NZ627112B2 - Rotor blade and connecting device - Google Patents
Rotor blade and connecting device Download PDFInfo
- Publication number
- NZ627112B2 NZ627112B2 NZ627112A NZ62711212A NZ627112B2 NZ 627112 B2 NZ627112 B2 NZ 627112B2 NZ 627112 A NZ627112 A NZ 627112A NZ 62711212 A NZ62711212 A NZ 62711212A NZ 627112 B2 NZ627112 B2 NZ 627112B2
- Authority
- NZ
- New Zealand
- Prior art keywords
- rotor blade
- bolt
- anchoring
- rotor
- region
- Prior art date
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- 238000006722 reduction reaction Methods 0.000 description 2
- 230000003014 reinforcing Effects 0.000 description 2
- 239000010959 steel Substances 0.000 description 2
- 238000004642 transportation engineering Methods 0.000 description 2
- CWFOCCVIPCEQCK-UHFFFAOYSA-N Chlorfenapyr Chemical compound BrC1=C(C(F)(F)F)N(COCC)C(C=2C=CC(Cl)=CC=2)=C1C#N CWFOCCVIPCEQCK-UHFFFAOYSA-N 0.000 description 1
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- 239000004237 Ponceau 6R Substances 0.000 description 1
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- 239000003365 glass fiber Substances 0.000 description 1
- 239000011796 hollow space material Substances 0.000 description 1
- 239000002184 metal Substances 0.000 description 1
- 230000004048 modification Effects 0.000 description 1
- 238000006011 modification reaction Methods 0.000 description 1
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- 230000002093 peripheral Effects 0.000 description 1
- 229920003023 plastic Polymers 0.000 description 1
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- 229920005989 resin Polymers 0.000 description 1
- 239000011343 solid material Substances 0.000 description 1
- 239000002023 wood Substances 0.000 description 1
Abstract
The invention relates to a rotor blade of a wind turbine for fixing to a rotor hub, said rotor blade having a rotor blade longitudinal axis, comprising a rotor blade inner part (2) near the rotor hub and a rotor blade outer part (4) further away from the rotor hub. The rotor blade inner part (2) and the rotor blade outer part (4) are connected to each other by means of at least one connecting device, and the connecting device comprises at least one anchoring element (34) which is anchored in the rotor blade outer part (4), at least one counter element (20) which is anchored in the rotor blade inner part (2), and at least one connecting bolt (28) which passes through the counter element (20) and is fixed in the anchoring element (34). the rotor blade outer part (4) are connected to each other by means of at least one connecting device, and the connecting device comprises at least one anchoring element (34) which is anchored in the rotor blade outer part (4), at least one counter element (20) which is anchored in the rotor blade inner part (2), and at least one connecting bolt (28) which passes through the counter element (20) and is fixed in the anchoring element (34).
Description
Wobben Properties GmbH
Dreekamp 5, 26605 Aurich
Rotor blade and connecting device
The present invention concerns a rotor blade of a wind power
installation, in particular a substantially two-part rotor blade. The invention
further concerns a wind power installation comprising such a rotor blade.
Rotor blades of wind power installations have long been known. The
present invention concerns in particular rotor blades of a so-called
horizontal-axis wind power installation, namely a wind power installation in
which one or more rotor blades form an aerodynamic rotor and as intended
rotate about a substantially horizontal axis which can also be slightly tilted.
Such a wind power installation is also shown in Figure 1.
In that respect modern wind power installations are nowadays of
increasingly large rotor diameters and thus longer rotor blades. That gives
rise increasingly to problems when transporting the rotor blades to the
erection location, because of the increasing size of the rotor blades.
For example, on the wind power installation of type E126 from
Enercon it is known to use a divided rotor blade which inter alia is sub-
divided into two parts in the direction of the rotor blade longitudinal axis,
an inner part and an outer part. In that case the inner part is made of
steel. Accordingly this gives a rotor blade of high mass, which can be a
disadvantage in many aspects. The weight of the rotor of the wind power
installation is increased and therewith also the weight of the pod of the
wind power installation. To be able to carry the higher masses of the rotor
on the pod modifications may also be required there, and they can lead to
an additional increase in the weight of the pod. In addition transportation
and also in particular installation of such rotor blade parts of steel is
complicated and expensive and makes it necessary to use a
correspondingly large crane which is designed for the loads involved.
The German Patent and Trade Mark Office searched the following
state of the art in the priority application: DE 10 2006 014 742 B4, DE 199
62 989 B4, DE 10 2006 022 279 A1, DE 20 2011 101 634 U1, EP 1 798 412
A2 and EP 1 398 499 A1.
Thus the object of the invention was to address at least one of the
above-mentioned problems. In particular the invention seeks to provide a
rotor blade which is as light as possible and at the same time large and
which is comparatively easy to transport. The invention seeks at least to
propose an alternative solution.
According to the invention there is proposed a rotor blade according
to claim 1.
