CN107671365B

CN107671365B - Method for cutting off the shell of at least one tower segment of a tower and mobile cutting-off device

Info

Publication number: CN107671365B
Application number: CN201710645771.XA
Authority: CN
Inventors: K·鲍姆; S·博克霍尔特; R·阿伦斯; M·布尔
Original assignee: ENO Energy Systems GmbH
Current assignee: ENO Energy Systems GmbH
Priority date: 2016-08-02
Filing date: 2017-08-01
Publication date: 2020-10-30
Anticipated expiration: 2037-08-01
Also published as: CN107671365A; DE102016118549A1

Abstract

The invention relates to a method and a mobile cutting device for cutting a casing of at least one tower segment of a tower. The cutting method comprises connecting a guide structure to the housing of a tower segment of the tower, placing a mobile cutting apparatus on the housing of the tower segment such that the guide mechanism of the mobile cutting apparatus engages the guide structure such that the slitter of the mobile cutting apparatus moves along a desired dividing line during movement along the guide structure. In addition, the method includes cutting the shell of the tower section along the desired parting line as the guide mechanism of the mobile cutting device moves along the guide structure.

Description

Method for cutting off the shell of at least one tower segment of a tower and mobile cutting-off device

Technical Field

Embodiments relate to manufacturing concepts and configurations of towers and tower components, and more particularly to a method and a portable (transportable) cut-off device for cutting off a shell of at least one tower section of a tower.

Background

In many engineering and construction fields, components, machines, installations and systems are used whose component parts are sometimes up to several tens of meters long and may not be able to be disassembled further for different reasons. There are many examples from many different fields, which include, by way of example only, tower components, mechanically especially load-bearing beams, process vessels, rotor blades for wind turbines, load-bearing surfaces for aircraft, drive shafts for ships and other corresponding elongated components.

Problems often arise in the transportation of the relevant component and similar components precisely when the component should be transported on a land route to an inland establishment site or a shipping site. Thus, for example, there may be limited height in transport, or turning radius problems due to the length of the relevant components. In the case of long-distance transport, for example, the maximum passable height may therefore be of interest for bridge passage. However, also because the length of the relevant components is sometimes as long as tens of meters, it may often not be possible to be smaller than the minimum turning radius in flat transport, which may cause troubles in road transport, for example.

Turbines with tall towers are constructed especially for wind power generation. Wind speeds that increase with height may be accompanied by higher hub heights for higher gains. For this purpose, wind power generators are usually built up in the form of steel towers, concrete towers, wood towers or composite towers, often over 100 meters in tower height, in a tube or lattice configuration.

Steel tube type towers are preferred because of their relatively low mass and cost. But such towers may not be transportable as separate components because of mass and size limitations on the transportation path. Therefore, a large number of tower sections each having a length of less than 30 meters and having individual masses of less than 100 tons are mostly produced and coupled to one another at the construction site. Such tower sections are here limited to a diameter of 4.0-4.5 meters, which is suitable for bridge passage.

Especially for large installations, such diameter limitations are often not compatible with the loads that manifest themselves for stability. It is therefore often necessary to increase the diameter at least in the region of the bottom side, with the result that transport as a pipe section is not possible. The length of such a section must then be limited in order to be able to be transported upright or it must also be truncated.

Disclosure of Invention

It is therefore desirable to provide a concept for the manufacture and construction of towers and tower parts allowing for simpler transportation and/or simple or accurate manufacture.

Several embodiments relate to a method of severing a shell of at least one tower segment of a tower. The method comprises connecting a guide structure to a housing of a tower segment of the tower, placing a mobile severing device onto the tower segment housing such that a guide mechanism of the mobile severing device engages the guide structure such that a slitter of the mobile severing device moves along a desired parting line when moving along the guide structure. In addition, the method includes cutting the tower section shells along the desired parting line as the guide mechanism of the mobile cutting apparatus moves along the guide structure.

