WO2020064394A1

WO2020064394A1 - Tool for assembling retainers in bearings

Info

Publication number: WO2020064394A1
Application number: PCT/EP2019/074669
Authority: WO
Inventors: Aitor ZURUTUZA SANTA CRUZ; Oscar Barbero Goicoechea
Original assignee: Laulagun Bearings, S.L.
Priority date: 2018-09-26
Filing date: 2019-09-16
Publication date: 2020-04-02
Also published as: ES2750877B2; ES2750877A1

Abstract

The invention relates to a tool for assembling retainers in bearings comprising an inner ring and an outer ring, such that the outer ring is joined to a hub by means of a plurality of joining bolts, comprising a base structure (1) which comprises a main beam (7) with a curved shape, which reproduces the shape of an anchoring slot of the retainer, and two housings (9) at the ends of the main beam (7); the tool also comprises fastening means for fastening the base structure (1) to two joining bolts, a carriage (12) which is movable along the main beam (7), configured to introduce the retainer in the anchoring slot of the retainer, wherein the fastening means of the base structure (1) fasten the housings (9) of the base structure (1) by positioning the base structure (1) on the anchoring slot of the retainer.

Description

TOOL FOR ASSEMBLING RETAINERS IN BEARINGS

Field of the invention

The present invention relates to a tool for assembling retainers in bearings, specifically in bearings for large turbines, since it can be used for both wind turbines and tidal turbines. The tool object of the invention is applicable in the field of power generation.

Background of the invention

In simpler terms, a retainer is a barrier, which has four specific functions: retaining lubricants or liquids, preventing dirt/contaminants from entering, separating fluids or gases, and resisting differences in pressure.

When a retainer performs these functions properly, it protects the bearing from harmful contaminants, while it maintains a supply of clean lubricant, all of this translating into greater reliability and a longer life for the bearing. The bearings perform their work better, the cleanliness of the production and process materials is maintained, lubricant is saved and the downtime of the machinery is reduced.

The bearings of a wind turbine are generally designed for the useful life of the wind turbine. However, retainers which retain grease inside the bearing and protect it from different weather conditions and contamination are not designed to last for the useful life of the bearing, but these retainers must be replaced periodically with new ones due to wear, dust, etc.

The useful life of the retainer mainly depends on the weather and the contamination conditions; therefore, it is not easy to anticipate said useful life, however, by way of reference, said retainers must be replaced every few years.

The removal of a used retainer from the blade bushing of the wind turbine in situ or during the fabrication of the pitch bushing is currently very easy and fast, since only one seal needs to be removed from a slot or seat of the bushing. However, assembling a new retainer in a bearing of a wind turbine, performed in situ, is a very difficult and slow operation.

The replacement of the retainer when performed in situ in a wind turbine generally involves an operator who works at an elevated height, this being a dangerous job, which requires intense physical effort from the operator who is carrying out the replacement. The operations for replacing retainers have traditionally been performed with hand-held tools that are available; therefore, considering the dangerous nature of the operation and the complexity thereof, it is desirable to develop a tool which helps the operator complete the job of replacing the retainer.

The use of a semi-automatic tool for assembling retainers reduces the risk of damaging the bearing and enables the retainers to be replaced without the operator needing to have complete access to the slot area, making assembly possible in areas with limited or no access and accelerating the assembly thereof.

Document US 8,181 ,326 B2 is known in the state of the art which discloses a tool for installing a seal in a wind turbine which has a main body with two wings and an elevated portion, which further has a support joined to the main body with a threaded hole for coupling by means of a nut. The tool also has installation means which include an insertion wheel joined to a wheel support, with two elements between the rings of the bearing, such that the relative movement between the two rings makes it so the insertion wheel rotates and introduces the seal into a slot configured to house said seal.

Description of the invention

The object of the invention is a tool for assembling retainers in turbine bearings, wherein the bearing comprises an inner ring and an outer ring, and the turbine comprises at least one blade and at least one hub. The bearing elements and the turbine elements are joined by means of a plurality of joining bolts and, between the bearing elements and the turbine elements, an anchoring slot of a retainer is located wherein a retainer is required which must be replaced periodically.

The tool object of the invention comprises a base structure which in turn comprises a main beam and two housings at the ends of the main beam, fastening means for fastening the base structure to two joining bolts and a carriage which is movable along the main beam.

The main beam of the base structure has a curved shape and reproduces the shape of the anchoring slot of a retainer. Likewise, the carriage is configured to introduce the retainer into the anchoring slot of a retainer.

