General Electric Company
Journal bearing housing and shaft for a wind turbine drivetrain having corresponding deformation

Abstract:

A bearing assembly for a drivetrain of a wind turbine includes at least one shaft having a circumferential outer surface. The bearing assembly also includes a bearing housing arranged circumferentially around the circumferential outer surface of the shaft. The bearing housing having at least deformation such that the bearing housing and the shaft have a corresponding deformation around a toroidal axis such that interfacing surfaces of the bearing housing and the shaft flex together and remain parallel during operation of the drivetrain, thereby distributing operational loads of the drivetrain. The bearing assembly further includes a bearing housed at least partially within the bearing housing and engaging the circumferential outer surface of the shaft.