Pitch bearing for wind turbine rotor blades

Abstract

A pitch bearing for a wind turbine rotor includes a rotor hub and at least one rotor blade, the pitch bearing includes a cylindrical inner bearing ring connectable to a rotor blade of the wind turbine rotor, a cylindrical outer bearing ring connectable to the rotor hub of the wind turbine rotor and an annular reinforcement section for reinforcing the outer bearing ring. The annular reinforcement section adjoins the cylindrical outer bearing ring at its radial outer surface.

1 . A pitch bearing for a wind turbine rotor having a rotor hub and at least one rotor blade, comprising:
 a cylindrical inner bearing ring connectable to a rotor blade of the wind turbine rotor;   a cylindrical outer bearing ring connectable to the rotor hub of the wind turbine rotor; and   an annular reinforcement section that adjoins the cylindrical outer bearing ring at its radial outer surface such that the annular reinforcement section reinforces the outer bearing ring.   
     
     
         2 . The pitch bearing as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the reinforcement section is formed by an increased wall thickness of the outer bearing ring in a ring portion adjoining the outer bearing's axial outer end towards the outer bearing's axial inner end. 
     
     
         3 . The pitch bearing as claimed in  claim 1 ,
 wherein a wall thickness of the outer bearing ring is constant in a ring portion extending from the outer bearing ring's axial inner end to an axial middle of the outer bearing ring.   
     
     
         4 . The pitch bearing as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the annular reinforcement section does not extend a top most rolling element relative to the axial outer end. 
     
     
         5 . The pitch bearing as claimed in  claim 1 ,
 the annular reinforcement section comprises at least two separate ring segments joined together and joined to the outer bearing ring that reinforce the outer bearing ring.   
     
     
         6 . The pitch bearing as claimed in  claim 5 ,
 wherein the at least two separate ring segments are releasably joined together and/or releasably joined to the outer bearing ring.   
     
     
         7 . The pitch bearing as claimed in  claim 6 ,
 wherein the at least two separate ring segments are releasably joined together by bolting.   
     
     
         8 . The pitch bearing as claimed in  claim 7 ,
 wherein the at least two separate ring segments adjoin the radial outer surface of the cylindrical outer bearing ring.   
     
     
         9 . A wind turbine comprising a rotor, comprising:
 a rotor arranged along a rotational axis of the turbine;   a plurality of blades arranged circumferentially around the rotor; and   at least one pitch bearing according to  claim 1 .