AU2007249145A1 - A hinged tower - Google Patents

Description

AUSTRALIA

In t\ PATENTS ACT 1990 COMPLETE SPECIFICATION FOR A STANDARD PATENT (Original) APPLICATION NO:

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COMPLETE SPECIFICATION LODGED:

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RELATED ART: NAME OF APPLICANT: Leon David Shier ACTUAL INVENTOR(S): Leon David Shier ADDRESS FOR SERVICE: INVENTION TITLE: LORD AND COMPANY, Patent and Trade Mark Attorneys, of 4 Douro Place, West Perth, Western Australia, 6005, AUSTRALIA.

"A HINGED TOWER" DETAILS OF ASSOCIATED PROVISIONAL APPLICATION NO'S: Australian Provisional Patent Application Number 2006907112 filed on 21 December 2006 The following Statement is a full description of this invention including the best method of performing it known to me/us: C-I TITLE a "A HINGED TOWER" FIELD OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to a tower especially a windmill tower.

c-i 0BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION Conventional windmills are rigid and immovable structures which render the servicing and maintenance of windmill heads both difficult and hazardous. Maintenance of a conventional windmill generally involves a service person using a safety harness and climbing the windmill to perform maintenance and service duties adjacent a top of the windmill tower.

Further, conventional windmills are often damaged by high winds incurred during severe weather such as storms or cyclones.

The present invention attempts to overcome at least in part the aforementioned disadvantages of having windmills being an immovable structure.

SUMMARY OF THE PRESENT INVENTION In accordance with one aspect of the present invention there is provided a hinged tower which comprises a tower having a plurality of legs, at least one leg being provided with a clamp member arranged to be released to enable upper and lower portions of the leg to be moved apart and at least one leg being provided with a hinge, the at least one leg being divided at the hinge so that the leg can be pivoted around the hinge.

O The windmill of the present invention is typically arranged so that the windmill tower O may be lowered to the ground. Once the windmill tower has been lowered to the ground, d Sthe windmill may be serviced with greater ease and efficiency. Further, as previously mentioned, windmills can be easily damaged by strong winds and severe weather 1 5 systems. The present invention will enable the windmill owner to lower the windmill to the ground and secure it during severe weather, reducing costs due to repairs.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS The present invention will now be described, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Figure 1 is a perspective view of a windmill in accordance with the present invention; Figure 2 is a side view of the windmill of Figure 1; Figure 3 is a side view of the windmill of Figure 1 being tilted towards the ground; Figure 4 is a perspective view of a hinge member used in the windmill in Figure 1; Figure 5 is a perspective view of the hinge member of Figure 4 attached to a leg of the windmill.

Figure 6 is a perspective view of the hinge member of Figure 5 showing rotation of a supporting arm member; Figure 7 is a perspective view of a clamp member used in the windmill of Figure 1 in a closed position; and Figure 8 is a perspective view of the clamp member of Figure 6 in an open position.

DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENT(S) Referring to Figure 1, there is shown a windmill 1 having a windmill tower 2 and a O windmill head 3. The windmill 1 comprises a first hinge member 10 attached to a first leg S4 of the windmill tower 2, a second hinge member 10 attached to a second leg 5 of the Swindmill tower 2. Further, a clamp member 27 is attached to a third leg 6 of the windmill tower 2. A cable member 7 is provided, having a first end 8 attached to the windmill head r 5 3, and a second end 9 arranged to be attached to a winch member (not shown).

Figure 4 shows a preferred embodiment of the present invention in which the hinge member 10 comprises a base member 11, an upright member 15, a first L-shaped bracket member 19 and a second L-shaped bracket member 22. The base member 11 is an Lshaped member having a generally horizontal main portion 12 and a downwardly extending portion 13 depending from the main portion 12. The downwardly extending portion 13 is provided with a hole (not shown). An upper surface of the main portion 12 has mounted thereon first and second spaced annular members 14.

The upright member 15 preferably comprises a plate portion 15 and a rod member 18 protruding from one side of the plate portion 15. The upright member 15 further comprises a hole 16, as shown in Figure The upright member 15 may be attached to the downwardly extending portion 13 by means of a bolt 17 positioned through the hole 16 of the upright member 15 and the hole (not shown) provided in the downwardly extending portion 13 of the base member 11.

In an alternative embodiment, the need for attaching the upright member 15 to the downwardly extending portion 13 with the bolt 17 may be avoided by drilling a substantially lateral hole (not shown) through an end of the pin 18 that is distal from the upright member 15. An R-clip (not shown) or like device is then inserted through the substantially lateral hole (not shown). In this embodiment, the need for providing the hole (not shown) in the downwardly extending portion 13 and the hole 16 in the upright O member 16 is circumvented.

