US10385827B2 - Wind turbine blade handling aboard a vessel - Google Patents

Wind turbine blade handling aboard a vessel Download PDF

Info

Publication number
US10385827B2
US10385827B2 US15/539,281 US201515539281A US10385827B2 US 10385827 B2 US10385827 B2 US 10385827B2 US 201515539281 A US201515539281 A US 201515539281A US 10385827 B2 US10385827 B2 US 10385827B2
Authority
US
United States
Prior art keywords
rack
root
tip
blade
vessel
Prior art date
Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
Active
Application number
US15/539,281
Other languages
English (en)
Other versions
US20170370346A1 (en
Inventor
Adrian Botwright
Mark Ursell-Smith
Stefan Maroti
Current Assignee (The listed assignees may be inaccurate. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation or warranty as to the accuracy of the list.)
Vestas Wind Systems AS
Original Assignee
MHI Vestas Offshore Wind AS
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by MHI Vestas Offshore Wind AS filed Critical MHI Vestas Offshore Wind AS
Assigned to MHI VESTAS OFFSHORE WIND A/S reassignment MHI VESTAS OFFSHORE WIND A/S ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNORS INTEREST (SEE DOCUMENT FOR DETAILS). Assignors: URSELL-SMITH, Mark, BOTWRIGHT, ADRIAN, MAROTI, STEFAN
Publication of US20170370346A1 publication Critical patent/US20170370346A1/en
Application granted granted Critical
Publication of US10385827B2 publication Critical patent/US10385827B2/en
Assigned to VESTAS OFFSHORE WIND A/S reassignment VESTAS OFFSHORE WIND A/S CHANGE OF NAME (SEE DOCUMENT FOR DETAILS). Assignors: MHI VESTAS OFFSHORE WIND A/S
Assigned to VESTAS OFFSHORE WIND A/S reassignment VESTAS OFFSHORE WIND A/S CORRECTIVE ASSIGNMENT TO CORRECT THE PATENT NO. 10804535 PREVIOUSLY RECORDED AT REEL: 056819 FRAME: 0195. ASSIGNOR(S) HEREBY CONFIRMS THE CHANGE OF NAME . Assignors: MHI VESTAS OFFSHORE WIND A/S
Assigned to VESTAS WIND SYSTEMS A/S reassignment VESTAS WIND SYSTEMS A/S ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNORS INTEREST (SEE DOCUMENT FOR DETAILS). Assignors: VESTAS OFFSHORE WIND
Active legal-status Critical Current
Anticipated expiration legal-status Critical

Links

Images

Classifications

    • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
    • F03—MACHINES OR ENGINES FOR LIQUIDS; WIND, SPRING, OR WEIGHT MOTORS; PRODUCING MECHANICAL POWER OR A REACTIVE PROPULSIVE THRUST, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
    • F03D—WIND MOTORS
    • F03D13/00—Assembly, mounting or commissioning of wind motors; Arrangements specially adapted for transporting wind motor components
    • F03D13/40—Arrangements or methods specially adapted for transporting wind motor components
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B63—SHIPS OR OTHER WATERBORNE VESSELS; RELATED EQUIPMENT
    • B63B—SHIPS OR OTHER WATERBORNE VESSELS; EQUIPMENT FOR SHIPPING 
    • B63B25/00—Load-accommodating arrangements, e.g. stowing, trimming; Vessels characterised thereby
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B63—SHIPS OR OTHER WATERBORNE VESSELS; RELATED EQUIPMENT
    • B63B—SHIPS OR OTHER WATERBORNE VESSELS; EQUIPMENT FOR SHIPPING 
    • B63B25/00—Load-accommodating arrangements, e.g. stowing, trimming; Vessels characterised thereby
    • B63B25/002—Load-accommodating arrangements, e.g. stowing, trimming; Vessels characterised thereby for goods other than bulk goods
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B63—SHIPS OR OTHER WATERBORNE VESSELS; RELATED EQUIPMENT
    • B63B—SHIPS OR OTHER WATERBORNE VESSELS; EQUIPMENT FOR SHIPPING 
    • B63B25/00—Load-accommodating arrangements, e.g. stowing, trimming; Vessels characterised thereby
    • B63B25/28—Load-accommodating arrangements, e.g. stowing, trimming; Vessels characterised thereby for deck loads
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B63—SHIPS OR OTHER WATERBORNE VESSELS; RELATED EQUIPMENT
    • B63B—SHIPS OR OTHER WATERBORNE VESSELS; EQUIPMENT FOR SHIPPING 
    • B63B35/00—Vessels or similar floating structures specially adapted for specific purposes and not otherwise provided for
    • B63B35/003—Vessels or similar floating structures specially adapted for specific purposes and not otherwise provided for for transporting very large loads, e.g. offshore structure modules
    • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
    • F05—INDEXING SCHEMES RELATING TO ENGINES OR PUMPS IN VARIOUS SUBCLASSES OF CLASSES F01-F04
    • F05B—INDEXING SCHEME RELATING TO WIND, SPRING, WEIGHT, INERTIA OR LIKE MOTORS, TO MACHINES OR ENGINES FOR LIQUIDS COVERED BY SUBCLASSES F03B, F03D AND F03G
    • F05B2230/00—Manufacture
    • F05B2230/60—Assembly methods
    • F05B2230/61—Assembly methods using auxiliary equipment for lifting or holding
    • F05B2230/6102—Assembly methods using auxiliary equipment for lifting or holding carried on a floating platform
    • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
    • F05—INDEXING SCHEMES RELATING TO ENGINES OR PUMPS IN VARIOUS SUBCLASSES OF CLASSES F01-F04
    • F05B—INDEXING SCHEME RELATING TO WIND, SPRING, WEIGHT, INERTIA OR LIKE MOTORS, TO MACHINES OR ENGINES FOR LIQUIDS COVERED BY SUBCLASSES F03B, F03D AND F03G
    • F05B2240/00—Components
    • F05B2240/90—Mounting on supporting structures or systems
    • F05B2240/95—Mounting on supporting structures or systems offshore
    • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
    • F05—INDEXING SCHEMES RELATING TO ENGINES OR PUMPS IN VARIOUS SUBCLASSES OF CLASSES F01-F04
    • F05B—INDEXING SCHEME RELATING TO WIND, SPRING, WEIGHT, INERTIA OR LIKE MOTORS, TO MACHINES OR ENGINES FOR LIQUIDS COVERED BY SUBCLASSES F03B, F03D AND F03G
    • F05B2260/00—Function
    • F05B2260/02—Transport, e.g. specific adaptations or devices for conveyance
    • Y—GENERAL TAGGING OF NEW TECHNOLOGICAL DEVELOPMENTS; GENERAL TAGGING OF CROSS-SECTIONAL TECHNOLOGIES SPANNING OVER SEVERAL SECTIONS OF THE IPC; TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC CROSS-REFERENCE ART COLLECTIONS [XRACs] AND DIGESTS
    • Y02—TECHNOLOGIES OR APPLICATIONS FOR MITIGATION OR ADAPTATION AGAINST CLIMATE CHANGE
    • Y02E—REDUCTION OF GREENHOUSE GAS [GHG] EMISSIONS, RELATED TO ENERGY GENERATION, TRANSMISSION OR DISTRIBUTION
    • Y02E10/00—Energy generation through renewable energy sources
    • Y02E10/70—Wind energy
    • Y02E10/72—Wind turbines with rotation axis in wind direction
    • Y02E10/721—
    • Y—GENERAL TAGGING OF NEW TECHNOLOGICAL DEVELOPMENTS; GENERAL TAGGING OF CROSS-SECTIONAL TECHNOLOGIES SPANNING OVER SEVERAL SECTIONS OF THE IPC; TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC CROSS-REFERENCE ART COLLECTIONS [XRACs] AND DIGESTS
    • Y02—TECHNOLOGIES OR APPLICATIONS FOR MITIGATION OR ADAPTATION AGAINST CLIMATE CHANGE
    • Y02E—REDUCTION OF GREENHOUSE GAS [GHG] EMISSIONS, RELATED TO ENERGY GENERATION, TRANSMISSION OR DISTRIBUTION
    • Y02E10/00—Energy generation through renewable energy sources
    • Y02E10/70—Wind energy
    • Y02E10/727—Offshore wind turbines
    • Y—GENERAL TAGGING OF NEW TECHNOLOGICAL DEVELOPMENTS; GENERAL TAGGING OF CROSS-SECTIONAL TECHNOLOGIES SPANNING OVER SEVERAL SECTIONS OF THE IPC; TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC CROSS-REFERENCE ART COLLECTIONS [XRACs] AND DIGESTS
    • Y02—TECHNOLOGIES OR APPLICATIONS FOR MITIGATION OR ADAPTATION AGAINST CLIMATE CHANGE
    • Y02P—CLIMATE CHANGE MITIGATION TECHNOLOGIES IN THE PRODUCTION OR PROCESSING OF GOODS
    • Y02P70/00—Climate change mitigation technologies in the production process for final industrial or consumer products
    • Y02P70/50—Manufacturing or production processes characterised by the final manufactured product
    • Y02P70/523—

