OVERLOAD SLIP MECHANISM FOR THE YAW DRIVE ASSEMBLY OF A WIND TURBINE

摘要

A yaw drive assembly for a wind turbine has a releasable and re-engageable coupling operably configured between a drive gear that engages with a yaw bearing and the output of a gear assembly that is coupled to a drive motor. The coupling maintains a rotational drive engagement between the gear assembly output and drive gear up to a defined rotational torque, wherein the coupling disengages the gear assembly output from the drive gear. The coupling re-engages the gear assembly output to the drive gear upon the rotational torque decreasing to below the defined rotational torque.