General Electric Company
Planet carrier of a wind turbine gearbox with improved lubricant path

Abstract:

A gearbox assembly includes a gearbox housing and a planetary gear system configured within the gearbox housing. The planetary gear system includes a plurality of planet gears, at least one sun gear, at least one ring gear, at least one planetary carrier operatively coupled with the plurality of planet gears, and a plurality of pin shafts. Each of the plurality of planet gears are arranged so as to rotate around one of the plurality of pin shafts. Further, the plurality of planet gears are engaged with the ring gear and configured to rotate about the sun gear. The gearbox assembly also includes a first lubricant path defined from a first location to a second location through the at least one planetary carrier. Moreover, the first lubricant path is located outside of the plurality of pin shafts.