SReferring again to Figure 4, the rod member 18 projects from the upright member 15 at a position above the base member 11, and passes through the first and second annular members 14. The first and second annular members 14 are spaced apart.

V) 5 The first L-shaped hinge bracket member 19 has a flange portion 21 attached to a cylindrical member 20, preferably by welding. The cylindrical member 20 is mounted about therod member 18 between the two cylindrical members 14.

The second L-shaped hinge bracket member 22 is attached by welding to a side of the base member 11.

Each of the two L-shaped hinge bracket members 19 and 22 are provided with four holes 23, two on respective flange portions of the L-shape, as shown in Figure 4.

Figure 5 shows the hinge member 10 used in a preferred embodiment of the present invention, showing a gap 26 which is defined by the lower surface of the first L-shaped hinge bracket member 19 and an upper surface of the second L -shaped hinge bracket member 22.

Further, in a preferred embodiment of the present invention, when the hinge 10 is fully assembled, the first L-shaped hinge bracket member 19 is able to rotate around the rod member 18.

Figures 7 and 8 show a preferred embodiment of a clamp member 27 used in the present invention. An upper portion of the clamp member 27 has an L-shaped portion 28 having a substantially horizontal plate portion 29 mounted thereon and extending to one side at a lower end thereof. The L-shaped portion 28 is provided with four holes 30, two on either side of the L-shape. The plate portion 29 further comprises a hole (not shown). A bolt 31 extends through the hole in a downward direction from the plate portion 29.

O The lower portion of the clamp comprises a further L-shaped portion 32 and a plate Sportion 33 mounted thereto and extending to one same side at an upper end thereof. The L- shaped portion 32 has four holes 30, two on either side of the L-shape as shown in figures 7 and 8. The second plate portion 33 is provided with a slot 34.

tV 5 The upper portion and the lower portion of the clamp member 27 are aligned such that a base of the L-shaped portion 28 and the upper end of the L-shaped portion 32 are aligned.

A lower surface of the plate portion 29 is contacted with an upper surface of the plate portion 33. The two plate portions are secured together by the bolt 31 engaging with the slot 34 and secured by the nut 37.

In use, a hinge 10 is attached to an outer corner of the first leg 4 of the windmill tower 2 as shown in Figure 5. The hinge 10 is attached to the leg 4 by engaging the holes 23 with bolts 24 which secure an inner surface of the L-shaped hinge bracket member 19 and Lshaped hinge bracket member 22 to the surface of the windmill leg 4. In a preferred embodiment a second hinge 10 is attached to an outer corner of a second leg 5 of the windmill tower 2 in the same manner.

In the preferred embodiment the clamp 27 is attached to an outer corner of the third leg 6 of the windmill tower 2. Bolts 36 are engaged with the hole portions 30 of the L-shaped bracket member 28 and L-shaped bracket member 32 respectively, such that the inner surface of the L-shaped bracket members 28 and 32 are contacted with an outer surface of the third leg 6.

In a preferred embodiment, a portion of the first leg 4 and the second leg 5 of the windmill tower 52, defined by the gap portion 26 of the hinge member 10 are cut away from the tower legs 4 and 5. The third leg 6 is severed at a position defined by the alignment of the base of the L-shaped portion 28 and an upper end of the L-shaped O portion 32. As such the hinge members 10 and the clamp member 27 support the Swindmill 1.

SAs shown in Figure 2 the windmill 1 is typically provided with a cable member 7 having a first end 8 which is attached to the windmill head 3, and a second end 9 which may be t 5 wound around a winch (not shown). The winch may be positioned at a same side of the windmill 1 as the clamp member 27.

A further cable member (not shown) is attached at a first end to the windmill head 3. A second end of the further cable member may be located at a same side of the windmill 1 as the first and second legs 4, 5. When not in use, the further cable member may be secured to a lower portion of the windmill by a D-shackle or like device.

Referring to Figure 2 and Figure 3 a windmill 1 in the preferred embodiment is lowered by releasing the nut 37 from bolt 31. A length of the cable member 7 is unwound from around the winch to provide some slack. The further cable member (not shown) is then pulled in a generally downward and outward direction such that the windmill head 3 moves off centre towards the first and second legs 4, 5 to allow the windmill head 3 to be lowered. The rest of the cable member 7 is then unwound from around the winch.