Several embodiments relate to a mobile cutting apparatus comprising a travelling mechanism designed to move along a tower segment of a tower or on a guiding structure connected to a tower segment housing, and a slitter mounted on the travelling mechanism and designed to cut off the tower segment housing along a desired dividing line. The running gear has a guide mechanism which is designed to engage with the guide structure when the mobile cutting device is placed on the tower segment, so that the cutting machine moves along the desired cutting line when moving along the guide structure.

Drawings

Embodiments are described in detail below with reference to the attached drawing figures, wherein:

fig. 1 shows a method flow diagram for cutting off a shell of at least one tower segment of a tower;

fig. 2 shows a schematic view of a tower segment after the guiding structure is connected with the housing;

FIG. 3 shows a schematic view of a tower segment after placement of a mobile cutting apparatus;

FIG. 4 shows a schematic view of a tower segment during casing cut-out;

FIG. 5 shows a schematic front view of a tower segment during casing severing;

FIG. 6 shows a schematic side view of another tower segment during casing severing;

FIG. 7 shows a schematic front view of another tower segment during casing severing;

FIG. 8 shows a schematic top view of a tower segment after the casing has been cut;

FIG. 9 shows a schematic view of a tower segment after the casing has been cut;

FIG. 10A shows a schematic view of a tower section during a casing cut-out with the ladder rails partially removed;

FIG. 10B shows a schematic view of a tower section after the casing has been cut and the ladder rails are reattached;

FIG. 10C shows a schematic view of a tower section after the casing has been cut and with the ladder stiles partially removed;

FIG. 11A shows a schematic view of another tower section during a casing cut-out with the ladder rail partially removed;

FIG. 11B shows a schematic view of another tower section after the shell has been cut and the ladder rail is now attached;

FIG. 11C shows a schematic view of another tower section with the ladder stiles partially removed after the shell is cut;

FIG. 12A shows a schematic view of another tower section during a casing cut-out with the ladder rail partially removed;

FIG. 12B shows a schematic view of another tower section after the shell has been cut and the ladder rail is now attached;

FIG. 12C shows a schematic view of another tower section after the casing has been cut and with the ladder stiles partially removed;

FIG. 13A shows a schematic view of another tower section during a casing cut-out with the ladder rail partially removed;

FIG. 13B shows a schematic view of another tower section after the shell has been cut and the ladder rail is now attached;

FIG. 13C shows a schematic view of another tower section with the ladder stiles partially removed after the shells are cut;

FIG. 14A shows a schematic front view of a mobile cutting apparatus;

FIG. 14B shows a schematic top view of the mobile severing device of FIG. 14A;

fig. 15A shows a schematic view of a guide mechanism of the mobile cutting apparatus;

FIG. 15B shows a schematic view of the guide mechanism of another mobile cutting device;

FIG. 16 shows a schematic view of a mobile severing device with a boom;

FIG. 17 shows a schematic view of the connection of two segments of a tower segment;

FIG. 18 shows a schematic view of one end of a tower section after installation of two adjacent longitudinal flanges and before casing severing;

FIG. 19 shows a schematic view of a segment of a tower segment; and

FIG. 20 shows a cross-sectional schematic view of a wind turbine.

Detailed Description

Various embodiments are now described with explicit reference to the drawings showing several embodiments. In the figures, the thickness dimensions of lines, layers, and/or regions may be exaggerated for clarity.

In the following description of the drawings, which illustrate only a few embodiments, like reference numerals may designate like or similar parts. Furthermore, the parts and objects may be referred to by generalized reference numerals, which may be present multiple times in one embodiment or in a figure, but which are described collectively with respect to one or more features. The components or objects described with the same or general reference numerals may be described as identical with respect to several individual, multiple or all features, for example their dimensioning, but may possibly also be described as different, as long as the description does not explicitly or implicitly specify otherwise.

While the embodiments may be modified and varied in many different ways, the embodiments in the drawings are shown by way of example and are explicitly described herein. It is to be understood, however, that there is no intention to limit the embodiments to the specific forms disclosed, but on the contrary, the embodiments are to cover all functional and/or structural modifications, equivalents, and alternatives falling within the scope of the invention. The same reference numbers will be used throughout the drawings to refer to the same or like parts.

