阅读说明：本技术 密封的轴承模块 (Sealed bearing module ) 是由 迈克尔·鲍曼 马蒂亚斯·霍夫曼 于 2019-07-01 设计创作，主要内容包括：公开了一种潮汐涡轮机的密封的轴承模块(1),潮汐涡轮机包括转子和转子轴,转子包括设置在转子毂上的转子叶片,转子轴承载转子,所述轴承模块用于将驱动扭矩从转子毂传递到机舱中的传动装置或发电机,其中,机舱包括壳体(4),轴承模块(1)包括两个轴承圈(6、8),其中,轴承圈(6、8)中的至少一个轴承圈为包括第一轴承圈部分(6-1)和第二轴承圈部分(6-2)的分体式轴承圈,其中,其中轴承圈中的一个轴承圈(8)包括在轴向上延伸的孔(12),用于将轴承圈(8)直接附接到机舱的壳体(4),轴承圈中的另一轴承圈(6)连接到转子轴(2)和/或转子毂,其中,分体式轴承圈(6)通过预加载元件(26、60)被预加载。(A sealed bearing module (1) of a tidal turbine is disclosed, the tidal turbine comprising a rotor comprising rotor blades arranged on a rotor hub and a rotor shaft carrying the rotor, the bearing module being for transmitting a driving torque from the rotor hub to a transmission or generator in a nacelle, wherein the nacelle comprises a housing (4), the bearing module (1) comprising two bearing rings (6, 8), wherein at least one of the bearing rings (6, 8) is a split bearing ring comprising a first bearing ring portion (6-1) and a second bearing ring portion (6-2), wherein one of the bearing rings (8) comprises an axially extending bore (12) for attaching the bearing ring (8) directly to the housing (4) of the nacelle, the other of the bearing rings (6) being connected to the rotor shaft (2) and/or the rotor hub, wherein the split bearing ring (6) is preloaded by means of a preloading element (26, 60).)

1. A sealed bearing module (1) of a tidal turbine comprising a rotor and a rotor shaft, the rotor comprising rotor blades arranged on a rotor hub, the rotor bearing the rotor, the bearing module (1) for transmitting driving torque from the rotor hub to a transmission or generator in a nacelle, the nacelle comprising a housing (4), the bearing module (1) comprising two bearing rings (6, 8), at least one of the bearing rings (6, 8) being a split bearing ring comprising a first bearing ring portion (6-1) and a second bearing ring portion (6-2), characterized in that one of the bearing rings (8) comprises an axially extending bore (12) for attaching the bearing ring (8) directly to the housing (4) of the nacelle, the other bearing ring (6) of the bearing rings is connected to a rotor shaft (2) and/or the rotor hub, the split bearing ring (6) being preloaded by means of a preloading element (26, 60).

2. The sealed bearing module according to claim 1, characterized in that the bearing module (1) is a tapered roller bearing, in particular the bearing module (1) is a double row tapered roller bearing.

3. The sealed bearing module according to claim 2, characterized in that the tapered roller bearing is configured in a back-to-back configuration and the split bearing ring is an inner ring (6), or in that the tapered roller bearing is configured in a face-to-face configuration and the split bearing ring is an outer ring (8).

4. The sealed bearing module according to any of the preceding claims, characterized in that the first bearing ring part (6-1) and the second bearing ring part (6-2) comprise a through hole (56), the preload element (60) being passable through the through hole (56) for preloading the bearing ring parts (6-1, 6-2) relative to each other, in particular the preload element (60) being a threaded rod.

5. The sealed bearing module according to claim 4, characterized in that an intermediate element (57) is arranged between the rotor hub and the split bearing ring (6), one end of the preload element (60) being supported on the intermediate element (57), the other end of the preload element (60) being supported on the second bearing ring portion (6-2).

6. A sealed bearing module according to any one of claims 1-3, characterized in that the preload element is a clamping ring (26), the clamping ring (26) comprising a force application element (34) to apply a force to the second bearing ring part (6-2), the rotor shaft (2) comprising a support element (36), the first bearing ring part (6-1) being supported on the support element (36).

