Vestas Wind Systems A/s

Leif Christoffersen

Jesper Lykkegaard Neubauer

Torben Ladegaard Baun

Lars Langvardt Krogh

Anders Yde Wollesen

Peter Bøttcher

Ole Mølgaard Jeppesen

Torben Friis Baun

Brian Jørgensen

Robert Rowntree

Per Holten-Møller

Gerry Madden

Thomas Paw Buus

Peter Bøtteher

Lars Skifter

Gary Madden

Anders Yde

A wind turbine drive train component () comprising a rotating shaft () with a radial seal () is provided. The radial seal () comprises a stationary part and a rotating part. The stationary part comprises a ring () with an inner edge and an outer edge, the inner edge being configured for contactlessly surrounding the shaft (). The rotary part comprising a disc (), coaxially connected to the shaft () for rotation therewith and comprising a flange () that wraps around the outer edge of the ring (). The radial seal () further comprises an annular air lock gap () for containing an amount of lubrication fluid () and thereby closing off the air lock gap () when the rotary part rotates at a rotational speed above a predetermined threshold speed, the annular air lock gap () being formed by an inner surface of the flange (), an outer part of the opposing parallel surface of the disc () and the outer edge of the ring ().

Wind turbine drivetrain component with low friction radial shaft seal

A multirotor wind turbine () comprising a yaw arrangement () and a tower () is disclosed. A load carrying structure comprises first and second arms () extending from the yaw arrangement () and carrying energy generating units (). the yaw arrangement () comprises an outer wall part () arranged coaxially with the tower () and forming a closed ring extending circumferentially about an outer surface of the tower (), thereby forming a space () between the tower () and the outer wall part (). The outer wall part () and the outer surface of the tower () are rotatable relative to each other.

Yaw arrangement for a multirotor wind turbine

A multirotor wind turbine () comprising a tower structure () and at least one load carrying structure (), each load carrying structure () being arranged to carry two or more energy generating units (), is disclosed. The wind turbine () further comprises a yawing arrangement () comprising a first part () being fixedly connected to the tower structure () and a second part () being fixedly connected to at least one of the load carrying structure(s) (). The first part () and the second part () are configured to perform rotating movements relative to each other, thereby allowing the load carrying structure () to perform yawing movements relative to the tower structure (). At least one guy wire () is connected between an anchoring point () at the ground and the first part () of the yawing arrangement (). The invention further provides a yawing arrangement () for such a multirotor wind turbine ().

Multirotor wind turbine with guy wires

The present invention provides a horizontal axis wind turbine comprising a tower, a nacelle mounted on top of the tower, and a rotor rotationally mounted to the nacelle. The rotor comprises a hub carrying a plurality of blades. Furthermore, the rotor comprises a spinner covering the hub and defining a space between the spinner and the hub. The spinner and hub are sized such that the space allows service personnel to work within the space. A service floor for supporting the service personnel is provided in the space. The service floor provides a substantially plane support structure.

Wind turbine comprising a service floor

A pitch system () for rotating a blade () of a wind turbine relative to a hub () generally comprises a bearing () having an inner bearing ring () configured to be mounted to the hub and an outer bearing ring () configured to be mounted to the blade. A first coupling member () positioned between the hub and inner bearing ring extends radially inward. A second coupling member () positioned between the blade and outer bearing ring extends radially inward and over the inner bearing ring. A drive system () includes a first drive member () coupled to the first coupling member and a first driven member () coupled to the second coupling member. The first drive member is configured to move the first driven member to rotate the outer bearing ring relative to the inner bearing ring and thereby pitch the blade.

Pitch system for a wind turbine

A wind turbine is described which comprises a tower, a nacelle mounted to the top of the tower, and a rotor mounted to the nacelle. The rotor comprises two or more blades mounted to a central hub. The hub supports two or more annular pitch bearings associated respectively with the two or more blades. Each pitch bearing defines a bearing plane inclined at a first angle with respect to a horizontal plane when the respective blade is oriented in a downwardly direction in alignment with the tower. Each pitch bearing is spanned by a hub plate; and a work platform integral with or mounted to the hub plate lies generally in a plane at a second angle to the horizontal plane when the respective blade is oriented in a downwardly direction in alignment with the tower, which second angle is less than the first angle. The work platform provides a substantially horizontal platform for use by maintenance personnel when installing or servicing components in and around the hub.

Wind turbines

Spinner for a wind turbine

Growing community of inventors

Vejle Øst, Denmark

Leif Christoffersen