Note that one member referred to as being connected or engaged with another member may be directly connected or engaged with the other member, or may be provided with an intermediate member.

The terminology used herein is for the purpose of describing certain embodiments and should not be limiting of the described embodiments. As used herein, the singular forms "a", "an" and "the" are intended to include the plural forms as well, provided that the context does not specifically state otherwise. It will be further understood that terms such as "comprising," "including," "having," and/or "with" when used herein, specify the presence of stated features, integers, steps, operations, elements, and/or components, but do not preclude the presence or addition of one or more other features, integers, steps, operations, elements, components, and/or groups thereof.

Unless otherwise defined, all terms (including technical and scientific terms) used herein have the same meaning as commonly understood by one of ordinary skill in the art to which this example belongs. It will be further understood that terms, such as those defined in commonly used dictionaries, should be interpreted as having a meaning that is consistent with their meaning in the context of the relevant art unless otherwise expressly defined herein.

Fig. 1 shows a flow diagram of an embodiment of a method 100 for cutting off a shell of at least one tower segment of a tower. The method 100 includes attaching 110 a guide structure to a housing of a tower section of a tower, placing 120 a mobile severing device onto the housing of the tower section such that a guide mechanism of the mobile severing device engages the guide structure such that a slitter of the mobile severing device moves along a desired parting line during movement along the guide structure. Furthermore, the method 100 comprises cutting 130 the tower segment shell along the desired division line as the guiding mechanism of the mobile cutting device moves along the guiding mechanism.

By moving along the guide structure connected to the tower segment, the cutting of the tower segment shell along the desired parting line can be performed with high precision. By using a mobile cutting device, the cutting of the shell and thus the manufacture of the tower can be simplified and the cutting device can be used at different locations. Cutting the tower section into segments may simplify or allow only individual portions of the tower to be transported to the installation site.

The guide structure may, for example, have one or more components, all, most, or none of which are permanently fixed to the tower section shell (e.g., by welding). In other words, the guide structure may be permanently coupled to the tower section shell as a whole, or one or more members of the guide structure may be permanently coupled to the tower section shell, while one or more other members may be detachably coupled (e.g., by bolting), directly or indirectly, to the tower section shell, or the guide structure may be detachably coupled to the tower section shell as a whole. The guide structure or the permanent fixing member of the guide structure may also be left permanently on the tower as part of the tower after the tower has been placed.

For example, the guide structure may have at least one permanent fixation member, and the connection 110 of the guide structure to the housing may then comprise permanently connecting the permanent fixation member to the housing. The permanent fastening elements can be permanently fastened to the tower segment shell, for example, by welding.

For example, the permanent fixation member may be a rail (e.g., a rail of a linear guide mechanism) and/or a ladder stile.

Alternatively, the permanent fixation member may be one of a plurality of welded sleeves permanently fixed to the tower section shell. In addition, the guide structure may comprise at least one side bar or one rail of the ladder, and the ladder side bar or rail may be fixed to the plurality of weld sleeves. For example, these welding sleeves can be provided with an internal thread, and the ladder stiles or rails can be connected to the welding sleeves and thus to the tower section shells, for example by means of screws.

For example, the fixing of the plurality of ladder rails to the ladder stiles may be performed after the tower section shell is cut along the desired parting line. If a ladder is used as the guiding structure, it may also be used as a service ladder after its installation, for example to periodically check whether the interfaces between the shell segments of the tower segment sections are damaged.

The guide mechanism of the mobile cutting device may, for example, engage a ladder stile or rail when emplaced 120. The guide rail may be, for example, a guide rail of a linear guide mechanism, and the guide mechanism of the mobile cutting apparatus may have, for example, a carriage of the linear guide mechanism. Alternatively, the ladder stile may have the shape of a rail of a linear guide mechanism.

The rails or ladder stiles may, for example, extend substantially parallel to the axis of symmetry of the tower section or substantially along a line intersecting the axis of symmetry of the tower section and/or substantially parallel to the desired division line. The desired division line can be located, for example, between two side bars or two rails of the ladder.