Definitions

  • the present invention relates to the handling of wind turbine blades aboard a vessel, in particular an installation vessel for wind turbines, especially offshore wind turbines.
  • Wind turbines typically involves arranging the blades longitudinally inside the hull or transport compartment of a ship.
  • the main wind turbine elements such as tower, nacelle and blades or rotors are typically loaded aboard an installation vessel equipped with ancillary equipment for turbine erection.
  • Installation vessels typically resemble a floating work platform more than a traditional transport ship. These vessels are generally loaded with turbine elements at a coastal location local to the planned turbine erection site.
  • Wind turbine blades may be transported aboard vessels such as installation vessels by placing them in racks on a loading surface such as a deck.
  • the blades are typically loaded onto and unloaded from such vessels in a horizontal orientation of the blades. This is because lifting equipment for loading or unloading is typically configured for horizontal handling of the blades.
  • the dimensions of installation vessels are typically such that the blades may extend to some extent beyond side of such vessels. This creates a hazard in the form of a risk of blade dipping in agitated waters or in case the vessel would encounter swell.
  • One previously suggested rack arrangement for blade stowage aboard a vessel has a capacity for carrying eighteen blades and comprises a fixed root rack and a facing fixed tip rack.
  • Each tip and root rack comprises a set of fixed blade frame portions such that each blade rests substantially horizontally between a pair of blade frame portions effectively comprising a root frame and a corresponding tip frame.
  • Each root or tip rack comprises six side-by-side columns of three blade frames per column. Rows of six frames are arranged in a vertical arrangement with an offset in the longitudinal blade direction at the root rack such that each root frame saddle is vertically clear of the one beneath it.
  • Each tip frame strop can be disengaged from its tip frame to allow loading or unloading of a blade in a lower frame pair.
  • each root and tip rack includes a lower spacer frame fixed to a vessel deck and carrying the respective root or tip rack.
  • This spacer frame ensures a minimum clearance between the stowed blades and the vessel deck, and hence, a minimum clearance between the blades and the water along that portion of the blades which overhangs the side of the transport vessel.
  • This spacer frame arrangement reduces the blade dipping hazard in connection with vessel roll during agitated or rough conditions.
  • a similar rack arrangement including nine pairs of fixed blade frames has also been proposed.
  • the present invention aims to improve blade handling aboard a vessel.
  • the present invention seeks to improve blade handling and stowage aboard a transport or installation vessel.
  • the method may in particular be carried out aboard an installation vessel.
  • the method of the invention may comprise providing on a vessel, a blade rack arrangement configured to accommodate more than one blade, the rack arrangement comprising at least a root rack and a tip rack, wherein the root rack and tip rack between them define a blade support plane; and providing a jack acting between the vessel and one of the root or tip rack; and raising or lowering one of the root or tip rack aboard the vessel by means of the jack to thereby move the blade support plane through an elevation angle.
  • the jack may comprise any suitable drive for raising or lowering a heavy bulky load such as a tip or root rack loaded with blades.
  • the jack may preferably be powered.
  • a suitable drive element for a jack may be a hydraulic drive.
  • a substantial improvement in the transportation configuration can be achieved using simple means. Increased safety and reduced costs can thereby result, while at the same time preserving the advantages of existing blade loading and unloading arrangements into or out of a blade rack arrangement.
  • the method of the invention may give rise to numerous potential advantages. For example, it ensures that blades may be stowed on board in a different angular orientation than the orientation in which they are loaded or unloaded.
  • a stowage angle of the blades can be selected, according to criteria such as vessel type or expected water, sea or weather conditions. In other words, it can ensure blade stowage optimisation independently of certain blade loading and unloading considerations.
  • the method also enables a maximisation of the use of limited space aboard a vessel, even allowing for transportation of more blades on a given deck space or height.
  • the invention further allows the provision of lower, smaller spacer frame arrangements thereby saving expense.
  • the other one of the root or tip rack is substantially not raised or lowered. Accordingly, the invention may encompass raising or lowering a tip rack while maintaining the root rack substantially unmoved in relation to the loading deck. Conversely, the root rack may be raised or lowered while the tip rack is maintained substantially unmoved in relation to the loading deck. In a further optional aspect, the root or tip rack which is maintained unmoved, may preferably be positioned atop a static base frame, supported at a height above a loading deck of said vessel.
  • one effect of raising a moveable one of a tip or root rack in relation to a static base frame at an opposite, facing rack is to cause the tip of any blade supported in the relevant rack arrangement to be raised to a level higher than the height of the static base frame above the loading deck. More particularly, the clearance height between the water surface outboard said vessel and the tip of a blade in a blade rack arrangement aboard said vessel will be greater or significantly greater than the base frame height above the vessel deck. Moreover, since the blade support plane is thereby inclined, the clearance between a blade and the water surface outboard the vessel progressively increases along the blade length to its tip.
  • the present invention may lend itself to the safe handling and transportation of longer blades. Inclination of the blades makes blade length independent from required spacer frame height.
  • each tip or root rack may be comprised of one or more columns of root or tip frame elements, wherein each such column of may comprise one or more frame element.
  • each frame element is preferably configured to support a respective root or tip portion of a single blade.
  • a root or tip rack comprises multiple stacked frame elements in a column.
  • each root or tip frame element may be separably connectable to one or more adjacent frame elements in said root or tip column.
  • the frames may be configured to allow secure, separable lateral connection between columns of frame elements.
  • the frame elements are preferably stackable in a modular configuration to create stacked columns of different frame heights depending on the number of blades to be loaded in any rack arrangement.
  • One or more columns of stacked root or tip frames may be described as a root or tip rack.
  • a root or tip rack may thus comprise one or more columns of stacked frames, arranged side by side.
  • a rack arrangement may in particular comprise a tip rack and a facing root rack.
  • the method may include separably connecting adjacent frame elements by means of fasteners. These may be of any suitable form such as e.g. bolts.
  • the method may additionally comprise providing a pivot under the other one of said root or tip rack.
  • This pivot allows a certain rotational movement of the relevant rack during raising or lowering of an opposite, i.e. a facing root or tip rack. This tends to prevent a shift in the angular position of a supported blade portion relative to a frame element in a rack or to any fixtures in which it is supported while a relevant rack is being raised or lowered.
  • the relative mutual position of opposing root or tip racks may thereby remain substantially unchanged during raising or lowering of a rack.
  • a pivot located at the foot end of a rack may be provided in the form of a tiltable platform on which the root or tipack is supported or fixed. Such a pivot may perform the function of an element more generally known as a skid.
  • the jack may comprise a drive element and a rotatable rack spacer capable of rotating between a lowered support position and a raised support position.
  • a lowered support position of the rotatable rack spacer may in particular correspond to a lowered position of a root or tip rack supported on said spacer.
  • a raised support position of the rotatable rack spacer may in particular correspond to a raised position of a root or tip rack supported on said spacer.
  • a suitable rotatable rack spacer may be directly or indirectly connected both to a linear drive of a jack and directly or indirectly to a root or tip rack.
  • Actuation of a linear drive of a jack may preferably urge the rotatable rack spacer in rotation, thereby changing its orientation in a vertical plane such that a separation between a root or tip rack and a vessel loading deck is thereby correspondingly or proportionally changed.
  • the rotatable spacer may exhibit a locked, lowered support position and/or a locked raised support position.
  • locked . . . position may denote a position of the rotatable spacer in which the root or tip rack rests in either a lowered or raised position without additional external assistance.
