WO2008132226A1 - A mounting device - Google Patents

A mounting device Download PDF

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Publication number
WO2008132226A1
WO2008132226A1 PCT/EP2008/055333 EP2008055333W WO2008132226A1 WO 2008132226 A1 WO2008132226 A1 WO 2008132226A1 EP 2008055333 W EP2008055333 W EP 2008055333W WO 2008132226 A1 WO2008132226 A1 WO 2008132226A1
Authority
WO
WIPO (PCT)
Prior art keywords
wind turbine
tower
sledge
gripping
blade
Prior art date
Application number
PCT/EP2008/055333
Other languages
French (fr)
Inventor
Gunnar Kamp Storgaard Pedersen
Anders Greve Bervang
Original Assignee
Vestas Wind Systems A/S
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 Vestas Wind Systems A/S filed Critical Vestas Wind Systems A/S
Priority to ES08736640T priority Critical patent/ES2387331T3/en
Priority to US12/598,208 priority patent/US8191878B2/en
Priority to EP08736640A priority patent/EP2144837B1/en
Priority to CN2008800141318A priority patent/CN101765558B/en
Publication of WO2008132226A1 publication Critical patent/WO2008132226A1/en

Links

Classifications

    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B66—HOISTING; LIFTING; HAULING
    • B66C—CRANES; LOAD-ENGAGING ELEMENTS OR DEVICES FOR CRANES, CAPSTANS, WINCHES, OR TACKLES
    • B66C23/00—Cranes comprising essentially a beam, boom, or triangular structure acting as a cantilever and mounted for translatory of swinging movements in vertical or horizontal planes or a combination of such movements, e.g. jib-cranes, derricks, tower cranes
    • B66C23/18—Cranes comprising essentially a beam, boom, or triangular structure acting as a cantilever and mounted for translatory of swinging movements in vertical or horizontal planes or a combination of such movements, e.g. jib-cranes, derricks, tower cranes specially adapted for use in particular purposes
    • B66C23/26—Cranes comprising essentially a beam, boom, or triangular structure acting as a cantilever and mounted for translatory of swinging movements in vertical or horizontal planes or a combination of such movements, e.g. jib-cranes, derricks, tower cranes specially adapted for use in particular purposes for use on building sites; constructed, e.g. with separable parts, to facilitate rapid assembly or dismantling, for operation at successively higher levels, for transport by road or rail
    • B66C23/28—Cranes comprising essentially a beam, boom, or triangular structure acting as a cantilever and mounted for translatory of swinging movements in vertical or horizontal planes or a combination of such movements, e.g. jib-cranes, derricks, tower cranes specially adapted for use in particular purposes for use on building sites; constructed, e.g. with separable parts, to facilitate rapid assembly or dismantling, for operation at successively higher levels, for transport by road or rail constructed to operate at successively higher levels
    • B66C23/32—Self-hoisting cranes
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B66—HOISTING; LIFTING; HAULING
    • B66C—CRANES; LOAD-ENGAGING ELEMENTS OR DEVICES FOR CRANES, CAPSTANS, WINCHES, OR TACKLES
    • B66C1/00—Load-engaging elements or devices attached to lifting or lowering gear of cranes or adapted for connection therewith for transmitting lifting forces to articles or groups of articles
    • B66C1/10—Load-engaging elements or devices attached to lifting or lowering gear of cranes or adapted for connection therewith for transmitting lifting forces to articles or groups of articles by mechanical means
    • B66C1/108—Load-engaging elements or devices attached to lifting or lowering gear of cranes or adapted for connection therewith for transmitting lifting forces to articles or groups of articles by mechanical means for lifting parts of wind turbines
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B66—HOISTING; LIFTING; HAULING
    • B66C—CRANES; LOAD-ENGAGING ELEMENTS OR DEVICES FOR CRANES, CAPSTANS, WINCHES, OR TACKLES
    • B66C1/00—Load-engaging elements or devices attached to lifting or lowering gear of cranes or adapted for connection therewith for transmitting lifting forces to articles or groups of articles
    • B66C1/10—Load-engaging elements or devices attached to lifting or lowering gear of cranes or adapted for connection therewith for transmitting lifting forces to articles or groups of articles by mechanical means
    • B66C1/62—Load-engaging elements or devices attached to lifting or lowering gear of cranes or adapted for connection therewith for transmitting lifting forces to articles or groups of articles by mechanical means comprising article-engaging members of a shape complementary to that of the articles to be handled
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B66—HOISTING; LIFTING; HAULING
    • B66C—CRANES; LOAD-ENGAGING ELEMENTS OR DEVICES FOR CRANES, CAPSTANS, WINCHES, OR TACKLES
    • B66C23/00—Cranes comprising essentially a beam, boom, or triangular structure acting as a cantilever and mounted for translatory of swinging movements in vertical or horizontal planes or a combination of such movements, e.g. jib-cranes, derricks, tower cranes
    • B66C23/18—Cranes comprising essentially a beam, boom, or triangular structure acting as a cantilever and mounted for translatory of swinging movements in vertical or horizontal planes or a combination of such movements, e.g. jib-cranes, derricks, tower cranes specially adapted for use in particular purposes
    • B66C23/20—Cranes comprising essentially a beam, boom, or triangular structure acting as a cantilever and mounted for translatory of swinging movements in vertical or horizontal planes or a combination of such movements, e.g. jib-cranes, derricks, tower cranes specially adapted for use in particular purposes with supporting couples provided by walls of buildings or like structures
    • B66C23/207—Cranes comprising essentially a beam, boom, or triangular structure acting as a cantilever and mounted for translatory of swinging movements in vertical or horizontal planes or a combination of such movements, e.g. jib-cranes, derricks, tower cranes specially adapted for use in particular purposes with supporting couples provided by walls of buildings or like structures with supporting couples provided by wind turbines
    • 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
    • F03D13/10—Assembly of wind motors; Arrangements for erecting wind motors
    • 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
    • F03D13/20—Arrangements for mounting or supporting wind motors; Masts or towers for wind motors
    • 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
    • F03D80/00—Details, components or accessories not provided for in groups F03D1/00 - F03D17/00
    • F03D80/50—Maintenance or repair
    • 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
    • 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
    • Y02E10/728—Onshore wind turbines

Definitions

  • the present invention relates to a mounting device for mounting and/or demounting wind turbine components, such as wind turbine blades. Furthermore, the invention relates to a method of mounting and/or demounting such wind turbine components, e.g. during exchange of the components or in connection with the erection of a new wind turbine.