In the tool for assembling retainers in bearings object of the invention, the fastening means of the base structure are fastened in the housings of the base structure by positioning the base structure on the anchoring slot of the retainer. In the tool for assembling retainers in bearings object of the invention, the means for fastening the base structure to two joining bolts comprise two cylindrical bodies, wherein each cylindrical body comprises two portions with two different diameters, an inner hollow, an inner thread, and an outer thread in the portion with a smaller diameter, wherein the inner thread is configured to be fastened to the joining bolts and the outer thread acts as support for a nut which fastens the base structure to each cylindrical body.

In the tool for assembling retainers in bearings object of the invention, the main beam comprises a plurality of recesses.

In the tool for assembling retainers in bearings object of the invention, the main beam has another embodiment comprising a central hole with a plurality of ribs crossing through the central hole.

In the tool for assembling retainers in bearings object of the invention, the fastening means for fastening the base structure to two joining bolts comprise two cylindrical bodies.

Each cylindrical body comprises two portions with two different diameters, an inner hollow, an inner thread, and an outer thread in the portion with a smaller diameter, wherein the inner thread is configured to be fastened to the joining bolts and the outer thread acts as a support for a nut which fastens the base structure to each cylindrical body.

There is another alternative embodiment wherein the fastening means comprise flanges that house magnets, such that the flanges surround the joining bolts and, by means of an inner thread located in each housing, the base structure is fastened to the joining bolts.

In the previous embodiment, the tool comprises a mechanism for modifying the relative distance between the flanges, said mechanism being actuated by a screw.

In the tool for assembling retainers in bearings object of the invention, the carriage comprises three wheels, wherein two wheels rest on one side of the main beam and the other wheel rests on the other side of the main beam.

In the tool for assembling retainers in bearings, the carriage comprises a coupling with a roller configured to insert the retainer into the anchoring slot of the retainer.

In the tool for assembling retainers in bearings object of the invention, the coupling rests on the carriage through a central shaft which joins the coupling to the carriage, two lateral shafts, on the sides of the central shaft which are joined to the coupling by means of screws and rest on the carriage, two springs which provide the force necessary to insert the retainer into the anchoring slot of the retainer, wherein the springs are configured to provide the force required to introduce the retainer into the anchoring slot of the retainer and the end shafts are configured to act as support for the coupling on the carriage.

There is an embodiment wherein the springs are located around the lateral shafts, and another embodiment wherein the springs are two independent parts and are located between the lateral shafts and the central shaft.

The tool for assembling retainers in bearings object of the invention comprises carriage actuation means, which enable a controlled movement of the carriage along the base structure, such that, in that movement, the coupling starts to introduce the retainer into the anchoring slot of the retainer.

The carriage actuation means, in the tool for assembling retainers in bearings object of the invention, comprise in one embodiment, a toothed belt with the following path that is fastened to the carriage by a first end, it passes through a first toothed cylinder of the same carriage, it passes through a second toothed cylinder located in correspondence with a housing of the base structure, it passes through a third toothed cylinder located in the carriage, it passes through a compensating cylinder, it passes through a fourth toothed cylinder, it passes through a fifth toothed cylinder located in correspondence with the other housing of the base structure, it passes through a sixth toothed cylinder located in the carriage, and it is fastened to the carriage by a second end opposite from the first end.

In the tool for assembling retainers in bearings object of the invention, the ends of the toothed belt are fastened to the carriage by means of toothed fastening cylinders in contact with platens, such that, between a toothed fastening cylinder and the platen, the toothed belt is introduced which stays fastened by pressure.

In the tool for assembling retainers in bearings object of the invention, there are alternative embodiments of the carriage actuation means. In one of those alternative embodiments, the carriage actuation means comprise a leadscrew joined to the two ends of the base structure and to the carriage, such that a rotation of the leadscrew moves the carriage along the base structure.

In another alternative embodiment, the carriage actuation means comprise a cable joined to two pulleys located at the two ends of the base structure wherein the cable passes through the carriage and is joined to the two pulleys at the ends of the base structure, such that a rotation of the pulleys moves the cable and the carriage.

In another alternative embodiment, the carriage actuation means comprise a cable joined to two spools located at the ends of the base structure, wherein the spools have the ability to rotate and wind or unwind the cable which moves the carriage to which it is joined.

With respect to the tools known in the state of the art, the tool object of the invention has the following advantages:

- It is able to assemble retainers in the axial direction, expanding the range of possible designs of retainers to be introduced.

- It does not require the actuation of the pitch rotation mechanism while operating, this being safer for the operators and being able to take advantage of programmed maintenance of the machine.