Such a rotor blade of a wind power installation is intended for fixing
to a rotor hub and has a rotor blade longitudinal axis. The rotor blade
includes at least a rotor blade inner part and a rotor blade outer part. The
rotor blade inner part is intended to face towards the rotor hub and in that
case is preferably fixed directly or indirectly to the rotor hub. The rotor
blade outer part faces away from the rotor hub and thus faces towards a
rotor blade tip and can also include same. The rotor blade thus
substantially consists of the rotor blade inner part and the rotor blade outer
part in the rotor blade longitudinal axis. Further components like a rotor
blade rear box section which increases the width of the rotor blade in
particular in the region near the hub can also be provided. The fact that
the rotor blade substantially comprises the rotor blade inner part and the
rotor blade outer part is to be understood in particular in the sense of the
local extent along the rotor blade longitudinal axis. More specifically the
rotor blade extends in particular from the rotor hub to the rotor blade tip so
that the rotor blade inner part extends from the rotor hub to the rotor
blade outer part and the rotor blade outer part extends from the rotor
blade inner part to the rotor blade tip.
The rotor blade inner part is connected to the rotor blade outer part
by means of at least one connecting device. Preferably there are provided
a plurality of connecting devices, in particular a multiplicity like for example
to 50 connecting devices or even more. Each of those connecting
devices, but at least one thereof, includes at least one anchoring element
anchored in the rotor blade outer part. That anchoring element is
embedded in particular in the rotor blade outer part. It can be arranged
there directly in manufacture of the rotor blade or it can be subsequently
anchored in the rotor blade outer part by the provision of suitable openings
such as for example bores.
In addition the connecting device includes at least one counterpart
element anchored in the rotor blade inner part. That counterpart element,
similarly to the anchoring element in the rotor blade outer part, can be
embedded in the rotor blade inner part, more specifically it can be arranged
there in manufacture of the rotor blade inner part or it can be subsequently
arranged and anchored in the rotor blade inner part.
In addition there is provided a connecting bolt which is fixed in the
anchoring element and is thus anchored by way of the anchoring element
and by way of the rotor blade outer part. The connecting bolt then extends
from the anchoring element and thus from the rotor blade outer part to the
rotor blade inner part and there through the counterpart element.
Preferably in that respect the connecting bolt is not fixed in the counterpart
element. In particular it is basically displaceable in the longitudinal
direction of the connecting bolt as long as it is not fixed by a further
element such as a bracing element. In particular the counterpart element
does not have a female thread.
According to an embodiment the rotor blade is characterised in that
the rotor blade inner part and/or the rotor blade outer part respectively
substantially comprises a fibre-reinforced plastic. In particular a glass
fibre-reinforced plastic or carbon fibre-reinforced plastic is proposed for one
of the two parts or both parts. In that respect the solution according to the
invention provides a particularly advantageous possible way of connecting
two rotor blade parts of fibre-reinforced plastic together. The anchoring
element and/or the counterpart element can basically be embedded in the
production of such a fibre-reinforced plastic. In particular it can be
enclosed by resin or glass fibre or carbon fibre mats impregnated in plastic.
A preferred option however provides that the rotor blade inner part
and/or the rotor blade outer part are firstly produced without the anchoring
element or the counterpart element respectively and they are later fitted.
The anchoring element and the counterpart element are thus in the form of
independent elements which preferably are not themselves made from
fibre-reinforced plastic but in particular from metal. In that respect the
rotor blade inner part and/or the rotor blade outer part does not comprise
completely fibre-reinforced plastic because for example additional elements
like also such a reinforcing element or counterpart element are included,
which do not comprise fibre-reinforced plastic. In addition further elements
such as for example reinforcing elements of other materials than fibre-
reinforced plastic can also be provided in the fibre-reinforced plastic, like
for example also wood elements.
When connecting such rotor blade parts of fibre-reinforced plastic the
anchoring element and the counterpart element firstly carry corresponding
connecting forces which are preferably distributed to many connecting
devices and thus to many anchoring elements and counterpart elements.
That connecting force is then applied from the anchoring element or
counterpart elements respectively to the material of the rotor blade outer
part and the rotor blade inner part respectively. The force is thus
distributed and high point forces which act on a fibre-reinforced plastic are
avoided.
Preferably the anchoring element is in the form of a transverse bolt
having a bolt axis arranged substantially transversely to the rotor blade
longitudinal axis. Preferably the at least one anchoring element is arranged
in a shell of the rotor blade outer part and faces with its bolt axis to the
inner region, in particular to the internal space, of the rotor blade outer
part. In that case the anchoring element can be easily inserted in the
direction of the bolt axis into a corresponding bore or other opening in the
shell of the rotor blade outer part and anchored there.
It is desirable for the anchoring element to be provided with a bore
having a female thread, the bore being arranged transversely relative to
the bolt axis and as required substantially parallel to the rotor blade
longitudinal axis. The connecting bolt can be fixingly accommodated in that
bore with the female thread and in particular the connecting bolt can be
screwed into such a female thread. That configuration can be such that the
anchoring element in the form of the transverse bolt is pushed into a
corresponding opening, in particular a bore, basically from the outside
inwardly, into the shell in question of the rotor blade outer part, and
anchored.
In addition there is provided a longitudinal bore which is substantially
parallel to the rotor blade longitudinal axis and which extends from an
abutment surface of the outer part provided for fitment to an abutment
surface of the rotor blade inner part, to the corresponding anchoring
element. The connecting bolt can be inserted through that bore which can
be produced while the anchoring element is not yet inserted, and finally
screwed into the corresponding bore with thread in the anchoring element.
The connecting bolt is substantially fixedly anchored in that position in the
rotor blade outer part. Preferably very many anchoring elements with
connecting bolts in the rotor blade outer part are provided in that way. For
making a connection between the rotor blade outer part and the rotor blade
inner part however it may be advantageous for the connecting bolts firstly
not to be fixed in the anchoring element.