A number of rails or ladder section side rails attached to each other may be attached to the tower section shell such that the rails or side rails extend substantially along the entire length of the tower section to provide a consistent guiding action during the cutting 130. Alternatively, the one-piece rail or one-piece side bar of the ladder may be substantially as long as the tower section.

For the cutting, the tower segment can, for example, lie flat on the side of the housing, so that the desired parting line is located substantially at the 12 o' clock position. The mobile cutting apparatus may then be placed 120 onto the tower section housing, for example at 12 o' clock, such that the guiding mechanism of the mobile cutting apparatus and the guiding structure associated with the tower section housing engage each other. A slight deviation from the 12 o' clock position is also possible because the mobile cutting device can be supported or suspended on the guide structure.

The tower segment shell or tower cut 130 can be performed, for example, by sawing or milling. The cutting device is for example a saw or a milling machine. That is, the mobile cutting device may be, for example, a mobile sawing device or a mobile milling device.

By cutting the shell at least two locations, the tower section may be divided into at least two segments. After the severing 130 along the first desired severing line, the tower segment may be rotated to sever the tower segment shell along at least another (second) desired severing line.

For example, the tower segment can be supported on a roller and rotated by means of the roller after the cutting 130 along the first desired division line, so that, for example, the further (second) desired division line is again located substantially at the 12 o' clock position. For this purpose, for example, the rails or the ladder stiles can again be completely or partially removed so that they do not interfere with the rollers when the tower section is rotated. That is, the method 100 can optionally further comprise removing the ladder rung bars or rails after the tower section shells are cut along the (first) desired division line and turning the tower sections against rollers. The rollers can pass between the welding sleeves during rotation of the tower sections, to which the ladder stiles or rails are fixed during cutting. Additionally, the method 100 can optionally include connecting another (second) guide structure to the tower segment housing of the tower and placing the mobile severing device on the tower segment housing such that the guide mechanism of the mobile severing device engages the other guide structure such that the slitter moves along another (second) desired split line during movement along the other guide structure. Furthermore, the method 100 may then comprise cutting the tower segment shells along the further desired division line while the guide means of the mobile cutting apparatus are moved along the further guide means.

A tower segment is for example a part of a tower, which for example has symmetry about a substantially vertical tower axis. For example, the tower segments (tower segment shells) can have a substantially cylindrical jacket-like or frustoconical jacket-like geometry. The tower section can optionally have a door opening.

A subsection of the tower segment is produced, for example, when the tower segment shell is cut into small sections. Correspondingly, the segment comprises a tower segment shell. The housing section for example comprises two lateral sides extending substantially horizontally (or perpendicular to the tower axis or the tower section symmetry axis) and two longitudinal sides extending substantially perpendicular to the lateral sides (e.g. substantially vertically or in the direction of the tower axis). The longitudinal side faces are, for example, substantially parallel to the column axis for hollow cylindrical column sections or slightly different from the parallel direction (e.g. less than 3 ° or less than 1 °) for hollow frustoconical column sections. The housing section may have, for example, a shape which substantially forms part of the geometry of a cylinder jacket or a truncated cone jacket. The shell section is, for example, part of the tower outer shell and can, for example, be made of steel. The lateral sides of the hull sections may for example have a length of more than 4 metres (or more than 6 metres or more than 8 metres). The longitudinal sides of the hull sections may for example have a length of more than 5 metres (or more than 10 metres or more than 20 metres). The shell section may for example have a thickness of more than 25 mm (or more than 35 mm or more than 50 mm).

A tower refers for example to a vertically oriented building, for example for a wind power generator. The definition of tower encompasses not only a broken structure but also a separate structure, so that structures which are also often referred to as masts are also considered. The tower may be a wind turbine tower, for example.

Fig. 2 shows a schematic view of a tower segment after the guide structure 204 is connected with the housing 202. Furthermore, longitudinal flanges 206 are mounted on the housing 202 in the region of the two desired division lines on the inner surface of the housing 202, by means of which longitudinal flanges the segments of the tower segments can be coupled to one another again at the installation site after division and transport.

