Rotating electrical machine having improved bearing lubrication and associated methods

A wind turbine, comprising:

• a tower;
• a nacelle disposed adjacent a top of the tower;
• a rotor including a hub and at least one wind turbine blade extending from the hub;
• and
• a generator disposed in the nacelle, the generator having a stator assembly and a rotor assembly positioned within the outer housing and configured to produce electricity and further including:
• an outer housing;
• a drive shaft rotatably mounted within the outer housing;
• a bearing supporting the drive shaft relative to the outer housing, wherein the outer housing includes a support surface confronting the bearing and the bearing includes a bearing surface confronting the support surface, and further wherein a region defined between the support surface and the bearing surface has a lubrication layer;
• and
• a lubrication flow path configured to direct a lubricant to the bearing, wherein the lubrication flow path is in fluid communication with the region between the support surface and the bearing surface so as to replenish the lubrication layer.

A method of lubricating a bearing for a rotating electrical machine that supports a drive shaft relative to an outer housing, the outer housing including a support surface confronting the bearing and the bearing including a bearing surface confronting the support surface, and a region being defined between the support surface and the bearing surface, the method comprising:

• operating the rotating electrical machine;
• and
• supplying lubricant to the region between the support surface and the bearing surface during operation of the rotating electrical machine so as to replenish a lubrication layer disposed in the region,
• wherein the bearing forms part of a floating bearing assembly wherein at least a portion of the bearing that includes the bearing surface is permitted to be axially displaced relative to the outer housing.