Patent ID: 7180204

Claim:
A wind turbine generator comprising: a stator comprising a core and a plurality of stator windings extending axially away from said stator, said core and plurality of stator windings circumferentially spaced about a generator longitudinal axis; a rotor, positioned radially inwardly from said stator, rotatable about the generator longitudinal axis, said rotor comprising a plurality of magnetic elements coupled to a radially outer periphery of said rotor such that an airgap is defined between said stator windings and said magnetic elements, said a plurality of magnetic elements comprising a radially inner periphery having a first diameter; and a single bearing comprising a first member in rotatable engagement with a radially inner second member, said first member comprising a radially outer periphery, a diameter of the radially outer periphery of the first member being substantially equal to the first diameter to maintain a structurally short load path for transmitting loads such that relatively large loads may be accommodated without generating large bending moments, said rotor coupled to said stator through said single bearing such that a substantially uniform airgap is maintained.