  • Modern wind turbines comprise a plurality of wind turbine rotor blades, typically three rotor blades, each blade today having a weight of up to 13 tons and a length of up to 49 meters. At one end the rotor blade is to be attached to the wind turbine hub today up to 125 meters above the ground. This end has a diameter typically about 1-4 meters, and often it comprises about 90 bolts to be fixed at the hub in order to fix the rotor blade hereto.
  • wind turbines are erected in places in which the wind conditions are advantageous, e.g. at places with few obstacles blocking or altering the path of the wind. Consequently, wind turbines are often erected in more or less remote places, typically with a poor infrastructure in terms of road quality. Furthermore, wind turbine sites may be scattered over many square meters. The wind turbines may also be erected off-shore, where the wind conditions likewise may be advantageous.
  • the positioning at remote places and/or the size of the wind turbine sites may cause problems in relation to the necessary maintenance of the wind turbine components, e.g. the wind turbine rotor blades. These problems have recently increased due to the increasing size of the wind turbines. As an example, wind turbine generators and wind turbine towers can be struck by lighting that can damage the generator or wind turbine rotor blades, thus necessitating repair or replacement hereof or parts hereof.
  • the invention provides a mounting device for mounting or demounting a wind turbine blade to or from a hub which is located at a top end of a wind turbine tower, the mounting device comprising a sledge, the sledge comprising a support structure and a gripping structure, the support structure being adapted to releasably grip the wind turbine tower and to guide the sledge along an outer surface of the wind turbine tower between a bottom end position and a top end position of the tower, the gripping structure being adapted to provide a releasable fixation of the wind turbine blade in a fixed orientation relative to the gripping structure, wherein the sledge is adapted to be moved along the tower by a combination of the support structure and a cable connection to the top end.
  • the turbine blade may be mounted or demounted with or without a blade bearing, thus allowing for the exchange of blade bearings too.
  • the turbine blade can be mounted to or demounted from a hub which may be located on a nacelle on the top of the turbine tower.
  • the m ounting device m ay be m oved to a wind turbine tower by a truck or in case of an off-shore wind tu rbine site by ship, and m ay be attached to the tower with one or m ore cables connected to a hoist which m ay be positioned at a nacelle on top of the turbine tower or at the ground next to the wind turbine tower.
  • a pulley m ay be positioned on the nacelle or another part on top of the turbine tower.
  • a turbine blade e.g. for replacem ent, m ay in a sim ilar m anner be carried to the site by a truck, and the blade m ay be fixed in the gripping structure while still on the truck, thus gripping it and rem oving it here from without the use of an external crane.
  • the cable connection m ay be used to force the sledge along the turbine tower to the top end of the tower where the blade can be fixed to the turbine hub.
  • a dam aged or worn-out blade m ay have been rem oved using the m ounting device.
  • the m ounting device m ay thus facilitate exchange of wind turbine blade since it enables exchange without the use of an external crane.
  • the support structure m ay be adapted for a first configuration in which it grips around a wind turbine tower and second configuration in which it guides the sledge along an outer surface of a wind turbine tower.
  • the support structure m ay grip arou nd a turbine tower in the first configuration when a turbine blade is fixed in the gripping structure.
  • the sledge m ay be gu ided along the outer surface of the tower without the support structure gripping around the tower.
  • the weight of the m ou nting device and the turbine blade m ay be sufficient to keep the m ounting device guided along the outer surface of the tower.
  • the sledge m ay be guided along the turbine tower while the support structure grips around the tower.
  • the sledge m ay be form ed to enable reorientation of a turbine blade by transfer of torque from the sledge to a wind tu rbine tower.
  • I f delivering a wind turbine blade on a truck or by ship, it may due to the length of the blade typically be delivered in a substantially horizontal orientation.
  • the gripping structure may fix the blade, and the sledge with the blade may be elevated by the use of the cable connection.
  • the turbine blade may be reoriented to an orientation being substantially vertical or an orientation being close to vertical, e.g. being 10° from vertical, in order to facilitate attachment hereof to the hub. When reorienting the blade torque may thus be transferred from the sledge to the tower via the support structure.
  • the support structure may comprise embracing means, e.g. in the form of two curve-shaped arms, or a ring or wire adapted to extend circumferentially around the tower.
  • the wind turbine tower may be partly or fully embraced depending on the length of the arms.
  • the arms may be movable away from each other towards an open position in which the support structure can be arranged in a position ready to catch an adjacent wind turbine tower. And the arms may be movable toward each other to a gripping position in which the tower is caught, thus gripping around the tower.
