Transmission for a wind turbine

Abstract

A transmission which may find particular utility in wind turbine application, but may also be used in other applications. The transmission comprises a fixed gear ring, a first drive member rotationally supported within the fixed gear ring, the first drive member defining a plurality of radially arranged apertures or bores, each of which accommodates a tooth element. The tooth elements have a tooth tip and a tooth base, and the first drive member further comprises a radially outer face and a radially inner face, and wherein the tooth tips of the tooth elements engage a corresponding gear profile defined by the fixed gear ring. A second drive member is rotationally supported such that it extends within the first drive member, and defines a cam profile which engages the tooth base of each of the plurality of tooth elements. The first drive member further comprises a lubrication system configured to feed lubrication fluid to at least one of i) the radially arranged apertures, ii) the radially outer face of the first drive member and iii) the radially inner face of the first drive member. Beneficially, the invention involves targeting specific points on and in the first drive member for lubrication by defining the lubrication passages inside the first drive member. Structuring the first drive member in this way provides a convenient and mechanically elegant way of feeding lubrication oil directly to the parts that need it most.