General Electric Company

Andreas Schubert

Hartmut Andreas Scholte-Wassink

Till Hoffmann

Adam Daniel Minadeo

William Francis Gevers

Frank Hinken

Robert Davis Pine

A method for protecting personnel working in a wind turbine nacelle or hub includes monitoring a nacelle roof hatch and a hub access hatch, each hatch having a switch configured therewith. When at least one of the hatches is detected as opened, a control system detects if a rotor lock has been engaged. If the rotor lock has not been engaged, the control system triggers a rotor brake to stop rotor and drivetrain component rotational movement and actuates a first control lockout between the respective switch configured with the open hatch and the rotor brake. The control system also initiates a control lockout that prevents release of the rotor brake until the switch indicates that the open hatch has been closed and the first control lockout has been reset.

Method for controlling a wind turbine with access hatch interlocks, and associated wind turbine

A pitch bearing assembly for a wind turbine may include an outer race and an inner race rotatable relative to the outer race. The inner race may define an inner circumference and may include a plurality of gear teeth around the inner circumference. The inner race may also include a circumferential flange extending at least partially around the inner circumference. In addition, the pitch bearing assembly may include a stiffener coupled to the circumferential flange.

Pitch bearing assembly with stiffener

A hub assembly for use with a wind turbine is provided. The hub assembly includes a body formed from a first material, a bearing seat formed integrally with the body, and a support assembly positioned within an opening defined by the bearing seat and at least partially coupled to the body. The support assembly includes an insert formed from a second material different than the first material.

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Ostercappeln, Germany

Andreas Schubert