Abstract: A direct drive wind turbine comprising a frame (20) mounted on the nacelle (2), a hub (10) with blades (11) rotating about a pivot axis (80), first guiding means (31) and second guiding means (32), one fixed to the frame (20) and the other to the hub (10), first guiding means (31) and second guiding means (32), one fixed to the frame (20) and the other to the hub (10), and coaxial with the axis of rotation (80), and complementary for a guided rotation around the axis of rotation (80) of the hub (10) with respect to the frame (20), first electric current generating means (51), fixed to the frame (20) configuring a stator; and second electric current generating means (52), fixed to the hub (10) forming a rotor, and elastic fixing means (60), pre-compressed, which produce a thrust of the first guiding means (31) and the second guiding means (32) against each other in the radial direction.

Abstract: In a first aspect, a roller pitch bearing for a wind turbine is provided. The roller pitch bearing comprises a first bearing component and a second bearing component, the first bearing component being configured to rotate with respect to the second bearing component; wherein one of the first and the second bearing components is configured to be coupled to a wind turbine blade and the other one of the first and the second bearing components is configured to be coupled to a rotor hub of a wind turbine. The roller pitch bearing further a limiting structure attached to the first bearing component, the limiting structure radially extending from the first bearing component towards the second bearing component to limit a radial movement between the bearing components. In further aspect, a rotor for a wind turbine comprising a roller pitch bearing is provided.

Abstract: In a first aspect, a yaw system for rotating a nacelle with respect to a tower is provided. The yaw system comprises a gliding yaw bearing, an annular gear and a plurality of yaw drives, a braking disk and one or more braking disk for braking the rotation of the nacelle. In a further aspect, a tower adapter for a wind turbine is provided. The tower adapter comprises a first bearing component of a gliding yaw bearing and braking disk to brake the rotation of the nacelle with respect to the tower adapter. In yet a further aspect, a wind turbine comprising such a yaw system and/or such a tower adapter is provided.

Abstract: In a first aspect, a roller pitch bearing for a wind turbine is provided. The roller pitch bearing comprises a first bearing component and a second bearing component, the first bearing component being configured to rotate with respect to the second bearing component; wherein one of the first and the second bearing components is configured to be coupled to a wind turbine blade and the other one of the first and the second bearing components is configured to be coupled to a rotor hub of a wind turbine. The roller pitch bearing further a limiting structure attached to the first bearing component, the limiting structure radially extending from the first bearing component towards the second bearing component to limit a radial movement between the bearing components. In further aspect, a rotor for a wind turbine comprising a roller pitch bearing is provided.

Abstract: In a first aspect, a yaw system for rotating a nacelle with respect to a tower is provided. The yaw system comprises a gliding yaw bearing, an annular gear and a plurality of yaw drives, a braking disk and one or more braking disk for braking the rotation of the nacelle. In a further aspect, a tower adapter for a wind turbine is provided. The tower adapter comprises a first bearing component of a gliding yaw bearing and braking disk to brake the rotation of the nacelle with respect to the tower adapter. In yet a further aspect, a wind turbine comprising such a yaw system and/or such a tower adapter is provided.

Abstract: A blade pitch system for a wind turbine comprising a motor coupled to a central reduction gearing, wherein a rotatable output of the central reduction gearing is fixed to a mobile link that in use is joined to the blade and allows rotation of the blade around its longitudinal axis and a static part of the central reduction gearing or the motor is fixed to a static link that in use is joined to a wind turbine hub, wherein the system further comprises one or more flexible couplings to couple the central reduction gearing or the motor and the static or the mobile link such that torque about a blade longitudinal axis is transmitted between the blade and the reduction gearing while substantially limiting the transmission of other loads.

