraction device . ### Claim 16 (depends on 11) The lubrication system according to claim 11, wherein the bearing assembly is a pitch bearing assembly of a wind turbine generator. ### Claim 17 (depends on 1) The lubrication system according to claims 1, wherein the 3-way valve is an electro-valve controlled by a central lubrication control center. ### Claim 18 (depends on 1) A bearing assembly comprising: at least a bearing; and a lubrication system according to claim 1. ### Claim 19 (depends on 18) A wind turbine generator comprising a bearing assembly according to claim 18.