7. The sealed bearing module according to claim 6, characterized in that the clamping ring (26) comprises a hole (28) to connect the clamping ring (26) to the rotor shaft (2).

8. The sealed bearing module according to any of the preceding claims, characterized in that the bearing module (1) further comprises a sealing system (38) for sealing the bearing module (1).

9. The sealed bearing module according to claim 8, characterized in that the sealing system (38) comprises a sliding surface (50) and a plurality of sealing units, each sealing unit comprising a sealing element (42), the sealing elements (42) comprising sealing lips provided on the sliding surface (50) and respectively carried by a seal carrier ring (40).

10. A tidal turbine comprising a rotor comprising rotor blades arranged on a rotor hub, a rotor shaft carrying the rotor, and a nacelle comprising an electrical generator, wherein drive torque is transferred from the rotor hub to a transmission or the electrical generator by means of a sealed bearing module (1) according to any of the preceding claims.

Technical Field

The present invention relates to a sealed bearing module for tidal turbines (tidalturbines) comprising a rotor comprising rotor blades arranged on a rotor hub and a nacelle (nacelles) carrying the rotor for transferring a driving torque from the rotor hub to a transmission (transmission) or generator in the nacelle according to the preamble of patent claim 1.

Background

In tidal turbines, the rotating rotor hub must be supported by the following rotor shaft. Heretofore, bearing assemblies have been provided as separate components and installed and assembled in tidal turbines on site. Since such tidal turbines inherently have a long service life, such bearing assemblies are highly demanding in terms of reliability, service life or reduced maintenance intensity. To meet these requirements, it is desirable to use as few components as possible, thereby reducing the likelihood of failure of the components.

Disclosure of Invention

It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide a bearing assembly by which the number of components required in a tidal turbine can be reduced.

This object is achieved by a sealed bearing module according to patent claim 1.

The sealed bearing module may be used in a tidal turbine comprising a rotor comprising rotor blades provided on a rotor hub and a rotor shaft carrying the rotor. Here, the rotor is attached to the nacelle. In particular, such a bearing module may be used for transmitting a driving torque from the rotor hub to a transmission (transmission) or generator in the nacelle. The nacelle includes a housing in which a generator and a generator shaft are disposed. The rotor hub may be directly connected to the input shaft of the transmission, for example, by means of a rotor shaft, or the rotor hub may represent the rotor shaft. The output shaft of the transmission is in turn connected to a generator or generator shaft. Alternatively, the rotor hub may be directly connected to the generator without a transmission therebetween.

In order to transmit the drive torque from the rotor hub to the transmission or generator, the bearing module comprises an inner ring and an outer ring, and one of the bearing rings is designed as a split bearing ring (split bearing ring).

In order to reduce the number of components required, the proposed bearing module comprises only one bearing. Furthermore, the bearing module is provided as a complete system and can be installed in the tidal turbine in the assembled state. Thus, the mounting is greatly simplified.

One bearing ring of the bearing module comprises an axially extending bore for attaching the bearing ring directly to the housing of the nacelle. The holes may be circumferentially distributed around the bearing ring. Preferably, the holes are evenly distributed. The other bearing ring is connected to the rotor shaft and/or the rotor hub. A very compact bearing module can be provided by an arrangement with two bearing rings, whereby the length of the generator shaft can be reduced. This also results in a more compact and lower weight design of the nacelle in which the rotor shaft is arranged, thereby also reducing costs.

The bearing ring, which is designed as a split bearing ring, is preloaded (preloaded) by means of a preloading element. The split bearing rings may be held together by the use of a preload element.

Here, the bearing module may be inserted into the tidal turbine as a whole from the rotor side and mounted therein. In this way, a plug-and-play solution is provided that can be easily integrated into tidal turbines. This reduces errors that may occur in the installation. Furthermore, necessary tests, for example for seal tightness, can be performed during manufacture.

The bearing may be a roller bearing, in particular a tapered roller bearing. Preferably, the tapered roller bearing is a double row tapered roller bearing. The rollers of the bearing may be separated from each other by a cage. If the tapered roller bearing is constructed in a back-to-back configuration, the split bearing ring is an inner ring. If the tapered roller bearing is instead constructed in a face-to-face arrangement, the outer race is constructed as a split race.

