公开(公告)号：US20240209830A1

公开(公告)日：2024-06-27

申请号：US18531818

申请日：2023-12-07

Applicant: Vestas Wind Systems A/S

Inventor： Stephen Randall ,  Gurmukh Singh

IPC: F03D1/06 ,  F03D13/10

CPC classification number: F03D1/0675 ,  F03D1/0688 ,  F03D1/069 ,  F03D13/10 ,  F05B2220/30 ,  F05B2230/60 ,  F05B2240/221

Abstract: A wind turbine blade comprising a leeward shell portion and a windward shell portion, each of the shell portions extending in a chordwise direction between a leading edge and a trailing edge of the wind turbine blade; a leading reinforcement arrangement comprising at least a leading leeward reinforcement structure engaging the leeward shell portion and a leading windward reinforcement structure engaging the windward shell portion; and a trailing reinforcement arrangement comprising at least a trailing leeward reinforcement structure engaging the leeward shell portion and a trailing windward reinforcement structure engaging the windward shell portion. The trailing windward reinforcement structure has a first stiffness in the lengthwise direction and the trailing leeward reinforcement structure has a second stiffness in the lengthwise direction, wherein the first stiffness is greater than the second stiffness at a chordwise plane of the wind turbine blade.

公开(公告)号：US11326576B2

公开(公告)日：2022-05-10

申请号：US16633003

申请日：2018-07-24

Applicant: Vestas Wind Systems A/S

Inventor： Stephen Randall

IPC: F03D1/06 ,  B29D99/00 ,  B29L31/08 ,  B64C3/18

Abstract: A shear web foot for a wind turbine blade is described. The shear web foot extends longitudinally and comprises a base for attaching to an internal surface of the blade and first and second side walls. The side walls extend respectively from opposite longitudinal sides of the base. At least part of each side wall is inclined relative to the base and inclined towards the other side wall. A web-foot interior is defined at least in part by the base and the first and second side walls. One or more internal walls are located in the web-foot interior. The one or more internal walls extend between the base and the first and/or second side walls and are spaced apart from the first and second side walls to define a plurality of chambers within the web-foot interior.

公开(公告)号：US11118561B2

公开(公告)日：2021-09-14

申请号：US15034733

申请日：2014-11-04

Applicant: Vestas Wind Systems A/S

Inventor： Stephen Randall

IPC: F03D1/06

Abstract: A modular wind turbine blade is described. The blade has at least a first blade module and a second blade module connected to end to end. An interface is defined between the respective modules. The blade further comprises at least one longitudinally extending spar structure that forms part of the outer shells of the first and second blade modules when the modules are connected. The or each spar structure is substantially continuous and extends across the interface between the first and second blade modules when the modules are connected. The or each spar structure is integrated with the first blade module and the spar structure is folded or coiled to facilitate transportation of the module. The second blade module includes channels defined in the outer shell for receiving the or each spar structure when the modules are connected. In this way the spar structures also form part of the outer shell of the second module. A method of assembling the modular blade and a method of installing a wind turbine having a modular blade are also described.

公开(公告)号：US20190270261A1

公开(公告)日：2019-09-05

申请号：US16349749

申请日：2017-11-15

Applicant: Vestas Wind Systems A/S

Inventor： Stephen Randall

IPC: B29C70/34 ,  F03D1/06 ,  B29C70/44 ,  B29C70/52 ,  B29C70/54 ,  B29D99/00

Abstract: A reinforcing structure for a wind turbine blade A reinforcing structure for a wind turbine blade (12) is described. The reinforcing structure comprises one or more pultruded strips (42C) having spanwise grooves (54). The grooves (54) impart transverse flexibility to the strips (42C), allowing the strips (42C) to conform to the curvature of a wind turbine blade mould (44). An associated method of making a reinforcing structure for a wind turbine blade (12) is described. The method comprises providing an elongate mould (44) extending in a longitudinal direction and defining a mould surface at least part of which is concave-curved in transverse cross section. One or more pultruded strips (42C) with spanwise grooves (54) are arranged in the mould (44) to form the reinforcing structure. The pultruded strip(s) are bent along the grooves (54) so that they substantially conform to the transverse curvature of the mould surface. In preferred embodiments the reinforcing structure is a spar cap (36)

公开(公告)号：US09683545B2

公开(公告)日：2017-06-20

申请号：US14404372

申请日：2013-05-28

Applicant: Vestas Wind Systems A/S

Inventor： Stephen Randall

IPC: B29C70/68 ,  F03D1/00 ,  B29D99/00 ,  F03D1/06 ,  B29C70/34 ,  F03D13/10 ,  B29L31/08 ,  B29K63/00 ,  B29K105/08 ,  B29K309/08

CPC classification number: F03D13/10 ,  B29C70/34 ,  B29C70/68 ,  B29D99/0025 ,  B29K2063/00 ,  B29K2105/089 ,  B29K2309/08 ,  B29L2031/085 ,  F03D1/0675 ,  Y02E10/721 ,  Y02P70/523 ,  Y10T156/10

Abstract: A structural shell for a wind turbine blade is formed from one or more elongate reinforcing members, each in the form of a stack (3) of pultruded fibrous composite strips positioned between two layers of structural foam (4). The foam layers (4) have a thickness which is greater than that of the stack (3). The edges of the foam layers (4) are formed with a void (11). With the stack (3) and foam layers (4) positioned in a mould, a strip of pre-cured glass fibre (5) is placed on the stack (3) and the edges of the foam layers (4). A vacuum is applied to the stack (3) and the foam layers (4), causing the glass fibre strip (5) to press on the stack (3) and foam layers (4) and to conform to the underlying surfaces. As a result, the void (11) is reduced in size and the step-shaped transition between the surfaces of the stack (2) and the foam layers (4) transformed into a smooth transition, so as to reduce the stresses within the glass fibre strip (5) in the region of the abutment of the stack (3) and the foam layers (4). In other embodiments, the stepped transition is smoothened by replacing the upper-edge region of each foam layer (4) with a strip of low-stiffness foam.

公开(公告)号：US09221379B2

公开(公告)日：2015-12-29

申请号：US14802396

申请日：2015-07-17

Applicant: VESTAS WIND SYSTEMS A/S

Inventor： Stephen Randall

IPC: B60P7/08 ,  B60P3/40 ,  B60P7/12 ,  F03D1/00

CPC classification number: B60P3/40 ,  B60P7/12 ,  F03D1/00 ,  F03D13/40

Abstract: A method of transporting a wind turbine blade with a curved central longitudinal axis includes loading the wind turbine blade onto a transportation device including first and second support bearings. The wind turbine blade is loaded in a first orientation in which the curved central longitudinal axis is located in a generally vertical plane. When the transportation device is preparing to turn, the wind turbine blade is rotated to a second orientation before or during turning such that the curved central longitudinal axis is located in a generally horizontal plane and bends around the turn. As a result, the curved wind turbine blade and transportation device can traverse tighter curves and turns during travel to an assembly site or quayside.