  • the support structure may comprise two sets of curve-shaped arms which preferably are positioned at a top end and a bottom end of the sledge.
  • the movement of the arms may be controlled by a control unit which may be controlled manually by an operator on the ground or an operator at the top of the tower, e.g. being in a nacelle or in the hub.
  • the arms may be wirelessly controlled.
  • the movement may be controlled by one or more actuators being e.g. hydraulic, electric or pneumatic.
  • the support structure may comprise fixations such as a suction device, magnets or other means for maintaining a close contact between the sledge and an outer surface of the tower.
  • the fixations may be combined with the embracing means.
  • the support structure may comprise rollers adapted to roll on an outer surface of the tower.
  • the rollers may be arranged to form contact along a segment of an outer surface of the tower.
  • the rollers may be white or light-coloured rubber rollers in order to allow the sledge to be forced along the tower without leaving footprints on or damaging the outer surface of the tower.
  • the support structure may comprise a coating or a surface layer to protect the tower, e.g. a textile, rubber, Teflon, wood, or similar surface.
  • the coating or surface layer may additionally provide a low friction.
  • the gripping structure may be adapted to fix a wind turbine blade at a balance point. This may be obtained by a shape of the gripping structure that ensures solid contact with the outer surface of a blade at the balance point of the blade, thus ensuring a firm grip at this point.
  • the balance point may be chosen as the centre of gravity of the blade.
  • the gripping structure may comprise a set of two jaws.
  • fixation may be achieved by applying a pressure at each side of the turbine blade.
  • the gripping structure may comprise an actuator for movement of the jaws from an open position in which a turbine blade can be arranged between the jaws to a fixation position in which the blade is fixed.
  • the actuator may be e.g. hydraulic, electric or pneumatic.
  • the movement of the jaws may be controlled by a control unit controlling these arms, or alternatively the jaws may be controlled by a separate control unit.
  • the control unit may be adapted for wireless communication with the gripping structure.
  • Each jaw may form two gripping points which in the fixation position form contact with a turbine blade arranged between the jaws. Having two gripping points at each jaw allows for fixing of the blade symmetrically around the balance point.
  • the j aws m ay at the gripping points com prise a curved surface following the surface of the specific turbine blade to be m ounted or dem ounted, thus enabling a firm grip in order to increase safety during handling of the blade.
  • the j aws m ay at the gripping points com prise a friction enhancing layer in order to facilitate fixation of the blade even during conditions where the outer surface of the blade m ay be slippery, e.g. when the blade is wet, also increasing safety during handling.
  • Such a layer m ay e.g. be a rubber layer, e.g. with a surface texture sim ilar to that of a tire.
  • the j aws m ay at the gripping points com prise a suction device allowing for further enhancem ent of safety.
  • the m ounting device m ay further com prise a tilt device being arranged between the support structure and the gripping structure in order to facilitate tilting of the gripping structu re relative to the support structure around at least two axes.
  • This tilt device m ay facilitate tilting of the blade from a substantially horizontal orientation in which it m ay have been transported to the site, e.g. by truck or by boat, to a substantially vertical orientation in which a part of the transportation to a top end of the tower m ay be carried out.
  • the blade m ay be tilted again in order to position it correctly in relation to the hub.
  • the blade m ay be tilted up to approxim ately 1 0° in order to position it correctly. Other tilt angles m ay also be applicable.
  • the support structure m ay grip around the tower in order to stabilize the sledge, thus allowing for even tilting of the blade.
  • two of the at least two axes m ay be perpendicular to each other and perpendicular to a central axis of a wind turbine tower when the sledge is guided along the wind turbine tower by the support structure.
  • an axial displacem ent m ay be needed to enable connection between the blade root and a blade bearing m ounted on the hub.
  • the m ounting device m ay further com prise a displacem ent structure adapted to displace the gripping structure relative to the sledge.
  • This displacem ent m ay be done by an actuator, e.g. by one or m ore j acks, which displaces the gripping structure in relation to the sledge along the centre axis of the blade.
  • the gripping structure m ay be adapted for displacem ent in at least one direction .
  • the turbine blade m ay be elevated in a substantially horizontal orientation and tilted firstly around one axis and secondly around another axis.
  • the first tilt angle m ay be approxim ately 90° in order to reorient the blade from a substantially horizontal orientation into a substantially vertical orientation .
  • the blade m ay be elevated again or it m ay be tilted again in order to position it correctly in relation to the hub.
  • the blade m ay firstly be displaced substantially horizontal, i.e. away from the turbine tower and secondly be displaced substantially vertically in a tilted orientation in order to facilitate attach m ent to the hub.
  • the blade m ay sim ultaneously be horizontally displaced in order to be correctly received in the hub, the blade m ay e.g. be m oved towards the tower again .
  • the m ovem ent of the blade m ay th us be in a straight path along an axis being inclined in relation to the centre axis of the turbine tower, i.e.
  • the gripping structure m ay be adapted for displacem ent in a straight path at an angle to the tower.
  • the angle between the inclined axis and the centre axis m ay be approxim ately 1 0°.
  • sm aller and larger angles m ay be applicable.
  • the gripping structure may be adapted for displacement in at least two tilt angles.
  • the turbine blade is displaced twice after being tilted into an orientation adapted to the hub.
  • the turbine blade may be substantially vertically oriented during the first displacement, which may be followed by a second tilting before a second displacement.
  • the order and number of tilts and displacements of the turbine blade may be freely chosen.
  • the mounting device may further comprise a cable support which may be adapted to provide a variable point of attach for the cable connection.
