Rotor Lock for a Wind Turbine

Abstract

A locking arrangement for locking a hub (1) of a wind turbine against rotational movement is disclosed. The locking arrangement comprises at least one first locking part (6) and at least one second locking part (8). The first locking part(s) (6) is / are movable along a substantially radial direction relative to the rotational axis of the hub (1), between a locking position and a release position. Each second locking part (8) is adapted to retain a first locking part (6) when the first locking part (6) is in the locking position. The first locking part(s) (6) and the second locking part(s) (8) are arranged with one of them on the hub (1) and the other one on the base frame (5). Thereby, a first locking part (6) and a second locking part (8) prevent rotational movement of the hub (1) relative to the base frame (5) when the first locking part (6) is in the locking position, and allow such movement when the first locking part (6) is in the release position.

Description

RELATED APPLICATIONS[0001]This application claims priority from U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 61 / 159,997 which was filed on Mar. 13, 2009 and Denmark Patent Application Number PA 200900358 which was filed on Mar. 13, 2009, the entire contents of which are incorporated by reference.FIELD OF THE INVENTION[0002]The present invention relates to a locking arrangement for locking a hub of a wind turbine against rotational movements relative to a base frame of the nacelle of the wind turbine. Such a locking arrangement is, e.g., required for safety purposes in order to prevent the hub from rotating during maintenance of the wind turbine.BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION[0003]Various components of a wind turbine, including components arranged in or near the nacelle, such as drive train, main shaft, generator, main bearing or hub, sometimes require maintenance, repair or replacement. It is therefore necessary to allow maintenance personnel to gain access to these parts in order to a...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

[0008]It is an object of the invention to provide a locking arrangement for a hub of a wind turbine which is capable of preventing rotational movements of the hub as well as tilt and / or yaw movements of the hub.

[0009]It is a further object of the invention to provide a locking arrangement for a hub of a wind turbine which is capable of preventing rotational movements of the hub during removal or replacement of the main shaft.

[0010]It is an even further object of the invention to provide a locking arrangement for a hub of a wind turbine in which rotational locking of the hub is more reliable than the locking provided by prior art locking arrangements.

Problems solved by technology

A disadvantage of such an arrangement is that it is not possible to use the locking mechanism directly for absorbing tilt or yaw loads, e.g. in the case that the support for the main shaft, or the main shaft itself, needs to be removed during the maintenance operation.

Another disadvantage is that it is difficult and relatively expensive to manufacture the hub in a manner which allows the axial movement of the locking parts.

The yoke may further prevent the main shaft from performing rotational movements, due to friction between the yoke and the main shaft.

However, this rotational locking is too unreliable to be used as a safety measure during maintenance operations.

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