Roller Bearing, Retainer Segment, Spacer and Main Shaft Support Structure of Wind-Power Generator

Abstract

A roller bearing comprises an outer ring, an inner ring, a plurality of rollers arranged between the outer ring and the inner ring, and a plurality of retainer segments ( 11 a ) having a plurality of column parts ( 14 a ) and ( 14 b ) extending in a direction along a shaft so as to form a pocket ( 13 a ) for holding the roller, and connection parts ( 15 a ) and ( 15 b ) extending in a circumferential direction so as to connect the plurality of column parts ( 14 a ) and ( 14 b ), and continuously lined with each other in the circumferential direction between the outer ring and the inner ring. The column part ( 14 a ) is positioned at an circumferential end of the retainer segment ( 11 a ). Here, a circumferential outer side end face ( 21 a ) of the column part ( 14 a ) positioned at the end is flat, and a circumferential inner side end face ( 25 a ) of the column part ( 14 a ) positioned at said end is provided with a recess ( 23 a ) recessed in the circumferential direction so as to reduce the thickness of the column part ( 14 a ).

1 . A roller bearing comprising:
 an outer ring;   an inner ring;   a plurality of rollers arranged between said outer ring and said inner ring; and   a plurality of retainer segments having a plurality of column parts extending in a direction along a shaft so as to form a pocket for holding said roller, and a connection part extending in a circumferential direction so as to connect the plurality of column parts, and continuously lined with each other in the circumferential direction between said outer ring and said inner ring, wherein   said column part is positioned at circumferential each end of said retainer segment,   a circumferential outer side end face of said column part positioned at said each end is flat, and   a circumferential inner side end face of said column part positioned at said end is provided with a recess recessed in the circumferential direction so as to reduce the thickness of said column part.   
     
     
         2 . The roller bearing according to  claim 1 , wherein said recess has a roughly arc configuration. 
     
     
         3 . The roller bearing according to  claim 1 , wherein said recess is provided in the column part positioned at said each end. 
     
     
         4 . The roller bearing according to  claim 1 , wherein the column part having said recess is provided with a guide surface at a position in which said recess is not provided. 
     
     
         5 . The roller bearing according to  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a spacer arranged between the circumferentially arranged first retainer segment and last retainer segment.   
     
     
         6 . A retainer segment provided by splitting one annular retainer along a split line extending in a direction along a shaft so as to have at least one pocket for housing a roller, having:
 a plurality of column parts extending in the direction along the shaft so as to form the pocket for holding said roller; and   a connection part extending in a circumferential direction so as to connect the plurality of column parts, wherein   said column part is positioned at circumferential each end of said retainer segment,   a circumferential outer side end face of said column part positioned at said each end is flat, and   a circumferential outer side end face of said column part positioned at said end is provided with a recess recessed in the circumferential direction so as to reduce the thickness of said column part.   
     
     
         7 . A main shaft support structure of a wind-power generator comprising:
 a blade receiving wind power;   a main shaft having one end fixed to said blade and rotating together with the blade; and   a roller bearing incorporated in a fixing member and supporting said main shaft rotatably, wherein   said roller bearing comprises an outer ring; an inner ring; a plurality of rollers arranged between said outer ring and said inner ring; and a plurality of retainer segments having a plurality of column parts extending in a direction along the shaft so as to form a pocket for holding said roller, and a connection part extending in a circumferential direction so as to connect the plurality of column parts, and continuously lined with each other in the circumferential direction between said outer ring and said inner ring,   said column part is positioned at circumferential each end of said retainer segment,   a circumferential outer side end face of said column part positioned at said each end is flat, and   a circumferential outer side end face of said column part positioned at said end is provided with a recess recessed in the circumferential direction so as to reduce the thickness of said column part.   
     
     
         8 . A roller bearing comprising:
 an outer ring;   an inner ring;   a plurality of rollers arranged between said outer ring and said inner ring; and   a plurality of retainer segments having a plurality of column parts extending in a direction along a shaft so as to form a pocket for holding said roller, and a connection part extending in a circumferential direction so as to connect the plurality of column parts, and continuously lined with each other in the circumferential direction between said outer ring and said inner ring, wherein   said column part is positioned at circumferential each end of said retainer segment,   a circumferential outer side of said column part positioned at said end is provided with an expansion part expanding in the circumferential direction and a circumferential inner side thereof is provided with a recess recessed in the circumferential direction.   
     