The first and second bearing ring parts of the split bearing ring may comprise through holes through which the preloading element, in particular a threaded rod, can be passed in order to preload the bearing ring parts (relative) to one another. The threaded rod may comprise end elements on both ends thereof to achieve a stepless pretension (stepless load) by the tightening torque of the nut. For example, the end element may be the head of a nut or screw. One end or an end element of the threaded rod may be supported on the first bearing ring portion and the other end may be supported on the second bearing ring portion. In this case, the rotor hub may be directly connected to the first bearing ring section and a transmission input shaft or generator shaft, which is directly connected to the second bearing ring section. The transmission of the drive torque is effected here by means of a split bearing ring. A separate rotor shaft can thereby be omitted.

Alternatively, an intermediate element on which a threaded rod is supported may be arranged between the rotor hub and the first bearing ring portion. In this case, the transmission of the drive torque from the rotor hub to the transmission or generator shaft is effected via the intermediate element and the split bearing ring.

In an alternative embodiment, the preload element may be a clamp ring, wherein the clamp ring comprises a force application element to apply a force to the second bearing ring portion. Here, the rotor shaft may include a support member on which the first bearing ring portion is supported. The support element may be configured integrally with the rotor shaft, for example, the support element may be configured integrally with the rotor shaft in the form of a protrusion. For example, the force application element may be configured as a shoulder of a clamping ring which abuts on the second bearing ring section and applies a force to the second bearing ring section parallel to the longitudinal axis of the rotor or generator shaft.

In order to fix the position of the clamping ring, the clamping ring may further be supported on the rotor shaft. In particular, the clamping ring may comprise a hole to connect the clamping ring to the rotor shaft.

The bearing module may further comprise a sealing system for sealing the bearing module. The sealing system is used on the one hand to seal the bearing against sea water and on the other hand to retain lubricant in the bearing. Preferably, therefore, the sealing system may be arranged between the outer/inner ring and the rotor, since seawater may penetrate from the rotor side.

In order to be able to easily replace the sealing system, the sealing system is detachably arranged directly on the outer ring and the inner ring or on the rotor shaft. In this way, the sealing system can be removed and replaced even after the bearing module is installed in a tidal turbine. In this case, the sealing system is preferably arranged on the side of the outer ring facing the rotor.

The sealing system may comprise a sliding surface. The sliding surface may be formed integrally with the rotor shaft or on a spacer ring arranged on the rotor shaft. Alternatively, the sliding surface may be constructed integrally with the intermediate element or on a spacer ring provided on the intermediate element.

The sliding surface may be made of stainless steel, in particular, chrome steel. In order to seal the bearing module, a seal may be provided between the spacer ring and the rotor shaft or the intermediate element. For example, the seal may be realized by an O-ring arranged between the rotor shaft or intermediate element and the spacer ring.

Preferably, the sealing system comprises a plurality of sealing units. Here, each sealing unit comprises a seal carrier ring and a sealing element comprising a sealing lip. The sealing elements are arranged on the sliding surface, wherein the respective sealing lips slide sealingly on the sliding surface and each sealing lip is carried by a seal carrier ring. The respective seal carrier rings are arranged adjacent to each other in the axial direction with respect to the sliding surface. Here, the two seal carrier rings may be attached to each other at all times by means of an attachment means, for example using a threaded connection. Here, the attachment parts can be offset relative to one another in the circumferential direction in an axially oriented manner (axial orientation).

The sealing lip may be made of a rubber or polyurethane material. Preferably, the materials used include intrinsic lubrication (initial orientation) and are suitable for use in seawater. In the case of sealing lips made of polyurethane material (plastic), the inherent lubrication is achieved by solid lubricants (carbon) embedded in the plastic during the manufacturing process.

The seal carrier ring may comprise stainless steel, structural steel or cast iron. Furthermore, the surface of the sealing carrier ring may be protected by a corrosion protection layer. For example, the corrosion protection layer may include zinc and may be applied as a lacquer or a galvanized layer (e.g., an electroplated layer). By using a steel with extrinsic corrosion protection, a sacrificial anode may be used to avoid or at least retard corrosion.

