Hybrid friction wheel gearbox drivetrain for wind turbine applications
AssigneeUnited Technologies Corporation
InventorRichard A. Himmelmann
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A drivetrain for a wind turbine is provided. The drivetrain may include a first stage speed increaser adapted for low speed operations, and a second stage speed increaser adapted for moderate and high speed operations. The first stage speed increaser may include at least one drive wheel being rotatably driven by a main shaft of the wind turbine and at least one driven wheel in frictional communication with the drive wheel. The second stage speed increaser may include a gearbox coupled to each driven wheel and a generator coupled to each gearbox.
Claims20
A drivetrain for a wind turbine, comprising:
- a first stage speed increaser adapted for low speed operations, the first stage speed increaser including at least one drive wheel being rotatably driven by a main shaft of the wind turbine and one or more driven wheels in frictional communication with the drive wheel;
- and
- a second stage speed increaser adapted for moderate and high speed operations, the second stage speed increaser including one or more gearboxes coupled to each of the one or more driven wheels and one or more generators coupled to each of the one or more gearboxes, the one or more gearboxes including a planetary gear set.
A drivetrain for a wind turbine, comprising:
- at least one drive wheel rotatably driven by a main shaft of the wind turbine;
- one or more driven wheels forming a friction interface with and being rotatably driven by the drive wheel;
- one or more gearboxes coupled to each of the one or more driven wheels;
- and
- one or more generators coupled to each of the one or more gearboxes, the one or more gearboxes including a planetary gear set.
A wind turbine, comprising:
- a hub;
- a main shaft rotating with the hub;
- and
- a drivetrain coupled to the main shaft, the drivetrain comprising:
- a first stage speed increaser adapted for low speed operations, the first stage speed increaser including a drive wheel being driven by the main shaft and a plurality of driven wheels in frictional communication with the drive wheel;
- and
- a second stage speed increaser adapted for moderate and high speed operations, the second stage speed increaser including a gearbox coupled to each driven wheel and a generator coupled to each gearbox, the gearbox including a planetary gear set.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.