The upper L-shaped bracket member 19 of the hinge members 10 provided on the first leg 4 and second leg 5 of the windmill tower 2, are then rotated around the rod members 18 in the direction of the cable 7. As the L-shaped bracket members 19 rotate, the plate 29 of the clamp member 27 is pulled away from the surface of the plate 33 of the clamp 27. The operator is able to unwind the cable 7 from around the winch member until the windmill 1 is lying on the ground. Whilst the windmill head 3 is arranged on the ground any necessary work can be performed on it without the need to climb up the windmill tower.

S Preferably the windmill 1 can be returned to its operational position by the use of the Scable 7. When the cable 7 is wound onto the winch, the wind mill 1 will be pulled back Sinto its operational position. When the windmill 1 has been fully returned to the upright position, the nut 37 should be engaged with the bolt 31 to secure the clamp 27 in place.

V) 5 This restores the windmill 1 to its operational position.

We note that the use of the above system can be applied to structures other than Swindmills. The system can be applied to other three and four legged tower structures.

0to Modifications and variations as would be apparent to a skilled addressee are deemed to be within the scope of the present invention.

Claims (14)

1. A hinged tower which comprises a tower having a plurality of legs, at least one leg being provided with a clamp member arranged to be released to enable upper and t lower portions of the leg to be moved apart and at least one leg being provided with a C, hinge, the at least one leg being divided at the hinge so that the leg can be pivoted around the hinge.

2. A hinged tower according to claim 1, wherein the hinge comprises first and second portions connected by a pivot means.

3. A hinged tower according to claim 2, wherein the pivot means comprises a base member provided with first and second annular members mounted on an upper surface thereof wherein a bolt member protrudes through each of the first and second annular members.

4. A hinged tower according to claim 3, wherein the first portion of the hinge is connected to the bolt member at a region between the first and second annular members. A hinged tower according to claim 4, wherein the second portion of the hinge is connected to the base member.

6. A hinged tower according to claim 5, wherein each of the first and second portions of the hinge are L-shaped hinge brackets and are provided with a plurality of holes on either side of the L-shape.

7. A hinged tower according to claim 6, wherein the first portion of the hinge is secured to the leg at a region above the point at which the leg is divided and the second portion of the hinge is secured to a region below the point at which the leg is divided.

8. A hinged tower according to claim 7, wherein the clamp member comprises first O and second portions, the first portion being releasably connected to the second portion.

9. A hinged tower according to claim 8, wherein the first portion of the clamp Smember comprises a substantially vertical member having a substantially horizontal plate portion mounted at a lower end thereof and the second portion comprises a substantially V)vertical member having a substantially horizontal plate portion mounted at an upper end thereof. (-i A hinged tower according to claim 9, wherein each of the horizontal plate portions Sextend outwardly from one side of each of the vertical members of the first and second portions of the clamp member.

11. A hinged tower according to claim 10, wherein the horizontal plate portions of each of the first and second portions of the clamp member comprise at least one aperture, the at least one aperture being in alignment when the first and second portions are adjacent one another such that a bolt may be arranged to extend through the apertures to secure the first and second portions to one another.

12. A hinged tower according to claim 11, wherein the substantially vertical members of each of the first and second portions are substantially L-shaped and are provided with a plurality of holes on either side of the L-shape.

13. A hinged tower according to claim 12, wherein the first portion of the clamp member is attached to an upper portion of a leg, said upper portion of the leg having been divided from a lower portion of the leg, and the second portion of the clamp member is attached to the lower portion of a leg.

14. A hinged tower according to any one of the preceding claims wherein the tower is a windmill. A hinged tower according to any of the preceding claims substantially as -hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings.

16. A method of lowering a hinged tower according to claim 1 comprising the steps of: attaching a cable member at a first end to an upper portion of the hinged tower when the upper portion of the hinged tower is initially in a raised position; 1- attaching a second end of the cable member to a winch or like device wherein the winch 1 Ais positioned at a same side of the hinged tower as the clamp member; D attaching a further cable member at a first end to an upper portion of the hinged tower; releasing first and second portions of the clamp member such that they may now move apart; unwinding a length of the cable from around the winch to provide some slack; pulling a second end of the further cable member such that the upper portion of the hinged tower moves off centre; and unwinding the rest of the cable from around the winch until the upper portion of the tower is lying on the ground.

17. A method of raising a hinged tower according to claim 1 comprising the steps of: attaching a cable member at a first end to an upper portion of the hinged tower when the upper portion of the hinged tower is initially in a lowered position; attaching a second end of the cable member to a winch or like device wherein the winch is positioned at a same side of the hinged tower as the clamp member; winding the cable onto the winch until the upper portion of the tower is back to its original substantially vertical position wherein first and second portions of the clamp member are aligned; and securing the first and second portions of the clamp member to one another.