The sealing system may comprise a sealing unit directed towards the outer ring, which sealing unit is arranged directly on the outer ring. The sealing unit can be configured to be larger in the radial direction and correspond in size to the outer ring compared to the other sealing units.

According to one embodiment, the sealing system comprises a sealing unit serving as a sealing cover for axially opposite sides of the sealing system. The seal covers close the sealing system with respect to the rotor. The other sealing unit is disposed on the outer ring between the sealing cover and the sealing unit.

Due to this arrangement, in which the sealing units are arranged axially adjacent to each other, the sealing units can be replaced in a simple manner. For this purpose, only the sealing cover needs to be removed and the first sealing unit can be replaced afterwards. If more than one sealing unit is to be replaced, the first sealing unit can be replaced and the further sealing unit can be replaced after the first sealing unit has been replaced.

If the seal carrier ring or the sealing lip has different widths, they can be reinstalled in a different order by replacing a plurality of sealing units so that after reinstallation the seal carrier ring or the sealing lip is on a different path than before. In this way, the wear of the sliding surfaces can be evenly distributed. Wear of the sliding surfaces may occur due to the pressure of the sealing lip against the sliding surfaces.

A plurality of sealing units are provided according to a desired water pressure and maintenance interval. The outer seal unit is used for sealing the bearing to prevent seawater from entering. Here, first, the outermost sealing unit is sealed, i.e., the sealing cap is sealed. When the outermost sealing unit or its sealing lip is worn, that is to say when it can no longer block (keep out) seawater, the subsequent sealing lip acts as a seal to prevent ingress of seawater. In this way, a sealing system is used which comprises, in addition to the sealing lip, a further, spare sealing lip. Furthermore, a sealing unit or sealing lip may be provided on the bearing ring to retain lubricant in the bearing.

According to another aspect there is provided a tidal turbine comprising a rotor and a rotor shaft carrying the rotor, the rotor comprising rotor blades provided on a rotor hub, wherein drive torque can be transferred from the rotor hub to a transmission or generator via a sealed bearing module as described above.

Further advantages and advantageous embodiments are specified in the description, the drawings and the claims. In particular, the combination of the features specified in the description and the drawings is merely exemplary here, so that these features can also be present individually or in other combinations.

Drawings

In the following, the invention will be described in more detail using exemplary embodiments depicted in the drawings. Here, the exemplary embodiments and combinations shown in the exemplary embodiments are merely exemplary and are not intended to limit the scope of the present invention. The scope is limited only by the current claims.

Figure 1 shows a cross-sectional view of a sealed bearing module for a tidal turbine according to a first embodiment;

figure 2 shows a cross-sectional view of a sealed bearing module for a tidal turbine according to a second embodiment;

figure 3 shows a cross-sectional view of a sealed bearing module for a tidal turbine according to a third embodiment.

In the following, identical or functionally identical elements are denoted by the same reference numerals.

List of reference numerals

1 bearing module

2 rotor shaft

4 casing

6 inner ring

8 outer ring

10 rolling element

12 through hole

14 screw

16 nut

18 cover

20 screw

22 nut

24 recess

26 clamping ring

28 through hole

30 screw

32 nut

34 force applying element

36 support element

37 screw

38 sealing system

40 seal carrier ring

42 sealing element

43 sealing element

44 attachment member

46 sealing cover

48 attachment member

50 sliding surface

52 spacer ring

54O-ring

56 through hole

57 intermediate element

58 through hole

60 bolt

62 nut

64 nut

Detailed Description

Fig. 1 shows a sealed bearing module 1. The bearing module 1 is used to transfer drive torque (drive torque) from a rotor hub (not shown) of a rotor of a tidal turbine (tidal turbine) to a transmission or generator (not shown) in a nacelle (nacelles) of the tidal turbine. Here, the transmission of the driving torque from left (rotor side) to right (generator side) is shown in the figures by transmitting the rotation of the rotor hub to the rotor shaft 2 of the subsequent transmission or generator. Here, in particular, the bearing module 1 can be accommodated in a housing 4 of the nacelle. Here, the housing 4 protects the bearing and provides mechanical rigidity against deformation of the bearing.