- It incorporates a spring system which limits the effort that the tool performs on the retainer, mitigating possible damage to it.

Brief description of the drawings

To complement the following description and for the purpose of helping to better understand the features of the invention, a set of drawings is attached to the present specification on the basis of which the innovations and advantages of the device object of the invention will be more readily understood.

Figure 1 shows a perspective view of an embodiment of the tool for assembling retainers in turbine bearings object of the invention.

Figure 2 shows a side view of the embodiment of the tool for assembling retainers in bearings in turbines object of the invention of Figure 1.

Figure 3 shows a perspective view of an embodiment different from that of Figure 1 of the tool for assembling retainers in turbine bearings object of the invention.

Figure 4 shows a side view of the embodiment of the tool for assembling retainers in bearings of turbines object of the invention of Figure 3.

Figure 5 shows a plan view of the tool object of the invention showing the carriage movement system with a detail of the system for fastening the belt to the carriage. Figure 6 shows a perspective view of the tool object of the invention, with the embodiment of the carriage actuation means comprising a leadscrew.

Figure 7 shows a perspective view of the tool object of the invention, with the embodiment of the carriage actuation means comprising a cable and two pulleys.

Figure 8 shows a perspective view of the tool object of the invention, with the embodiment of the actuation means of the carriage comprising a cable and two spools.

The different reference numbers that are seen in the drawings correspond to the following elements:

1. base structure,

2. cylindrical body,

3. inner hollow,

4. inner thread,

5. outer thread,

6. nut,

7. main beam,

8. recess,

9. housing,

10. central hole,

11. ribs,

12. carriage,

13. wheel,

14. coupling,

15. roller,

16. central shaft,

17. spring,

18. lateral shaft,

19. screw,

20. first toothed cylinder,

21. second toothed cylinder,

22. third toothed cylinder,

23. compensating cylinder,

24. fourth toothed cylinder,

25. fifth toothed cylinder, 26. sixth toothed cylinder,

27. toothed fastening cylinder,

28. platen,

29. toothed belt,

30. flange,

31. screw of the fastening means,

32. leadscrew,

33. cable,

34. pulley,

35. spool,

36. inner thread, and

37. magnet.

Detailed description of the invention

A wind turbine structure, having at least one blade and at least one hub, the bearings further comprise an inner ring and an outer ring, and the bearing elements and the turbine elements are further joined by a plurality of joining bolts and, between the bearing elements and the turbine elements, an anchoring slot of a retainer is located.

The tool for assembling retainers in bearings object of the invention comprises a base structure (1 ) which reproduces the curvature of the anchoring slot of the retainer, and has fastening means for fastening said base structure (1 ) to the joining bolts, specifically to the portion of the joining bolts which protrudes from the outer ring.

The fastening means in the preferred embodiment of the invention comprise two cylindrical bodies (2), such that each cylindrical body (2) has two portions with two different diameters, and also has an inner hollow (3) and an inner thread (4) and an outer thread (5) in the portion with a smaller diameter, the inner thread (4) being the portion which facilitates the fastening to the joining bolts and the outer thread (5) acting as support for a nut (6) which fastens the base structure (1 ) to each cylindrical body (2).

There are two embodiments of the base structure (1 ), the first embodiment of the base structure comprises:

- a main beam (7) with a curved shape, which reproduces the shape of the anchoring slot of the retainer, - a plurality of recesses (8), in the main beam (7),

- two housings (9) at the ends of the main beam (7), such that a cylindrical body (2) is fastened to each housing (9), positioning the base structure (1 ) on the bearing wherein the retainer is to be assembled.

The second embodiment of the base structure (1 ) is very similar to the first one, since it also comprises a main beam (7) with a curved shape and two housings (9) at the ends of the main beam (7), but instead of comprising a plurality of recesses (8), it comprises a central hole (10) and a plurality of ribs (11 ) crossing through the central hole (10) which provide rigidity to the main beam (7).

There is another alternative embodiment wherein the fastening means comprise flanges (30) that house magnets (37), such that the flanges surround the joining bolts and, by means of an inner thread (36) located in each housing (9), the base structure (1 ) is fastened to the joining bolts.

In the previous embodiment, the tool comprises a mechanism for modifying the relative distance between the flanges (30), said mechanism being actuated by a screw (31 ).

The main beam (7) acts as a guide for a carriage (12) which is responsible for introducing the retainer into the corresponding slot.