  • the drive element of a jack may move a driving end thereof though a greater linear distance than the height change of the relevant rack.
  • the rotatable spacer is positioned between the loading deck of the vessel and a relevant rack.
  • the elevation angle through which the blade support plane may be moved by the action of the jack is between zero and of at least three degrees, preferably between zero and at least four degrees, still preferably between zero and at least five degrees, still preferably between zero and at least seven degrees, still preferably between zero and at least ten degrees.
  • the boom may counteract any tendency for the root and tip racks to move together or apart during a raising or lowering action of the jack or following such a raising or lowering action.
  • a boom may rotationally connect the jack with a pivotable skid supporting the other one of said root or tip rack, i.e. the relevant rack not being raised or lowered by the action of the jack.
  • the boom may be configured to cause rotation of the skid or tiltable support platform as a result of an extending or retracting action of the jack beneath an opposite i.e. facing rack.
  • the invention also encompasses a jack on a wind turbine installation vessel capable of raising or lowering a rack of wind turbine blade root or tip support frame elements according to the defined method, wherein the jack comprises an assembly including a lifting platform driven by a drive device and being positionable at a root or tip rack to be raised or lowered.
  • the jack, or jack assembly is thereby capable of putting into effect the method of the invention, in particular: by raising or lowering a tip or root rack of a blade stowage rack arrangement, the blade support plane may be moved through an elevation angle.
  • a blade stowage rack arrangement and any blades supported therein may thereby in particular be tilted between a blade loading/unloading position and a blade transport position. Blades being transported on an installation vessel comprising a jack arrangement of the invention may thereby be exposed to a reduced risk of dipping.
  • the jack may further comprise a skid positionable beneath a rack which is opposite to i.e. facing the relevant rack on a lifting platform.
  • a skid may in particular be a pivot and may be in the form of a tiltable platform.
  • a jack may optionally comprise a pivotable skid in the form of a tiltable platform, rotatably coupled to the lifting platform by a coupling linkage such as a boom. The coupling may in particular help to preserve the relative position of opposing racks during raising or lowering of a jack.
  • the drive device of a jack may in particular be a linear drive and may be hydraulic such as a hydraulic piston. Alternatively, other linear drive types may be used such as a worm shaft and collar or a pneumatic drive.
  • the drive may be coupled to a rotatable rack spacer or lifting platform.
  • a rack spacer may for example be rotatably coupled to a pivot joint at a root or tip rack and may additionally be rotatably coupled to a linear drive of the jack.
  • a rotatable rack spacer may be configured to exhibit a raised rack support position and a lowered rack support position.
  • the jack assembly may be configured to rotate the rotatable rack spacer between a raised and a lowered position by means of its linear drive.
  • the raising or lowering action of a root or tip rack may be effected by driving a portion of the rotatable rack spacer along a support surface, such as a loading deck of a vessel while another portion of the rotatable rack spacer may be caused to pivot about a pivot joint at a root or tip rack.
  • the boom may also act to generally relieve stresses on the blades during raising or lowering of a relevant rack.
  • the invention may furthermore comprise an offshore wind turbine installation vessel.
  • FIG. 1 a prior art type blade stowage rack arrangement.
  • FIG. 2 a schematic illustration of a blade stowage rack arrangement and jack according to aspects of the invention.
  • FIG. 3 a schematic side view of aspects of the jack shown in FIG. 2 .
  • FIGS. 4 a ) and b ) a schematic example of a jack arrangement according to aspects of the invention.
  • FIGS. 5 a ) and 5 b ) a schematic illustration of a jack and rack arrangement according to aspects of the invention.
  • FIGS. 6 a ) and b ) a schematic illustration of a jack and rack arrangement according to aspects of the invention.
  • FIGS. 7 a ) and b ) a schematic illustration of a jack and rack arrangement according to aspects of the invention.
  • FIG. 8 a schematic illustration of an example of a vessel according to aspects of the invention.
  • rack arrangement is a collective term intended to denote a blade storage construction providing a support structure for wind turbine blades with support elements at or towards the blades' root ends and at or towards their tip ends in the form of a respective, facing root and tip rack.
  • tip end support may in particular be provided by means of a tip frame or tip rack at or near a mid-portion of a blade, towards the blade tip.
  • root end support may in particular be provided by means of a root frame or root rack at or near a root end of a blade.
  • a root end support frame or root rack is provided at the blade root end.
  • a root or tip rack may be unitary or modular although the modular type may be preferred.
  • Each blade may preferably be stored in a frame pair.
  • a root or tip rack may be established by providing one or more frames in a fixed arrangement on a working platform such as on a loading deck of a vessel.
  • the rack arrangement may be progressively loaded with blades by loading blades into successive frame pairs of the rack arrangement.
  • a rack arrangement may be created by successive addition of frame modules to one another aboard a vessel.
  • the blades will typically be pre-loaded each in a tip and root pair of single frame elements or several blades in multiple pairs of frame elements.
  • the term: “vessel” designates a floating vessel for transportation over water, especially a maritime vessel.
  • FIG. 1 is illustrated a prior art type blade rack arrangement 1 having a root rack 2 and a tip rack 3 .
  • the blade rack arrangement 1 is supported on and fixed to a loading deck 11 of a transport vessel (not shown).
  • Each rack 2 , 3 can accommodate the respective root or tip ends of eighteen blades, one of which is indicated by a dotted line 10 .
  • Blades may be arranged in three superposed rows of six blades or—expressed differently—in six side-by-side columns of three superposed blades.
  • the rack arrangement 1 is comprised of eighteen fixed frame pairs 4 , 5 .
  • Each root frame 4 has a prop 6 for supporting the root end of a respective blade.
  • Each tip frame 5 is flanked on either side by a support structure.
  • the root frames 4 of each row are fixed together and offset in a longitudinal direction of the blades from the frames 4 in the row above or below it. This allows blades to be slotted into position in the lowermost frames without being blocked by the frames above.
  • the tips are held in place by removable strops (not shown) at each level in the columns of tip frames 5 .
  • the rack arrangement 1 illustrated in FIG. 1 does not exhibit modular type single blade-frames 4 , 5 in the respective racks 2 , 3 , instead, each frame 4 , 5 is fixed to one or more neighbouring frames 4 , 5 .
  • a first blade 10 in a column is put in position on a strop (not shown) in a lowermost tip frame 5 and on a saddle 6 in a lowermost root frame 4 .
  • a further strop (not shown) is then added to a tip frame 5 immediately above the lowermost, now occupied, tip frame 5 .
  • a second blade (not shown) is then put in position in a root saddle 6 and in a tip strop in a frame pair immediately above the lower frame pair 4 , 5 in the same column, and so on until potentially the rack arrangement is filled.
  • the racks 2 , 3 each of unitary construction, are designed to be fixed in place on a vessel loading deck (not shown).
  • the root and tip racks 2 , 3 each include a spacer frame 8 , 9 which provides a clearance h between the stowed blades (not shown) and the surface of the loading deck and thereby also a clearance between the blades and the water surface.
  • loading may herein include bringing a blade on board optionally with or without a root or a tip frame element. It may optionally further include securing a blade in a respective root or tip frame in a rack arrangement on board. It may further include complementing a root or tip rack on board by addition of one or more frame elements.
  • unloading may herein include removing a blade from on board optionally including unloading a blade from respective frames on board or optionally by unloading a blade complete with a root or tip frame.
  • blade handling may include any or all these operations and may additionally include stowing of blades.
  • An installation vessel may refer to a vessel specially adapted for providing a working platform for offshore wind turbine erection and optionally, ancillary equipment therefor such as lifting equipment, e.g. one or more cranes.
  • a loading deck of an installation vessel may refer to any support surface aboard capable of, or suitable for, receiving all or part of a blade rack arrangement, preferably permitting loading or unloading of blades to and from said rack arrangement.
  • blade is intended to denote that part of a wind turbine rotor which extends from its hub.