The bearing module 1 comprises an inner ring 6 and an outer ring 8, with rolling elements 10(10-1, 10-2) arranged between the inner ring 6 and the outer ring 8. In the illustrated embodiment, the bearing module 1 is a double row tapered roller bearing (double row tapered roller bearing) in a back-to-back configuration (back-to-back arrangement), wherein the inner ring is configured as a split ring (split ring) comprising a first ring portion (/ first bearing ring portion) 6-1 and a second ring portion (/ second bearing ring portion) 6-2. As an alternative embodiment not shown, the double-row tapered roller bearing may also be constructed in a face-to-face arrangement (face-to-face arrangement) including a split outer ring.

The outer race 8 includes a through hole 12, and an attachment member is insertable into the through hole 12 to connect the outer race 8 to the housing 4. In the embodiment shown in fig. 1, a threaded rod 14 is provided as an attachment part in the through-hole 12, one end of the threaded rod 14 being screwed into the housing 4. A nut 16 is screwed on the opposite end, by means of which nut 16 the attachment part is supported on the outer ring 8. Of course, the outer ring 8 may also be connected to the housing 4 by screws screwed into the housing 4.

In order to close the housing 4 in the region of the outer ring 8, a cover 18 is provided which is connected to the housing 4 by means of attachment means and covers the outer ring 8. As shown in fig. 1, the attachment means may be a screw 20 screwed from the cover 18 into the housing 4. The attachment member is supported on the cover 18 by a nut or screw head 22 that may be buried (buried/embedded) in a recess 24 of the cover 18.

A preload element is provided to fix and preload the split inner ring 6. In the embodiment shown in fig. 1, the preloading element is configured as a clamping ring (clamping ring) 26. The clamping ring 26 includes a through hole 28 to attach the clamping ring 26 to the shaft 2. A screw 30 is inserted into the through hole 28 of the clamp ring 26, and one end of the screw 30 is screwed into the rotor shaft 2. The other end of the screw 30 is supported on the clamping ring 26 by a nut or screw head 32.

In order to preload the inner ring 6, the clamping ring 26 comprises a force application element 34, which force application element 34 protrudes on the clamping ring 26 towards the inner ring and in this way can apply a force to the second bearing ring part 6-2 in a direction parallel to the longitudinal axis of the shaft 2. In contrast, the first race part 6-1 is supported on the support element 36. The support element 36 may be configured as a projection of the shaft 2 and may be generally referred to as a shoulder.

The rotor shaft 2 is connected to the rotor hub by means of screws 37. In this way, the drive torque can be transmitted directly from the rotor hub to the rotor shaft 2 and thus to the subsequent transmission or generator.

For sealing the bearing module 1, the bearing module 1 comprises a sealing system 38. The sealing system 38 comprises a plurality of sealing units. Each seal unit includes a seal carrier ring 40 and a seal lip 42 disposed in the seal carrier ring 40. One of the sealing units is directly connected to the cover 18 of the housing 4 by means of a seal carrier ring 40-1. For this purpose, an attachment member 44 (e.g., a screw) is screwed into the cap 18 from the sealing unit side through the seal carrier ring 40-1. As such, the sealing unit is used to attach the sealing system 38 to the housing 4. In this manner, the entire sealing system 38 may be easily removed and replaced from the housing 4 as needed.

The sealing cover 46 is used for sealing outward. A plurality of seal units including their seal carrier rings 40-2, 40-3, 40-4, etc. are disposed between the seal cap 46 and the seal unit including the seal carrier ring 40-1. Each of these seal carrier rings 40 includes a sealing element 42 having a sealing lip. The seal carrier rings 40 are connected to each other by attachment members 48. Here, the two seal carrier rings 40 are always connected to one another. Here, the attachment members 48 are offset (offset) from each other in the circumferential direction in the axial direction.

In operation, the sealing lip of the sealing element 42 slides against a sliding (slip) surface 50. The sliding surface 50 may be constructed integrally with the shaft 2 or, as shown in fig. 1, the sliding surface 50 may be constructed on a spacer ring 52 provided on the shaft 52. In order to seal the bearing module 1, a seal may be provided between the spacer ring 52 and the shaft 2. Such sealing may be accomplished, for example, by O-rings 54(54-1, 54-2).