It is preferably proposed that the counterpart element is in the form
of a transverse bolt with a bolt axis arranged substantially transversely
relative to the rotor blade longitudinal axis. It is also desirable for the
counterpart element to be arranged in a shell of the rotor blade inner part,
in particular directed with the bolt axis to the interior and in particular the
internal space in the rotor blade inner part. For that purpose it is possible
to provide a corresponding bore in the shell of the rotor blade outer part for
each counterpart element.
Preferably there is provided a bore from a or the abutment surface of
the rotor blade inner part which is provided for attachment to a or the
abutment surface of the rotor blade outer part, at least to the intended
position of the counterpart element. Such a bore is also to be provided
substantially parallel to the rotor blade longitudinal axis. Preferably such a
longitudinal bore extends in the rotor blade outer part completely from a or
the abutment surface for attachment to the rotor blade outer part through
a or the anchoring region of the rotor blade inner part to an inner region of
the rotor blade inner part where the longitudinal bore emerges by virtue of
the reduction in material thickness.
To connect the rotor blade outer part to the rotor blade inner part it
is thus proposed that the connecting bolt extends from the anchoring
element and thus from the rotor blade outer part through the
corresponding longitudinal bore to the rotor blade inner part and there
further through the counterpart element. Thus the connecting bolt is firstly
fixedly connected to the anchoring element but not to the counterpart
element. Fixing is then effected at a side of the counterpart element, that
is remote from the anchoring element, with a clamping means, in particular
a screw nut, for bracing against the counterpart element in order thereby
to pull the anchoring element and the counterpart element against each
other. The clamping means is thus fitted onto the connecting bolt and
pushed thereon against the counterpart element. That can be effected for
example in such a way that provided on the connecting bolt is a
corresponding male thread on which the clamping means is screwed
directly or indirectly against the counterpart element.
Preferably arranged between the counterpart element and the
clamping means is an expansion sleeve, in particular being pushed over the
connecting bolt. The clamping means then produces a bracing action
indirectly by way of that expansion sleeve.
Taking the example of a screw nut as the clamping element, it is
screwed onto the connecting bolt in a direction towards the counterpart
element, in that case pushes the expansion sleeve against the counterpart
element and thereby forms the bracing action. The expansion sleeve
elastically yields in that case so that a clamping force is exerted. When
slight material fatigue phenomena occur, if for example the connecting bolt
experiences minimal stretching, the material of the rotor blade outer part
and/or the rotor blade inner part, that is arranged between the anchoring
element and the counterpart element, yields somewhat, then the expansion
sleeve can counteract such material fatigue by expanding, in which case
the forces of the bracing arrangement remain at least partially maintained.
Preferably in the region of the through bore the counterpart element
has a flattened contact surface or a contact surface which is adapted in
some other way for fitment of the clamping means or the expansion sleeve.
In that way the force acting from the clamping means and/or the expansion
sleeve on the counterpart element upon being braced can be distributed.
That is particularly advantageous when the counterpart element is in the
form of a cylindrical transverse bolt, in particular of circular cross-section.
In an embodiment there is proposed a rotor blade characterised in
that the rotor blade outer part, in the region of the anchoring element, and
also or alternatively the rotor blade inner part in the region of the
counterpart element, respectively have an anchoring region of greater
material thickness than the rest of the rotor blade shell, or a greater
material thickness than the average material thickness of the rotor blade
shell. Thus there is provided a peripherally extending thickened region,
wherein that thickening or increased material thickness is provided
inwardly, that is to say radially inwardly. In particular a longitudinal bore is
provided in the anchoring region of the rotor blade outer part and/or the
rotor blade inner part, for each connecting device. It is substantially
parallel to the rotor blade longitudinal axis and thus also approximately
parallel to the rotor blade surface in the region in question. When using
many connecting devices therefore there are many longitudinal bores which
in particular are distributed approximately uniformly in the peripheral
direction in the anchoring region.
Preferably the longitudinal bore in the rotor blade outer part extends
from an abutment surface for fitment to the rotor blade inner part to a
transverse bore for receiving the anchoring portion so that the connecting
bolt can extend from the abutment surface to the anchoring bolt.
For the rotor blade inner part it is preferably proposed that the
longitudinal bore in the rotor blade outer part extends with an abutment
surface for fitment to the rotor blade outer part completely through the
anchoring region to end in an inner region of the rotor blade inner part in
which the material thickness is so thin that the bore emerges completely
from the anchoring region so that the connecting bolt can extend from the
abutment surface into the inner region. Accordingly different configurations
are proposed for the longitudinal bore in the rotor blade outer part on the
one hand and in the rotor blade inner part on the other hand. In the rotor
blade inner part the longitudinal bore forms a through bore whereas in the
rotor blade outer part it extends only to the corresponding transverse bolt
and can also be referred to a blind hole.
That makes it possible for the connecting bolt to extend from the
anchoring bolt to the rotor blade inner part and there to extend completely
through the anchoring region, namely in both cases along the longitudinal
bore. An end of the connecting bolt is thus fixed in the anchoring bolt and
anchored thereto there while the other end of the connecting bolt projects
out of the anchoring portion of the rotor blade inner part and there extends
into the inner region of the rotor blade inner part. Therefore a clamping
means can be easily arranged at that second end and can be actuated from
the inside region of the rotor blade inner part and in particular can be
tightened. The connection of the rotor blade outer part to the rotor blade
inner part can thus be easily implemented, which permits bracing from the
rotor blade inner part. There is therefore no need to go into the rotor blade
outer part. In that case, making the connection, tightening it and
producing the bracing action can be effected both prior to installation of the
rotor blade on the wind power installation, such as for example on site on
the building site before the rotor blade is lifted up and installed.