  • a reference herein to a blade is not intended to be a reference to a rotor as a whole.
  • a blade support plane denotes a plane in which the main longitudinal axis of a relevant blade extends and in which the blade is supported in a respective root and tip frame element of a rack in a blade rack.
  • that plane was a fixed transportation plane. In the present invention, that plane is tiltable.
  • FIG. 2 shows a blade rack arrangement 1 consisting of a root rack 2 and a tip rack 3 .
  • the root rack 2 comprises three blade root frames 4 .
  • the tip rack 3 comprises three blade tip frames 5 .
  • the frames 4 , 5 are modular, each module comprising a single frame 4 or 5 .
  • Each module or frame 4 , 5 is connectable to a neighbouring module or frame via fasteners (not shown in FIG. 2 ).
  • Also shown in FIG. 2 are blades 10 pre-loaded into each of a root and tip frame pair 4 , 5 .
  • a seat 14 in a root frame 4 supports the root end of a blade 10 while the tip portion of a blade 10 is supported in a saddle 16 in a tip frame 5 .
  • the blades 10 are supported in a blade support plane 18 suggested by the broken line which runs along a blade longitudinal axis, lying in that plane which also extends laterally of the broken line ( 18 ).
  • a blade support plane 18 suggested by the broken line which runs along a blade longitudinal axis, lying in that plane which also extends laterally of the broken line ( 18 ).
  • entire columns of frames 4 , 5 in the form of racks 2 or 3 may be loaded to form a rack arrangement 1 on a vessel loading deck 11 .
  • each frame pair 4 , 5 may be loaded successively to make up respective racks 2 , 3 and rack arrangement 1 .
  • the frame pairs 4 , 5 are loaded on to the transport vessel loading deck 11 with blades 10 in place in each tip and root frame 4 , 5 of a pair.
  • blades 10 may be loaded into frame pairs 4 , 5 already in place on a vessel deck 11 .
  • FIG. 2 Also shown in FIG. 2 is an example of a jack assembly 30 , comprising a linear drive 32 coupled to a lifting platform 34 via a linkage 36 .
  • the term jack may refer to a lifting drive means.
  • the term “jack” as used herein is a collective term intended to designate a jack apparatus or jack assembly configured for lifting or lowering a blade rack 2 or 3 and thereby shifting the elevation angle of a blade support plane 18 of a rack arrangement 1 .
  • FIG. 3 Also shown for illustrative purposes in connection with FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram— FIG. 3 —of a jack assembly 30 having a linkage 36 .
  • the jack assembly 30 is configured for mounting on a loading deck 11 of an installation vessel 100 and for being positioned beneath a tip or root rack 2 , 3 of a rack arrangement 1 .
  • the lifting platform 34 is shown positionable below the tip rack 3 such that the lowermost region of the tip rack 3 is supported by or on the lifting platform 34 .
  • the lifting platform 34 may be positioned in the same way below a root rack 2 .
  • the lowermost element of a rack 2 or 3 such as a lowermost frame 4 or 5 may be fixedly connectable to a lifting platform 34 via fastening elements.
  • the exemplary linkage 36 shown in FIG. 2 comprises a lifting arm 43 and a slidable platform coupling 45 .
  • the linear drive 32 is coupled to the lifting arm 43 at a pivot point 44 which is preferably arranged between two extremities of the lifting arm 43 .
  • Both the linear drive 32 and the lifting arm 43 may be preferably pivotably coupled to a deck interface which may be in the form of a base 38 .
  • the base 38 as shown comprises two pivot points 41 and 42 .
  • the linear drive pivot point 41 is spaced a distance apart from the lifting arm pivot point 42 .
  • the pivot points 44 , 41 and 42 all act along parallel pivot axes.
  • the lifting arm 43 is coupled to the slidable platform coupling 45 at an end opposite to its base pivot point 42 .
  • the slidable coupling 45 may co-operate with a slideway 46 of the lifting platform 34 to allow the platform 34 to maintain its position in relation to a rack 2 , 3 during raising or lowering thereof.
  • the platform 34 may in particular be raised or lowered by actuating linear drive 32 which acts on the arm 43 via pivot point 44 to rotate it about its base pivot point 42 thereby changing the height of the distal end of the lifting arm 43 in relation to the jack assembly base 38 . This has the effect of translating the slidable coupling 45 , which is then caused to slide in the slideway 46 of the lifting platform 34 .
  • the linear drive 32 and each displaceable element of the linkage 36 is shown in two positions in FIG. 3 , namely a relatively lowered position and a relatively raised position. In its relatively raised position, the lifting platform 34 is raised through a distance k above its relatively lowered position.
  • the jack assembly 30 may co-operate with a skid in the form of a pivot 50 positionable at the other rack 2 , 3 , whichever is not on the lifting platform 34 .
  • the pivot 50 is positioned at, and below the root rack 2 .
  • the rack 2 or the lowermost frame 4 of the rack is fixedly connectable to the pivot 50 via fastening elements such as bolts or clamps or pins or equivalents.
  • the pivot 50 may comprise a tiltable platform 49 and a base 39 .
  • the base 39 and the tiltable platform 49 may be hinged together along a hinge axis c.
  • the lowermost element of a rack 2 or 3 such as a lowermost frame 4 or 5 may be fixedly connectable to a pivot platform 49 via fastening elements such as bolts or clamps or pins or equivalents.
  • the pivot base 39 and the jack assembly base 38 are shown fixed to the loading deck 11 by welding.
  • Other fixing arrangements may be contemplated for fixing the bases 38 or 38 to a deck 11 .
  • one or both bases 38 or 39 may be supported on a loading deck 11 by means of a base frame such as a spacer frame 8 , 9 (not shown in FIG. 2 or 3 ) the dimensions of which may vary.
  • the pivot 50 may be rotatably coupled to the jack assembly 30 , in particular, to the lifting platform 34 . This may be achieved in any suitable manner.
  • the lifting platform 34 may be rotatably coupled to the pivot 50 via a boom 47 .
  • a pivot 50 may be associated with a drive mechanism configured to synchronise the tilt angle of the pivot 50 with the movement or position of the lifting platform 34 .
  • the rotatable coupling between the lifting platform 34 and the pivot 50 may be capable of driving the rotation of the pivot platform 49 of pivot 50 .
  • rotatable coupling between the lifting platform 34 and the pivot 50 may be by means transmission of movement through rotor blades 10 in the respective root or tip racks 2 , 3 although this is not preferred.
  • the linear drive 32 has one end captive and fixed at the drive's base pivot point 41 while its other end is captive at translatable pivot point 44 .
  • linear drive 32 Upon actuation of linear drive 32 it extends or contracts in length, thereby causing the lifting arm 43 , pivot points 44 and slidable coupling 45 to move through an arc about the lifting arm's base pivot point 42 .
  • the resulting change in height of the remainder of the lifting arm 43 causes raising or lowering of the lifting platform 34 .
  • the effect of raising or lowering the lifting platform 34 is to change the effective elevation angle of the blade support plane 18 .
  • the operative coupling between lifting platform 34 and pivot 50 results in the movement of the lifting platform 34 being along an arcuate path A about hinge axis c through an elevation angle ⁇ .
  • the angle ⁇ may be a depression angle although the terms elevation angle and depression angle are not differentiated in this specification because they both denote a change in the inclination of a blade support plane with respect to the horizontal.
  • the linear drive 32 may be any suitable linear drive device such as a hydraulic piston or worm shaft and collar.
  • the linear drive 32 is controlled by a control device (not shown) and may be actuated remotely or automatically or both.
  • the degree of inclination applied to the blade support plane is infinitely variable.
  • a single column of frames 4 , 5 is shown in each root or tip rack 2 , 3 .
  • a jack arrangement 32 may be provided for each column of frames or there may be more than one column of frames supported on a single lifting platform 34 .
  • each root or tip rack 2 , or 3 may be associated with one or more jacks 30 .
  • a pivot 50 may be provided for each column of frames in a rack or there may be more than one column of frames supported on a single pivot 50 .
  • FIGS. 4 a and 4 b A further example of aspects of the invention is illustrated in FIGS. 4 a and 4 b .
  • a set of blades 10 is shown supported in a rack arrangement 1 comprising a root rack 2 and a tip rack 3 .
  • the frames 4 , 5 in each rack 2 , 3 may be modular single frames, modular multiple frames or the racks may comprise multiple frames which are not of modular type and which may in particular be unitary—i.e. not separably connected together.
  • FIG. 4 a shows a set of blades 10 supported in the rack arrangement 1 in a loading or unloading position, namely with a generally lateral blade support plane including or parallel to the longitudinal support axis 18 .
  • the tip frame rack 3 is supported at a height above the deck 11 by a spacer frame 9 . Fixed atop the spacer frame 9 is a pivot 50 supporting the tip rack 3 .
  • the rack arrangement 1 comprises a root rack 2 in which the blades 10 are supported.
