Abstract: A plain bearing assembly for a wind turbine includes a bearing housing having a passageway configured to receive a shaft and a bearing surface defining the passageway and having a cylindrical configuration. The bearing surface includes lower and upper portions defined relative to a first midline plane and first and second sides defined relative to a second midline plane. A plurality of fluid cavities is in the bearing surface, wherein at least one fluid cavity is located in the lower portion and at least one fluid cavity is located in the upper portion. The at least one cavity in the lower portion includes first and second pairs of longitudinally spaced fluid cavities on the first and second sides of the bearing surface respectively. A wind turbine having such a plain bearing assembly is also disclosed.

Abstract: A plain bearing assembly for a wind turbine includes a bearing housing having a passageway configured to receive a shaft and a bearing surface defining the passageway and having a generally spherical configuration. The bearing surface includes lower and upper portions defined relative to a first midline plane and first and second sides defined relative to a second midline plane. A plurality of fluid cavities is in the bearing surface including a first group of fluid cavities located at a first longitudinal position and a second group of fluid cavities located at a second longitudinal position. The first group of fluid cavities defines a cavity pattern that is different than the cavity pattern defined by the second group of fluid cavities. A wind turbine having such a plain bearing assembly is also disclosed.