Alternatively a connection can also be made when the rotor blade inner
part is already fixed to the rotor hub. When the rotor blade inner part is
disposed horizontally, it can be readily entered from the hub from the
inside, depending on its respective structural shape and size.
It is also possible easily and without exposing service personnel to
unnecessary dangers to check the connection between the rotor blade
outer part and the rotor blade inner part in respect of its strength, for
example after a maintenance interval. Here the rotor blade outer part can
also be removed and replaced by service personnel releasing the
connection of the two rotor blade parts from the rotor blade inner part.
In a further embodiment the connecting devices or a respective part
thereof are arranged in a plurality of rows, in particular relative to a rotor
blade central axis, in an inner and an outer row. The loads occurring can
thereby be distributed to a wider region. Thus, using an inner row and an
outer row involves a two-row configuration. The use of a plurality of rows
leads in particular to a widening of the load region in comparison with the
use of only one row.
Preferably or alternatively the connecting devices each have a
plurality of connecting bolts. An advantageous configuration in that respect
is one in which a connecting device respectively has an anchoring element,
a counterpart element and a plurality of and in particular two connecting
bolts. When the two rotor blade parts are connected together, a respective
anchoring element and a counterpart element are braced against each
other. In that bracing procedure, the provision of a plurality of connecting
bolts means that corresponding clamping forces are respectively distributed
over the anchoring element and over the counterpart element.
A further embodiment proposes that the connecting device is of such
a configuration that the or each connecting bolt extends through the
anchoring element to an expansion sleeve and is screwed in the expansion
sleeve at a fixing portion remote from the anchoring element to the
expansion sleeve. That affords an expansion portion of the expansion
sleeve between the fixing portion and the anchoring element against which
the expansion sleeve bears and against which the expansion sleeve is
pulled in the braced condition of the connecting device by the connecting
bolt. In that way the expansion sleeve can provide a clamping action for
bracing the connecting device without the bracing effect having to be
effected at a bracing means directly at the expansion sleeve.
In addition there is proposed a connecting device for connecting a
rotor blade inner part to a rotor blade outer part. The connecting device is
of a configuration as is apparent hereinbefore from the description of the
connection between the rotor blade inner part and the rotor blade outer
part.
There is also proposed a wind power installation having at least one
rotor blade, in particular three rotor blades, which is or are of a
configuration according to at least one described embodiment of a rotor
blade according to the invention.
The invention is described in greater detail hereinafter by means of
embodiments by way of example with reference to the accompanying
Figures.
Figure 1 shows a perspective view of a wind power installation,
Figure 2 shows a perspective view of a divided rotor blade in a view
based on an exploded view,
Figure 3 shows a portion of a divided rotor blade,
Figure 4 shows a sectional view of a connecting region of a divided
rotor blade,
Figure 5 shows a plan view of an abutment surface of a rotor blade
inner part,
Figure 6 shows a perspective view of a connecting region of a rotor
blade inner part,
Figure 7 shows a further perspective view of a connecting region of a
rotor blade inner part,
Figure 8 shows a perspective sectional view of a connecting region of
a rotor blade inner part,
Figure 9 shows a perspective view of a connecting device according
to a second embodiment of the invention,
Figure 10 shows a perspective view of a part of a connecting region
of a rotor blade outer part according to the second embodiment of the
invention,
Figure 11 shows the part of the connecting region of Figure 10 with
inserted parts of connecting devices,
Figure 12 shows an axial plan view on the connecting region of
Figure 11,
Figure 13 shows a perspective view of a part of a connecting region
of a rotor blade inner part according to the second embodiment of the
invention, and
Figure 14 shows the part of the connecting region of Figure 13 with
inserted parts of connecting devices.
Identical references hereinafter can denote similar but non-identical
elements in order to emphasise the functional relationship thereof.
Figure 1 shows a wind power installation 100 comprising a pylon 102
and a pod 104. Arranged on the pod 104 is a rotor 106 having three rotor
blades 108 and a spinner 110. In operation the rotor 106 is caused to
rotate by the wind and thereby drives a generator in the pod 104.
The diagrammatically illustrated rotor blade 1 in Figure 2 which can
also be referred to as a divided rotor blade 1 has a rotor blade inner part 2
and a rotor blade outer part 4. In addition the Figure shows an inner
trailing edge segment 6 which is to be fixed to the rotor blade inner part,
and correspondingly there is an outer trailing edge segment 8 which is to
be fixed to the rotor blade outer part 4.
The rotor blade inner part 2 has a connecting flange 10 for fixing the
rotor blade inner part to a rotor hub or to a corresponding hub adaptor. In
addition there is an outer blade attachment surface 14 on the rotor blade
outer part 4 for attachment to an inner blade attachment surface 12 which
can be seen in Figure 3. The rotor blade inner part 2 can thus be
connected to the rotor blade outer part 4 in such a way that the inner blade
attachment surface 12 is fitted to the outer blade attachment surface 14
and this therefore provides for fixing and in particular bracing the two rotor
blade parts.