Fig. 3 shows a schematic view of a tower segment after the mobile cutoff 310 is set. A mobile cutting device 310 as also described in relation to fig. 16 is shown by way of example. However, the mobile cutting device 310 may also be based on other described examples.

For example, the saw may be placed on the tower wall (tower section housing) at the 12 o' clock position. The saw/saw blade may be fixedly mounted on a frame (running gear) which is supported on the tower wall by means of rollers and/or wheels. The driving and/or advancing of the tool can be effected by means of a linear guide mechanism. The saw can be moved without interruption and/or indexing by means of its rollers and/or wheels, for example over the entire tower. The hold down of the saw may be achieved by a counterweight (e.g., on the boom) (e.g., without an electromagnet).

Fig. 4 shows a schematic view of a tower segment during the cutting of the casing 202. The shell 202 is now completely cut from one end of the tower segment to the opposite end of the tower segment.

Fig. 5 shows a schematic front view of a tower segment during the cutting of the housing 202. The saw blade penetrates the housing 202 of the tower segment in the region of the longitudinal flange 206.

Fig. 6 shows a schematic side view of a tower segment during the severing of the casing 202, and fig. 7 shows a schematic front view of a tower segment during the severing of the casing 202.

Fig. 8 shows a schematic top view of the tower segment after the casing 202 has been cut, and fig. 9 shows a schematic perspective view of the tower segment after the casing 202 has been cut. The mobile cutting apparatus 310 may be removed again after the tower section is cut.

Alternatively, a service ladder mounted as an integral part of the tower on both sides (or one side) of the interface on the outer wall of the tower may be used as a guide for the saw for viewing the interface and/or its seal.

Fig. 10A shows an illustrative view of a tower section with the ladder ledger 1020 partially removed at this point in the process of casing 202 severing. Two multi-piece side bars 1010 of the ladder are coupled to the shell 202 of the tower section by a plurality of weld collars 1012. If a saw is to be cut in one area, ladder ledger 1020 may be removed so as not to impede the saw. Alternatively, the ladder ledger 1020 may also be secured to the ladder stile 1010, typically only after sawing. In this example, a mobile saw 310 is shown that moves along the tower section housing by means of rollers or roller stickers and is connected to the side bar 1010 of the ladder by a guide mechanism to maintain the desired direction of movement.

Fig. 10B shows a schematic illustration of a tower segment after the casing 202 has been cut off and the ladder rung 1020 is attached again.

Alternatively, the tower segments can also be rotated for further splitting, as is shown, for example, in fig. 10C in accordance with fig. 10A. Fig. 10C shows a schematic view of a tower section after the casing 202 has been cut and the side rails 1010 of the ladder have been partially removed. Thus, the tower section can rotate on the rollers without the side bars 1010 impeding roller movement. In other words, the ladder section can be removed to effect the turning process.

Fig. 11A to 11C show a variant without a welding sleeve compared to fig. 10A to 10C. The two multi-piece side rails 1010 of the ladder are permanently (e.g., by welding) or detachably (e.g., by bolting) secured to the tower section shell 202. Further explanation is made in relation to fig. 10A to 10C.

Fig. 12A to 12C show a variant with a mobile cutting device which is placed on the side bar 1010 of the ladder and rolls along a guide against the side bar 1010 during cutting, in comparison with fig. 10A to 10C. Further explanation is made in relation to fig. 10A to 10C.

Fig. 13A to 13C show a variant with a mobile cutting device 310, in comparison with fig. 11A to 11C, which is placed on the side bar 1010 of the ladder and rolls along a guide on the side bar 1010 during the cutting process. Further explanation is made in relation to fig. 11A to 11C.

