General Electric Company
Wind turbine bearings

Abstract:

In one aspect, a dual pitch bearing configuration for coupling a rotor blade to a hub of a wind turbine. The dual pitch bearing configuration including a first pitch bearing and at least one additional pitch bearing. The first pitch bearing and the and at least one additional pitch bearing are coupled to opposed surfaces of a static shaft. The at least one additional pitch bearing is disposed radially a distance L.sub.R and axially a distance L.sub.A from the first pitch bearing along the static shaft. The dual pitch bearing is disposed radially within a blade root of the rotor blade. The dual pitch bearing configuration minimizing moment loading on the first pitch bearing and the at least one additional pitch bearing. A wind turbine including the dual pitch bearing configuration is further disclosed.