Patent ID: 8664792
Filing Date: 2014-03-04
Classification: B29C,B29L,F03D,F05B,F16C,Y02E,Y02P

Abstract:
1. A horizontal-axis wind turbine having a rotor with a diameter of at least 50 m length, the turbine comprising: a wind turbine main frame; a generator system comprising a generator that is rigidly mounted to said main frame without vibration damping elements; a rotor hub, the hub mounted to a rigid support shaft provided on the main frame, wherein the hub is operable to rotate about the support shaft and wherein the support shaft transfers the structural load of the hub to the main frame, and a drive shaft rigidly connected to and extending from the hub, wherein the drive shaft is connected to the generator system to transfer torque from the hub to the generator system, and wherein the drive shaft is a mechanically anisotropic shaft that has sufficient flexibility for preventing transmission of bending moments from the hub to the generator system by absorption of the bending moments; the drive shaft comprising a first coupling flange at is first end and a second coupling flange at its opposite end, the first coupling flange being bolted to said rotor hub and the second coupling flange being bolted to said generator system; wherein the drive shaft is only supported at said first and second coupling flanges by said hub and said generator system, the drive shaft being free of shaft bearings and rollers at locations between the first and second ends; and wherein the drive shaft comprises at least one rib to facilitate bending of the shaft.