Gearbox Noise Insulation for Wind Turbines
82 patents in this list
Updated:
Wind turbine gearboxes generate significant mechanical noise and vibrations, with typical sound pressure levels reaching 85-95 dB inside the nacelle. These vibrations propagate through the drivetrain and tower structure, creating both airborne and structure-borne noise that affects turbine reliability and nearby communities.
The fundamental challenge lies in isolating gearbox vibrations while maintaining the precise alignment and load-bearing capacity needed for power transmission.
This page brings together solutions from recent research—including elastomeric damping systems, specialized shock absorber configurations, adjustable support frames, and layered vibration isolation structures. These and other approaches focus on practical implementation strategies that improve both acoustic performance and maintenance accessibility while ensuring drivetrain stability.
1. Gear Reducer Housing with Dual-Shell Structure and Integrated Noise Reduction Component
CHANGZHOU ZHEMENG MACHINERY MANUFACTURING CO LTD, CHANGZHOU ZHEMENG MACHINERY MFG CO LTD, 2024
Noise reduction box structure for gear reducers that significantly reduces noise levels compared to conventional reducer housings. The structure has a base with an inner shell and an outer shell, with a noise reduction component installed between them. The component has a docking plate, sound-absorbing plate, and heat dissipation plate fixed inside the gap. The sound-absorbing plate has perforations filled with sound insulation cotton. The heat dissipation plate has corrugated sections connected by hollow aluminum blocks. This cavity-mounted noise reduction component absorbs and dissipates noise inside the gearbox.
2. Wind Turbine Resonance Control Device with Rotating Vibration Sensor and Adjustable Fan Blade Angle
SUZHOU FENGHUA WIND POWER EQUIPMENT MAINTENANCE CO LTD, 2024
A resonance control device for wind turbines to reduce vibrations and noise. It consists of a housing with sound-absorbing material, a vibration sensor, and a rotating block. The vibration sensor detects turbine vibrations and transmits the signal to a steering gear. This gear adjusts the fan blade angle to counteract the vibrations and prevent resonance. The rotating block allows the sensor and gear to rotate with the turbine. The housing absorbs noise from the turbine. This setup reduces vibrations and noise by actively mitigating resonance.
3. Wind Turbine Gearbox Output Shaft with Tuned Mass Damper Incorporating Circumferentially Movable Mass Block
GOLDWIND SCIENCE & TECH CO LTD, GOLDWIND SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY CO LTD, 2024
Transmission system for wind turbines that reduces high-frequency vibration and improves fatigue life. The system uses a tuned mass damper on the output shaft of the gearbox to absorb torsional vibrations. The damper has a mass block that can move relative to the shaft circumferentially. The mass block has a torsional stiffness matched to the output shaft's torsional stiffness. This provides a resonant frequency matching to absorb vibrations. The damper also has elastic and damping elements to allow motion. The damper rotates with the shaft and absorbs torsional vibrations in its own circumferential direction.
4. Gear Spokes with Dual-Layer Web Structure Comprising Inner Sub-Webs and Outer Web
HAOZHI TECH ELECTRIC DRIVE TONGCHENG CO LTD, HAOZHI TECHNOLOGY ELECTRIC DRIVE CO LTD, 2024
A two-layer web structure for gear spokes that reduces noise and improves NVH performance in gearboxes. The spokes have an inner and outer web surrounding the gear axis. The inner web is divided into equally spaced sub-webs between adjacent outer web gaps. This two-layer configuration provides a stronger and stiffer gear spoke compared to a single web. The improved spoke stiffness reduces gear misalignment and transmission error, which lowers gear noise and improves overall NVH levels.
5. Gear Assembly with Wear-Resistant Shells, Anti-Slip Rubber Plugs, and Sound-Absorbing Tubes
XINJIANG UNIV, XINJIANG UNIVERSITY, 2024
Noise reduction gear with features like wear-resistant shells, anti-slip rubber plugs with sound-absorbing tubes, and threaded holes for easy replacement of the wear-resistant shells. The wear-resistant shells reduce noise from gear tooth collisions, the anti-slip rubber plugs with sound-absorbing tubes further absorb noise, and the threaded holes make it easy to replace the wear-resistant shells.
6. Wind Power Gearbox Elastic Support Device with Elastic Connections and Adjustable Base Assembly
DATANG CHIFENG NEW ENERGY CO LTD, DATANG NEW ENERGY CO LTD, 2024
Elastic support device for wind power gearbox to reduce vibrations and improve reliability. The device uses a combination of elastic connections between the gearbox housing and base member, as well as an elastic support for the input shaft. The housing has front and rear connecting seats with elastic plates below. The base has corresponding seats. The input shaft has an elastic sleeve and buffer plate. An adjustable assembly on the base provides elastic support for the gearbox housing.
