Patent ID: 8172531

Claim:
A plain bearing assembly for mounting a rotor blade to a rotor hub of a wind turbine, comprising: an outer member configured to be mounted to one of the blade or the hub of the wind turbine and including an annular cavity; an inner member configured to be mounted to the other of the blade or the hub of the wind turbine and positioned in the annular cavity so that the inner and outer members are movable relative to each other; a plurality of fluid cavities associated with one of the outer or inner member, the cavities confronting the other of the outer or inner member, wherein the fluid cavities are configured to be operatively coupled to a fluid supply and a pressure source for establishing a pressurized fluid film between the inner and outer members, the fluid film configured to support the loading of the blades so as to maintain separation of the inner and outer members, but yet allow relative movement therebetween.