Abstract: An encapsulated gear train gear train for a machine comprising a support frame, which is non-encasing, an input shaft rotatably mounted in the support frame, an output shaft rotatably mounted in the support frame, gears configured to operatively connect the input shaft with the output shaft, and an encasement configured to encapsulate the input shaft, the output shaft, the gears, and at least a portion of the support frame, wherein the support frame is configured to be mounted on a structure of the machine such that the support frame does not apply any loads onto the encasement.

Abstract: Construction of a permanent magnet rotor assembly having a plurality of magnetic poles and comprising a number of magnetic pole pieces arranged in circular array. Two sets of permanent magnets—one set magnetised in circumferential direction of the rotor and the second set providing flux in axial direction of rotor, generating a magnetic flux focused through the pole piece and interacting with the magnetic flux of the stator. End-plates made of magnetic material are present such there is an axial gap between the them and the array of magnetic pole pieces. Circumferentially magnetised magnets are placed in the circumferential gaps between the pole pieces, whereas the magnets providing flux in axial direction are placed in the gaps between the array of pole pieces and end-plates.

Abstract: An encapsulated gear train gear train for a machine comprising a support frame, which is non-encasing, an input shaft rotatably mounted in the support frame, an output shaft rotatably mounted in the support frame, gears configured to operatively connect the input shaft with the output shaft, and an encasement configured to encapsulate the input shaft, the output shaft, the gears, and at least a portion of the support frame, wherein the support frame is configured to be mounted on a structure of the machine such that the support frame does not apply any loads onto the encasement.

Abstract: A computer-implemented method for modelling a driveline, the driveline comprising a plurality of components. The method comprising the steps of: a) receiving a parametric description of the driveline; b) creating a thermal model of the driveline from the parametric description; c) calculating a temperature distribution for one or more components of the driveline using the thermal model; d) determining a deflection of one or more components of the driveline caused by the thermal distribution, based on the parametric description and the temperature distribution; and e) calculating a performance metric of the driveline based on the determined deflection of the one or more components.

Abstract: A method for designing a gearset meeting one or more design targets is provided. In particular, the design target is efficiency. Initially, a size and ratio of the gear set is specified. Gear friction coefficients are then calculated, and a value for a design target for the gear set is calculated. One or more of the macro-geometry parameters are modified, and the macro-geometry parameters are chosen such that the advantageous effects of one macro-geometry parameter on the design target counteract any disadvantageous effects of another macro-geometry parameter. This allows for a design for a gearset meeting the one or more design targets to be produced. The efficiency calculation includes the effect of a lubricant. Further design targets can include gear noise and gear durability.

Abstract: The current invention relates to a magnetic pole arrangement comprising a plurality of magnetic pole assembles arranged back-to-back along a longitudinally extending axis of rotation X. Each providing flux to an air gap G. Each magnetic pole assembly comprising one or more magnetic poles pieces and two components of magnetic flux. The first component of magnetic flux provided by a plurality of axially magnetised axially displaced magnets arranged in circumferentially extending arrays. The second component of magnetic flux provided by a plurality of circumferentially magnetised magnets circumferentially spaced around the axis of rotation X.

Abstract: A computer-implemented system is disclosed for producing a design for a rotating machine assembly. It comprises a data module (10) configured for receiving data relating to one or more components of the rotating machine assembly; a user interface module (20 configured for specifying data to be received by the data module and for receiving from a user a type of analysis to be performed on the data; and an analysis module (30) configured for analysing a performance of the rotating machine assembly according to the type of analysis selected and selected features of the data to be used. It further includes a recognition module (40) configured for identifying and selected features of the data be used for the analysis according to the type of analysis selected.

Abstract: A system for modelling a driveline, wherein the driveline comprises a plurality of components. The system comprises: a component-efficiency-processor (104a, 104b) configured to: receive a component model (102a, 102b) for one or more of the plurality of components; and generate a component-efficiency-map for the one or more components based on the received corresponding component model (102a, 102b). The system also comprises a driveline-efficiency-processor (106) configured to generate a driveline-efficiency-metric (108) for the driveline based on (i) the component-efficiency-maps for the one or more of the plurality of components, (ii) a driveline-layout (110) representative of a layout/inter-engagement of the plurality of components, and (iii) one or more driving-profiles.

Abstract: A method of computer aided engineering for designing a driveline comprises the steps of: creating a single parametric description of the driveline; analysing the parametric description for performance using one or more failure modes; and optimising performance by amending the parametric description and repeating the analysing step.

