The effects of non-torque loads on a three-point suspension gearbox for wind turbines

Summary The effects of non‐torque loads on the load sharing and distribution of planet gears for wind turbine gearboxes were investigated through a scaled‐down model experiment. The experiment model was a 35‐kW class gearbox of size one‐fourth that of a 2‐MW class three‐point suspension gearbox. The three components—axial force, radial force, and moment—were applied as non‐torque loads. The strain near the tooth root of the ring gear at the low‐speed planetary gearset was measured for the purpose of this study. The results obtained by applying only torque and by applying each non‐torque load along with the torque were compared, and the mesh load factor and face load factor were used as indicators of the load sharing and distribution of planet gears, respectively. As a result, the load sharing became non‐uniform when radial force and moments were added, resulting in increased mesh load factor about 3%. However, the effect of axial force was insignificant because the mesh load factor was unchanged. The load distribution on the tooth face width did not show a clear difference for the non‐torque loads because the face load factors did not show a clear difference among loading conditions. Copyright © 2015 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. The effects of non‐torque loads on the load sharing and distribution of planet gears for wind turbine gearboxes were investigated, using the experimental model of a 35‐kW class gearbox of size one‐fourth that of a 2‐MW class three‐point suspension gearbox. As a result, the load sharing became non‐uniform when radial force and moments were added, while the effect of axial force was insignificant. The load distribution of the tooth face width did not show a clear difference for the non‐torque loads.