Fig. 14A and 14B show front and top schematic views of a mobile cutting apparatus 1400 according to one embodiment. The mobile cutting apparatus 1400 includes a traveling mechanism 1410 that is designed to move along on one tower section of the tower or on a guide structure 1404 coupled to the housing 1402 of the tower section. In addition, the mobile cutting apparatus 1400 includes a slitter 1420 affixed to the traveling mechanism 1410 and configured to cut the tower section housing 1402 along a desired parting line. The running gear 1410 has a guide mechanism 1422 designed to engage with the guide structure 1404 when the mobile severing device 1400 is placed onto a tower segment, such that the slitter 1420 moves along the desired parting line during movement along the guide structure 1404.

The use of a mobile cutting device simplifies the cutting of the shell and thus the manufacture of the tower, and the cutting device can be used at various locations.

The mobile cutting apparatus 1400 is, for example, configured such that the entire mobile cutting apparatus moves relative to the tower segment shells during the process in which the tower segment shells are cut along the desired parting line. Such as running mechanism 1410, cutting device 1420, and guide mechanism 1422, are fixedly attached to each other and move in the same direction and at the same speed during the cutting process.

The guide mechanism 1422 of the mobile cutting apparatus can be implemented in a variety of different ways. For example, the guide mechanism 1422 may surround the guide structure 1404 in a U-shape and have one or more rollers 1510 that laterally abut the guide structure 1404, as shown, for example, in fig. 15A. Alternatively, the traveling mechanism 1410 can have at least one guide wheel 1522 as a guide mechanism, as shown in fig. 15B, for example. The guide wheel 1522 may then comprise a rolling surface for rolling on the guide structure 1404 and at least one wheel disc (or two wheel discs on opposite sides of the guide structure), which may ensure lateral guidance along the guide structure 1404. The guide wheel 1522 may then have a larger diameter in the roulette region than in the rolling surface region. Alternatively, the guide mechanism 1422 may be a carriage of a linear guide mechanism and the guide structure 1404 may be a rail of the linear guide mechanism.

For example, the mobile cutoff device 1400 may be designed to only fit onto one or more guide structures without contacting the tower section housing. The mobile cutting device 1400 then rolls, for example, on the guide structure and is thus also automatically guided, so that it cuts the housing along the desired parting line. Alternatively, the mobile cutoff device 1400 may be placed on the housing of the tower section such that the mobile cutoff device 1400 contacts the housing of the tower section when cutting during movement. For example, the running gear may have at least one wheel (e.g., four or more wheels) which is designed to roll on the tower segment shell during the cutting of the tower segment shell.

Further details and optional aspects of the example shown in fig. 14A and 14B are described in relation to one or more of the proposed concepts or the foregoing or later-described embodiments (e.g., fig. 1-13C and 15A-20).

Fig. 16 shows a schematic of a mobile cutoff apparatus 1600 according to one embodiment. The mobile cutoff device 1600 may be implemented in a manner similar to the mobile cutoff device implementation shown in fig. 14A/14B. In addition, the traveling mechanism may have at least one suspension 1610 with at least one support wheel. The support wheels of the suspension arms 1610 may, for example, be designed and arranged for rolling over the housing 1402 of the tower segment during the cutting-off of the housing 1402 of the tower segment on the side of the guide structure 1404 opposite the desired division line 1602.

The mobile cutoff device 1600 shown in fig. 16 has a boom 1610 with three support wheels on each side. Thus, the mobile cutoff device 1600 may rest on the housing 1402 with stability and may better maintain a stable position during cutoff.

Further details and optional aspects of the example shown in fig. 16 are described in relation to one or more of the proposed concepts or the foregoing or later-described embodiments (e.g., fig. 1-15B and 17-20).

Fig. 17 shows a schematic illustration of the connection points of two

segments

1700, 1702 of a tower segment as can be produced by a method for cutting the shell of at least one tower segment of a tower and/or by means of the described mobile cutting device. The

segments

1700, 1702 have a

housing segment

1720, 1740 and at least one

longitudinal flange

1730, 1750, respectively. The

longitudinal flanges

1730, 1750 have a plurality of holes 1738 for attaching the longitudinal flanges (e.g., by bolts). In addition, a gap is provided between the ends of the

longitudinal flanges

1730, 1750 facing the

shell segments

1720, 1740. A gap is likewise provided between the two

housing segments

1720, 1740. Additionally, a substantially T-shaped seal 1760 is provided in the gap between the

housing segments

1720, 1740 to seal the gap.

