Abstract: The invention relates to a wind energy plant comprising a rotor having a rotor hub which is mounted on a gondola and a plurality of rotor blades. An electric generator is connected to the rotor. The invention also relates to an electric drive device which is designed as a direct drive and used to adjust a rotor blade which is arranged in a concentric manner on the rotor hub in relation to rotor blade bearing and a permanently excited synchronous motor. A stator of the synchronous motor comprises a coil body which is mounted on the motor hub. A rotor of the synchronous motor is arranged at an axial distance with respect to the stator for forming an axially extending air gap. Said rotor also comprises a permanent magnet arrangement on a support plate which is connected to a rotor blade shaft.

Abstract: A wind energy plant has a rotor with a rotor hub mounted on a pod and a plurality of rotor blades adjustable by corresponding electrical drives. An electrical generator is connected to the rotor for supplying energy to electrical loads arranged in the rotor hub. A primary part of a rotary transformer arranged concentric to a rotor bearing is connected to the pod and a secondary part of the rotary transformer is arranged in the rotor hub and co-rotates with the rotor hub. A first frequency converter is connected between the primary part and a supply voltage source for generating a high-frequency field voltage from a low-frequency supply voltage, and a second frequency converter is connected between the secondary part and the electrical loads for generating a low-frequency load voltage from a transformed high-frequency field voltage.

Abstract: A drive unit for a machine, in particular a machine-tool, robot and the like, is described. The drive unit has several components, and each component has at least one associated component-specific function, and a uniform communication module that forms an interface with the other components. The interfaces of the various components can be connected by logical point-to-point connections or via a bus. Each component is designated with a particular type, and the communication between the components uses a type-specific communication protocol. A least one of the components is a hierarchically superior component.