# US 8,786,124 B2 · Wind turbine > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 8,786,124 B2 - Document ID: US8786124B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 13/386,977 - Filed: 2011-02-14 - Published: 2012-12-13 - Granted: 2014-07-22 - Earliest claimed: 2010-07-12 - Assignees: Alstom Wind, S.L.U. - Applicants: Daniel Castell Martínez; Carlos Casanovas Bermejo; Santiago Canedo Pardo - Inventors: Daniel Castell Martínez; Carlos Casanovas Bermejo; Santiago Canedo Pardo - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US8786124B2 ## CPC - F03D 9/25: the apparatus being an electrical generator (F03D9/22 takes precedence) - F03D 15/00: Transmission of mechanical power - F03D 15/20: Gearless transmission, i.e. direct-drive - F05B 2220/7068: equipped with permanent magnets - F05B 2260/96: Preventing, counteracting or reducing vibration or noise - Y02E 10/72: Wind turbines with rotation axis in wind direction - F03D: WIND MOTORS - 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 that includes a rotor and a generator is described. The rotor includes a rotor hub that is rotatably mounted on a frame and one or more rotor blades. The generator includes a generator stator and a generator rotor with a carrying structure that carries magnetic or electromagnetic elements. One or more circumferentially arranged substantially axial protrusions that extend into the generator rotor carrying structure are attached to the rotor. Flexible couplings are arranged between one or more of the axial protrusions and the carrying structure. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A wind turbine comprising: a rotor that includes a rotor hub and one or more rotor blades, the rotor hub being rotatably mounted on a frame; a generator that includes a generator stator and a generator rotor, the generator rotor including a carrying structure that carries magnetic or electromagnetic elements, the carrying structure comprising a plurality of struts; one or more circumferentially arranged substantially axial protrusions attached to the rotor, the axial protrusions extending into the generator rotor carrying structure so that an axial protrusion is disposed between and circumferentially spaced from adjacent struts; and one or more flexible couplings arranged between one or more of the axial protrusions and the adjacent struts. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The wind turbine according to claim 1, wherein the axial protrusions are mounted to or integrally formed with the rotor hub. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The wind turbine according to claim 1, wherein the one or more blades are connected to the rotor hub with extenders, and the axial protrusions are mounted on or integrally formed with the extenders. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The wind turbine according to claim 1, wherein the axial protrusions are mounted on or integrally formed with one or more of the rotor blades. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The wind turbine according to claim 1, wherein a coupling body is connected to the rotor hub, the coupling body comprising the axial protrusions. ### Claim 6 (depends on 5) The wind turbine according to claim 5, wherein the coupling body is flexibly coupled to the rotor hub. ### Claim 7 (depends on 6) The wind turbine according to claim 6, wherein the coupling body further comprises substantially rearwardly and radially extending spokes, the protrusions being formed by the distal ends of the spokes. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The wind turbine according to claim 1, wherein a single axial protrusion is attached to the rotor, the protrusion being substantially cylindrical. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) The wind turbine according to claim 1, wherein one or more of the flexible couplings comprise flexible elements of flexible materials. ### Claim 10 (depends on 9) The wind turbine according to claim 9, wherein one or more of the flexible elements are of elastic material. ### Claim 11 (depends on 9) The wind turbine according to claim 9, wherein one or more of the flexible elements are of visco-elastic material. ### Claim 12 (depends on 9) The wind turbine according to claim 9, wherein one or more of the flexible elements comprise a hydraulic chamber. ### Claim 13 (depends on 12) The wind turbine according to claim 12, wherein the one or more flexible elements comprising a hydraulic chamber are connected by one or more hydraulic circuits. ### Claim 14 (depends on 9) The wind turbine according to claim 9, wherein a stiffness of at least one of the flexible elements is different from a stiffness of at least another of the flexible elements. ### Claim 15 (depends on 1) The wind turbine according to claim 1, wherein a stiffness of the flexible couplings is configured for being actively or semi-actively controlled. ### Claim 16 (depends on 1) The wind turbine according to claim 1, wherein the flexible couplings comprise a damping system. ### Claim 17 (depends on 1) The wind turbine according to claim 1, wherein the flexible couplings comprise springs. ### Claim 18 (depends on 1) The wind turbine according to claim 1, wherein the generator rotor's carrying structure comprises one or more substantially radial struts, and wherein the one or more flexible couplings are arranged between one or more of the axial protrusions and adjacent radial struts. ### Claim 19 A wind turbine comprising: a rotor that includes a rotor hub and one or more rotor blades, the rotor hub being rotatably mounted on a frame; a generator that includes a generator stator and a generator rotor, the generator rotor including a carrying structure that carries magnetic or electromagnetic elements, the carrying structure comprising substantially radial struts, one or more circumferentially arranged substantially axial protrusions attached to the rotor, and a plurality of couplings between the axial protrusions and a plurality of the substantially radial struts, wherein each of the couplings comprises a first flexible element arranged between a first of the axial protrusions and one of the radial struts, and a second flexible element arranged between a second of the axial protrusions and another of the radial struts and wherein each of the flexible elements comprises a hydraulic chamber and the hydraulic chambers of the first flexible elements are connected to a first hydraulic circuit, and the hydraulic chambers of the second flexible elements are connected to a second hydraulic circuit.