If one of the sealing lips wears out, the associated sealing element 42 can be replaced in a simple manner. For this purpose, the sealing cap 46 is first removed. The subsequent sealing unit, including its seal carrier ring 40 and sealing element 42, may then be removed and replaced as a unit.

The sealing element 42 serves as a tandem circuit (/ tandem configuration) for keeping seawater out of the bearing. In this case, the sealing element 42-4 must be subjected to the highest pressure and therefore wear out first. If the sealing element 42-4 is no longer subjected to the pressure of the seawater, the subsequent sealing element 42-3 is burdened with this function. Here, the sealing element 42-4 also serves as a filter for larger impurities. In the sealing system 38, a sensor (not shown), such as a humidity sensor or a pressure sensor, may be provided, which may signal when seawater reaches the sealing element 42-3, 42-2 or 42-1. Once such a signal is emitted, replacement of the sealing element 42 may be initiated. Furthermore, sealing elements 43-1, 43-2 may be provided on the bearing rings 6, 8, which sealing elements 43-1, 43-2 serve to retain lubricant in the bearings.

Fig. 2 shows a bearing module 1 according to a second embodiment, wherein the embodiments of fig. 1 and 2 differ only in that the outer ring 8 is attached to the housing 4.

As shown in fig. 1, the outer race 8 includes a through hole 12, and an attachment member is insertable into the through hole 12 to connect the outer race 8 to the housing 4. In contrast to the embodiment shown in fig. 1, in fig. 2 a threaded rod or screw 14 is provided as an attachment means, which threaded rod or screw 14 passes through the through-hole and is screwed into the housing 4 at one end and is supported at its opposite end by the cover 18 and by a nut or screw head 16 on the seal carrier ring 40-1.

Thus, the second attachment means as realized by the screw 20 and the nut or screw head 22 in fig. 1 may be omitted. Alternatively, the attachment member 44 in fig. 1 may also be omitted.

In particular, as shown in fig. 2, the bearing module 1 can be mounted on the housing 4 as a complete module. The various components (particularly the seal system 38 or seal carrier ring 40-1, the cap 18 and the outer race 8) may be pre-threaded together and represent a structural unit that has been pre-loaded and sealed. As such, the structural unit represents a bearing module 1 ready for installation in a tidal turbine.

Fig. 3 shows a bearing module 1 according to a third embodiment, wherein the embodiments of fig. 2 and 3 differ in the type of preload element of the inner ring 6 and in the configuration of the inner ring 6.

In this embodiment, the inner ring 6 includes a through hole 56. Instead of connecting the rotor hub to the generator via the rotor shaft 2, an optional intermediate element 57 comprising a through hole 58 is provided here. The through hole 58 of the intermediate element 57 is aligned with the through hole 56 of the inner ring 6. The preloading elements for preloading the ring portions 6-1 and 6-2 of the inner ring 6 are realized here by threaded rods or bolts (/ threaded rods) 60 which pass through the through- holes 56, 58.

One end of the threaded rod 60 is supported on the second ring portion 6-2 by a nut 62. The force application element 34 of fig. 1 and 2 is realized by a nut 62. The opposite end of threaded rod 60 is supported on intermediate element 57 by nut 64. The threaded rod 60 is thus preloaded by two nuts 62, 64, one of the nuts 62, 64 being configured as a bolt head. The inner ring 6 is supported here on a stop surface of the intermediate element 57, which forms the support element 36.

Thus, the use of a clamping ring 26 as provided in fig. 1 and 2 may be omitted in this embodiment. Furthermore, the transmission of the drive torque from the rotor hub to the generator is effected via the intermediate element 57 and the inner ring 6. Thus, the separate rotor shaft 2 may be omitted. The connecting element 60 may also extend and thus completely connect the rotor hub to the subsequent transmission or generator.

In summary, a compact bearing assembly is provided by the proposed sealed bearing module. In particular, the length of the rotor shaft and thus the size or weight of the nacelle may be reduced. Furthermore, the bearing module may have been subjected to necessary tests, for example for seal tightness, before it is installed at its destination, thereby simplifying installation or maintenance complexity after installation.