Abstract: An epicyclic gear system includes sun and ring gears (2, 4), planet pinions (6, 8) arrayed (a, b) between these gears, and a carrier (10) to which planet pinions are coupled through flexpins (30). The pinions are located between carrier walls (20, 22) with flexpins for the respective arrays cantilevered from opposite walls. The carrier is subjected to externally applied torque which transfers through the system. The load path (pa) for one array is shorter than that (pb) for the other array, which disparity causes carrier distortion with flexpins on one wall angularly displaced from flexpins on the other wall. The system compensates for this by one wall having areas (40, 44) of weakness where the flexpins cantilever from it. This enables the pinions of the two arrays to better mesh under a load and share torque transfer more evenly.

Abstract: A bearing cage assembly (100) comprises a plurality of discrete bridge elements (206) disposed between adjacent rolling elements (112) and coupled between first and second axially spaced cage support wire rings (102, 104) which are appropriately tensioned. Spacers (110) are disposed between adjacent bridge elements and engage the bridge elements in a piloted engagement. The bridge elements maintain a separation between rolling elements, retain the rolling elements within the bearing assembly, and function as a lubrication reservoir for grease lubricated bearings. Profiled surfaces on the bridge elements position the bearing cage assembly on at least one axial end of the rolling elements.

Abstract: A bearing cage assembly (100) comprises a plurality of discrete bridge elements (206) disposed between adjacent rolling elements (1 12) and coupled between first and second axially spaced cage support wire rings (1 02, 1 04) which are appropriately tensioned. Spacers (1 10) are disposed between adjacent bridge elements and engage the bridge elements in a piloted engagement. The bridge elements maintain a separation between rolling elements, retain the rolling elements within the bearing assembly, and function as a lubrication reservoir for grease lubricated bearings. Profiled surfaces on the bridge elements position the bearing cage assembly on at least one axial end of the rolling elements.

Abstract: A compact modular assembly of a geared power train (100) and generator (400) suitable for use in a wind turbine application to maximize a step-up ratio between an input and output within a limited radial space. The power train is configured as a hybricyclic split-compound planetary gearing system with a grounded closed carrier flex pin system in a high torque stage (A), and an open carrier flex pin system in a low torque stage (B), having a step up ratio of approximately 30:1. To facilitate modular assembly and disassembly of the power train and generator, each component is mounted independently to opposite sides of a common support structure (500) anchored to a bedplate (502).

Abstract: A bearing cage assembly comprising of a plurality of discrete bridge elements coupled between first and second cage support wire rings having selected tensions, and conforming to the surfaces of associated rolling elements. The discrete bridge elements maintain rolling element in separation, provide rolling element retention within the bearing assembly, and function as a lubrication reservoir for grease lubricated bearings. The discrete bridge elements may be disposed between adjacent rolling elements, or may be configured to pass through axial bores of hollow rolling elements.

Abstract: An epicyclic gear system (A) includes a sun gear (2), a ring gear (4) located around the sun gear (2) and planet pinions (6) located between the sun and ring gears (2,4). The planet pinions (6) rotate on a carrier (8) that includes flexpins (20) that are cantilevered from a wall (12) of the carrier (8) and sleeves (22) that are attached to the remote ends of the flexpins (20) and extend back over the flexpins (20) to create a double cantilever. Bearings (24) support the planet pinions (6) on the sleeves (22) so that the planet pinions (6) rotate about the flexpins (20). The double cantilever enables the flexpins (2) to flex such that the axes (Y) of the planet pinions (6) remain parallel to the common axis (X) of the sun and ring gears (2, 4). Each sleeve (22) h an integrated bearing race (44) and a bearing seat (42) that carries a separate bearing race (60).

Abstract: A planetary gear system (P) includes a sun gear (2), a ring gear (4) a carrier (6) located between the sun and ring gears (2, 4), and planet pinions (8, 10) organized in two arrays and supported on flexpin assemblies (32, 34) in the carrier (6). All of the gearing is helical, with the sun and ring gears (2, 4) having their teeth arranged in at double helix angles (herringbone) and the planet gears (8, 10) at single helix angles. The pinions (8) of the one array engage the teeth of one angle on the sun and ring gears (2, 4) and the pinions (10) of the other array engage the teeth of the other angle on the sun and ring gears (2, 4). Torque transfers through the carrier (6) through two torque paths (a, b)—one to the flexpin assemblies (32) for one array and the other to the flexpin assemblies (34) of the other array—and the paths (a) is stiffer than the path (b). Owing to the helical cut of the teeth the planet pinions (8, 10) of the two arrays exert oppositely directed axial forces (A) on the sun gear (2).