7. Gear Assembly with Integrated Noise Reduction and Thermal Management Components
HANGZHOU JUNPAI WINDOW DECORATION CO LTD, 2023
Gear assembly with noise reduction features to mitigate gear vibration and noise during operation. The assembly includes a gear body, a noise reducing positioning component, a buffering heat-conducting component, and a thermally conductive rubber column. The noise reducing positioning component attaches to one side of the gear body and has a positioning opening. The buffering heat-conducting component connects to the positioning component and absorbs heat from the gear body. The rubber column is embedded in the gear body wall to further absorb heat and deformation. This setup helps reduce gear noise by fixing, buffering, and absorbing forces that can cause vibrations and noise during gear operation.
8. Generator Torque Modulation for Gearbox Vibration Cancellation in Wind Turbines
VESTAS WIND SYSTEMS AS, 2023
Reducing noise from wind turbine gearbox vibrations by controlling generator torque. The method involves optimizing generator torque modulation to match and cancel out vibrations from gear meshing. By adjusting the phase and amplitude of the torque signal, the generator's torque can be made to match and counteract the gearbox vibrations. This reduces the overall vibration level and therefore noise. The optimization is done by measuring generator speed and gearbox vibrations, and iteratively finding the torque settings that minimize total vibration. The optimized torque settings are then used during turbine operation.
9. Wind Turbine Vibration Control System with Selective Actuator Activation Based on Operating Conditions
VESTAS WIND SYSTEMS AS, 2023
Controlling airborne tonal noise generated by wind turbine components like gearboxes by optimizing vibration control systems. The method involves selectively activating vibration control actuators based on wind turbine operating conditions to reduce component vibrations and tonal noise. This prevents unnecessary actuator usage and energy consumption for vibrations that don't lead to tonal noise. It also avoids situations where actuator oscillations reduce vibrations but increase tonal noise. The actuator selection and amplitude are adjusted based on machine learning or manual calibration to find the optimal trade-off between vibration reduction and tonal noise suppression.
10. Damping Plate Structure with Integrated Cushioning Pads for Gearbox Vibration Isolation
LIU JIANG, 2023
Vibration and noise reduction structure for wind turbine gearboxes to mitigate the high vibration and noise levels generated by the gearbox. The structure uses specialized damping plates with integrated cushioning pads to isolate and absorb vibrations between the gearbox and the frame. The damping plates extend along the gearbox length and have protrusions with flanges on one end that fit into matching holes on the gearbox housing. The cushioning pads are sandwiched between the protrusions and flanges when the gearbox is installed. This allows softer contact between the pads instead of the hard contact between the main body flanges. The pads provide additional vibration damping between the gearbox and frame compared to just the main body flanges.
11. Multi-Planet Gear Transmission Gearbox with Integrated Vibration Damping and Temperature Monitoring
HANGZHOU LINJIANG QIANJIN GEARBOX CO LTD, 2023
Wind power generation gearbox with improved damping and shock absorption to reduce vibrations and noise. The gearbox has a multi-planet gear transmission with primary and secondary planetary assemblies. The primary assembly connects to the main shaft and secondary assembly has an output shaft. The gearbox also has features like oil brush rings, a spring-loaded support base, and counterweight blocks to absorb vibrations and improve stability. A temperature sensor on the rear cover monitors internal temperatures. The improved damping and stability reduces gearbox failures and extends overall equipment life.
12. Gear Assembly with Sleeved Body and Securing Rods for Noise Reduction in Transmission Systems
YANCHENG DONGKUI TECH CO LTD, YANCHENG DONGKUI TECHNOLOGY CO LTD, 2022
A noise reduction gear for reducers to eliminate noise caused by wear and gaps between gears and transmission shafts over time. The gear has a sleeved body that fits over the transmission shaft. Fixed rings on the shaft have fastening rods and restricting rods to secure the sleeved body in place. This prevents relative movement between the gear and shaft that creates noise from wear.
13. Modular Vibration-Damping Support Structure with Sliding Table and Integrated Monitoring for Wind Turbine Gearboxes
LIAONING INSTITUTE OF SCIENCE AND TECH, LIAONING INSTITUTE OF SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY, 2022
Vibration-damping support structure for wind turbine gearboxes that allows easier maintenance, fault detection and reduction of vibrations. The structure has a box with slide rails and electric sliders inside. A sliding table is sandwiched between the sliders. The gearbox sits on a connecting seat on top of the sliding table. This setup allows the gearbox to slide and pivot slightly to dampen vibrations. A vibration sensor, noise detector and remote transfer module are installed to monitor gearbox health. This allows remote fault diagnosis and proactive maintenance. The modular design allows easy removal and replacement of the gearbox without disassembling the entire support structure.