The carriage (12) in the preferred embodiment of the invention comprises three wheels (13) which rest on the sides of the main beam (7) in order to move along said main beam (7), such that two wheels (13) rest on one side of the main beam (7) and the other wheel (13) rests on the opposite side of the main beam (7), constituting a system of three supports which moves through the space between the two sides of the main beam (7).

The carriage (12) comprises a coupling (14) with a roller (15) which is the element that puts pressure on the retainer in order to introduce it into the anchoring slot of the retainer.

The coupling (14) rests on and is fastened to the carriage (12) through: a central shaft (16) which joins the coupling (14) to the carriage (12), and - two lateral shafts (18) on the sides of the central shaft (16) which are joined to the coupling (14) by means of screws (19) and rest on the carriage (12), two springs (17) around the lateral shafts (18) which provide the force necessary to introduce the retainer into the anchoring slot of the retainer,

There is another embodiment of the manner in which the coupling (14) rests on and is fastened to the carriage (12), wherein instead of the springs (17) being located around the lateral shafts (18), they are located between the central shaft (16) and the lateral shafts (18) as an independent part of the mentioned lateral shafts (18).

There are different embodiments of carriage actuation means which enable a controlled movement of the carriage (12) along the base structure (1 ), such that, in that movement, the coupling (14) starts to introduce the retainer into the slot thereof.

In the preferred embodiment of the tool object of the invention, the carriage (12) is actuated by means of a toothed belt (29), the path of which is as follows: - it is fastened to the carriage (12) at a first end,

- it passes through a first toothed cylinder (20) of the carriage (12) itself,

- corresponding to one end of the base structure (1 ), it passes through a second toothed cylinder (21 ),

- it returns to the carriage (12) in order to come into contact with a third toothed cylinder (22),

- then it goes through a compensating cylinder (23), to repeat the same path towards the opposite end of the base structure (1 ),

- from the compensating cylinder (23) it passes to a fourth toothed cylinder (24),

- it passes through a fifth toothed cylinder (25) corresponding to the other end of the base structure (1 ), in order to return to the carriage (12),

- wherein it passes through a sixth toothed cylinder (26) and,

- it is fastened by a second end, opposite from the first end, to the carriage (12).

The fastening of the ends of the toothed belt (29) to the carriage (12) is performed by means of toothed fastening cylinders (27) in contact with platens

(28) such that, between a toothed fastening cylinder (27) and the platen (28), the toothed belt (29) is inserted which stays fastened by pressure.

The configuration of the third toothed cylinder (22), the compensating cylinder (23) and the fourth toothed cylinder (24) compensates for the change in length of the toothed belt (29) which requires the operation of the tool, since by being a curved system, the actuation requires different lengths of toothed belt

(29).

There are other embodiments of carriage actuation means, among which are included: - a leadscrew (32) joined to the two ends of the base structure (1 ) and to the carriage (12), such that the rotation of the leadscrew moves the carriage (12) along the base structure (1 ).

- a cable (33) joined to two pulleys (34) located at the two ends of the base structure (1 ), such that the cable passes through the carriage (12) and passes through the two pulleys (34) at the ends of the base structure (1 ), such that a rotation of the pulleys (34) moves the cable (33) which in turn moves the carriage (12);

- a cable (33) joined to two spools (35) located at the ends of the base structure (1 ), such that the spools (35) rotate and wind or release the cable

(33) around it, moving the carriage (12) which is joined to the cable (33).

Claims

1. A tool for assembling retainers in turbine bearings, such that the bearing comprises an inner ring and an outer ring, and the turbine comprises at least one blade and at least one hub, wherein the bearing elements and the turbine elements are joined by means of a plurality of joining bolts and, between the bearing elements and the turbine elements, an anchoring slot of a retainer is located, characterised in that the tool comprises:

- a base structure (1 ) comprising:

- a main beam (7) with a curved shape, which reproduces the shape of the anchoring slot of the retainer, and

- two housings (9) at the ends of the main beam (7),

- fastening means for fastening the base structure (1 ) to two joining bolts,

- a carriage (12) which is movable along the main beam (7), configured to introduce the retainer into the anchoring slot of the retainer,

wherein the fastening means for fastening the base structure (1 ) are fastened in the housings (9) of the base structure (1 ) by positioning the base structure (1 ) on the anchoring slot of the retainer.

2. The tool for assembling retainers in bearings according to claim 1 , characterised in that the main beam (7) comprises a plurality of recesses (8).

3. The tool for assembling retainers in bearings according to claim 1 , characterised in that the main beam (7) comprises a central hole (10) with a plurality of ribs (11 ) crossing through the central hole (10).

