Patent ID: 7579706

Claim:
A wind energy system having: a tower, a machine housing placed on the tower so as to rotate about an axis of said tower, the machine housing having a gear mechanism, a generator, a horizontal bearing, a slip ring arrangement, a brake, a rotor shaft front bearing, a rotor shaft rear bearing, a generator shaft front bearing, an oil pan and a generator shaft rear bearing integrated within said machine housing, the gear mechanism having a gear wheel, the gear wheel transferring lubricant from the oil pan to the gear mechanism and the generator front bearing; a rotor shaft, a first end of the rotor shaft extending vertically through the machine housing, a second end of the rotor shaft interfaced with the gear mechanism, and the rotor shaft rotatably supported by the rotor shaft front bearing and the rotor shaft rear bearing; a rotor mounted on the first end of the rotor shaft, the rotor having at least one rotor blade; the generator positioned above an oil pan, the generator having a generator shaft, a front end of the generator shaft interfaced with the gear mechanism and the brake seated on a rear end of the generator shaft, an abutment of the brake is firmly connected to the machine housing; wherein the machine housing is a cast part with a plurality of bearing seats and the rotor shaft front bearing, the rotor shaft rear bearing, the generator shaft front bearing, and the generator shaft rear bearing are seated in the machine housing.