Abstract: A system for a wind turbine nacelle having a shaft housing, a blade shaft that extends through the shaft housing and is rotatable relative to the shaft housing, a blade holder connected to the blade shaft, and an outer bearing between the blade shaft and the shaft housing includes a conical spring. The conical spring engages a portion of the outer bearing to exert a preload force on the outer bearing. The system further includes a backstop surrounding the blade shaft and having an interference fit with the blade shaft and a pin extending through the blade shaft and the blade holder. The pin is positioned to prevent the blade shaft from moving relative to the backstop.

Abstract: A wind turbine nacelle includes a stub mast, a frame rotatably mounted on the stub mast, and a yaw drive system that rotates the frame to adjust orientation of the frame. The yaw drive system includes a yaw brake assembly positioned coaxially with the stub mast that exerts a constant braking torque on a brake disk connected to the frame and has a brake pad with a coefficient of friction that creates the braking torque without slipstick.

Abstract: A system for a wind turbine nacelle includes a rotor head, a plurality of blade holders connected to the rotor head, and a shaft having a first end that extends into the rotor head. Linear movement of the shaft causes movement of the plurality of blade holders. The system further includes an electromechanical pitch actuator connected to a second end of the shaft and configured to translate linearly to move the shaft linearly. The system further includes a linear drive system connected to the electromechanical pitch actuator. The system further includes a fail-safe system connected to the electromechanical pitch actuator via the linear drive system. The fail safe system actuates to force the electromechanical pitch actuator rearward to move the blades into a stall blade position.

Abstract: A wind turbine nacelle includes a rotor generator shaft, a rotor connected to the rotor generator shaft, an array of permanent magnets mounted on a circular outer surface of the rotor, a rotor hub directly connected to a forward end of the rotor generator shaft, a plurality of circumferentially spaced blades mounted on the rotor hub to face upwind, a stator ring surrounding the rotor, a plurality of encased coils mounted on an inner surface of the stator ring facing and radially spaced from the array of permanent magnets, a rear chassis attached to a rear surface of the stator ring and having a rear bearing housing, a rear bearing mounted in the rear bearing housing, a forward chassis attached to a front surface of the stator ring and having a front bearing housing, and a front bearing mounted in the front bearing housing.