Abstract: Counterweight system for a wind turbine comprising a hub mounted to a nacelle such that the hub is rotatable around a rotation axis with respect to the nacelle. The counterweight system comprises: a mechanical unit comprising a fixed part and a rotatable part, the fixed part being mountable to the hub in such a way that the rotatable part is rotatable with respect to the hub substantially around the rotation axis of the hub; a drive unit for causing rotation of the rotatable part; a beam coupled to the rotatable part at a first point of the beam in such a way that the beam is arranged substantially perpendicular to the rotation axis of the hub; and a counterweight mass coupled to the beam at a second point of the beam. A method of mounting a blade to a hub by using said counterweight system is also provided.

Abstract: Counterweight systems for a wind turbine comprising a hub mounted to a nacelle such that the hub is rotatable around a rotation axis with respect to the nacelle, the hub comprising a blade root region configured to receive a root of a blade and having a pitch system configured to rotate the blade around a pitch axis. The counterweight system comprises a beam mountable to the blade root region at a first point of the beam and a counterweight mass coupled to the beam at a second point of the beam, such that, when the beam is mounted to the blade root region, the beam is arranged substantially perpendicular to the pitch axis and the pitch system can cause the counterweight mass to rotate around the pitch axis. Methods are also provided of mounting one or more blades to a wind turbine hub by using such counterweight systems.

Abstract: A wind turbine rotor includes a hub, a plurality of blades, and a pitch system for rotating a blade substantially along its longitudinal axis. The pitch system includes a bearing, a motor, and a gear system, wherein the gear system has a driving pinion operationally connected with the motor, an annular gear arranged to mesh with the driving pinion. Additional gear teeth are arranged to mesh with other parts of the gear system in a predefined blade position for wind speeds at or below a nominal wind speed such that upon movement from the predefined blade position, the additional gear teeth come into contact with the other parts of the gear system before the driving pinion comes into contact with the annular gear.

Abstract: Yaw brakes for wind turbines are proposed, the wind turbines having a tower, a nacelle and a yaw system for rotating the nacelle with respect to the tower. The yaw brakes comprise a locking part, having a toothed profile at a side facing a toothed profile of an annular gear of the yaw system. The locking part of the yaw brakes is movable in a radial direction relative to the annular gear, between a brake position and a non-brake position. Brake discs and callipers may be eliminated.

Abstract: Wind turbine rotor comprising a hub, a plurality of blades and at least one pitch system for rotating a blade substantially along its longitudinal axis. The pitch system comprises a bearing, a gear and a pitch drive. The pitch drive is arranged on a flange and has a motor and a pinion which meshes with the gear. The flange is provided with a hole and an intermediate support is concentrically arranged with respect to the hole. The intermediate support comprises an off-center opening with respect to a central axis of the hole and the pitch drive is mounted through said off-center opening. The position of the off-center opening is such that the intermediate support can be arranged in a first and a second position in which the drive pinion meshes with a first and second section of the gear respectively.

Abstract: Wind turbine rotor comprising a hub, a plurality of blades, and at least one pitch system for rotating a blade substantially along its longitudinal axis and comprising one or more pitch brakes, wherein a pitch brake comprises at least a brake disc element and a first brake pad, and wherein one of the hub and a blade comprises said brake disc element and the other of the hub and blade comprises said first brake pad, the brake disc element and brake pad being arranged such that when the blade is substantially in or near the below rated pitch position the brake disc element and pad are in frictional contact with each other.

Abstract: Wind turbine rotor comprising a hub, a plurality of blades, at least one pitch system for rotating a blade substantially along its longitudinal axis and at least one pitch retention system, wherein a pitch retention system comprises a cam profile and a cam follower, and one of the hub and a blade comprises said cam profile and the other of the hub and blade comprises said cam follower, and wherein the cam follower comprises a pushing member and a contact member, wherein the pushing member is arranged to push the contact member towards the cam profile, and the cam profile comprises a local depression, and wherein the cam follower and cam profile are arranged such that when the blade is in a pitch position at or below nominal wind speed, the contact member can be retained in said local depression.