Abstract: A wind turbine blade mounting system for use with variable-pitch wind turbine blades (100) having reduced diameter blade roots. For each wind turbine blade (100) to be installed on a nose cone structure (20) of a wind turbine nacelle, the mounting system incorporates a high capacity bearing assembly (106) configured with an outwardly-opening tapered inner sleeve (105) to engage a tapered shank section (104) of an associated wind turbine blade in a self-locking coupling, thereby facilitating assembly and disassembly of the wind turbine blades from a nose cone structure (20).

Abstract: An epicyclic gear system includes sun and ring gears (2, 4), planet pinions (6, 8) arrayed (a, b) between these gears, and a carrier (10) to which planet pinions are coupled through flexpins (30). The pinions are located between carrier walls (20, 22) with flexpins for the respective arrays cantilevered from opposite walls. The carrier is subjected to externally applied torque which transfers through the system. The load path (pa) for one array is shorter than that (pb) for the other array, which disparity causes carrier distortion with flexpins on one wall angularly displaced from flexpins on the other wall. The system compensates for this by one wall having areas (40, 44) of weakness where the flexpins cantilever from it. This enables the pinions of the two arrays to better mesh under a load and share torque transfer more evenly.

Abstract: A geared power train (100) for use in a wind turbine application to maximize a step-up ratio within a radial space that is defined by the planetary gearing system ring gear size. The geared power train (100) is configured as a split-compound planetary gearing system with a closed-carrier flex-pin planetary system in a high-torque stage (Stage 1) for receiving driving torque via an input shaft (IN) from a wind turbine, and an open-carrier flex-pin planetary system in a low-torque stage (Stage 2) coupled to the high-torque stage (Stage 1) for delivering the driving torque to an electrical generator via an output shaft (OUT).

Abstract: A bearing cage assembly consisting of a plurality of discrete bridge elements coupled between first and second cage support wire rings having selected tensions, and conforming to the surfaces of associated rolling elements. The discrete bridge elements maintain rolling element in separation, provide rolling element retention within the bearing assembly, and function as a lubrication reservoir for grease lubricated bearings.

Abstract: A flexpin assembly (B) for an epicyclic gear system (A) includes a flexpin (20) that at one end is cantilevered from a carrier end wall (12) and a sleeve (22) that surrounds the flexpin and is cantilevered from the flexpin at the other end of the flexpin. In addition, the assembly has an antifriction bearing (24) for supporting a planet pinion (6) around the sleeve. The flexpin has a base (30) that is configured to be anchored to a carrier wall, a head (32) to which the sleeve is attached, and a shank (34) located between the base and head. The sleeve has a mounting segment (78) that is connected to the head of the flexpin without a weld. Both may have tapered surfaces secured in contact by a plate (66) clamped against the mounting portion with screws (68) that thread into the head, thus enabling the sleeve to be detached from the pin. The head may have a cylindrical surface (72) over which the mounting segment of the sleeve fits with an interference fit exists.

Abstract: An epicyclic gear system (A) includes helical sun and ring gears (2, 4) and helical planet pinions (6) located between and engaged with the sun and ring gears. The gear system also includes a carrier (8) having an end wall (12) and flexpins (20) cantilevered from the end wall and extended into the planet pinions. Each flexpin at its end remote from the end wall carries a sleeve (22) that extends back over the flexpin where it is spaced from the flexpin. The planet pinion for the flexpin rotates around the sleeve on a bearing (24). The arrangement is such that the flexpin will flex adjacent to the carrier end wall circumferentially along the pitch circle of the carrier in one direction and circumferentially in the opposite direction adjacent to attachment of the sleeve. But the helical gear imparts a couple to the planet pinion that seeks to tilt the sleeve radially toward or away from the main axis of the system.

Abstract: A planetary gear system (P) includes a sun gear (2), a ring gear (4) a carrier (6) located between the sun and ring gears (2, 4), and planet pinions (8, 10) organized in two arrays and supported on flexpin assemblies (32, 34) in the carrier (6). All of the gearing is helical, with the sun and ring gears (2, 4) having their teeth arranged in at double helix angles (herringbone) and the planet gears (8, 10) at single helix angles. The pinions (8) of the one array engage the teeth of one angle on the sun and ring gears (2, 4) and the pinions (10) of the other array engage the teeth of the other angle on the sun and ring gears (2, 4). Torque transfers through the carrier (6) through two torque paths (a, b)—one to the flexpin assemblies (32) for one array and the other to the flexpin assemblies (34) of the other array—and the paths (a) is stiffer than the path (b). Owing to the helical cut of the teeth the planet pinions (8, 10) of the two arrays exert oppositely directed axial forces (A) on the sun gear (2).

