Patent ID: 9188107
Filing Date: 2015-11-17
Classification: F03D,F05B,F16C,Y02E

Abstract:
1. A pitch bearing for coupling a rotor blade to a hub of a wind turbine, the pitch bearing comprising: an outer race configured to be coupled to the hub, the outer race defining a first outer raceway wall and a second outer raceway wall, the first outer raceway wall defining a curved profile having a center of curvature; an inner race rotatable relative to the outer race and configured to be coupled to the rotor blade, the inner race defining a first inner raceway wall and a second inner raceway wall, the first inner raceway wall defining a curved profile having a center of curvature; a first plurality of roller elements disposed between the first inner and outer raceway walls, each of the first plurality of roller elements defining a geometric center, a single contact point being defined directly between each adjacent pair of roller elements of the first plurality of roller elements; a second plurality of rollers disposed between the second inner and outer raceway walls, each of the second plurality of roller elements defining a geometric center; and a raceway rib extending between the first and second plurality of roller elements, the raceway rib forming an extension of the outer race and separating the first outer raceway wall from the second outer raceway wall, the raceway rib extending radially inwardly from the outer race to a radial location located radially inwardly relative to a reference line extending directly between the geometric centers of each of the first and second plurality of roller elements, wherein the center of curvature for each of the first inner raceway wall and the first outer raceway wall is offset from the geometric center of each of the first plurality of roller elements, wherein an open axial gap is defined directly between the raceway rib and an outer circumference of the inner race along an axial length of the raceway rib defined between the first and second outer raceway walls.