# US 2019/0376492 A1 · Wind Turbine Coupling to Mitigate Torque Reversals > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 2019/0376492 A1 - Document ID: US20190376492A1 - Status: Published application - Kind: A1 - Application number: 16/547,915 - Filed: 2019-08-22 - Published: 2019-12-12 - Earliest claimed: 2013-09-26 - Assignees: AeroTorque Corporation - Applicants: AeroTorque Corporation - Inventors: David C. Heidenreich; Richard E. Cole, JR.; Dustin J. Sadler - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20190376492A1 ## CPC - F03D 15/10: using gearing not limited to rotary motion, e.g. with oscillating or reciprocating members - F03D 1/00: Wind motors with rotation axis substantially parallel to the air flow entering the rotor (controlling thereof F03D7/02) - F03D 7/0296: {to prevent, counteract or reduce noise emissions} - F03D 9/25: the apparatus being an electrical generator (F03D9/22 takes precedence) - F03D 15/00: Transmission of mechanical power - F16D 7/025: {with flat clutching surfaces, e.g. discs} - F16F 15/123: Wound springs {(F16F15/1213, F16F15/1216, F16F15/127 take precedence)} - F16F 15/1297: {Overload protection, i.e. means for limiting torque} - F05B 2260/4023: through a friction clutch - Y02E 10/72: Wind turbines with rotation axis in wind direction - F03D: WIND MOTORS - F16D: COUPLINGS FOR TRANSMITTING ROTATION; CLUTCHES; BRAKES - F16F: SPRINGS; SHOCK-ABSORBERS; MEANS FOR DAMPING VIBRATION - 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 - Y02E: REDUCTION OF GREENHOUSE GAS [GHG] EMISSIONS, RELATED TO ENERGY GENERATION, TRANSMISSION OR DISTRIBUTION ## Abstract A wind turbine power generating system, including a wind turbine connected to a speed-increasing gearbox having an output shaft. An electrical generator having an input shaft is also provided. A coupling interconnects the input and output shafts. The coupling includes a high torsional wind-up and/or displacement ability in parallel with a high frictional slip ability, such that during normal operation there is little or no frictional slippage and during a transient torque reversal the loads in the turbine drive system are decreased, thus decreasing the impact loads on the gearbox bearings. ## Claims ### Claim 1 In a wind turbine power generating system comprising a wind turbine connected to a speed-increasing gearbox having a high-speed output shaft and an electrical generator having an input shaft, the improvement comprising: a coupling system interconnecting said output and input shafts, said coupling system having a portion of its torque path split between at least one of a torsional wind-up and displacement component along with a torsional dampening component. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The improvement in a wind turbine power generating system according to claim 1, wherein the torsional damping component is a frictional slip component set in the forward direction to at least 10% of the rated turbine torque. ### Claim 3 (depends on 2) The improvement in a wind turbine power generating system according to claim 2, wherein the frictional slip setting in the reverse driving direction is equal to at least 10% of the rated turbine torque. ### Claim 4 (depends on 2) The improvement in a wind turbine power generating system according to claim 2, wherein the torsional rotational displacement movement in a reverse direction taken from the group of at least 10 degrees or greater for turbines with generators operating at 1000 rpm or more and for turbines with lower generator speeds in the range of 1 to 5 degrees per 100 rpm. ### Claim 5 (depends on 4) The improvement in a wind turbine power generating system according to claim 4, where there is a zero backlash connection between the pressure plate and the endplate. ### Claim 6 (depends on 2) The improvement in a wind turbine power generating system according to claim 2, wherein the parallel wind-up and frictional slip are located on the generator shaft. ### Claim 7 (depends on 4) The improvement in a wind turbine power generating system according to claim 4, wherein an adapter plate is provided to fit the existing flexible coupling of the turbine for ease and safety of retrofitting. ### Claim 8 (depends on 4) The improvement in a wind turbine power generating system according to claim 4, wherein a portion of the rotational movement is frictional slip without torsional wind-up in forward or reverse. ### Claim 9 (depends on 8) The improvement in a wind turbine power generating system according to claim 8, wherein the frictional-slip-only portion is at least 10 degrees. ### Claim 10 (depends on 4) The improvement in a wind turbine power generating system according to claim 4, wherein there is a hard stop after a threshold of torque in a forward direction is exceeded. ### Claim 11 (depends on 10) The improvement in a wind turbine power generating system according to claim 10, wherein the threshold is above 120% of rated turbine torque. ### Claim 12 (depends on 4) The improvement in a wind turbine power generating system according to claim 4, wherein the rotational movement has an asymmetric action during operation such that the only time a deadband is engaged is during a torque reversal exceeding a frictional slip threshold. ### Claim 13 (depends on 12) The improvement in a wind turbine power generating system according to claim 12, wherein the asymmetric action is automatic. ### Claim 14 (depends on 12) The improvement in a wind turbine power generating system according to claim 12, wherein the frictional slip setting is greater than 20% of the rated turbine torque and less than 100%. ### Claim 15 (depends on 12) The improvement in a wind turbine power generating system according to claim 12, wherein the design of the frictional slip and the wind-up elements are symmetric to allow for use on wind turbines which have gearbox designs that may either be clockwise or counterclockwise forward rotation. ### Claim 16 (depends on 1) The improvement in a wind turbine power generating system according to claim 1, wherein the coupling system is symmetrical in design and asymmetrical in its response to torque reversals with a prolonged slip ability in either direction of shaft rotation. ### Claim 17 (depends on 1) The improvement in a wind turbine power generating system according to claim 1, wherein a slip torque setting is high enough to only occur during transient torsional events. ### Claim 18 (depends on 17) The improvement in a wind turbine power generating system according to claim 17, wherein transient torsional events include torque reversals. ### Claim 19 (depends on 18) The improvement in a wind turbine power generating system according to claim 18, wherein the transient torque events also include shutdowns and startups and recovering from said transient torque events. ### Claim 20 (depends on 19) The improvement in a wind turbine power generating system according to claim 19, wherein the torsional movement during normal startup and shutdown is less than 10 degrees. ### Claim 21 (depends on 25) The improvement in a wind turbine power generating system according to claim 25, wherein the torsional movement during transient torque reversal that exceeds the frictional slip setting is greater than 10 degrees. ### Claim 22 (depends on 4) The improvement in a wind turbine power generating system according to claim 4, wherein the torsional wind-up device uses at least one of the elements taken from the group of an elastomeric material in shear, an elastomeric material in compression, metal springs in compression, metal springs in bending, and gas springs. ### Claim 23 (depends on 22) The improvement in a wind turbine power generating system according to claim 22, wherein the same torsional wind-up components provide wind-up in both forward and reverse directions.