Patents Assigned to ZF Wind Power Antwerpen N.V.
  • Patent number: 9163612
    Abstract: A wind turbine nacelle (50) which comprises a frame (54) and a drive train which comprises a gearbox (55). The nacelle (50) has a rotor attached thereto and comprises a rotor hub (52), with one or more blades (53), which supported by a rotor bearing(s) (56) located on a tubular part (57) at an end of the frame (54) furthest from the tower (51). The gearbox (55) comprises a gearbox housing (58), not constituting part of the frame (54), which is rigidly and axially connected to the frame (54) by a gearbox flange (66) such that a side of the gearbox flange (66), furthest from the gearbox input side (I), is connected to an end of the frame flange (67) furthest away from the tower (51). An input shaft (76) of the gearbox (55) is connected to the rotor hub (52) via a separate connection part (77).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 7, 2012
    Date of Patent: October 20, 2015
    Assignee: ZF Wind Power Antwerpen N.V.
    Inventor: Warren Smook
  • Patent number: 9028215
    Abstract: A nacelle main frame structure and drive train assembly (1) for being mounted on a tower (2) of a wind turbine. The nacelle main frame structure and drive train assembly (1) comprises a nacelle main frame structure (4) with a central part (6) connecting a first part (7) to a second part (8). The first part (7), during wind turbine operation and/or servicing activities, takes up loads of a rotor (9). A drive train (5) is at least partially located between the first and second parts (7, 8). The central part (6) of the main frame structure (4) is located substantially above at least part of the drive train (5) and is such that at least part of the drive train (5) can only be removed from the main frame structure (4) by lowering at least part of the drive train (5) from the main frame structure (4).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 11, 2012
    Date of Patent: May 12, 2015
    Assignee: ZF Wind Power Antwerpen N.V.
    Inventor: Warren Smook
  • Patent number: 9018789
    Abstract: A wind turbine drive train (1) comprising a gearbox (2), a generator (3) and a coupling (4) located between an output shaft (5) and a rotor shaft (6). The gearbox and the generator are separate components which have their own housings (7, 8). The output and rotor shafts are respectively supported by a shaft bearing arrangement (15) and a generator rotor shaft bearing arrangement (18a, 18b). The generator housing is directly connected to the gearbox housing. The drive train further comprises a gearbox output module (14), which comprises the output shaft, the shaft bearing arrangement and an output shaft bearing housing (16). The gearbox output module at least partly extends into the generator and the gearbox output module at least partly extends beyond a plane (P) defined by the generator. The coupling extends through the rotor shaft and is coupled, on a generator side (G), to the generator rotor shaft.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 18, 2013
    Date of Patent: April 28, 2015
    Assignee: ZF Wind Power Antwerpen N.V.
    Inventors: Warren Smook, Gerhard Diekhans
  • Publication number: 20140212290
    Abstract: A nacelle main frame structure and drive train assembly (10) for mounted on a tower (2) of a wind turbine (1). The nacelle main frame structure and drive train assembly (10) comprise a nacelle main frame structure (3) and at least part of a drive train (4). The at least part of the drive train (4) comprises a first connection interface (11) with the nacelle main frame structure (3) at a rotor side (R) of the nacelle main frame structure and drive train assembly (10) and a second connection interface (13) with the nacelle main frame structure (3). The second connection interface (13) is axially displaced with respect to the first connection interface (11) with respect to a direction away from the rotor side (R).
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 15, 2011
    Publication date: July 31, 2014
    Applicant: ZF WIND POWER ANTWERPEN N.V.
    Inventors: Wouter Remmerie, Warren Smook
  • Publication number: 20140174231
    Abstract: A gear transmission system (20) comprising at least a first cylindrical gear (21) and a second cylindrical gear (22). Each of the first and the second cylindrical gears (21, 22) comprise a plurality of teeth (23, 26). The teeth (23) of the first cylindrical gear (21) having a first tooth flank (24) for contacting a first tooth flank (27) of the teeth (26) of the second cylindrical gear (22) according to a predefined first contact line (30). The first tooth flanks (24, 27) of the teeth (23, 26) of each of the first and second cylindrical gears (21, 22) have a tooth shape and tooth properties determined by the predefined first contact line (30).
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 24, 2011
    Publication date: June 26, 2014
    Applicant: ZF WIND POWER ANTWERPEN N.V.
    Inventors: Bert Beirinckx, Joerg Litzba
  • Patent number: 8246505
    Abstract: A planetary type gear unit comprising a planet carrier with a planet bogie plate and at least one planet shaft, whereby on both sides of the bogie plate a planet wheel is mounted on the planet shaft by taper roller bearings, whereby the planet shaft is provided with an axially displaceable piece on each of its extremities forming an abutment which provides an axial support for the inner bearing rings of the taper roller bearings and with a tensioning elements by which the axially displaceable pieces can be displaced to one another for controlling the pre-tensioning on the taper roller bearings.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 16, 2008
    Date of Patent: August 21, 2012
    Assignees: ZF Wind Power Antwerpen N.V., Gamesa Innovation & Technology, S.L.
    Inventors: Patrik Saenz De Ugarte, Javier Baranano Etxebarria, Gregory Warren Smook, Rik Verbiest, Wim Derkinderen
  • Patent number: 8203226
    Abstract: A gear unit for a wind turbine having an input shaft connected to the rotor hub of the wind turbine and an output shaft for connection to an electrical power generator, characterized in that the gear unit is provided with a hollow tube which is concentric with the main rotation axis and which extends through the gear unit from the input shaft to the output shaft, whereby this hollow tube provides a sealing for the gear unit in storage and transport.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 23, 2008
    Date of Patent: June 19, 2012
    Assignees: ZF Wind Power Antwerpen N.V., Gamesa Innovation & Technology S.L.
    Inventors: Patrik Saenz De Ugarte, Javier Barañano, Wim Derkinderen, Wim De Laet
  • Patent number: 8192322
    Abstract: Wind turbine drive which is formed of a rotor with a rotor shaft and of a transmission box with a planetary gear unit which is connected to the rotor shaft, which drive is of the type whereby the transmission box is supported by the far end of the rotor shaft and is provided with a reaction arm, whereby the rotor shaft is bearing-mounted with at least one bearing which is directly fixed to the nacelle and a second bearing which is either fixed to the nacelle or which is part of the transmission box, whereby the planet carrier of the planetary gear unit is bearing-mounted in the gearbox via one bearing at the most.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 4, 2008
    Date of Patent: June 5, 2012
    Assignee: ZF Wind Power Antwerpen N.V.
    Inventors: Annaïk Van Bogaert, Rik Verbiest, Warren Smook