Abstract:
For fixating a blade segment (1a) of a rotor blade of a wind turbine to a mould (20a), in which the blade segment is manufactured, a fixing device (10) is provided comprising a first portion (11) for selectively applying a clamping force on the fixating extension and a second portion (12) for fixating the fixing device to the mould. In the fixing device (10) one of the first and second portions comprises a cylinder portion (15a) with a threaded structure, and a threaded abutment structure (15b) encircling the cylinder portion and engaging its threaded structure. The respective other portion comprises an aperture (14) and a recess with a second abutment structure (16a) within the aperture. The aperture (14) is adapted to receive the cylinder portion (15a) such that the cylinder portion (15a) protrudes the aperture (14) along its cylinder axis, and the second abutment structure (16a) is adapted to engage and exert a force on the threaded abutment structure (15b) in a direction parallel to the cylinder axis. One of the first and second portions (11,12) comprises a lateral opening (18) allowing a retaining web (19a) of the respective other portion to abut therein.
Abstract:
A method of making a wind turbine blade is described. The blade comprises first (12) and second (14) half shells bonded together and a shear web (16) bonded inside the shells. Prior to joining the shells together, the shear web is positioned in one of the shells. A plurality of bars (70) are attached to the shear web and engaged with a plurality of mounts (80) in order to support and stabilise the shear web relative to that shell. The shells are then arranged one above the other whilst the bars remain attached to the shear web. The bars continue to support the shear web whilst the shear web is aligned with the other shell. The bars are then detached from the shear web and the shells are brought together to bond the shells to each other and to bond the shear web between the shells.
Abstract:
Transport frame pair configured for transporting a wind turbine blade, said frame pair comprising a tip frame and a root frame, each said tip and root frame being stackable with identical frames for blade transport or storage, each one of said tip and root frame comprising four upright frame struts which together define a generally cuboid internal space having a longitudinal extent between two pairs of said upright struts; said tip frame comprising a tip saddle assembly within said generally cuboid internal space, and said root frame comprising a root saddle assembly within said generally cuboid internal space, and wherein said root frame is configured to prohibit a translation movement of said root saddle assembly in a longitudinal direction of a blade supported in a root saddle of said root saddle assembly; and wherein said tip frame allows a translation movement of said tip saddle assembly in a longitudinal direction of a blade supported in a tip saddle of said tip saddle assembly. The longitudinal extent of the root frame may be more than twenty percent greater than the longitudinal extent of the tip frame.
Abstract:
A method of transporting a blade for a wind turbine generator, includes attaching a blade root support frame to a root flange of the blade and attaching a blade spanwise support frame to a spanwise portion of the blade, connecting a first wheel base to the spanwise support frame, and connecting a transport unit to the root support frame. In another aspect, the blades may be stacked by use of the support frames without use of further equipment.
Abstract:
An aspect of the invention involves a method of transporting a blade for a wind turbine generator, the method comprising attaching a blade root support frame to a root flange of the blade and attaching a blade spanwise support frame to a spanwise portion of the blade as well as connecting a first wheel base to the spanwise support frame, and connecting a transport unit to the root support frame, where the transport unit includes a carrying structure and a second wheel base with at least one axle and two wheels, and where the transport unit before being connected to the root support frame, is moved into a position partly underneath the blade root, and where the second wheel base is underneath the blade and the carrying structure is underneath the root support frame. As the transport unit is moved into a position underneath the blade, such that the second wheel base is underneath the blade and the carrying structure is underneath the root support frame, the load from the root end of the blade is distributed between a truck or tractor, which is used for the transport, and the second wheel base, which lowers the axle pressure of the truck or tractor. Moreover, as the carrying structure is underneath the root support frame, only vertical load may be applied from the transport unit, such that forces and torque applied on the blade are substantially decreased compared to the known art. A second aspect involves that blades may be stacked by use of the support frames without use of further equipment.
