Bearing construction for a turbine blade

Abstract

A bearing construction for rotationally supporting a wind turbine blade relative to a wind turbine hub, comprising a dynamic frame connecting the turbine blade and a static frame connecting the turbine hub. The dynamic frame is rotationally supported relative to the static frame by first and second axially spaced bearings. The dynamic and static frames comprise first and second bearing seats for the first and second bearings, respectively, and a first conical section having a cone base and a cone apex, and two or more frame legs circumferential openings in between. The dynamic and static frames are mutually overlapping, wherein the frame legs of one frame pass through openings between the frame legs of the other frame. The first conical sections of the static frame and the dynamic frame are oriented in the same direction, whereby a bearing seat is provided at the cone apex of each first conical section.

1 . A bearing construction for rotationally supporting a turbine blade relative to a turbine hub, comprising:
 a dynamic frame configured for connection to the turbine blade;   a static frame configured for connection to the turbine hub; and   a first axially spaced bearing and a second axially spaced bearing adapted to rotationally support the dynamic frame relative to the static frame,   wherein each of the dynamic and static frame comprises:   a first bearing seat for the first axially spaced bearing and a second bearing seat for the second axially spaced bearing;   a first conical section having a cone base and a cone apex; and   at least two frame legs with openings in between;   wherein the dynamic and static frames are mutually overlapping, such that the frame legs of one frame pass through the openings between the frame legs of the other frame,   wherein the first conical section of the static frame and the first conical section of the dynamic frame are oriented in the same direction,   wherein the cone apex of each first conical section is provided with a bearing seat.   
     
     
         2 . The bearing construction according to  claim 1 , wherein the frame legs pass through each other at a large-diameter region of the static frame and of the dynamic frame, close to or at the cone base of each conical section. 
     
     
         3 . The bearing construction according to  claim 1 , wherein the cone apex of each first conical section is arranged at a hub side of the construction and comprises a hub-side bearing seat. 
     
     
         4 . The bearing construction according to  claim 3 , wherein the hub-side bearing seat of the static frame is arranged in a central region of the hub, close to a rotation axis of the turbine main shaft. 
     
     
         5 . The bearing construction according to  claim 4 , wherein the hub-side bearing seat is connected to the hub-side bearing seat of a further static frame, the connection comprising a central shaft portion that is configured for mounting to the turbine main shaft. 
     
     
         6 . The bearing construction according to  claim 1 , wherein each of the static frame and the dynamic frame comprises only a first conical section, and
 a bearing seat arrangement being one of:   wherein a bearing seat of the dynamic frame is arranged in a plane of the cone base of the dynamic frame, or   wherein a bearing seat of the static frame is arranged in a plane of the cone base of the static frame.   
     
     
         7 . The bearing construction according to  claim 6 , wherein the frame legs of the frame which has its bearing seat in the plane of the cone base, extend in a purely radial direction. 
     
     
         8 . The bearing construction according to  claim 1 , wherein at least one of the static and dynamic frames further comprises:
 a second conical section oppositely oriented from the first conical section,   whereby a cone apex of the second conical section is provided with a bearing seat.   
     
     
         9 . The bearing construction according to  claim 8 , wherein the frame legs of the at least one frame form part of a conical section of that frame. 
     
     
         10 . The bearing construction according to  claim 8 , wherein the dynamic frame further comprises a cylindrical blade interface that extends from the cone base of the first conical section, and
 wherein the dynamic frame legs form part of the cylindrical blade interface.   
     
     
         11 . The bearing construction according to  claim 1 , wherein the cone base of the first conical section of the static frame is configured for mounting to the hub. 
     
     
         12 . The bearing construction according to  claim 8 , wherein the static frame further comprises a cylindrical hub interface, configured for mounting to the hub, and
 wherein the static frame legs form part of the cylindrical hub interface and extend from the cone base of the static frame.   
     
     
         13 . The bearing construction according to  claim 1 , wherein one or both of the first bearing and the second bearing comprises a radial spherical plain bearing. 
     
     
         14 . The bearing construction according to  claim 1 , wherein the first bearing seat and the second bearing seat of the static frame are configured for receiving one of a bearing inner ring or a bearing outer ring. 
     
     
         15 . The bearing construction according to  claim 1 , wherein the first bearing seat and the second bearing seat of the dynamic frame are configured for receiving one of a bearing inner ring or a bearing outer ring. 
     
     
         16 . The bearing construction according to  claim 1 , wherein the first bearing seat of one of the dynamic frame or the static frame is configured to receive a bearing inner ring and the second bearing seat of the one of the dynamic frame or the static frame is configured to receive a bearing outer ring.