  • a variable point of attach it may be possible to vary the force by which the sledge is biased towards the turbine tower, thus providing balance of the sledge and the wind turbine blade. This facilitates a more even guidance thereof along the wind turbine tower.
  • the invention provides a mounting device for mounting or demounting a wind turbine blade to or from a hub which is located at a top end of a wind turbine tower, the mounting device comprising a sledge, the sledge comprising a support structure, a gripping structure, and a tilt device, the support structure being adapted to guide the sledge along an outer surface of the wind turbine tower between a bottom end position and a top end position of the tower, the gripping structure being adapted to provide a releasable fixation of the wind turbine blade in a fixed orientation relative to the gripping structure, and the tilt device being arranged between the support structure and the gripping structure to facilitate tilting of the gripping structure relative to the support structure around at least two axes.
  • the mounting device may further comprise drive means which may comprise motor means for forcing the sledge along the wind turbine tower. Additionally, the drive means may comprise a winch. It should be understood, that the above-mentioned features of the first aspect of the invention may also be applicable to the mounting device of the second aspect of the invention.
  • the invention provides a method of mounting or demounting a wind turbine blade to or from a hub which is located at a top end of a wind turbine tower, the method comprising the steps of:
  • the method may further comprise a step in which the support structure grips around a wind turbine tower after having guided the sledge along an outer surface of the wind turbine tower.
  • the support structure may grip around a turbine tower when the gripping structure fixes a wind turbine blade. Subsequently, the wind turbine blade may be elevated by the drive means. When elevating the blade, the support structure may have loosened its grip around the tower. And after having guided the sledge along the wind turbine tower, the support structure may grip around the tower again. In an alternative embodiment, the support structure maintains its grip during movement of the sledge along the wind turbine tower.
  • the method may further comprise a step of reorienting the wind turbine blade.
  • the blade may be reoriented more than once.
  • the blade may be fixed in a substantially horizontal orientation and elevated to at given height above ground in this orientation. After having reached a desired height, it may be reoriented to a substantially vertical orientation. Subsequently, the blade may be reoriented for the second time.
  • the second reorientation is preferably in proximity of the hub and is done by tilting of the blade.
  • the blade may be displaced in relation to the sledge along the centre axis of the blade and may in a non-vertical orientation be further displaced along a straight path at an angle to the tower in order to be attached to the hub.
  • the first displacement may be substantially horizontal and may be up to 3 meters depending on the size of the wind turbine. For very large wind turbines, the displacement may be even larger.
  • the blade may be fixed without modifying the blade. It is thus possible to fix the blade without adding gripping hooks, apertures or the like to the blade.
  • the invention provides a lifting device for lifting a wind turbine component to or from a wind turbine tower, the lifting device comprising a sledge and drive means, the sledge comprising a support structure and a gripping structure, the support structure being adapted to grip around the wind turbine tower and to guide the sledge along an outer surface of the wind turbine tower between a bottom end position and a top end position of the tower, the gripping structure being adapted to provide a releasable fixation of the wind turbine component in a fixed orientation relative to the gripping structure, and the drive means comprising motor means for forcing the sledge along the wind turbine tower.
  • FIGs. 1 and 2 illustrate an em bodim ent of a sledge of a m ounting device according to the invention
  • Fig. 3 illustrates a sledge with a support structure gripping around a wind turbine tower
  • Figs. 4-7 illustrate a sledge with a support structure gripping around a tower and with a gripping structure fixing a blade in a substantially horizontal orientation
  • Fig. 8 illustrates a sledge at the lower end of a tower with a gripping structure fixing a blade
  • Fig. 9 illustrates a sledge with a gripping structure fixing a blade
  • Fig. 1 0 illustrates a sledge being m oved along the tower and with a gripping structure with a blade fixed in a substantially vertical orientation
  • Fig. 1 1 illustrates a sledge with a support structure gripping around a tower and with a gripping structure with a blade fixed in a non-vertical orientation
  • Fig. 1 2 illustrates a sledge close to the top of the tower with a gripping structure having a blade fixed in an orientation suitable for fixation to the hub, and
  • Figs. 1 3 and 1 4 illustrate a sledge close to the top of the tower, the gripping structure being illustrated at two different angles. Detailed description of the drawings
  • Figs. 1 and 2 illustrate an embodiment of a sledge 1 of a mounting device according to the invention.
  • the sledge 1 is illustrated at different views.
  • the sledge 1 comprises a support structure being adapted to grip around a wind turbine tower (not shown) and being adapted to guide the sledge along an outer surface of the wind turbine tower.
  • the sledge 1 comprises a gripping structure being adapted to provide a releasable fixation of a wind turbine blade (not shown) in a fixed orientation relative to the gripping structure.
  • the support structure comprises two sets of curve-shaped arms 2.
  • the arms 2 are movable away from each other towards an open position in order to be able to arrange the support structure in a position ready to catch an adjacent wind turbine tower. And the arms 2 are movable toward each other to a gripping position in which the tower is caught. The movement of the arms 2 is controlled by actuators 3.
  • the gripping structure comprises a set of two jaws 4.
  • Each jaw 4 forms two gripping points 5 which in a closed position, i.e. a fixation position, form contact with a turbine blade (not shown) arranged between the jaws 4.
  • the gripping structure comprises four actuators 6 for movement of the jaws 4 from an open position in which a turbine blade can be arranged between the jaws 4 to a fixation position in which the blade (not shown) is fixed.