Abstract: A bearing system (A) that supports a shaft (4) in a housing (2) includes two single row tapered roller bearings (6, 8) mounted in opposition. One of the bearings (8) compensates for thermal variations that would otherwise produce excessive preload in the system. It has a conventional cup (48) in the housing and tapered rollers (52) arranged in a single row along the raceway (54) of the cup. It also has a compensating assembly (50, 100, 110, 120, 130) on the shaft, and it includes a ribless cone (60) having a raceway (70) around which the rollers are organized, an axially displaceable rib ring (64) for positioning the rollers, a spring (66) for urging the rib ring against a stop surface (74) on the cone, and a compensating ring (68) formed from a material having a high coefficient of thermal expansion for displacing the rib ring against the force exerted by the spring when the temperature of the compensating assembly exceeds a prescribed set point temperature so as to reduce preload in the bearing system.

Abstract: A compact modular assembly of a geared power train (100) and generator (400) suitable for use in a wind turbine application to maximize a step-up ratio between an input and output within a limited radial space. The power train is configured as a hybricyclic split-compound planetary gearing system with a grounded closed carrier flex pin system in a high torque stage (A), and an open carrier flex pin system in a low torque stage (B), having a step up ratio of approximately 30:1. To facilitate modular assembly and disassembly of the power train and generator, each component is mounted independently to opposite sides of a common support structure (500) anchored to a bedplate (502).

Abstract: An epicyclic gear system (A) includes a sun gear (2), a ring gear (4) located around the sun gear, planet gears (6) organized in two arrays between the sun and ring gears, and a carrier (8) having walls (14) located beyond the planet gears and flexpins (24) that project from the walls into the planet gears. Each flexpin includes an inner pin (30) provided with a flange 36 that is secured to the wall from which the inner pin projects, thus cantilevering the inner pin from the wall, and a sleeve (32) that is cantilevered from the opposite end of the inner pin and extends back over the inner pin, thus providing a double cantilever. Between the sleeve of the flexpin and the planet gear for that flexpin is a double row tapered roller bearing (26). The planet gears on the one array may be offset angularly with respect to the planet gears of the other array.

Abstract: An epicyclic gear system (A) includes a sun gear (2), a ring gear (4) located around the sun gear (2) and planet pinions (6) located between the sun and ring gears (2,4). The planet pinions (6) rotate on a carrier (8) that includes flexpins (20) that are cantilevered from a wall (12) of the carrier (8) and sleeves (22) that are attached to the remote ends of the flexpins (20) and extend back over the flexpins (20) to create a double cantilever. Bearings (24) support the planet pinions (6) on the sleeves (22) so that the planet pinions (6) rotate about the flexpins (20). The double cantilever enables the flexpins (2) to flex such that the axes (Y) of the planet pinions (6) remain parallel to the common axis (X) of the sun and ring gears (2, 4). Each sleeve (22) h an integrated bearing race (44) and a bearing seat (42) that carries a separate bearing race (60).

Abstract: A geared power train (100) for use in a wind turbine application to maximize a step-up ratio within a radial space that is defined by the planetary gearing system ring gear size. The geared power train (100) is configured as a split-compound planetary gearing system with a closed-carrier flex-pin planetary system in a high-torque stage (Stage 1) for receiving driving torque via an input shaft (IN) from a wind turbine, and an open-carrier flex-pin planetary system in a low-torque stage (Stage 2) coupled to the high-torque stage (Stage 1) for delivering the driving torque to an electrical generator via an output shaft (OUT).

Abstract: An epicyclic gear system (A) includes helical sun and ring gears (2, 4) and helical planet pinions (6) located between and engaged with the sun and ring gears. The gear system also includes a carrier (8) having an end wall (12) and flexpins (20) cantilevered from the end wall and extended into the planet pinions. Each flexpin at its end remote from the end wall carries a sleeve (22) that extends back over the flexpin where it is spaced from the flexpin. The planet pinion for the flexpin rotates around the sleeve on a bearing (24). The arrangement is such that the flexpin will flex adjacent to the carrier end wall circumferentially along the pitch circle of the carrier in one direction and circumferentially in the opposite direction adjacent to attachment of the sleeve. But the helical gear imparts a couple to the planet pinion that seeks to tilt the sleeve radially toward or away from the main axis of the system.