Patent ID: 7621843
Filing Date: 2009-11-24
Classification: F03D,F05B,F16H,Y02E

Abstract:
1. A stationary wind turbine for generating electricity comprising: a turbine housing; a support pylon attached to the turbine housing for supporting the turbine housing above a ground surface; a turbine blade having a rotor, the turbine blade being driven by wind for rotating the rotor; a gearbox housed in the turbine housing; and an electrical power generator housed in the turbine housing; wherein an input of the gearbox is attached to the rotor and an output of the gearbox is attached to the electrical power generator, for converting low-speed, high-torque rotary power from the rotor, as driven by the turbine blade, to high-speed, low-torque rotary power for moving the electrical power generator to generate electricity; and the gearbox comprises: a gearbox housing; a ring gear substantially fixed against radial movement relative to said housing at the interior thereof; a planet carrier mounted for rotation about a generally central axis within said ring gear and adapted to be driven at a first end thereof by the turbine blade; a plurality of planet gears, operatively connected to the ring gear at spaced locations on said planet carrier around the central axis, with the axes of the planet gears extending are generally parallel to the central axis of said planet carrier; a sun gear rotatable about said central axis and engageable by said planet gears; and, means, mounted to the housing, disposed adjacent to and overlapping at least a portion of the ring gear, for restraining the axial movement of the ring gear relative to the gearbox toward an output end of the gearbox.