Abstract:
A method of replacing a pillowblock and bearing assembly of a wind turbine having a mainshaft and a bedplate includes unsecuring an existing pillowblock and bearing assembly from the bedplate of the wind turbine, cutting the existing pillowblock and bearing assembly off the mainshaft to remove the existing pillowblock and bearing assembly from around the mainshaft, installing a split pillowblock (110) and bearing assembly (100) onto the mainshaft (25), and securing the installed split pillowblock and bearing assembly to the bedplate (35).
Abstract:
A load sensing bearing assembly (10) comprises an inner race (12), an outer race (16), and a plurality of rolling elements (24). A cavity (20) is formed behind a raceway (14, 18) of one of the races, and a strain gage (22) is installed in the cavity to measure forces applied to the bearing assembly. A stop (30) is formed inside the cavity with an end (34) of the stop designed not to engage a support structure (S) of the bearing assembly under normal bearing load conditions. The stop engages the support structure when an applied load on the bearing assembly exceeds a predetermined load to prevent excessive flexing of the assembly, such that the strain gage may continue to provide accurate measurements of the load on the bearing assembly after the overload condition ends.
Abstract:
A liquid- cooled bearing system including a bearing configured to support a rotatable component. The bearing includes a stationary friction surface or a race (216) defining a raceway (236). The bearing further includes friction reducing means in contact with the friction surface or the raceway of the stationary race. The stationary race is configured to support the rotatable component through the friction reducing means. The bearing further includes a surface remote from and not in contact with the raceway, to position a microchannel heat exchanger. The microchannel heat exchanger includes a fluid inlet and a fluid outlet. A closed-loop fluid circuit is configured to direct coolant fluid through the microchannel heat exchanger from the fluid inlet to the fluid outlet and back to the fluid inlet.
Abstract:
A method for use with a transmission system (A, A1, B) incorporating a split gear assembly (20, 120, 220) for splitting an applied input load between two or more reaction gears (30, 40, 130, 140, 230, 240) or pathways to selectively positioning a support bearing (50, 150, 250) to achieve an optimized load distribution (LRT) among a set of drive planet pinions (22, 122, 222) and idler planet pinions (70, 170, 270) in the transmission system.
Abstract:
A rolling element bearing assembly (10) having at least one row of rolling elements (12) contained within a bearing cavity (C) between an inner race (14) and an outer race (16) by a retainer or cage (18), with a directional flow of grease (G) within the bearing cavity. Grease is delivered to selected grease delivery regions (G i ) within the bearing cavity through one or more inlets (20), and is transported through the bearing cavity by a directional pumping means employing a mechanical pumping action at an interface between components within the bearing cavity to a grease discharge region (G d ) and an associated discharge outlet (22), where quantities of used grease are mechanically removed from the bearing cavity.
Abstract:
An angular contact or oscillating ball bearing (100) in which each ball or rolling element (102) is separated by a friction-reducing toroid spacer (103), which has low starting and running friction, and which maintains a high degree of precision over an operational lifespan. Within the angular contact or oscillating bearing (100), each toroid spacer (103), disposed about alternate balls or rolling elements (102), is configured with sufficient clearance to allow free low-torque movement of the balls or rolling elements (102), and to minimize wear. The inner ring element (101a) of the bearing (100) includes an inner raceway (105a) disposed between a full shoulder side (109) and a low shoulder or relieved side (107), while the outer ring element (101b) includes an outer raceway (105b) disposed between a pair of full shoulder sides (110a, 110b). Both the inner ring element (101a) and the outer ring element (101b) surfaces are finished to minimize abrasion and wear of the toroid spacers (103). Annular shield elements (104) or seals secured to either the outer ring (101b) or inner ring (101a) element exclude foreign debris from entering the bearing, and retain any generated particles within the bearing internal regions, protecting an end use component in which the bearing (100) is assembled.
Abstract:
A radial rolling element bearing (10) for supporting a shaft (14) for rotation with respect to an adjacent support surface (38). The radial rolling element bearing (14) includes a plurality of rolling elements (18) and a race (22). The race includes a convex first surface (44) that forms a raceway for the plurality of rolling elements and a second surface (48) opposite the convex first surface having a profile that forms a hollow space (52) between the second surface of the race and one of the adjacent support surface and the shaft. The hollow space has a first volume when a first radial load is applied to the bearing, and the hollow space has a second volume less than the first volume when a second radial load greater than the first radial load is applied to the bearing.
Abstract:
A bearing assembly comprising a rotating outer race (1) supported on sets of rollers (3) relative to inner race (2) with one or more lubricant charge devices (7) adapted to facilitate the controlled purging of used grease from the bearing chambers (3A). Each lubricant charge device (7) is secured to a rotating component of the bearing assembly, in operative relationship to an adjacent stationary surface (2A), and includes an entrapment surface (14A) defining a grease entrapment region (14). As the lubricant charge device (7) is rotationally carried past one or more grease purge port orifices (9), used grease accumulated within the grease entrapment region (14) is forced into the orifice (9) by the entrapment surface (14A) for subsequent extraction through the purge port (8).
Abstract:
An apparatus (1) for heat treating the surfaces (32b) of gear teeth (32a) via magnetic inductive heating comprises a magnet assembly (40) and a workpiece (or gear) holder (30) operatively mounted on a base (12). The magnet assembly (40) is rotatable in a first plane about a first axis (A1), and the work-piece holder (30) (on which a gear (32) can be removably mounted) is rotatable about a second axis (A2) in a second plane. The first and second axes (A1, A2) are spaced apart from each other and the first and second planes intersect each other. The apparatus (10) includes a mechanism (16, 22) to move one (or both) of the magnet assembly (40) and the workpiece holder (30) relative to each other, such that the magnet assembly (40) and work piece holder (30) can be moved between a position in which the magnet assembly (40) and the gear (32) mounted on the work-piece holder (30) are in heating proximity to each other and a second position in which the magnet assembly (40) and gear (32) are out of heating proximity with each other.
Abstract:
A vehicle wheel hub and bearing assembly (A) configuration which prevent axial separation of rotating hub components (4) and stationary housing components (2) in at least one axial direction via physical interference between radially inner most components of said stationary housing (2) and radially outermost components of said rotating hub (4), reducing the risk of vehicle wheel separation failures.