  • a rotatable spacer 55 acts as a support element between the deck 11 and the root rack 2 .
  • the rotatable spacer 55 is pivotably connected at a rack pivot point, to the root rack 2 via a pivot 56 and pivotably connected to a linear drive 32 via a pivot 57 at a drive pivot point on said rotatable spacer spaced a distance apart from said rack pivot point.
  • the rack and drive pivots 56 , and 57 preferably act along parallel axes.
  • a retraction action of the linear drive 32 which may be any suitable drive such as a piston or worm shaft type drive, has the effect of pulling a toe portion 59 of the spacer 55 away from beneath the rack 2 as the spacer pivot 56 is pulled in a retraction direction of the linear drive 32 .
  • this retraction action of the linear drive 32 has the simultaneous effect of lowering the rack 2 and bringing the spacer 55 to rest in a lowered position with the blade support plane 18 inclined in a transport position relative to the loading/unloading position.
  • a transport position of the blades 10 is illustrated in FIG. 4 b , with the blade tips extending over the edge of the deck 11 and above the water surface at a height n, where n>m.
  • the action of the linear drive 32 has the effect of tilting a blade longitudinal axis through an infinitely variable angle ⁇ .
  • the rotatable spacer 55 has a heel portion 58 on which the rack 2 may come to rest in a fully lowered position of the jack assembly 30 . In its fully raised position, the jack assembly 30 may bring the rotatable spacer 55 into a standing position, supporting the rack 2 substantially upright on its toe portion 59 .
  • the pivot 50 at one rack, is coupled to the base of an opposite rack via a coupling.
  • the illustrated coupling is in the form of a boom 47 capable of driving a tilting action of the pivot 50 by virtue of a raising or lowering action on an opposite rack.
  • the rack arrangement 1 may thereby be moved between a transport position of the blades 10 and a loading/unloading position of the blades by changing the inclination angle of the blade support plane 18 .
  • the angle ⁇ may be infinitely variable and may be adjusted between zero and five degrees. Still preferably, the angle ⁇ may be adjusted between zero and ten degrees. Still further preferably, the angle ⁇ may be adjusted between zero and twenty degrees. In embodiments, the angle ⁇ may be adjustable by between zero and more than 20 degrees.
  • FIGS. 5 a and 5 b indicate additional detail of a jack 30 according to aspects of the invention.
  • the tip rack 3 rests upon the lifting platform 34 of the jack 30 .
  • the jack 30 may thereby be in its lowered position during loading/unloading while it is in its raised position during transportation.
  • This is converse to the arrangement shown by way of example in FIG. 4 a or 4 b although the same effect is achieved.
  • This configuration may be applied to any of the other illustrated exemplary embodiments.
  • One advantage of the arrangement of FIGS. 5 a and b may reside in there no longer being a need to provide a rack spacer frame 9 beneath either tip or root rack 2 , 3 of a rack arrangement 1 .
  • the boom 47 is capable of driving the pivot 50 in rotation as the jack assembly 30 is actuated in a raising or lowering direction.
  • a controllable linear drive 32 comprises an actuator unit 60 coupled to a worm shaft 62 and collar 61 .
  • the collar 61 may ride forcibly back and forth up and down the length of the worm shaft 62 thereby urging the spacer 55 between a raised and a lowered position.
  • the actuator unit 60 may include a motor such as an electric motor and may be associated with control means (not shown).
  • a roller 66 at the toe 59 of the rotatable spacer 55 may assist movement of the spacer between a raised and a lowered position of the relevant rack 2 .
  • the rotatable rack spacer 55 may be moved between a raised and a lowered position by movement of a portion of the spacer 55 along a support surface of a vessel.
  • the support surface may be a loading deck 11 .
  • a toe portion 59 of the spacer 55 may be moved along a support surface 11 .
  • the movement of a portion of the spacer 55 along a support surface may be assisted by the provision of a roller 66 on the spacer 55 , preferably at a toe portion 59 of the spacer 55 .
  • the spacer 55 is shown standing upright on its toe portion 59 and thereby in a position in which it raises a relevant rack to its maximum extent.
  • a locking raised position of the rotatable rack spacer 55 may be envisaged.
  • the linear drive 32 may be driven in a raising direction of a root or tip rack 2 , 3 or lifting platform 34 beyond the maximum height position of a spacer 55 .
  • the rotatable spacer 55 may be caused to rotate to its maximum extent about the rack pivot 56 until a spacer shoulder 51 comes to rest against the rack 2 , 3 or against a lifting platform 34 .
  • the spacer shoulder 51 can rest against lifting platform 34 such that a gravitational effect on the rack or on the lifting platform 34 would tend to urge the rotatable spacer 55 in a rotation direction about the rack pivot 56 which rotation direction is prohibited by the spacer shoulder 51 abutting against the relevant rack or lifting platform which it supports.
  • This locking position of the rack spacer 55 is not shown in FIG. 5 a or 5 b.
  • FIGS. 6 a and 6 b the jack assembly 30 is shown having a piston type linear drive 32 and supporting a root rack 2 via a lifting platform 34 .
  • FIG. 6 a shows a rotatable rack spacer 55 in a raised locking position with its shoulder 51 abutting the lifting platform 34 and thereby being blocked in position by gravity.
  • FIG. 6 b shows, conversely, the rack spacer 55 blocked by gravity in its lowered position with the shoulder 51 abutting the loading deck 11 .
  • the illustration has a mechanism similar to FIGS. 4 a and 4 b . In the arrangement shown in FIGS.
  • a jack assembly 30 has linear drive 32 in the form of a hydraulic piston supporting a rack 3 via a lifting platform 34 shown here in the form of a pusher at a distal end of the linear drive 32 , engaging a lifting pin on a rack 3 .
  • the linear drive may be anchored to the loading deck 11 or it may be associated with a resting block 48 .
  • the extension or retraction action of the linear drive 32 may be controlled by control elements (not shown) and preferably allows an infinitely variable angular adjustment of the blade support plane suggested by the numeral 18 between zero and about twenty degrees from the horizontal, or, at least, from the plane of the loading deck 11 . As may be seen from the indications in FIGS.
  • the racks 2 or 3 maintain their shape and dimensions when tilted by the jack assembly 30 as between a raised and a lowered position or as between a loading/unloading position and a transport position. This may preferably be guaranteed by a coupling 47 in the form of a boom although this is not essential in all embodiments.
  • FIG. 8 shows a schematic illustration of a root rack 2 in which blades 10 are located, positioned on a jack 30 at the loading deck 11 of a transport vessel 100 also equipped with a crane 120 .
  • the lifting platform 34 shown in this case carries two columns of stacked frames.
  • a pivot 50 (not shown in this figure) is arranged correspondingly.
  • a lifting platform 34 or pivot 50 may carry a single column of frames.
  • a lifting platform 34 or pivot 50 may carry three or four or five or more columns of frames.
  • the blades 10 may be loaded onto the vessel 100 for example from a quayside and preferably by means of a crane 120 .
  • a crane 120 When loading or unloading blades 10 , these are suspended from a crane 120 with the blade main axis lying in a horizontal plane.
  • the blades 10 may be placed into frames 4 , 5 of an existing blade rack arrangement 1 on board a vessel 100 with a root or tip rack 2 , 3 of the blade rack arrangement 1 being associated with a jack 30 on the vessel 100 .
  • the blades 10 may be transported from a quayside in single or multiple transport frame elements 4 , 5 which, when placed on a loading deck 11 of a vessel equipped with a jack 30 , make up a respective root and tip rack 2 , 3 and thereby constitute a rack arrangement 1 .
  • at least one rack 2 , 3 of a rack arrangement 1 is positioned in relation to a jack 30 such that it may be raised or lowered by the action of the jack 30 .
  • the blades 10 are transported by crane 120 and placed in the rack arrangement 1 in a horizontal orientation.
  • each blade immediately after loading into the rack arrangement 1 , each blade initially lies with its main axis in a horizontal support plane defined by the relative arrangement of facing frame elements 4 , 5 within each rack arrangement 1 .
  • a jack 30 may be configured to lift or lower a single column of frames 4 , 5 or multiple columns of frames 4 , 5 standing side-by-side.
  • the jack 30 may be actuated (raised or lowered) to thereby raise or lower a relevant rack 2 , 3 , moving the blade support plane 18 through an elevation angle ⁇ such that the blade tips are raised.
  • the blade shipment may be transported to an erection site, which may in particular be an offshore site.
  • the blade shipment may be transported by vessel 100 to any desired unloading site.
  • the jack 30 may once again be actuated to move the blade support plane 18 through an elevation angle ⁇ thereby to lower the blade tip clearance height and bring the blade support plane back to the horizontal before commencing unloading the blades 10 from the rack arrangement 1 , preferably by means of the crane 120 .