  • the sledge 1 comprises a tilt device which facilitates tilting of the gripping structure relative to the support structure. In the illustrated embodiment, this is done by four actuators 7 (only two of them are shown). The actuators 7 allow for tilting of the gripping structure along an axis being perpendicular to the tower (not shown).
  • the sledge 1 also comprises a cable support which is adapted to provide a variable point of attach for the cable connection.
  • a variable point of attach it is possible to vary the position of the centre of gravity, thus providing balance of the sledge 1 and the wind turbine blade (not shown).
  • the cable support comprises two cable guiding arms 8 each provided with a free spinning wheel 9. The point of attach can be varied by the support actuators 10 (only one of them is shown).
  • the support structure comprises fixations in the form of a suction device 11 at the end of each arm 2 in order to maintaining a close contact between the sledge 1 and an outer surface of the tower (not shown).
  • Fig.3 illustrates a sledge 1 with a support structure gripping around a wind turbine tower 12 by the use of two sets of curve-shaped arms 2 at a lower end of the tower 12.
  • the arms 2 partly embrace the tower 12.
  • the jaws 4 are positioned substantially vertical.
  • the jaws 4 will be tilted around a centre axis 13 of the gripping structure to a substantially horizontal orientation before fixing a turbine blade with the gripping structure, the centre axis 13 being substantially perpendicular to the tower 12.
  • Figs.4-7 illustrate an embodiment of a sledge 1 with a support structure gripping around a tower 12 with two curve-shaped arms 2 (in Figs.4 and 5 only one arm 2 is shown).
  • the gripping structure fixes a turbine blade 14 in a substantially horizontal orientation by the use of two jaws 4 (only Fig.4 illustrates both jaws 4).
  • Fig.8 illustrates a sledge 1 at the lower end of a tower 12 with a gripping structure fixing a turbine blade 14 between two jaws 4 each having two gripping points 5 (only three of them can be seen).
  • Fig.9 illustrates a sledge 1 with a gripping structure fixing a turbine blade 14 between two jaws 4.
  • Each of the curve-shaped arms 2 being adapted to grip around a turbine tower comprises a roller 15 being adapted to roll on the outer surface of a turbine tower in order to allow the sledge 1 to be forced along the tower without leaving footprint on or otherwise damaging the outer surface of the tower.
  • a set of rollers 16 is positioned at a centre part of the sledge 1.
  • Fig. 10 illustrates a sledge 1 being moved along a turbine tower 12 with a gripping structure having a turbine blade 14 fixed between a set of jaws 4, the blade 14 being moved in a substantially vertical orientation.
  • Fig. 11 illustrates a sledge 1 being relatively close to the top end of a turbine tower 12.
  • the support structure grips around the tower 12 by the use of two curve-shaped arms 2 and the gripping structure fixes a blade 14 in a non- vertical orientation by the use of a set of jaws 4.
  • the turbine blade 14 is tilted from a substantially horizontal orientation to a substantially vertical orientation by a tilting device 17. This may e.g. be at 75 meters above ground level depending on the length of the turbine blade 14 in order to ensure sufficient space between the end of the blade 14 and the fixation point at the hub.
  • the blade 14 Near the top of the turbine tower 12, the blade 14 is tilted in order to be positioned correctly in relation to the hub (not shown).
  • the turbine blade 14 may have been elevated in a substantially horizontal position in order to limit wind load on the blade, since the size of the load may be higher when elevating the blade in a substantially vertical orientation.
  • the sledge 1 is adapted to be moved along the turbine tower 12 by aid of a cable connection to a hoist located at the top of the tower.
  • the cable (not shown) is connected to a winch 18 at the sledge 1.
  • Figs. 13 and 14 illustrate an embodiment of a sledge 1 close to the top end of the tower 12 in the proximity of the hub (not shown).
  • the turbine blade 14 has been elevated along the turbine tower 12 in a substantially horizontal orientation. Close to the top end of the tower 12, the blade 14 has firstly been tilted approximately 90°, thus reorienting the blade 14 from a substantially horizontal orientation into a substantially vertical orientation. Subsequently, the blade 14 has been displaced substantially horizontally up to 3 meters, i.e. away from the turbine tower 12, as indicated by the arrow 19 illustrated in Fig. 13.
  • Fig. 14 illustrates the blade 14 having been tilted for the second time, the tilt angle being approximately 10° in order to facilitate attachment to the hub (not shown). Finally, the blade 14 is displaced for the second time by the use of the displacement structure 20.
  • the blade 14 is simultaneously horizontally and vertically displaced in order to be correctly received in the hub.
  • the movement of the blade 14 is thus in a straight path along an axis 21 , the axis 21 being inclined in relation to the centre axis 22 of the turbine tower 12.
  • the movement is carried out by sliding the gripping structure along a front part 23 of the displacement structure 20.

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  • Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
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Abstract

Mounting device for mounting or demounting a wind turbine blade (14) to or from a hub which is located on a nacelle at the top of a wind turbine tower (12). The mounting device comprises a sledge which comprises a support structure and a gripping structure. The support structure is adapted to releasably grip the wind turbine tower and adapted to guide the sledge along an outer surface of the wind turbine tower between a bottom end position and a top end position of the tower. The gripping structure is adapted to provide a releasable fixation of the wind turbine blade in a fixed orientation relative to the gripping structure. The sledge is adapted to be moved along the tower by a combination of the support structure and a cable connection to the top end. A tilt device (17) is arranged between the support structure and the gripping structure to facilitate tilting of the gripping structure relative to the support structure.

