Abstract: A drive arrangement (12) for a wind turbine (10) is disclosed, having a rotor shaft (20) and a gearbox assembly (22) for transferring torque to an electrical power generator (18). The gearbox assembly comprises an input shaft (40), an output shaft (42), a primary gear stage (44) and a secondary gear stage (46). The drive arrangement also comprises a drive transfer mechanism (24) for transferring torque from the rotor shaft into the gearbox assembly via the input shaft, and a primary load carrying member (56) for releasably mounting the gearbox assembly to a housing (34) of the turbine. The rotor shaft is at least partly hollow, having an internal cavity (28) in which at least parts of the gearbox assembly and drive transfer mechanism are located. The gearbox assembly is mountable within the rotor shaft as a single unit by the primary load carrying member.

Abstract: The invention relates to a drive arrangement for a wind turbine, and to a wind turbine incorporating a drive arrangement. In one embodiment, a drive arrangement (12) for a wind turbine (10) is disclosed which comprises a rotor shaft (20); a gearbox assembly (22) for transferring torque from the rotor shaft to an electrical power generator (18), the gearbox assembly comprising: an input shaft (40); an output shaft (42); a primary gear stage (44); and a secondary gear stage (46), each gear stage having a plurality of planet gears (52; 58) positioned around the output shaft, an annular gear (84; 86) meshed with the planet gears, and a sun gear (82; 88) meshed with the planet gears and arranged to transfer torque to the output shaft. The drive arrangement also comprises a drive transfer mechanism (24) for transferring torque from the rotor shaft into the gearbox assembly via the input shaft; and a primary load carrying member (56) for releasably mounting the gearbox assembly to a housing (34) of the wind turbine.