4. The tool for assembling retainers in bearings according to any of claims 1 to 3, characterised in that the fastening means for fastening the base structure (1 ) to two joining bolts comprise two cylindrical bodies (2), wherein each cylindrical body (2) comprises:

- two portions with two different diameters,

- an inner hollow (3),

- an inner thread (4), and

- an outer thread (5) in the portion with a smaller diameter,

wherein the inner thread (4) is configured to be fastened to the joining bolts and the outer thread (5) acts as support for a nut (6) which fastens the base structure (1 ) to each cylindrical body (2).

5. The tool for assembling retainers in bearings according to any of claims 1 to 3, characterised in that each housing (9) comprises an inner thread (36), wherein the fastening means comprise flanges (30) configured to surround the joining bolts, such that the flanges (30) house magnets (37), and such that the inner thread (36) fastens the base structure (1 ) to the joining bolts.

6. The tool for assembling retainers in bearings according to claim 5, characterised in that it comprises a mechanism for modifying the relative distance between the flanges (30), said mechanism being actuated by a screw (31 ).

7. A carriage (12) comprising three wheels (13), wherein two wheels (13) rest on one side of the main beam (7) and the other wheel (13) rests on the other side of the main beam (7).

8. The tool for assembling retainers in bearings according to any of claims 1 to 7, characterised in that the carriage (12) comprises a coupling (14) with a roller (15) configured to exert pressure on the retainer and introduce the mentioned retainer into the anchoring slot of the retainer.

9. The tool for assembling retainers in bearings according to claim 8, characterised in that the coupling (14) rests on the carriage (12) through:

- a central shaft (16) which joins the coupling (14) to the carriage (12),

- two lateral shafts (18) on the sides of the central shaft (16) which are joined to the coupling (14) by means of screws (19) and rest on the carriage (12),

- two springs (17),

wherein the springs (17) are configured to provide a push to the roller in order to introduce the retainer into the anchoring slot of the retainer and the lateral shafts (18) are configured to act as support for the coupling (14) on the carriage (12).

10. The tool for assembling retainers in bearings according to claim 9, characterised in that the springs (17) are located around the lateral shafts (18).

11. The tool for assembling retainers in bearings according to claim 9, characterised in that the springs (17) are independent and are located between the lateral shafts (18) and the central shaft (16).

12. The tool for assembling retainers in bearings according to any of claims 1 to 11 , characterised in that it comprises means for actuating the carriage, configured to perform a controlled movement of the carriage (12) along the base structure (1 ) in order to introduce the retainer into the anchoring slot of the retainer.

13. The tool for assembling retainers in bearings according to claim 12, characterised in that the carriage actuation means comprise a toothed belt (29), with a path as follows:

- it is fastened to the carriage (12) by a first end,

- it passes through a first toothed cylinder (20) of the carriage (12) itself,

- it passes through a second toothed cylinder (21 ), corresponding to a housing (9) of the base structure (1 ),

- it passes through a third toothed cylinder (22) located in the carriage (12), - it passes through a compensating cylinder (23),

- it passes through a fourth toothed cylinder (24),

- it passes through a fifth toothed cylinder (25), corresponding to the other housing (9) of the base structure (1 ),

- wherein it passes through a sixth toothed cylinder (26) located in the carriage (12), and

- it is fastened to the carriage (12) by a second end opposite from the first end.

14. The tool for assembling retainers in bearings according to claim 13, characterised in that the ends of the toothed belt (29) are fastened to the carriage (12) by means of toothed fastening cylinders (27) in contact with platens (28), such that, between a toothed fastening cylinder (27) and the platen (28), the toothed belt (29) is inserted which stays fastened by pressure.

15. The tool for assembling retainers in bearings according to claim 11 , characterised in that the carriage actuation means comprise a leadscrew (32) joined to the two ends of the base structure (1 ) and to the carriage (12), such that a rotation of the leadscrew (32) moves the carriage (12) along the base structure (1 )·

16. The tool for assembling retainers in bearings according to claim 11 , characterised in that the carriage actuation means comprise a cable (33) joined to two pulleys (34) located at the two ends of the base structure (1 ) wherein the cable (33) passes through the carriage (12) and is joined to the two pulleys (34) at the ends of the base structure (1 ), such that a rotation of the pulleys (34) moves the cable (33) and the carriage (12).

17. The tool for assembling retainers in bearings according to claim 11 , characterised in that the carriage actuation means comprise a cable (33) joined to two spools (35) located at the ends of the base structure (1 ), wherein the spools (35) have the ability to rotate and wind or unwind the cable (33) which moves the carriage (12) to which it is joined.