Abstract: A blade pitch system for a wind turbine comprising a motor coupled to a central reduction gearing, wherein a rotatable output of the central reduction gearing is fixed to a mobile link that in use is joined to the blade and allows rotation of the blade around its longitudinal axis and a static part of the central reduction gearing or the motor is fixed to a static link that in use is joined to a wind turbine hub, wherein the system further comprises one or more flexible couplings to couple the central reduction gearing or the motor and the static or the mobile link such that torque about a blade longitudinal axis is transmitted between the blade and the reduction gearing while substantially limiting the transmission of other loads.

Abstract: Counterweight systems for a wind turbine comprising a hub mounted to a nacelle such that the hub is rotatable around a rotation axis with respect to the nacelle, the hub comprising a blade root region configured to receive a root of a blade and having a pitch system configured to rotate the blade around a pitch axis. The counterweight system comprises a beam mountable to the blade root region at a first point of the beam and a counterweight mass coupled to the beam at a second point of the beam, such that, when the beam is mounted to the blade root region, the beam is arranged substantially perpendicular to the pitch axis and the pitch system can cause the counterweight mass to rotate around the pitch axis. Methods are also provided of mounting one or more blades to a wind turbine hub by using such counterweight systems.

Abstract: Counterweight system for a wind turbine comprising a hub mounted to a nacelle such that the hub is rotatable around a rotation axis with respect to the nacelle. The counterweight system comprises: a mechanical unit comprising a fixed part and a rotatable part, the fixed part being mountable to the hub in such a way that the rotatable part is rotatable with respect to the hub substantially around the rotation axis of the hub; a drive unit for causing rotation of the rotatable part; a beam coupled to the rotatable part at a first point of the beam in such a way that the beam is arranged substantially perpendicular to the rotation axis of the hub; and a counterweight mass coupled to the beam at a second point of the beam. A method of mounting a blade to a hub by using said counterweight system is also provided.

Abstract: A wind turbine that includes a rotor and a generator is described. The rotor includes a rotor hub that is rotatably mounted on a frame and one or more rotor blades. The generator includes a generator stator and a generator rotor with a carrying structure that carries magnetic or electromagnetic elements. One or more circumferentially arranged substantially axial protrusions that extend into the generator rotor carrying structure are attached to the rotor. Flexible couplings are arranged between one or more of the axial protrusions and the carrying structure.

Abstract: Wind turbine rotor comprising a hub (10), blades and at least one pitch system for rotating a blade along its longitudinal axis, the pitch system comprising a motor, a drive pinion, an annular gear arranged to mesh with the drive pinion and a pitch bearing that comprises an outer bearing ring, an inner bearing ring and, between these two bearing rings, one or more rows of rolling elements allowing both bearing rings to rotate relative to each other. One of the hub and blade is connected to the inner bearing ring and the other of the hub and blade is connected to the outer bearing ring, and wherein a reinforcing disc (24) is axially fixed to the bearing ring to which the blade is connected at a side facing the hub, the disc being fixed to the bearing ring by the same fasteners connecting the blade to the bearing.

Abstract: Wind turbine rotor comprising a hub, a plurality of blades and at least one pitch system for rotating a blade substantially along its longitudinal axis. The pitch system comprises a bearing, a gear and a pitch drive. The pitch drive is arranged on a flange and has a motor and a pinion which meshes with the gear. The flange is provided with a hole and an intermediate support is concentrically arranged with respect to the hole. The intermediate support comprises an off-center opening with respect to a central axis of the hole and the pitch drive is mounted through said off-center opening. The position of the off-center opening is such that the intermediate support can be arranged in a first and a second position in which the drive pinion meshes with a first and second section of the gear respectively.

Abstract: A wind turbine that includes a rotor and a generator is described. The rotor includes a rotor hub that is rotatably mounted on a frame and one or more rotor blades. The generator includes a generator stator and a generator rotor with a carrying structure that carries magnetic or electromagnetic elements. One or more circumferentially arranged substantially axial protrusions that extend into the generator rotor carrying structure are attached to the rotor. Flexible couplings are arranged between one or more of the axial protrusions and the carrying structure.