Landscapes

  • Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Chemical & Material Sciences (AREA)
  • Combustion & Propulsion (AREA)
  • Mechanical Engineering (AREA)
  • Ocean & Marine Engineering (AREA)
  • Life Sciences & Earth Sciences (AREA)
  • Sustainable Development (AREA)
  • Sustainable Energy (AREA)
  • General Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Transportation (AREA)
  • Bridges Or Land Bridges (AREA)
  • Wind Motors (AREA)
  • Ship Loading And Unloading (AREA)
US15/539,281 2014-12-23 2015-12-21 Wind turbine blade handling aboard a vessel Active US10385827B2 (en)

Applications Claiming Priority (4)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
DKPA201470824 2014-12-23
DK201470824 2014-12-23
DKPA201470824 2014-12-23
PCT/DK2015/050408 WO2016101957A1 (en) 2014-12-23 2015-12-21 Wind turbine blade handling aboard a vessel

Publications (2)

Publication Number Publication Date
US20170370346A1 US20170370346A1 (en) 2017-12-28
US10385827B2 true US10385827B2 (en) 2019-08-20

Family

ID=55024707

Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
US15/539,281 Active US10385827B2 (en) 2014-12-23 2015-12-21 Wind turbine blade handling aboard a vessel

Country Status (8)

Country Link
US (1) US10385827B2 (da)
EP (1) EP3237750B1 (da)
JP (1) JP6563499B2 (da)
KR (1) KR101985257B1 (da)
CN (1) CN107223184B (da)
DK (1) DK3237750T3 (da)
PT (1) PT3237750T (da)
WO (1) WO2016101957A1 (da)

Cited By (2)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US20190345917A1 (en) * 2016-03-11 2019-11-14 Lm Wp Patent Holding A/S System for Transport and/or Storage of Wind Turbine Blade Shell Half Parts and Related Method
US20210301791A1 (en) * 2020-03-27 2021-09-30 Siemens Gamesa Renewable Energy A/S Wind turbine component transport arrangement

