Split load path gearbox
AssigneeGeneral Electric Company
InventorJacob Johannes Nies
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A gearbox for a wind turbine, comprising a first planetary gear set; and a second planetary gear set having the same transmission ratio as the first planetary gear set; and, a load splitter to split the torque between the first planetary gear set and the second planetary gear set, wherein the load splitter is adapted to provide slip for absorbing deviations in the rotational position between the first planetary gear set and the second planetary gear set; and, wherein the first planetary gear set and the second planetary gear set are coupled in a split load arrangement for transmitting torque from a rotor shaft to a high speed shaft.
Claims20
A gearbox for a wind turbine, comprising:
- a first planetary gear set;
- a second planetary gear set having the same transmission ratio as the first planetary gear set;
- and
- a load splitter to split the torque between the first planetary gear set and the second planetary gear set, wherein the load splitter is configured to provide slip for absorbing deviations in the rotational position between the first planetary gear set and the second planetary gear set;
- wherein the first planetary gear set and the second planetary gear set are coupled in a split load arrangement for transmitting torque from a rotor shaft to a high speed shaft.
A wind turbine comprising:
- a rotor;
- a rotor shaft connected with the rotor;
- a high speed shaft;
- an electric generator connected with the high speed shaft;
- and
- a gearbox connecting the rotor shaft with the high speed shaft, the gearbox comprising:
- a first load path;
- a second load path, wherein the first load path and the second load path connect the rotor shaft with the high speed shaft;
- and
- a load splitter for splitting a torque of the rotor shaft between the first load path and the second load path,
- wherein the load splitter comprises a first pulley and a second pulley being connected by a V belt.
A method of operating a wind turbine, the method comprising:
- providing an electric generator;
- providing a rotor;
- providing a gearbox for connecting the rotor with the electric generator, wherein the gearbox comprises two load paths;
- and
- splitting the torque of the rotor between the two load paths using a load splitter, wherein the load splitter is configured to provide slip for absorbing deviations in the rotational position or speed between the two load paths.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.