Rotor Lock for a Wind Turbine

Abstract

A locking arrangement for locking a hub ( 1 ) of a wind turbine against rotational movement is disclosed. The locking arrangement comprises at least one first locking part ( 6 ) and at least one second locking part ( 8 ). The first locking part(s) ( 6 ) is/are movable along a substantially radial direction relative to the rotational axis of the hub ( 1 ), between a locking position and a release position. Each second locking part ( 8 ) is adapted to retain a first locking part ( 6 ) when the first locking part ( 6 ) is in the locking position. The first locking part(s) ( 6 ) and the second locking part(s) ( 8 ) are arranged with one of them on the hub ( 1 ) and the other one on the base frame ( 5 ). Thereby, a first locking part ( 6 ) and a second locking part ( 8 ) prevent rotational movement of the hub ( 1 ) relative to the base frame ( 5 ) when the first locking part ( 6 ) is in the locking position, and allow such movement when the first locking part ( 6 ) is in the release position.

1 . A locking arrangement for a hub of a wind turbine, said hub being adapted to perform rotational movements about a rotational axis, said wind turbine comprising a nacelle having a base frame, the locking arrangement comprising:
 at least one first locking part, the first locking part(s) being movable along a substantially radial direction relative to the rotational axis of the hub, between a locking position and a release position, and   at least one second locking part, each second locking part being adapted to retain a first locking part when the first locking part is in the locking position,   
       wherein one of the first locking part(s) and the second locking part(s) is formed in or mounted on the hub, and the other of the first locking part(s) and the second locking part(s) is formed in or mounted on the base frame, a first locking part and a second locking part thereby preventing rotational movement of the hub relative to the base frame when the first locking part is in the locking position, and allowing such movement when the first locking part is in the release position. 
     
     
         2 . The locking arrangement according to  claim 1 , wherein each of the first locking pats) comprises a movable pin, and each of the second locking part(s) comprises an opening adapted to receive a pin of a first locking part. 
     
     
         3 . The locking arrangement according to  claim 1 , wherein the second locking part(s) is/are formed in a flange part of the hub or the base frame. 
     
     
         4 . The locking arrangement according to  claim 3 , wherein the flange part forms an integral part of the hub or the base frame. 
     
     
         5 . The locking arrangement according to  claim 1 , wherein the locking arrangement comprises at least two first locking parts and at least two second locking parts. 
     
     
         6 . The locking arrangement according to  claim 5 , wherein the at least two first locking parts are arranged substantially opposite to each other. 
     
     
         7 . The locking arrangement according to  claim 5 , wherein the locking arrangement comprises at least 12 second locking parts, the second locking parts being arranged with substantially equal angular distance between neighbouring second locking parts. 
     
     
         8 . The locking arrangement according to  claim 1 , further comprising a sensor device arranged to detect whether or not a first locking part and a second locking part are arranged at corresponding positions. 
     
     
         9 . The locking arrangement according to  claim 1 , wherein the locking arrangement is further adapted to prevent tilt and/or yaw movements of the hub when at least one first locking part is in the locking position. 
     
     
         10 . The locking arrangement according to  claim 9 , further comprising a yoke part arranged to cooperate with the first locking part(s) and the second locking part(s) in order to prevent tilt and/or yaw movements of the hub. 
     
     
         11 . The locking arrangement according to  claim 10 , wherein the yoke part is adapted to be detachably mounted on the base frame or the hub. 
     
     
         12 . The locking arrangement according to  claim 1 , further comprising a safety system, said safety system preventing access to an interior part of the hub when the first locking part(s) is/are in the release position. 
     
     
         13 . The locking arrangement according  claim 1 , wherein a part of the base frame substantially circumscribes a part of the hub. 
     
     
         14 . The locking arrangement according to  claim 1 , further comprising means for fixating the first locking part in the locking position. 
     
     
         15 . A wind turbine comprising a tower construction, a nacelle, a rotor carrying a set of turbine blades and a locking arrangement for a hub of the wind turbine, said hub being adapted to perform rotational movements about a rotational axis, said wind turbine comprising a nacelle having a base frame, the locking arrangement comprising:
 at least one first locking part, the first locking part(s) being movable along a substantially radial direction relative to the rotational axis of the hub, between a locking position and a release position, and   at least one second locking part, each second locking part being adapted to retain a first locking part when the first locking part is in the locking position,   
       wherein one of the first locking part(s) and the second locking part(s) is formed in or mounted on the hub, and the other of the first locking part(s) and the second locking part(s) is formed in or mounted on the base frame, a first locking part and a second locking part thereby preventing rotational movement of the hub relative to the base frame when the first locking part is in the locking position, and allowing such movement when the first locking part is in the release position.