Description

A MOUNTING DEVICE
Technical field
The present invention relates to a mounting device for mounting and/or demounting wind turbine components, such as wind turbine blades. Furthermore, the invention relates to a method of mounting and/or demounting such wind turbine components, e.g. during exchange of the components or in connection with the erection of a new wind turbine.
Background of the invention
Modern wind turbines comprise a plurality of wind turbine rotor blades, typically three rotor blades, each blade today having a weight of up to 13 tons and a length of up to 49 meters. At one end the rotor blade is to be attached to the wind turbine hub today up to 125 meters above the ground. This end has a diameter typically about 1-4 meters, and often it comprises about 90 bolts to be fixed at the hub in order to fix the rotor blade hereto.
Usually, wind turbines are erected in places in which the wind conditions are advantageous, e.g. at places with few obstacles blocking or altering the path of the wind. Consequently, wind turbines are often erected in more or less remote places, typically with a poor infrastructure in terms of road quality. Furthermore, wind turbine sites may be scattered over many square meters. The wind turbines may also be erected off-shore, where the wind conditions likewise may be advantageous.
The positioning at remote places and/or the size of the wind turbine sites may cause problems in relation to the necessary maintenance of the wind turbine components, e.g. the wind turbine rotor blades. These problems have recently increased due to the increasing size of the wind turbines. As an example, wind turbine generators and wind turbine towers can be struck by lighting that can damage the generator or wind turbine rotor blades, thus necessitating repair or replacement hereof or parts hereof.
Previously, large mobile cranes have been used in connection with maintenance, repair, and exchange of wind turbine components. However, with a poor infrastructure and/or a considerable size of the wind turbine sites, the transportation of a crane to the wind turbine site can be both costly and time consuming.
Summary of the invention
It is an object of embodiments of the present invention to provide a mounting or demounting device for mounting or demounting wind turbine components to or from a wind turbine tower and to provide an improved method of mounting or demounting such components.
In a first aspect, the invention provides a mounting device for mounting or demounting a wind turbine blade to or from a hub which is located at a top end of a wind turbine tower, the mounting device comprising a sledge, the sledge comprising a support structure and a gripping structure, the support structure being adapted to releasably grip the wind turbine tower and to guide the sledge along an outer surface of the wind turbine tower between a bottom end position and a top end position of the tower, the gripping structure being adapted to provide a releasable fixation of the wind turbine blade in a fixed orientation relative to the gripping structure, wherein the sledge is adapted to be moved along the tower by a combination of the support structure and a cable connection to the top end.
The turbine blade may be mounted or demounted with or without a blade bearing, thus allowing for the exchange of blade bearings too. The turbine blade can be mounted to or demounted from a hub which may be located on a nacelle on the top of the turbine tower. The m ounting device m ay be m oved to a wind turbine tower by a truck or in case of an off-shore wind tu rbine site by ship, and m ay be attached to the tower with one or m ore cables connected to a hoist which m ay be positioned at a nacelle on top of the turbine tower or at the ground next to the wind turbine tower. When positioning a hoist at the ground, a pulley m ay be positioned on the nacelle or another part on top of the turbine tower. The support structure m ay grip around the tower near the bottom end hereof, thus being able to stabilize the positioning of the m ounting device.
A turbine blade, e.g. for replacem ent, m ay in a sim ilar m anner be carried to the site by a truck, and the blade m ay be fixed in the gripping structure while still on the truck, thus gripping it and rem oving it here from without the use of an external crane. Having fixed the blade in the gripping structu re, the cable connection m ay be used to force the sledge along the turbine tower to the top end of the tower where the blade can be fixed to the turbine hub. Previously, a dam aged or worn-out blade m ay have been rem oved using the m ounting device.
The m ounting device m ay thus facilitate exchange of wind turbine blade since it enables exchange without the use of an external crane.
The support structure m ay be adapted for a first configuration in which it grips around a wind turbine tower and second configuration in which it guides the sledge along an outer surface of a wind turbine tower. As an exam ple, the support structure m ay grip arou nd a turbine tower in the first configuration when a turbine blade is fixed in the gripping structure. Subsequently, the sledge m ay be gu ided along the outer surface of the tower without the support structure gripping around the tower. I n this second configuration , the weight of the m ou nting device and the turbine blade m ay be sufficient to keep the m ounting device guided along the outer surface of the tower. I n an alternative em bodim ent, the sledge m ay be guided along the turbine tower while the support structure grips around the tower.
The sledge m ay be form ed to enable reorientation of a turbine blade by transfer of torque from the sledge to a wind tu rbine tower. I f delivering a wind turbine blade on a truck or by ship, it may due to the length of the blade typically be delivered in a substantially horizontal orientation. The gripping structure may fix the blade, and the sledge with the blade may be elevated by the use of the cable connection. At a given height above the ground, the turbine blade may be reoriented to an orientation being substantially vertical or an orientation being close to vertical, e.g. being 10° from vertical, in order to facilitate attachment hereof to the hub. When reorienting the blade torque may thus be transferred from the sledge to the tower via the support structure.
In order to be able to grip around or embrace a wind turbine tower, the support structure may comprise embracing means, e.g. in the form of two curve-shaped arms, or a ring or wire adapted to extend circumferentially around the tower. In embodiments comprising curve-shaped arms, the wind turbine tower may be partly or fully embraced depending on the length of the arms. The arms may be movable away from each other towards an open position in which the support structure can be arranged in a position ready to catch an adjacent wind turbine tower. And the arms may be movable toward each other to a gripping position in which the tower is caught, thus gripping around the tower. In an alternative embodiment, the support structure may comprise two sets of curve-shaped arms which preferably are positioned at a top end and a bottom end of the sledge.
