Transmission / gearbox bearing
Rubber-and-metal gearbox bearings provide flexible mounting for the gearbox in the nacelle of wind turbines. They combine a damping rubber core with sturdy metal elements, thereby ensuring reliable power transmission while damping oscillations and vibrations. Thanks to their elastic properties, they reduce torsional vibrations in the drivetrain, minimize structure-borne noise and protect the gearbox and adjacent components from dynamic load spikes. This results in smoother turbine operation, reduced maintenance requirements and an extended service life for the gearbox, rotor and generator - which is particularly important for large onshore and offshore wind turbines.
Area of application
Rubber-metal gearbox bearings are used in wind turbines to provide flexible mounting for the gearbox in the nacelle. They dampen torsional and structural vibrations of the gearbox, isolate structure-borne noise and reduce load peaks caused by wind gusts, turbulence or variable rotor movements. They are used in particular in turbines with highly fluctuating torques, direct couplings between the rotor, gearbox and generator, as well as in offshore wind turbines, where there are increased requirements for vibration damping and load-bearing capacity. They are also used in multi-megawatt turbines to relieve stress on the drivetrain and extend its service life.
Technical details
Rubber-metal gearbox mounts provide flexible support for the gearbox within the nacelle of wind turbines and ensure reliable isolation from vibrations and dynamic loads. They consist of an elastic rubber core that effectively dampens torsional vibrations, structure-borne noise and structural vibrations, as well as integrated metal elements that ensure stable force transmission between the gearbox housing and the turbine frame. The vulcanized bond between rubber and metal creates a permanently strong, dimensionally stable unit with defined stiffness in the axial, radial and torsional directions. The mounts have a high dynamic load-carrying capacity, absorb load peaks in the drivetrain and thus protect the gearbox, generator, and rotor from excessive stress. At the same time, they are resistant to aging, low-maintenance and designed for use under varying temperature, load and environmental conditions - including offshore applications - which contributes to quiet plant operation and an extended service life for the entire wind turbine.
Characteristics
Rubber-and-metal gearbox bearings in wind turbines must reliably absorb high dynamic loads while effectively damping vibrations and structure-borne noise. Thanks to their elastic behavior in multiple directions, they can flexibly compensate for vertical and horizontal forces as well as torsional movements. The elastomer ensures effective reduction of low-frequency gear and structural vibrations, while the metal elements guarantee reliable power transmission. High resistance to aging, temperature, and ozone ensures that the bearings remain functional over the long term, even under extreme climatic fluctuations, humidity, or offshore conditions. Their high fatigue strength, low-maintenance design and precisely tuned stiffnesses help relieve stress on the drivetrain, reduce noise and significantly extend the service life of the wind turbine.