For example, fig. 17 shows the condition after tower assembly (bolts not shown).

Further details and optional aspects of the example shown in fig. 17 are described in relation to one or more of the proposed concepts or the foregoing or later-described embodiments (e.g., fig. 1-16 and 18-20).

Fig. 18 shows a schematic view of an end of a tower section after two adjacent longitudinal flanges 1730 are secured and before the casing 202 is cut. The longitudinal flanges 1730 are connected to each other, for example by means of bolts 1738, and can therefore be separated from each other again after the casing 202 has been cut. At the upper and/or lower end of the tower section shell 202, there may be provided a lateral flange 1860 for coupling with other tower sections or foundations. The lateral flange 1860 may be divided into sections over the circumference of the tower section. For example, the transverse flanges 1860 are divided at the locations where the housing 202 is cut along the longitudinal flanges 1730. The transverse flange may have a number of holes 1862 for subsequent bolting to other tower sections or foundations.

Further details and optional aspects of the example shown in fig. 18 are described in relation to one or more of the proposed concepts or the foregoing or later-described embodiments (e.g., fig. 1-17 and 19-20).

Fig. 19 shows a schematic illustration of a segment of a tower segment. For example, fig. 19 shows an area of a tower casing 1720 that is separated along with longitudinal flanges 1730 and transverse flanges 1860 that have been welded.

Further details and optional aspects of the example shown in fig. 19 are described in relation to one or more of the proposed concepts or the foregoing or later-described embodiments (e.g., fig. 1-18 and 20).

FIG. 20 illustrates a schematic cross-sectional view of a wind turbine 200 according to an embodiment. The wind power generator 200 comprises a tower and a machine room 230 comprising connected rotating parts 240. The tower comprises a lower tower section 210 in the shape of a hollow truncated cone and three upper tower sections 220 in the shape of a hollow cylinder. At least the lower tower section 210 comprises two segments as may be produced with the concept or in connection with one or more of the embodiments described above or below. For example, the segments and/or tower segments can be produced by a method for cutting the shell of at least one tower segment of a tower and/or by means of the mobile cutting device.

Further details and optional aspects of the tower or tower section are described in relation to the proposed concept or one or more of the foregoing or later described embodiments (e.g. fig. 1 to 19).

Several embodiments relate to a mobile or portable cutting device comprising a travelling mechanism designed to be moved along a tower section on at least one of its tower sections in order to cut a casing of the at least one tower section. It also comprises a cutter connected to the running gear, which cutter is designed to cut the shell of the at least one tower segment along a desired cutting line. Further included is a guide mechanism coupled to the running mechanism, the guide mechanism being configured to move along a guide permanently coupled to the housing of the at least one tower segment such that the slitter moves along the desired dividing line during movement along the guide.

Several embodiments relate to a method of cutting a casing of at least one tower segment of a tower, the method comprising permanently connecting a guide to the casing of the at least one tower segment, placing a mobile or portable cutting device on the casing of the at least one tower segment such that a guide mechanism of the mobile cutting device is in contact with the guide, and cutting the casing of the at least one tower segment along a desired parting line as the guide mechanism of the mobile cutting device moves along the guide.

The features disclosed in the above description, in the following claims and in the drawings may be of significance and of implementation not only individually but also in any combination for the implementation of the embodiments in their different embodiments.

Although many aspects have been described in relation to an apparatus, it is apparent that these aspects are also illustrative of a corresponding method, and thus a unit or component of an apparatus is also to be considered as a corresponding method step or as a feature of a method step. Analogously thereto, the aspect described with respect to or as a method step is also a description of a corresponding unit, detail or feature of a corresponding device.

The above-described embodiments are merely illustrative of the principles of the present invention. Obviously, many modifications and variations of the arrangements and details described herein will be apparent to others skilled in the art. It is therefore intended that the invention be limited only by the scope of the appended claims and not by the specific details presented herein in connection with the description and illustration of the embodiments.