The movement of the arms may be controlled by a control unit which may be controlled manually by an operator on the ground or an operator at the top of the tower, e.g. being in a nacelle or in the hub. The arms may be wirelessly controlled. The movement may be controlled by one or more actuators being e.g. hydraulic, electric or pneumatic. In an alternative embodiment, the support structure may comprise fixations such as a suction device, magnets or other means for maintaining a close contact between the sledge and an outer surface of the tower. In a further alternative, the fixations may be combined with the embracing means.
In order to facilitate movement of the sledge along a wind turbine tower, the support structure may comprise rollers adapted to roll on an outer surface of the tower. The rollers may be arranged to form contact along a segment of an outer surface of the tower. In a preferred embodiment, the rollers may be white or light-coloured rubber rollers in order to allow the sledge to be forced along the tower without leaving footprints on or damaging the outer surface of the tower. Alternatively, the support structure may comprise a coating or a surface layer to protect the tower, e.g. a textile, rubber, Teflon, wood, or similar surface. The coating or surface layer may additionally provide a low friction.
The gripping structure may be adapted to fix a wind turbine blade at a balance point. This may be obtained by a shape of the gripping structure that ensures solid contact with the outer surface of a blade at the balance point of the blade, thus ensuring a firm grip at this point. The balance point may be chosen as the centre of gravity of the blade. By fixing the blade at a balance point or symmetrically around the balance point, less effort is required to reorient the blade from one orientation to another.
The gripping structure may comprise a set of two jaws. When using a set of jaws, fixation may be achieved by applying a pressure at each side of the turbine blade.
The gripping structure may comprise an actuator for movement of the jaws from an open position in which a turbine blade can be arranged between the jaws to a fixation position in which the blade is fixed. The actuator may be e.g. hydraulic, electric or pneumatic. In embodiments comprising a support structure with curve-shaped arms, the movement of the jaws may be controlled by a control unit controlling these arms, or alternatively the jaws may be controlled by a separate control unit. The control unit may be adapted for wireless communication with the gripping structure.
Each jaw may form two gripping points which in the fixation position form contact with a turbine blade arranged between the jaws. Having two gripping points at each jaw allows for fixing of the blade symmetrically around the balance point. The j aws m ay at the gripping points com prise a curved surface following the surface of the specific turbine blade to be m ounted or dem ounted, thus enabling a firm grip in order to increase safety during handling of the blade. Furtherm ore, the j aws m ay at the gripping points com prise a friction enhancing layer in order to facilitate fixation of the blade even during conditions where the outer surface of the blade m ay be slippery, e.g. when the blade is wet, also increasing safety during handling. Such a layer m ay e.g. be a rubber layer, e.g. with a surface texture sim ilar to that of a tire. Alternatively or additionally, the j aws m ay at the gripping points com prise a suction device allowing for further enhancem ent of safety.
I n case of failure of an actuator m oving the j aws or a control unit controlling such an actuator, a turbine blade fixed in the gripping structure m ay be dropped since the jaws m ay be unintentionally opened. I n order to prevent such dangerous situations and in order to enhance safety even m ore, the gripping structure m ay further com prise a locking m em ber preventing m ovem ent of the j aws from the fixation position .
The m ounting device m ay further com prise a tilt device being arranged between the support structure and the gripping structure in order to facilitate tilting of the gripping structu re relative to the support structure around at least two axes. This tilt device m ay facilitate tilting of the blade from a substantially horizontal orientation in which it m ay have been transported to the site, e.g. by truck or by boat, to a substantially vertical orientation in which a part of the transportation to a top end of the tower m ay be carried out. When the upper end of the blade is in proxim ity of the hub, the blade m ay be tilted again in order to position it correctly in relation to the hub. Depending on the size of the wind turbine and the layout of the hub, the blade m ay be tilted up to approxim ately 1 0° in order to position it correctly. Other tilt angles m ay also be applicable. Before tilting the blade at an upper end of the wind turbine tower, the support structure m ay grip around the tower in order to stabilize the sledge, thus allowing for even tilting of the blade. I n a preferred em bodim ent, two of the at least two axes m ay be perpendicular to each other and perpendicular to a central axis of a wind turbine tower when the sledge is guided along the wind turbine tower by the support structure.
Having tilted the turbine blade in order to position it correctly in relation to the hub, an axial displacem ent m ay be needed to enable connection between the blade root and a blade bearing m ounted on the hub. Thus, the m ounting device m ay further com prise a displacem ent structure adapted to displace the gripping structure relative to the sledge. This displacem ent m ay be done by an actuator, e.g. by one or m ore j acks, which displaces the gripping structure in relation to the sledge along the centre axis of the blade.
The gripping structure m ay be adapted for displacem ent in at least one direction . As described above, the turbine blade m ay be elevated in a substantially horizontal orientation and tilted firstly around one axis and secondly around another axis. The first tilt angle m ay be approxim ately 90° in order to reorient the blade from a substantially horizontal orientation into a substantially vertical orientation . Subsequently, the blade m ay be elevated again or it m ay be tilted again in order to position it correctly in relation to the hub.
