Apparatus and method for removing or installing a bearing unit in a wind turbine bedplate with an adjustable bearing support
AssigneeGeneral Electric Company
InventorsDarrick Adam Vanderwalker, Waylon James Esser, Hunter Ryan Anderson
Life of this patent
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Abstract
An apparatus and method for removing or installing a bearing unit at the downwind end of the bedplate in wind turbine uses a frame erected at the downwind end of the bedplate. The frame has cradle members located such that the bearing unit can be slid out of the bedplate and supported on the cradle members, or supported on the cradle members and pushed into the bedplate.
Claims16
An apparatus for use in removal or installation of a bearing unit in a bedplate of wind turbine, the apparatus comprising:
- a frame fixable to a downwind end of the bedplate adjacent to the bearing unit;
- cradle members mounted on the frame at a location such that the bearing unit can be slid out of the bedplate and supported on the cradle members, or slid from the cradle members into the bedplate;
- and
- the cradle members adjustable on the frame in a transverse and vertical direction to accommodate bearing units of varying size.
A method for removing or installing a bearing unit at a downwind end of a bedplate in the field, the method comprising:
- erecting a frame at a downwind end of the bedplate adjacent to the bearing unit;
- fixing the frame to the bedplate;
- adjusting cradle members on the frame at a location such that the bearing unit can be slid out of the bedplate and supported on the cradle members, or supported on the cradle members and pushed into the bedplate;
- and
- sliding the bearing unit out of the bedplate and onto the cradle members, or sliding the bearing unit from the cradle members into the bedplate.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.