Abstract: This assembly (400) has a housing (402) for high speed components and a collar (404) located at the output end of the housing and extending radially inward from an outer surface of the housing (402), where the collar retains lubricant (406) in the gearbox when the gearbox is stationary. The collar includes a gap (502), such that one or more of the high speed components can pass through the gap in the collar and such that components offset from the central axis of the gearbox are not impeded by the collar. The high speed components include a high speed shaft (408) and a mechanical pump (410), both of which are offset from the central axis of the gearbox. The housing comprises a cover (410) having one or more holes (510) such that one or more of the high speed components can pass through the gap in the collar.

Abstract: A bearing arrangement includes a housing, a rotating member traversing the housing, a bearing assembly located between the housing and the rotating member and supporting the bearing member, and a retainer in contact with the housing and the bearing assembly. The retainer has positioning means adapted to engage with the housing so that the retainer is moveable to a predetermined position to retain the bearing assembly.

Abstract: A system for operating a wind or water turbine farm comprising a plurality of turbines comprising: a computing device; means for providing operational data relating to the plurality of turbines to the computing device; a computer-readable medium coupled to the computing device and having instructions stored thereon which, when executed by the computing device, causes the computing device to: arrange the operational data for each turbine into an array comprising operational data and having a first dimension corresponding to the plurality of turbines; generate a graphical user interface; generate within the graphical user interface a graphical representation of the array.

Abstract: A method for predicting remaining useful life of a wind or water turbine or component determines in step (116) an accumulated damage for the turbine or component and compares this in step (118) to preset damage limit obtained in step (114). This provides a simple approach to estimating remaining useful life, giving the turbine operator an indication of the condition of turbines or farms under management.

Abstract: A method of computer aided engineering for designing a driveline comprises the steps of: creating a single parametric description of the driveline; analysing the parametric description for performance using one or more failure modes; and optimising performance by amending the parametric description and repeating the analysing step.

Abstract: A gearbox for a wind turbine has a bearing arrangement positioned on the downwind side of a first stage planet carrier at a single locus. The planet carrier has a portion extending radially inwards and axially downwind from the planet gears. Thus, the weight of the gearbox is supported between the two theoretical support points of the pair of back to back tapered roller bearings at the downwind side of the first stage planet carrier. A member of unitary construction comprising gearbox flange, input shaft and first stage planet carrier, which can be cast as one piece, reduces the weight of this part compared to previous designs having separate components.

Abstract: A gear arrangement for a planetary gearbox includes a planet carrier, a planet pin, a planet gear, bearing means located between the planet pin and the planet gear, the bearing means including a bearing ring, a retainer secured to the planet carrier by one or more bolts, and one or more shims located between the retainer and the planet pin. The planet pin is hollow and is in fluid communication with an inside surface of the bearing ring and with an inlet. This means that a fluid forced via the inlet and the hollow planet pin applies a radial force to the bearing ring, reducing the contact friction between the bearing ring and the planet pin and allowing an axial position of the planet pin to be adjusted to provide a correct preloading to the bearing means. This means that the bearing can be pre-set, in-situ using hydraulic actuator and oil injection.

Abstract: A planet carrier 100 has a member 110 which is resistant to buckling caused by torsional stress and which increases a torsional stiffness of the planet carrier 100, so that a torsion load is transmitted evenly from the input member 120 into the planet pins 104 without twisting the planet carrier 100.

Abstract: A gearbox assembly comprising of at least one planetary gear set comprising one or more ring gears, one or more sun gears and a planet carrier. The planet carrier supports two sets of circumferentially spaced planet gear bearings, pins and planet gears. The bearings, pins and gears are able to self adjust in an angular direction relative to the carrier supporting disc whereby the rotation axis of the planet gears may remain perpendicular to the plane of the planet carrier or skewed from said plane.

Abstract: A health index (124) can be determined from vibration signatures (108, 110, 112, 114) arising out of an analysis of vibration data (102, 104, 106) by using a combination of frequency analysis (e.g. crest factor, side-band factor) and analyses done in time domain. The health index (124) can thus be calculated by summing a product of one or more of these vibration signatures (108, 110, 112, 114) and a corresponding weighting factor (116, 118, 120, 122).

Abstract: A method for predicting remaining useful life of a wind or water turbine or component determines in step (116) an accumulated damage for the turbine or component and compares this in step (118) to preset damage limit obtained in step (114). This provides a simple approach to estimating remaining useful life, giving the turbine operator an indication of the condition of turbines or farms under management.