Figure 3 shows a portion of a divided rotor blade 1, namely
substantially an inner blade fixing region 16 of the rotor blade inner part 2
which also involves the inner blade attachment surface 12. Figure 3 also
shows an outer blade fixing region 16 of the rotor blade outer part 4 which
also has an outer blade attachment surface 14.
To connect the rotor blade inner part 2 to the rotor blade outer part
4 the inner blade attachment surface 12 and the outer blade attachment
surface 14 are brought together. For fixing purposes the rotor blade inner
part 2 in its inner blade fixing region 16 has a plurality of counterpart
elements 20 which here are in the form of transverse bolts. In the
illustrated example there are 36 such transverse bolts. These counterpart
elements 20 in the form of transverse bolts respectively form a part of a
connecting device. The counterpart elements 20 are respectively arranged
in the inner blade shell 22 in the region of the inner blade fixing region 16.
The inner blade shell 22 is thus of a very great material thickness to
receive the counterpart elements 20 in the region of the inner blade fixing
region 16 and thus also in the region of the inner blade attachment surface
12. The counterpart elements 20 are arranged basically in a ring form and
are disposed basically with their bolt axis 24 perpendicularly to the inner
blade shell 22 and thus perpendicularly to a blade surface 26 in the inner
blade shell.
Provided as further fixing elements which are described in greater
detail in particular in Figure 4, for each counterpart element 20, are a
connecting bolt 28, an expansion sleeve 30 and a bracing element 44 which
can also be referred to as a clamping element and which here is in the form
of a clamping screw nut. The connecting bolt 28 extends through the inner
blade fixing region 16, the counterpart element 20, the expansion sleeve
to the bracing element 44 and can extend through the bracing element
Provided in the rotor blade outer part 4 in the outer blade fixing
region 18, 36 are anchoring elements 34 which are respectively intended to
accommodate a connecting bolt 28.
An anchoring element 34 with a connecting bolt 28, a counterpart
element 20, an expansion sleeve 30 and a bracing element 44 basically
together form a connecting device.
Figure 4 shows a portion of a rotor blade inner part 2 with a rotor
blade outer part 4 which fitted together are fixedly connected to each
other. That portion shows a side view and essentially shows a part of the
inner part fixing region 16 and the outer blade fixing region 18 which here
are suitably connected together.
In that respect Figure 4 shows only a part of a peripherally extending
rotor blade shell, wherein in the view in Figure 4 the rotor blade surface 26
and thus the outside of the rotor blade 1 are shown upwardly, while a rotor
blade inward side 36 is shown downwardly in Figure 4.
The rotor blade inner part 2 and the rotor blade outer part 4 are
fitted together at their inner blade connecting surface 12 and the outer
blade connecting surface 14. That attachment region can be referred to as
the separating location 38. For fixing the rotor blade inner part 2 and the
rotor blade outer part 4 together, there is an anchoring element 34, that is
to say a transverse bolt, in the outer blade fixing region 18. The
connecting bolt 28 is fixedly screwed in the anchoring element 34 in a bolt
thread 40 and the two elements are thus fixedly connected together. The
connecting bolt 28 can be in the form of a threaded bolt and/or can be
provided at its ends with a thread.
From the anchoring element 34 the connecting bolt 28 extends to
the rotor blade inner part 2. In this case the connecting bolt 28 extends
transversely through the inner blade attachment surface 12 and the outer
blade attachment surface 14 and thus transversely through the separating
location 38.
In the rotor blade inner part 2 the connecting bolt 28 extends
through the counterpart element 20, wherein the counterpart element 20 is
also substantially in the form of a bolt. The connecting bolt 28 further
extends through the inner blade fixing region 16 so that it projects clearly
into the internal space 42 in the rotor blade inner part 2. For bracing
purposes an expansion sleeve 30 is firstly pushed on the connecting bolt 28
which can also be referred to as the longitudinal bore 28, the sleeve 30
extending to the counterpart element 20. In this case the expansion sleeve
bears against a flattened region 42 which can also be referred to as a
sleeve receiving means 42. In addition a clamping element 44, namely a
screw nut, is screwed on the connecting bolt 28, the clamping element 44
upon being tightened pushing the expansion sleeve 30 against the
counterpart element 20 or thereby pulling the anchoring element 34 and
therewith the rotor blade outer part 4 to the rotor blade inner part 2.
The use of the expansion sleeve 30 provides that it can yield to any
slight fatigue phenomena of the material, correspondingly expands and
prevents loosening or release of the connection. The expansion sleeve 30
used inter alia also provides that the bracing means 44, namely the screw
nut 44 or clamping nut 44, is arranged in the internal space 46, and is at
least easily accessible from the internal space 46 in the rotor blade inner
part 2. A service employee can thus perform a bracing operation and can
thus tighten the connection of the two rotor blades 2 and 4 to each other,
from the internal space 46 in the rotor blade inner part 2.
Preferably the rotor blade 1 is of such a configuration in the
connecting region that the sizes of the counterpart element 20 and the
anchoring element 34 are substantially the same, in particular both being in
the form of transverse bolts of approximately identical size, namely of a
length and cross-section which as far as possible are the same, as shown in
Figure 4. In addition an advantageous configuration is one in which a
spacing from the anchoring element 34 to the outer blade attachment
surface 14 is approximately precisely the same as a spacing from the
counterpart element 20 to the inner blade attachment surface 12.