Abstract:
A method of making a wind turbine blade is described. The blade comprises first (12) and second (14) half shells bonded together and a shear web (16) bonded inside the shells. Prior to joining the shells together, the shear web is positioned in one of the shells. A plurality of bars (70) are attached to the shear web and engaged with a plurality of mounts (80) in order to support and stabilise the shear web relative to that shell. The shells are then arranged one above the other whilst the bars remain attached to the shear web. The bars continue to support the shear web whilst the shear web is aligned with the other shell. The bars are then detached from the shear web and the shells are brought together to bond the shells to each other and to bond the shear web between the shells.
Abstract:
Transport frame and method; the transport frame having a longitudinal, lateral and upright extent, and configured for transporting a root end of a longitudinally extending wind turbine blade having a root face with protruding stud-bolts, said frame comprising a root saddle, said frame further comprising a releasable interface clamp configured for fixing a said blade root in said frame, said interface clamp extending from a forward nose through a rear hinge point in said root frame and, said interface clamp comprising a body with a forward abutment surface and a bearing surface rearward of said abutment surface, said body being hingedly movable into or out of engagement with one or more stud bolts protruding from the root face of a blade when positioned in said saddle, said interface clamp having a retracted position with its body away from said blade root face and away from said protruding stud-bolts, said interface clamp having an engagement position in which its said bearing surface extends transverse and adjacent to one or more said stud-bolts such that a tightening force applied to a said bearing surface pushes said abutment surface against said root face.
Abstract:
Transport frame and method; the transport frame having a longitudinal, lateral and upright extent, and being configured for receiving a tip or root portion of a longitudinally extending wind turbine blade, said frame being stackable with similar frames, said frame comprising four upright frame struts which together define a generally cuboid internal space having a longitudinal extent between two pairs of said upright struts; said frame having, within said generally cuboid internal space, a tip or root saddle assembly comprising a saddle with a support surface shaped to receive a respective blade root or tip; said frame furthermore having four top shoulders and four feet, said feet of said frame being conformed to be stackable on corresponding said shoulders of another frame; and wherein said frame, proximate one or more said top or bottom corner thereof, comprises a retractable arm arrangement; wherein said frame further comprises, proximate at least one said top or bottom corner thereof, a claw arrangement; said retractable arm arrangement being configured to fixingly engage a corresponding claw arrangement at an adjacent similar frame in a stacked arrangement of the frames.
Abstract:
The invention proposes a device (1000) and a method for storing and transporting a wind turbine blade (100). The blade (100) is inserted between an upper structure (220) and a lower structure (240) applying a clamping force on the blade surface. The magnitude of the clamping force can be adjusted by way of a device (400) comprising an elastic member (440) arranged between the upper structure (220) and the lower structure (240) during operation. The magnitude of the elastic force exerted by the elastic element (420) is proportional to the magnitude of the clamping force. Furthermore, the magnitude of the elastic force linearly depends on the amount of compression of the elastic element (440) with respect to a characteristic rest length.
Abstract:
For fixating a blade segment (1a) of a rotor blade of a wind turbine to a mould (20a), in which the blade segment is manufactured, a fixing device (10) is provided comprising a first portion (11) for selectively applying a clamping force on the fixating extension and a second portion (12) for fixating the fixing device to the mould. In the fixing device (10) one of the first and second portions comprises a cylinder portion (15a) with a threaded structure, and a threaded abutment structure (15b) encircling the cylinder portion and engaging its threaded structure. The respective other portion comprises an aperture (14) and a recess with a second abutment structure (16a) within the aperture. The aperture (14) is adapted to receive the cylinder portion (15a) such that the cylinder portion (15a) protrudes the aperture (14) along its cylinder axis, and the second abutment structure (16a) is adapted to engage and exert a force on the threaded abutment structure (15b) in a direction parallel to the cylinder axis. One of the first and second portions (11,12) comprises a lateral opening (18) allowing a retaining web (19a) of the respective other portion to abut therein.