     
         9 . The roller bearing according to  claim 8 , wherein
 said expansion part has a roughly arc configuration.   
     
     
         10 . The roller bearing according to  claim 8 , wherein
 said recess has substantially the same configuration as that of said expansion part.   
     
     
         11 . The roller bearing according to  claim 8 , wherein
 said expansion part and said recess are provided at the column part positioned at said each end.   
     
     
         12 . The roller bearing according to  claim 8 , wherein
 the column part having said expansion part and said recess is provided with a guide surface at a position in which said recess is not provided.   
     
     
         13 . The roller bearing according to  claim 8 , further comprising:
 a spacer arranged between the circumferentially arranged first retainer segment and last retainer segment.   
     
     
         14 . A retainer segment provided by splitting one annular retainer along a split line extending in a direction along a shaft so as to have at least one pocket for housing a roller, having:
 a plurality of column parts extending in the direction along the shaft so as to form the pocket for holding said roller; and   a connection part extending in a circumferential direction so as to connect the plurality of column parts, wherein   said column part is positioned at circumferential each end of said retainer segment, and   a circumferential outer side of said column part positioned at said end is provided with an expansion part expanding in a circumferential direction and a circumferential inner side thereof is provided with a recess recessed in the circumferential direction.   
     
     
         15 . A main shaft support structure of a wind-power generator comprising:
 a blade receiving wind power;   a main shaft having one end fixed to said blade and rotating together with the blade; and   a roller bearing incorporated in a fixing member and supporting said main shaft rotatably, wherein   said roller bearing comprises an outer ring; an inner ring; a plurality of rollers arranged between said outer ring and said inner ring; and a plurality of retainer segments having a plurality of column parts extending in a direction along the shaft so as to form a pocket for holding said roller, and a connection part extending in a circumferential direction so as to connect the plurality of column parts, and continuously lined with each other in the circumferential direction between said outer ring and said inner ring,   said column part is positioned at circumferential each end of said retainer segment, and   a circumferential outer side of said column part positioned at said end is provided with an expansion part expanding in the circumferential direction and a circumferential inner side thereof is provided with a recess recessed in the circumferential direction.   
     
     
         16 . A roller bearing comprising:
 an outer ring;   an inner ring;   a plurality of rollers arranged between said outer ring and said inner ring; and   a plurality of retainer segments having a plurality of column parts extending in a direction along a shaft so as to form a pocket for holding said roller, and a connection part extending in a circumferential direction so as to connect the plurality of column parts, and continuously lined with each other in the circumferential direction between said outer ring and said inner ring, in which a corner of a circumferential end face is chamfered.   
     
     
         17 . The roller bearing according to  claim 16 , wherein said chamfered part is provided at an radial corner of said end face. 
     
     
         18 . The roller bearing according to  claim 16 , wherein said end face expands in the circumferential direction from its corner to center. 
     
     
         19 . The roller bearing according to  claim 16 , wherein said end face is provided with a crowning. 
     
     
         20 . The roller bearing according to  claim 16 , further comprising:
 a spacer arranged between the circumferentially arranged first retainer segment and last retainer segment and having a chamfered part at a corner of a circumferential spacer end face.   
     
     
         21 . A retainer segment provided by splitting one annular retainer along a split line extending in a direction along a shaft so as to have at least one pocket for housing a roller, having:
 a plurality of column parts extending in the direction along the shaft so as to form the pocket for holding said roller; and   a connection part extending in a circumferential direction so as to connect the plurality of column parts, wherein   a chamfered part is provided at a corner of a circumferential end face.   
     
     
         22 . A spacer arranged between the circumferentially arranged first retainer segment and last retainer segment, wherein
 a chamfered part is provided at a corner of a circumferential spacer end face.   
     
     
         23 . A main shaft support structure of a wind-power generator comprising:
 a blade receiving wind power;   a main shaft having one end fixed to said blade and rotating together with the blade; and   a roller bearing incorporated in a fixing member and supporting said main shaft rotatably, wherein   said roller bearing comprises an outer ring; an inner ring; a plurality of rollers arranged between said outer ring and said inner ring; and a plurality of retainer segments having a plurality of column parts extending in a direction along the shaft so as to form a pocket for holding said roller, and a connection part extending in a circumferential direction so as to connect the plurality of column parts, and continuously lined with each other in the circumferential direction between said outer ring and said inner ring, in which a chamfered part is provided at a corner of a circumferential end face.