In principle the connecting bolt 28 or longitudinal bore 28 is guided
in a corresponding longitudinal bore 48. The longitudinal bore 48
functionally forms in that respect a single object when the connecting or
longitudinal bolt 28 is guided completely thereon. In actual fact however
that longitudinal bore 48 is provided both in the inner blade fixing region 16
and also in the outer blade fixing region, which usually would have to be
implemented in a plurality of working steps. The longitudinal bore 48 can
also be of different diameters, namely in particular it can involve a larger
diameter in the region of the expansion sleeve 30. Where no expansion
sleeve 30 is provided the diameter of the longitudinal bore can be adapted
to the outside diameter of the connecting bolt 28. To simplify manufacture
it is proposed that the longitudinal bore, in the region between the
counterpart element 20 and the inner blade attachment surface 12, is of
the same diameter as in the region of the expansion sleeve 30. In that
case those two portions of the longitudinal bore 48 can be provided in one
working operation and in particular with a boring tool. Purely as a
precaution it is pointed out that the term bore does not necessarily signify
that this bore was actually also produced by a boring or drilling operation.
In Figure 4 it is also possible to see the increased material thickness
of the inner blade fixing region 16 and the outer blade fixing region 18
respectively with respect to the material thickness of the rest of the blade
shell 50 and 52 of the rotor blade inner part 2 and the rotor blade outer
part 4 respectively. In particular the counterpart element 20 and the
anchoring element 34 can be accommodated by virtue of that greater
material thickness. In addition it is possible as a result for the connecting
bolt 28 which is passed along in relation to the rotor blade surface 26 to
issue from the inner blade fixing region 16 into the internal space 46.
Figure 5 shows a plan view of an inner blade attachment surface 12
in which there are 36 connecting devices and thus connecting bolts 28 and
thus longitudinal bores 48.
The perspective view in Figure 6 only shows essentially the inner
blade fixing region 16. In contrast to the illustrative view in Figure 6
however the inner blade fixing region is not produced separately from the
rotor blade inner part 2.
Besides the connecting bolts 28, the view shows the counterpart
elements 20, in particular the expansion sleeves 30 projecting from the
material of the inner blade fixing region 16. In this arrangement the
expansion sleeves 30 project into the internal region 46 of the rotor blade
inner part 2 and thus the bracing nuts or clamping elements 44 are also
readily accessible. Support washers 54 can be provided between the nuts
44 and the expansion sleeves 30. In an embodiment, instead of the
support washers or additionally thereto, there can be provided auxiliary
means for a hydraulic tightening process such as for example an
approximately conical washer for increasing the size of an end support
surface on the expansion sleeve 30 for the fitment of a hydraulic clamping
tool.
Figure 7 shows only a different perspective in relation to Figure 6,
illustrating in particular the connecting bolts 28 protruding from the inner
blade fixing region 16 from the inner blade attachment surface 12. In spite
of the view adopted here however it is proposed that an actual connection
for the rotor blade inner part 2 to the rotor blade outer part 4 is
implemented in such a way that the connecting bolts 28 are firstly fixed in
the anchoring element 34 in the rotor blade outer part 4 in order then to be
introduced into the rotor blade inner part. Alternatively the rotor blade
inner part 2 and the rotor blade outer part 4 can be fitted together and
connecting bolts can be inserted from the internal space 46 in the blade
inner part 2 through the respective longitudinal bore 48 and passed to the
anchoring element 34 in order then to be fixed in the anchoring element
34, in particular by being screwed therein. Subsequently an expansion
sleeve 30 and then a clamping nut 44 can be fitted on and tightened.
Figure 8 shows a partly sectional perspective view by way of
illustration of an inner blade fixing region 16. The connecting bolt 28, the
counterpart element 20, the expansion sleeve 30 and the clamping nut 44
can also be seen in perspective in the view, at least at two locations. Only
the view involves a hollow space in the region of the inner blade fixing
region 16 and thus in the region of the counterpart element 20 and in part
the expansion sleeve 30. That serves for illustration purposes and in actual
fact a solid material is at least preferably adopted for the inner blade fixing
region 16, in particular fibre-reinforced plastic like glass fibre-reinforced
plastic or carbon fibre-reinforced plastic. In particular the material adopted
in the inner blade fixing region is the same as in the remaining part of the
rotor blade inner part or in large parts thereof. Preferably the same
correspondingly applies to the rotor blade outer part.
According to the invention therefore there is proposed an
advantageous connection between a rotor blade inner part and a rotor
blade outer part. This can also be referred to as a connection between an
inner blade and an outer blade. In particular it is proposed that the outer
blade is provided with a transverse bolt connection in which a transverse
bolt is provided with a thread for a longitudinal bolt. The inner blade is also
provided with transverse bolts which however do not have a thread for
longitudinal bolts or it is provided with through bores and a flat support
surface for expansion sleeves, which surface is directed to the installation
centre point, with screwing being effected from the inner blade.
It is advantageous in particular that screwing is accessible from the
interior of the blade, which is advantageous for maintenance and assembly.
Fixing can be effected in such a way as to result in the contour of the
outside surface of the rotor blade being influenced only slightly or indeed
not at all. The process also permits automatisable production.
