Abstract: A wind turbine gear box arrangement having one or more bearings located in a single region along the longitudinal axis and arranged to provide support between an input shaft and a non-rotating support component. The one or more bearings are arranged to at least partially restrict non-rotational movement between the input shaft and the non-rotating support component. A portion along the longitudinal axis between said input shaft and the non-rotating support component is bearingless outside the single region.

Abstract: A bearing cartridge for a rotatable shaft of a wind turbine comprising a shaft and a back-to-back tapered roller bearing arrangement coupled to the shaft. The bearing arrangement comprising a first bearing having a first outer ring, a first inner ring and a plurality of tapered rollers; and a second bearing having a second outer ring, a second inner ring and a plurality of tapered rollers. The bearing cartridge further comprising a gear located on the shaft between the first bearing and second bearing and a sleeve for supporting an axial load between the first and second bearings and having one or more apertures that expose the gear for coupling to an external gear.

Abstract: A gearbox for a wind turbine has a bearing arrangement positioned on the downwind side of a first stage planet carrier at a single locus. The planet carrier has a portion extending radially inwards and axially downwind from the planet gears. Thus, the weight of the gearbox is supported between the two theoretical support points of the pair of back to back tapered roller bearings at the downwind side of the first stage planet carrier. A member of unitary construction comprising gearbox flange, input shaft and first stage planet carrier, which can be cast as one piece, reduces the weight of this part compared to previous designs having separate components.

Abstract: A planet carrier 100 has a member 110 which is resistant to buckling caused by torsional stress and which increases a torsional stiffness of the planet carrier 100, so that a torsion load is transmitted evenly from the input member 120 into the planet pins 104 without twisting the planet carrier 100.

Abstract: A gearbox assembly comprising of at least one planetary gear set comprising one or more ring gears, one or more sun gears and a planet carrier. The planet carrier supports two sets of circumferentially spaced planet gear bearings, pins and planet gears. The bearings, pins and gears are able to self adjust in an angular direction relative to the carrier supporting disc whereby the rotation axis of the planet gears may remain perpendicular to the plane of the planet carrier or skewed from said plane.

Abstract: A gear arrangement including a first gear arranged to rotate about a first longitudinal axis and including a first plurality of gear teeth, and a first portion including a first surface and a second gear arranged to rotate about a second longitudinal axis and including a second plurality of gear teeth, and a second portion including a second surface. The first surface and the second surface are arranged to abut one another and restrict relative non-rotational movement of the first gear and the second gear.

Abstract: A gearbox assembly comprising of at least one planetary gear set comprising one or more ring gears, one or more sun gears and a planet carrier. The planet carrier supports two sets of circumferentially spaced planet gear bearings, pins and planet gears. The bearings, pins and gears are able to self adjust in an angular direction relative to the carrier supporting disc whereby the rotation axis of the planet gears may remain perpendicular to the plane of the planet carrier or skewed from said plane.

Abstract: A gearbox for a wind turbine has a bearing arrangement positioned on the downwind side of a first stage planet carrier at a single locus. The planet carrier has a portion extending radially inwards and axially downwind from the planet gears. Thus, the weight of the gearbox is supported between the two theoretical support points of the pair of back to back tapered roller bearings at the down wind side of the first stage planet carrier. A member of unitary construction comprising gearbox flange, input shaft and first stage planet carrier, which can be cast as one piece, reduces the weight of this part compared to previous designs having separate components.

Abstract: The invention relates to the diagnosis of faults and damage in a gearbox in order to predict the operational life of a gearbox. An end of line test is performed to infer information on each gearbox on the production line. A highly detailed model of the gearbox is created to determine the optimal sensor positions for the end-of-line test so that the test can discriminate between different types of manufacturing variation. This information is then used to construct a unique, highly detailed model for each gearbox. During operation, forces and moments acting on the gearbox are measured at regular intervals and the model is used to continuously update a prediction of the total damage on each gearbox component. The probability of failure in a given time period is then calculated. An existing condition monitoring system approach such as vibration analysis may be used in parallel with the model-based diagnosis.

Abstract: There is provided a pin and mounting assembly for supporting a gear of an epicyclic or parallel shaft transmission. The pin and mounting assembly comprises: a mounting (4) which has a first interference surface; and a pin (2) which has a second interference surface. The second interference surface is adapted for engagement with the first interference surface to establish an interference fit (6). The first and/or second interference surface defines an open ended volume such as a cylinder, cuboid or frustum and a longitudinal axis of the interference fit is defined as extending through the volume. A section through at least a part of the first and/or second interference surface on the longitudinal axis describes a curved interference depth with at least one maximum and/or minimum.