Claims

1. A method of severing for a shell of at least one tower segment of a tower of a wind turbine, the method comprising:

connecting a guide structure to a housing of a tower section of a tower, wherein the guide structure comprises a side bar of a ladder;

placing a mobile cutting device onto the housing of the tower segment such that a guide mechanism of the mobile cutting device is coupled to the guide structure to move a slitter of the mobile cutting device along a desired parting line during movement along the guide structure; and is

Cutting the shell of the tower section along the desired division line as the guide mechanism of the mobile cutting device moves along the guide structure.

2. The severance method according to claim 1 wherein the guide structure has at least one permanent fixation member, wherein the connection of the guide structure to the housing comprises a permanent connection of the permanent fixation member to the housing.

3. The method of severing as claimed in claim 2 wherein the permanent fixation members are permanently fixed to the shell of the tower section by welding.

4. A method of severance according to claim 2 or claim 3 wherein the permanent fixing member is the stile of the ladder.

5. A method of severing as claimed in claim 2 or 3 wherein the permanent fixation member is one of a plurality of welded sleeves permanently fixed on the shell of the tower section.

6. The severance method according to claim 5 wherein the guide structure comprises at least one side bar of a ladder or a rail, wherein the side bar of the ladder or the rail is secured to a plurality of the weld sleeves, wherein the guide mechanism of the mobile severance device is connected to the side bar of the ladder or to the rail when the mobile severance device is deployed.

7. The cutting method according to claim 6, further comprising:

removing the side bar of the ladder or removing the rail after the casing of the tower section is severed along the desired parting line;

the tower sections are rotated by means of rollers which, during the rotation of the tower sections, move through between the welding sleeves to which the side bars or guide rails of the ladder are fixed during the cutting process.

8. The method of cutting out of claim 6 or 7, further comprising securing a plurality of ladder rails to the ladder stiles after the shell of the tower section is cut along the desired split line.

9. The severance method according to claim 6 wherein the desired split line is located between two side bars of the ladder or between two rails.

10. The cutting method according to claim 1, further comprising:

connecting another guide structure to the shell of the tower section of the tower; and is

Placing the mobile cutting apparatus on the housing of the tower section such that the guide mechanism of the mobile cutting apparatus is connected to the further guide structure to move the slitter along a further desired splitting line when moving along the further guide structure; and is

Cutting the shell of the tower segment along the further desired division line while the guide means of the mobile cutting device is moved along the further guide means.

11. A mobile severing device, comprising:

-a running gear (1410) designed to move along a tower section of a tower of a wind turbine or a guide structure (1404) connected to a housing (1402) of the tower section, wherein the running gear (1410) has at least one wheel designed to roll on the housing (1402) of the tower section during cutting of the housing (1402) of the tower section; and

a slitter (1420) fixed to the running gear (1410), the slitter being designed to cut the shell (1402) of the tower segment of the tower of the wind turbine along a desired dividing line;

wherein the travelling mechanism (1410) has a guide mechanism (1422) designed to be connected with the guide structure (1404) when the mobile severing device is placed onto a tower segment, such that the slitter (1420) moves along the desired splitting line when moving along the guide structure (1404).

12. Mobile cutting apparatus according to claim 11, wherein the travelling mechanism (1410) has as a guiding mechanism at least one guiding wheel (1522), wherein the guiding wheel (1522) comprises a rolling surface for rolling on the guiding structure (1404) and at least one wheel disc, wherein the guiding wheel (1522) has a larger diameter in the area of the wheel disc than in the area of the rolling surface.

13. The mobile cutting apparatus according to claim 11, wherein the travelling mechanism (1410) has at least one support wheel designed to roll on the tower segment housing (1402) on the side of the guide structure (1404) opposite the desired cutting line during cutting of the tower segment housing (1402).

14. The mobile cutting apparatus according to claim 11, wherein the mobile cutting apparatus is configured such that the entire mobile cutting apparatus moves relative to the tower segment housing (1402) during cutting of the tower segment housing (1402) along a desired cut-off line.