Families Citing this family (12)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US10875679B2 (en) * 2013-09-03 2020-12-29 Vestas Wind Systems A/S Turning stand for a rotor hub of a wind turbine and method for turning the rotor hub
CN106133310B (zh) * 2014-03-31 2019-06-04 维斯塔斯风力系统有限公司 海上运输用堆叠风轮机叶片
GB201523124D0 (en) * 2015-12-30 2016-02-10 Vestas Wind Sys As Transport frame for a wind turbine blade
KR101924324B1 (ko) * 2016-09-28 2018-12-03 삼성중공업 주식회사 화물운송선박
CN107804478B (zh) * 2017-10-24 2021-05-07 西北工业大学 一种可快速拆卸安装的旋转机翼飞机载运系统
US11053704B1 (en) 2017-10-31 2021-07-06 Pecos Wind Power, Inc. Fixture for tilt-up wind turbine installation
CN108843519B (zh) * 2018-06-28 2020-01-31 江苏金风科技有限公司 叶片运输支架
EP3865706B1 (en) * 2018-10-09 2023-12-13 NTN Corporation Vertical shaft wind power generation device and hydropower generation device accommodated in container
CN112960067B (zh) * 2021-01-29 2022-04-12 广船国际有限公司 一种船舶分段配载方法
KR102325092B1 (ko) * 2021-09-23 2021-11-11 주식회사 에이스이앤티 부유식 해상 풍력발전 전용 설치선을 이용한 풍력 발전기 조립방법
EP4311933A1 (en) * 2022-07-28 2024-01-31 Siemens Gamesa Renewable Energy A/S Blade guiding system for a wind turbine blade rack
CN115230909A (zh) * 2022-08-04 2022-10-25 中船黄埔文冲船舶有限公司 风电安装平台

Citations (24)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US4072120A (en) 1974-02-04 1978-02-07 Bylo John J Marine transport
EP1321671A1 (de) 2001-12-18 2003-06-25 PLAMBECK, Norbert Schwimmfähige Hubplattform zum Transport von Offshore-Windenergieanlagen
US20060113449A1 (en) 2004-11-18 2006-06-01 Jacob Nies Transport device for an elongate object such as a rotor blade for a wind turbine or the like
US20070177954A1 (en) * 2006-01-31 2007-08-02 General Electric Company Method and apparatus for containing and/or transporting rotor blades
US20070189895A1 (en) * 2006-01-31 2007-08-16 Dirk-Jan Kootstra Methods and systems for transporting wind turbine components
US20070253829A1 (en) * 2006-04-28 2007-11-01 Thomas Wessel Transportation unit for a wind turbine rotor blade
US20100067989A1 (en) 2007-03-30 2010-03-18 Brown Michael D Vessel for transporting wind turbines and methods thereof
US20100111633A1 (en) * 2007-02-28 2010-05-06 Vestas Wind Systems A/S Support System for a Wind Turbine Component, a Vehicle Transport System for a Wind Turbine Component and a Method for Operating a Support System
US20110142589A1 (en) 2010-07-26 2011-06-16 General Electric Company Turbine component transportation system and method
WO2011102738A2 (en) 2010-02-18 2011-08-25 Aker Marine Contractors As A method and vessel for offshore transport and installation of windmill assemblies
US20110308205A1 (en) * 2008-12-19 2011-12-22 Ismael Rodrigues Vitor Three aerogenerator blades packing system (packing method and packing system for three aerogenerator blades)
US20120091080A1 (en) * 2010-10-15 2012-04-19 Kelly Thomas P Method and Apparatus for Transporting Wind Turbine Blades
US20120192420A1 (en) * 2011-01-31 2012-08-02 Mikkel Verner Krogh Lifting system and method for lifting rotor blades of wind turbines
EP2572976A1 (en) 2010-05-20 2013-03-27 Mitsubishi Heavy Industries, Ltd. Transporting barge, floating structure installation system, and floating structure installation method
WO2013095136A1 (en) 2011-12-22 2013-06-27 Gustomsc Resources B.V. Method for installing an offshore wind turbine, installation barge for installing an offshore wind turbine
EP2666669A1 (en) 2012-05-22 2013-11-27 Siemens Aktiengesellschaft Transportation of wind turbine blades, in particular along curved roads
WO2014064247A1 (en) 2012-10-26 2014-05-01 Lm Wp Patent Holding A/S Method and system for transporting and storing at least two wind turbine blades
US20140305743A1 (en) * 2012-01-26 2014-10-16 Siemens Aktiengesellschaft Blade handling system with a wheel arrangement and a blade elevator system
US20140314576A1 (en) 2013-04-23 2014-10-23 Siemens Aktiengesellschaft Wind turbine blade holding arrangement
JP2014214748A (ja) 2013-04-24 2014-11-17 エンビジョンエナジー（デンマーク） アンパーツゼルスカブ 海上風力タービンの組立及び輸送方法
US20140356113A1 (en) * 2013-05-31 2014-12-04 Siemens Aktiengesellschaft System and method of moving a wind turbine rotor blade
US20140369779A1 (en) * 2011-12-29 2014-12-18 Vestas Wind Systems A/S Method for transporting a curved wind turbine blade and associated transportation device
WO2015101375A1 (en) 2013-12-30 2015-07-09 Vestas Wind Systems A/S Improvements related to component handling, in particular wind turbine component handling
US20150198140A1 (en) * 2014-01-16 2015-07-16 Bnsf Logistics, Llc Methods for Transporting Wind Turbine Blades

Family Cites Families (5)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US7801033B2 (en) * 2005-07-26 2010-09-21 Nethra Imaging, Inc. System of virtual data channels in an integrated circuit
CN101196177B (zh) * 2006-12-08 2010-10-06 天津市海恩海洋工程技术服务有限公司 海上风力发电机组安装施工方法
CN102594711B (zh) * 2012-03-28 2014-11-26 杭州华三通信技术有限公司 一种在边缘设备上的报文转发方法和边缘设备
KR101411472B1 (ko) * 2012-06-29 2014-06-24 삼성중공업 주식회사 해상 풍력발전기 설치용 선박
JP2014022264A (ja) * 2012-07-20 2014-02-03 Chia Yuan Li 防水、防火、防振、防爆４つの機能を備える車用電池及びその製造方法