Thus by virtue of the proposed solutions, it is possible to divide a
rotor blade so that this gives two shorter parts. Those shortened parts can
be in particular more easily transported. In principle such a rotor blade can
be suitably divided from the outset into two parts in the course of
manufacture or the rotor blade is produced in one piece and subsequently
separated at a suitable connecting location. It is already possible to
implement, in the region of that connecting location, precautionary
measures for making the connection such as for example the introduction
of the transverse bolts, namely the counterpart elements and/or the
anchoring elements 20 and 34 respectively. A connecting option in respect
of rotor blade parts, namely the outer blade and the inner blade, is
afforded, in which the two rotor blade parts can be made from fibre-
reinforced plastic. In that respect the two parts can be made from the
same or a different fibre-reinforced plastic. Thus in principle this also
makes it possible to connect a carbon fibre-reinforced plastic part to a glass
fibre-reinforced plastic part.
That makes it possible to facilitate transportation of the rotor blades
and smaller cranes can possibly be used in construction. In that way it
may also become possible to make regions which involve difficult access
such as for example mountain areas better or easier to reach.
In addition, rail transport is now also made possible for long rotor
blades, in particular those which are over 45 metres long. Reductions in
transport and assembly costs can also be advantageous, as well as an
improvement in accessibility of erection locations which are difficult to
reach.
Figure 9 shows a connecting device 100 according to a further
embodiment. This connecting device 100 includes an anchoring element
134 and a counterpart element 120 which are connected together by way
of two connecting bolts 128 and which in proper appropriate use thereof
can be braced against each other. In that respect in proper use thereof the
anchoring element 134 is to be arranged in a rotor blade outer part and the
counterpart element 120 is to be arranged in a rotor blade inner part, or
vice-versa, in order thereby to fixedly connect the rotor blade inner part
and the rotor blade outer part together. The connecting bolts 128 are fixed
at the counterpart element 120 by extending from the anchoring segment
134 through the counterpart element 120 to a fixing means 156 fitted
thereon. The fixing means 156 which can be in the form of a screw nut and
screwed on bears against a contact surface 158 of the counterpart element
120. The fixing element 156 also forms a bracing element and can be
tightened for bracing purposes.
Each connecting bolt 128 also extends through the anchoring
element 134 and is provided with an expansion sleeve 130 which bears
against a contact pressure region 160 of the anchoring element 134. The
counterpart element 120 and the anchoring element 134 are thus disposed
between the expansion sleeves 130 and the fixing means 156. The use of
two connecting bolts 128 for this connecting device 100 means that a
clamping force can be respectively applied at two locations to the
counterpart element 120 and the anchoring element 134 respectively.
Each anchoring element 134 and counterpart element 120 can be
correspondingly longer to apply a clamping force to a rotor blade inner part
and a rotor blade outer part respectively over an area which is as large as
possible.
The expansion sleeve 130 which as shown in Figure 9 is fitted onto
the connecting bolt 128 has, at its end remote from the anchoring element
134, a threaded portion 166 with female thread, into which the connecting
bolt is screwed. Alternatively the expansion sleeve can also be held by a
corresponding head of the connecting bolt 128, or can be held and braced
by a bracing means arranged there, such as for example a screw nut.
Figure 10 shows a part of a rotor blade outer part 104. For
connecting that rotor blade outer part 104 to a rotor blade inner part 102
which is illustrated in Figures 13 and 14, there are a plurality of transverse
bores 162 for respectively receiving an anchoring element 134.
Longitudinal bores 148 are provided for passing a connecting bolt 128
therethrough, namely two longitudinal bores 148 for a respective
transverse bore 162. All longitudinal bores 148 thus form a peripherally
extending, two-row arrangement of those longitudinal bores 148.
Figure 11 shows a perspective view which is turned somewhat
relative Figure 10 to illustrate the part of the rotor blade outer part 104 in
Figure 10 with inserted parts of the connecting device 100 of Figure 9. Of
same, a respective anchoring element 134 is fitted into a transverse bore
162. In addition a respective connecting bolt 128 is passed through each
longitudinal bore 148. Expansion sleeves 130 are not shown in Figure 11.
Figure 12 shows an axial view of the part illustrated in Figure 11 of
the rotor blade outer part 104. In this axial plan view of the connecting
region it is possible to see the many longitudinal bores 148 and the
connecting bolts 128 arranged therein.
Figure 13 shows a part of a rotor blade inner part 102 with
transverse receiving means 164 for receiving a respective counterpart
element 120. It can be seen that the transverse receiving means 164 has
only one opening to the internal space in the rotor blade inner part 102.
For comparison attention is directed to the transverse bore 162 in the rotor
blade outer part 104, which respectively extends completely from the
outside inwardly.
Each transverse receiving means 164 also has two longitudinal bores
148. The same reference numeral has been selected for those longitudinal
bores in the rotor blade inner part 102, as for the longitudinal bores 148 in
the rotor blade outer part 104 in order to make it clear that, of a
connecting device 100, a respective connecting bolt 128 extends through
such a longitudinal bore 148 in the rotor blade inner part 102 and also
through a correspondingly arranged longitudinal bore 148 in the rotor blade
outer part 104.
Figure 14 shows the rotor blade inner part 102 with parts of inserted
connecting devices 100, namely with a respective counterpart element 120
and two connecting bolts 128. It is possible to see that a great deal of free
space has remained beside the counterpart element 120 and therebehind.
That space can be used to accommodate the fixing means 156 or bracing
means 156 and possibly also to afford space for tightening same in order to
brace the connecting device 100. Those transverse receiving means 164
which in that respect are generous are therefore preferably arranged in the
rotor blade inner part in order to implement bracing therefrom, using the
fixing means 156. For that purpose the fixing means 156 are arranged in
the rotor blade inner part 102 and can thus be better reached, in
comparison with a theoretical arrangement thereof in the rotor blade outer
part.
