Wind turbine ring/shroud drive system
AssigneeGeneral Electric Company
InventorRalph W. Blakemore
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A wind turbine capable of driving multiple electric generators having a ring or shroud structure for reducing blade root bending moments, hub loads, blade fastener loads and pitch bearing loads. The shroud may further incorporate a ring gear for driving an electric generator. In one embodiment, the electric generator may be cantilevered from the nacelle such that the gear on the generator drive shaft is contacted by the ring gear of the shroud. The shroud also provides protection for the gearing and aids in preventing gear lubricant contamination.
Claims19
A shroud system for a wind turbine comprising:
- a. a central hub;
- b. a first connecting structure having a root portion and a tip portion, wherein said root portion is attached to the hub;
- c. a shroud having an internal surface, an external surface, and a ring gear to drive a generator, wherein the internal surface is attached to the tips of the connecting structure;
- d. a second set of connecting structure having a root portion and a tip portion, wherein said root portion is attached in such a manner as to extend beyond the external surface of the shroud;
- and
- e. a nacelle having a strut to affix the generator.
A wind turbine comprising:
- a. a tower;
- b. a nacelle mounted on said tower;
- c. a hub mounted for rotation on a shaft supported within the nacelle;
- d. a plurality of first rotor blades, said blades having a root end and a tip end, wherein the first rotor blades or structures are attached at said root end to a hub and said hub being secured to said shaft extending from the nacelle, the nacelle having a strut to affix a generator;
- e. a shroud having an internal surface and an external surface, wherein the internal surface of the shroud is attached to the tip ends of said first rotor blades or structures, the shroud having a ring gear for driving at least one generator;
- and
- f. a plurality of second rotor blades, said blades having a root end and a tip end, wherein the root ends of the second rotor blades attach to the external surface of the shroud when the second rotor blades have a fixed pitch and the root ends of the second rotor blades attach to a drive shaft when the second rotor blades have a variable pitch.
A wind turbine comprising:
- a. a tower;
- b. a nacelle having a support strut extending therefrom, said nacelle being mounted on said tower;
- c. the nacelle further including a support shaft extending therefrom;
- d. a generator incorporating a gear and being mounted on said support strut;
- e. plurality of first rotor structures having a root end and a tip end, wherein the first rotor structures are attached at said root end to a hub and said hub being secured to said shaft extending from the nacelle;
- f. a shroud having an internal surface and an external surface, wherein the internal surface of the shroud is attached to the tip ends of said first fixed pitch rotor structure and wherein said shroud further includes a ring gear for interfacing the generator;
- and
- g. a plurality of second rotor structures having a root end and a tip end, wherein the root ends of the second rotor structures attach to the external surface of the shroud when the second rotor structures have a fixed pitch.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.