14. Planetary Gear with Elastomer-Integrated Gear Segments for Vibration Decoupling
FM ENERGIE GMBH & CO KG, FM ENERGIE GMBH & CO.KG, 2022
A planetary gear for use in machines like wind turbines that reduces radial and torsional vibration-induced noise. The gear has an outer transmission flange on each end and a fixed ring gear between them. To decouple radial and torsional vibrations, the gear segments have elastomer elements sandwiched between them. These elements are flexible in the radial and torsional directions but rigid axially, providing insulation against structure-borne noise. The ring gear diameter is smaller than the gearbox housing diameter to prevent contact between the ring gear and housing. This allows the elastomer elements to separate the ring gear from the housing and further decouple vibrations.
15. Gearbox with Noise Source Identification and Targeted Vibration Damping Mechanisms
ZHEJIANG INDUSTRIAL UNIV, ZHEJIANG INDUSTRIAL UNIVERSITY, 2022
Vibration and noise reduction gearbox design that uses noise source identification to isolate and dampen specific gear meshing vibrations. The gearbox has a case with parallel input and output shafts, gears, bearings, and a vibration damping pad on the output shaft head. Plates with raised structures connect the gear sides to the case. Sound-absorbing plates inside the case. Microphones around the box locate noise sources. This allows targeted damping and isolation of specific gear meshing vibrations to reduce overall gearbox noise.
16. Three-Stage Gear Reducer with Parallel Shaft Arrangement and Noise-Reducing Internal Baffle System
REYNOD TRANSMISSION SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY LIMITED CO, REYNOD ZHEJIANG TRANS SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY LIMITED CO, 2022
A three-stage gear reducer with reduced noise and shock compared to conventional designs. The reducer has a housing with input, output, and intermediate shafts arranged in parallel. The shafts connect to a mounting baffle inside the housing. The baffle has silencing holes with energy absorbing rings and covered with noise-reducing asbestos mesh. This internal baffle and shock absorbing structure helps reduce noise and vibrations in the reducer.
17. Compound Gear with Shock-Absorbing Grooves, Sound-Absorbing Wheel, and Replaceable Tooth Sections
METALLOCENE PREC MANUFACTURING SUZHOU CO, METALLOCENE PRECISION MANUFACTURING CO, 2022
Compound noise reduction gear with multiple features to reduce gear noise. The gear has a body with positioning holes at the ends, shock-absorbing grooves on the sides, and a sound-absorbing wheel at one end. The wheel has a connecting shaft with internal and external threads. The other end of the body connects to a noise reduction wheel on a mounting shaft. This allows replacing worn tooth sections instead of the whole gear, reducing waste. The shock-absorbing grooves and plates with springs dampen vibrations. The sound-absorbing wheel further reduces noise when meshed with other gears.
18. Gear Reducer Noise Reduction Shell with Sound-Gathering Cavities and Absorbing Rods
JIANGSU JINHUAI REDUCER CO LTD, 2022
Noise reduction device for gear reducers that significantly reduces the noise generated by gearboxes in applications like automation equipment. The device is installed around the outside of the gear reducer motor and has multiple sound-gathering cavities inside the noise reduction shell. Above each cavity is a sound-absorbing annular cavity with fixed sound-absorbing rods that have outer protrusions. The inner walls have sound-absorbing balls connected by lines. This design captures and absorbs vibrations and impacts from the gearbox to reduce noise. Additionally, the device has features to cushion and isolate the motor from external forces.
19. Gearbox with Movable Gear Mounts in Isolated Cavities for Vibration Damping
HANGZHOU SHENGZE HARDWARE CO LTD, 2022
Low-noise, high reduction ratio gearbox for machines like motors and drives. The gearbox has a unique housing design with separate cavities for the gears. The gears are mounted on movable inner surfaces within the cavities instead of being fixed to the housing. This allows the gears to float and isolate vibrations from the housing. The cavities have openings to each other and to the exterior, enabling oil flow and cooling. The floating gears reduce noise compared to fixed gears due to isolation from the housing.
20. Gear with Elastic-Filled Tooth Gaps and Internal Sound-Absorbing Cavity
GAOYOU JINGBIAO GEAR MANUFACTURING CO LTD, GAOYOU JINGBIAO GEAR MFG CO LTD, 2022
A noise reduction gear design to reduce the noise generated by gear meshing. The gear has teeth with gaps filled with elastic material. This cushions the contact between teeth and reduces vibrations and noise. The gear body also has an internal mounting hole with an assembly hole. This allows noise-reducing material like sound-absorbing cotton to be inserted into the gear body cavity through the assembly hole. This further improves noise reduction by absorbing vibrations inside the gear.
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