The described expansion sleeves 130 shown in Figure 9 can receive
and provide a bracing stress and can maintain a clamping force in particular
in the event of slight, for example thermal, changes in length of the
connecting bolt 128, or other relevant elements. In that respect it is
basically immaterial whether bracing is effected on the part of the
expansion sleeve 30 or 130 or in or at the fixing means 156. Bracing in the
rotor blade inner part 102 and this in accordance with the illustrated
embodiment at the fixing means 156 or bracing means 156 is in that
respect an advantageous embodiment.
Throughout this specification and the claims which follow, unless the
context requires otherwise, the word "comprise", and variations such as
"comprises" and "comprising", will be understood to imply the inclusion of a
stated integer or step or group of integers or steps but not the exclusion of
any other integer or step or group of integers or steps.
Claims (11)
1. A rotor blade of a wind power installation for fixing to a rotor hub and having a rotor blade longitudinal axis, including - a rotor blade inner part towards the rotor hub, and - a rotor blade outer part away from the rotor hub, wherein the rotor blade inner part and the rotor blade outer part are connected together by means of at least one connecting device and the connecting device includes - at least one anchoring element anchored in the rotor blade out- er part, - at least one counterpart element anchored in the rotor blade in- ner part, and - at least one connecting bolt which extends through the counter- part element and is fixed in or to the anchoring element, wherein - at least one of the rotor blade outer part and the rotor blade in- ner part has in the region of the anchoring element or the counterpart element respectively an anchoring region with increased material thickness of a rotor blade shell, and wherein provided in the anchoring region for each connecting device is a longitudinal bore extending parallel to the rotor blade longitudinal axis and/or parallel to a rotor blade surface, wherein - the longitudinal bore in the rotor blade outer part extends from an abutment surface for fitment to the rotor blade inner part to a transverse bore for receiving the anchoring portion so that the con- necting bolt can extend from the abutment surface to the anchoring bolt, and - the longitudinal bore in the rotor blade outer part extends from an abutment surface for fitment to the rotor blade outer part com- pletely through the anchoring region to end in an inner region of the rotor blade inner part in which the material thickness is so thin that the bore emerges completely from the anchoring region so that the connecting bolt can extend from the abutment surface into the inner region.
2. A rotor blade according to claim 1 characterised in that at least one of the rotor blade inner part and the rotor blade outer part respectively comprises a fibre-reinforced plastic.
3. A rotor blade according to claim 1 or 2 characterised in that the anchoring element is a transverse bolt having a bolt axis transverse to the rotor blade longitudinal axis, and/or the anchoring element has a bore transverse relative to the bolt axis and parallel to a rotor blade surface and having a female thread for fixingly receiving the connect- ing bolt.
4. A rotor blade according to claim 1 or 2 characterised in that the counterpart element is a transverse bolt having a bolt axis transverse to the rotor blade longitudinal axis, and/or the counterpart element has a through bore transverse relative to the bolt axis for passing the connecting bolt therethrough.
5. A rotor blade according to claim 1 or 2 characterised in that the connecting bolt is fixed, in the anchoring element, projects from the connecting element through the counterpart element and is provided at a side of the counterpart element, that is away from the anchoring element, with a clamping means, for bracing against the counterpart element in order thereby to pull the anchoring element and the coun- terpart element against each other.
6. A rotor blade according to claim 5 characterised in that the connect- ing bolt is screwed in the anchoring element, wherein the clamping means is a screw nut, and an expansion sleeve is disposed between the counterpart element and the clamping means.
7. A rotor blade according to claim 5 or 6 characterised in that in the region of a or the through bore the counterpart element has a flat- tened contact surface for fitment of a or the clamping means.
8. A rotor blade according to claim 1 or 2 characterised in that the connecting devices or a respective part thereof are arranged in a plu- rality of rows, in relation to a rotor blade central axis, in an inner and an outer row, and/or the connecting devices each have a plurality of connecting bolts.
9. A rotor blade according to claim 1 or 2 characterised in that a con- necting device respectively has an anchoring element, a counterpart element and a plurality of connecting bolts.
10. A rotor blade according to claim 1 or 2 characterised in that the or each connecting bolt extends through the anchoring element to an expansion sleeve and is screwed in the expansion sleeve at a fixing portion facing away from the anchoring element to the expansion sleeve.
11. A wind power installation comprising a rotor having at least one rotor blade according to any one of claims 1 to 10.
Applications Claiming Priority (5)
Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
---|---|---|---|
DE102011088025.9 | 2011-12-08 | ||
DE102011088025A DE102011088025A1 (en) | 2011-12-08 | 2011-12-08 | Rotor blade for horizontal axle wind turbine, has anchoring element anchored in blade outer part, counter element anchored in blade inner part, and connecting bolts reaching through counter element and fastened in anchoring element |
DE102012221117 | 2012-11-19 | ||
DE102012221117.9 | 2012-11-19 | ||
PCT/EP2012/073793 WO2013083451A1 (en) | 2011-12-08 | 2012-11-28 | Rotor blade and connecting device |
Publications (2)
Publication Number | Publication Date |
---|---|
NZ627112A NZ627112A (en) | 2016-06-24 |
NZ627112B2 true NZ627112B2 (en) | 2016-09-27 |
Family
ID=
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