Patent Citations (27)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US4072120A (en) 1974-02-04 1978-02-07 Bylo John J Marine transport
EP1321671A1 (de) 2001-12-18 2003-06-25 PLAMBECK, Norbert Schwimmfähige Hubplattform zum Transport von Offshore-Windenergieanlagen
US20060113449A1 (en) 2004-11-18 2006-06-01 Jacob Nies Transport device for an elongate object such as a rotor blade for a wind turbine or the like
US20070177954A1 (en) * 2006-01-31 2007-08-02 General Electric Company Method and apparatus for containing and/or transporting rotor blades
US20070189895A1 (en) * 2006-01-31 2007-08-16 Dirk-Jan Kootstra Methods and systems for transporting wind turbine components
US20070253829A1 (en) * 2006-04-28 2007-11-01 Thomas Wessel Transportation unit for a wind turbine rotor blade
US20100111633A1 (en) * 2007-02-28 2010-05-06 Vestas Wind Systems A/S Support System for a Wind Turbine Component, a Vehicle Transport System for a Wind Turbine Component and a Method for Operating a Support System
US20100067989A1 (en) 2007-03-30 2010-03-18 Brown Michael D Vessel for transporting wind turbines and methods thereof
US20110308205A1 (en) * 2008-12-19 2011-12-22 Ismael Rodrigues Vitor Three aerogenerator blades packing system (packing method and packing system for three aerogenerator blades)
WO2011102738A2 (en) 2010-02-18 2011-08-25 Aker Marine Contractors As A method and vessel for offshore transport and installation of windmill assemblies
EP2572976A1 (en) 2010-05-20 2013-03-27 Mitsubishi Heavy Industries, Ltd. Transporting barge, floating structure installation system, and floating structure installation method
US20110142589A1 (en) 2010-07-26 2011-06-16 General Electric Company Turbine component transportation system and method
US20120091080A1 (en) * 2010-10-15 2012-04-19 Kelly Thomas P Method and Apparatus for Transporting Wind Turbine Blades
US20120192420A1 (en) * 2011-01-31 2012-08-02 Mikkel Verner Krogh Lifting system and method for lifting rotor blades of wind turbines
WO2013095136A1 (en) 2011-12-22 2013-06-27 Gustomsc Resources B.V. Method for installing an offshore wind turbine, installation barge for installing an offshore wind turbine
US20140369779A1 (en) * 2011-12-29 2014-12-18 Vestas Wind Systems A/S Method for transporting a curved wind turbine blade and associated transportation device
US20140305743A1 (en) * 2012-01-26 2014-10-16 Siemens Aktiengesellschaft Blade handling system with a wheel arrangement and a blade elevator system
EP2666669A1 (en) 2012-05-22 2013-11-27 Siemens Aktiengesellschaft Transportation of wind turbine blades, in particular along curved roads
US20130315685A1 (en) * 2012-05-22 2013-11-28 Tom Pedersen Transportation of wind turbine blades, in particular along curved roads
WO2014064247A1 (en) 2012-10-26 2014-05-01 Lm Wp Patent Holding A/S Method and system for transporting and storing at least two wind turbine blades
US20150300314A1 (en) * 2012-10-26 2015-10-22 Lm Wp Patent Holding A/S Method and system for transporting and storing at least two wind turbine blades
EP2796709A1 (en) 2013-04-23 2014-10-29 Siemens Aktiengesellschaft Wind turbine blade holding arrangement
US20140314576A1 (en) 2013-04-23 2014-10-23 Siemens Aktiengesellschaft Wind turbine blade holding arrangement
JP2014214748A (ja) 2013-04-24 2014-11-17 エンビジョンエナジー（デンマーク） アンパーツゼルスカブ 海上風力タービンの組立及び輸送方法
US20140356113A1 (en) * 2013-05-31 2014-12-04 Siemens Aktiengesellschaft System and method of moving a wind turbine rotor blade
WO2015101375A1 (en) 2013-12-30 2015-07-09 Vestas Wind Systems A/S Improvements related to component handling, in particular wind turbine component handling
US20150198140A1 (en) * 2014-01-16 2015-07-16 Bnsf Logistics, Llc Methods for Transporting Wind Turbine Blades

Non-Patent Citations (4)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Title
Danish Patent and Trademark Office, Search Report in PA 2014 70824, dated Jul. 8, 2015.
European Patent Office, International Search Report and Written Opinion in PCT Application No. PCT/DK2015/050408, dated Feb. 25, 2016.
Japanese Patent Office, Notification of Reasons for Refusal in JP 2017-534273, dated Aug. 10, 2018.
Korean Intellectual Property Office, Office Action in Korean Application No. 10-2017-7020662, dated Nov. 17, 2018.

Cited By (3)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US20190345917A1 (en) * 2016-03-11 2019-11-14 Lm Wp Patent Holding A/S System for Transport and/or Storage of Wind Turbine Blade Shell Half Parts and Related Method
US10815970B2 (en) * 2016-03-11 2020-10-27 Lm Wp Patent Holding A/S System for transport and/or storage of wind turbine blade shell half parts and related method
US20210301791A1 (en) * 2020-03-27 2021-09-30 Siemens Gamesa Renewable Energy A/S Wind turbine component transport arrangement

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
KR20170101951A (ko) 2017-09-06
CN107223184A (zh) 2017-09-29
EP3237750B1 (en) 2019-10-16
KR101985257B1 (ko) 2019-06-03
JP6563499B2 (ja) 2019-08-21
EP3237750A1 (en) 2017-11-01
CN107223184B (zh) 2020-02-14
DK3237750T3 (da) 2019-11-18
PT3237750T (pt) 2019-11-29
JP2018508399A (ja) 2018-03-29
US20170370346A1 (en) 2017-12-28
WO2016101957A1 (en) 2016-06-30

Similar Documents

Publication Publication Date Title
US10385827B2 (en) Wind turbine blade handling aboard a vessel
EP2475879B1 (en) Windmill conveyance system and method for using same
DK2585712T3 (da) Løfteindretning og fremgangsmåde til positionering af en uhåndterlig genstand
EP3677773B1 (en) Offshore wind turbine installation system
EP2563707B1 (en) Crane for handling of wind turbine generator components and method of hoisting of such a crane
EP2347992B1 (fr) Nacelle élévatrice pour préparation de commande ou travaux de construction et utilisations d'une telle nacelle
CN113226911A (zh) 用于使用提升手段从船舶甲板竖立细长元件的船舶和装置
US20220154695A1 (en) Systems and methods for assembling and installing offshore wind turbines
EP2362021A1 (en) A turning arrangement for turning an elongated element, method and uses of the turning arrangement
NL2028204B1 (en) Vessel, device and method for the manipulation of wind turbine blades
JP7495161B2 (ja) 風力タービンを組み立てる方法および風力タービンシステム
KR200382370Y1 (ko) 부두의 승하선용 복합식 선교
CN117561210A (zh) 安装船舶、提升装置、桩柱夹持器、控制单元和方法
NL2012190C2 (en) A vessel equipped with a manoeuvrable evacuation chute.
NL2007729C2 (en) A vessel with a rigid wingsail installation.
NO20110460A1 (no) Derrick apparatus
WO2014011057A1 (en) Method and device for transfer of a load
NO20110461A1 (no) Boretarn

Legal Events

Date Code Title Description
AS Assignment

Owner name: MHI VESTAS OFFSHORE WIND A/S, DENMARK

Free format text: ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNORS INTEREST;ASSIGNORS:BOTWRIGHT, ADRIAN;URSELL-SMITH, MARK;MAROTI, STEFAN;SIGNING DATES FROM 20171024 TO 20171029;REEL/FRAME:043981/0104

STPP Information on status: patent application and granting procedure in general

Free format text: RESPONSE AFTER FINAL ACTION FORWARDED TO EXAMINER

STPP Information on status: patent application and granting procedure in general

Free format text: NOTICE OF ALLOWANCE MAILED -- APPLICATION RECEIVED IN OFFICE OF PUBLICATIONS

STPP Information on status: patent application and granting procedure in general

Free format text: PUBLICATIONS -- ISSUE FEE PAYMENT VERIFIED

STCF Information on status: patent grant

Free format text: PATENTED CASE

AS Assignment

Owner name: VESTAS OFFSHORE WIND A/S, DENMARK

Free format text: CHANGE OF NAME;ASSIGNOR:MHI VESTAS OFFSHORE WIND A/S;REEL/FRAME:056819/0195

Effective date: 20210517

AS Assignment

Owner name: VESTAS OFFSHORE WIND A/S, DENMARK

Free format text: CORRECTIVE ASSIGNMENT TO CORRECT THE PATENT NO. 10804535 PREVIOUSLY RECORDED AT REEL: 056819 FRAME: 0195. ASSIGNOR(S) HEREBY CONFIRMS THE CHANGE OF NAME;ASSIGNOR:MHI VESTAS OFFSHORE WIND A/S;REEL/FRAME:056846/0151

Effective date: 20210517

AS Assignment

Owner name: VESTAS WIND SYSTEMS A/S, DENMARK

Free format text: ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNORS INTEREST;ASSIGNOR:VESTAS OFFSHORE WIND;REEL/FRAME:058675/0058

Effective date: 20210621

MAFP Maintenance fee payment

Free format text: PAYMENT OF MAINTENANCE FEE, 4TH YEAR, LARGE ENTITY (ORIGINAL EVENT CODE: M1551); ENTITY STATUS OF PATENT OWNER: LARGE ENTITY

Year of fee payment: 4