After having obtained the correct position of the blade, the blade m ay firstly be displaced substantially horizontal, i.e. away from the turbine tower and secondly be displaced substantially vertically in a tilted orientation in order to facilitate attach m ent to the hub. During the second substantially vertical displacem ent of the blade, the blade m ay sim ultaneously be horizontally displaced in order to be correctly received in the hub, the blade m ay e.g. be m oved towards the tower again . The m ovem ent of the blade m ay th us be in a straight path along an axis being inclined in relation to the centre axis of the turbine tower, i.e. the gripping structure m ay be adapted for displacem ent in a straight path at an angle to the tower. The angle between the inclined axis and the centre axis m ay be approxim ately 1 0°. Depending on the size of the turbine tower and the layout of the hub, sm aller and larger angles m ay be applicable. Furthermore, the gripping structure may be adapted for displacement in at least two tilt angles. In the above described embodiment, the turbine blade is displaced twice after being tilted into an orientation adapted to the hub. In an alternative embodiment, the turbine blade may be substantially vertically oriented during the first displacement, which may be followed by a second tilting before a second displacement. In a further alternative embodiment of the mounting device, the order and number of tilts and displacements of the turbine blade may be freely chosen.
The mounting device may further comprise a cable support which may be adapted to provide a variable point of attach for the cable connection. By a variable point of attach, it may be possible to vary the force by which the sledge is biased towards the turbine tower, thus providing balance of the sledge and the wind turbine blade. This facilitates a more even guidance thereof along the wind turbine tower. Furthermore, it may be advantageous to vary the point of attach, when displacing a turbine blade away form the turbine tower.
In a second aspect, the invention provides a mounting device for mounting or demounting a wind turbine blade to or from a hub which is located at a top end of a wind turbine tower, the mounting device comprising a sledge, the sledge comprising a support structure, a gripping structure, and a tilt device, the support structure being adapted to guide the sledge along an outer surface of the wind turbine tower between a bottom end position and a top end position of the tower, the gripping structure being adapted to provide a releasable fixation of the wind turbine blade in a fixed orientation relative to the gripping structure, and the tilt device being arranged between the support structure and the gripping structure to facilitate tilting of the gripping structure relative to the support structure around at least two axes.
The mounting device may further comprise drive means which may comprise motor means for forcing the sledge along the wind turbine tower. Additionally, the drive means may comprise a winch. It should be understood, that the above-mentioned features of the first aspect of the invention may also be applicable to the mounting device of the second aspect of the invention.
In a third aspect, the invention provides a method of mounting or demounting a wind turbine blade to or from a hub which is located at a top end of a wind turbine tower, the method comprising the steps of:
- providing a sledge and drive means adapted to drive the sledge along a wind turbine tower,
- providing a support structure to enable guidance of the sledge along an outer surface of the wind turbine tower between a bottom end position and a top end position of the tower,
- providing a gripping structure to provide a releasable fixation of the wind turbine blade in a fixed orientation relative to the gripping structure,
- gripping the turbine tower by use of the support structure, - fixing a wind turbine blade by use of the gripping structure, and
- elevating the wind turbine blade by use of the drive means.
The method may further comprise a step in which the support structure grips around a wind turbine tower after having guided the sledge along an outer surface of the wind turbine tower. As an example, the support structure may grip around a turbine tower when the gripping structure fixes a wind turbine blade. Subsequently, the wind turbine blade may be elevated by the drive means. When elevating the blade, the support structure may have loosened its grip around the tower. And after having guided the sledge along the wind turbine tower, the support structure may grip around the tower again. In an alternative embodiment, the support structure maintains its grip during movement of the sledge along the wind turbine tower.
The method may further comprise a step of reorienting the wind turbine blade. The blade may be reoriented more than once. As an example, the blade may be fixed in a substantially horizontal orientation and elevated to at given height above ground in this orientation. After having reached a desired height, it may be reoriented to a substantially vertical orientation. Subsequently, the blade may be reoriented for the second time. The second reorientation is preferably in proximity of the hub and is done by tilting of the blade. Finally, the blade may be displaced in relation to the sledge along the centre axis of the blade and may in a non-vertical orientation be further displaced along a straight path at an angle to the tower in order to be attached to the hub. The first displacement may be substantially horizontal and may be up to 3 meters depending on the size of the wind turbine. For very large wind turbines, the displacement may be even larger.
The blade may be fixed without modifying the blade. It is thus possible to fix the blade without adding gripping hooks, apertures or the like to the blade.
It should be understood, that the above-mentioned features of the first and second aspects of the invention may also be applicable in connection with the method of the third aspect of the invention.
In a fourth aspect, the invention provides a lifting device for lifting a wind turbine component to or from a wind turbine tower, the lifting device comprising a sledge and drive means, the sledge comprising a support structure and a gripping structure, the support structure being adapted to grip around the wind turbine tower and to guide the sledge along an outer surface of the wind turbine tower between a bottom end position and a top end position of the tower, the gripping structure being adapted to provide a releasable fixation of the wind turbine component in a fixed orientation relative to the gripping structure, and the drive means comprising motor means for forcing the sledge along the wind turbine tower.
It should be understood, that the above-mentioned features of the first, second, and third aspects of the invention may also be applicable to the lifting device of the fourth aspect of the invention. Brief description of the drawings
Em bodim ents of the invention will now be further described with reference to the drawings, in which :
Figs. 1 and 2 illustrate an em bodim ent of a sledge of a m ounting device according to the invention ,
Fig. 3 illustrates a sledge with a support structure gripping around a wind turbine tower,
Figs. 4-7 illustrate a sledge with a support structure gripping around a tower and with a gripping structure fixing a blade in a substantially horizontal orientation ,
Fig. 8 illustrates a sledge at the lower end of a tower with a gripping structure fixing a blade,
Fig. 9 illustrates a sledge with a gripping structure fixing a blade,
Fig. 1 0 illustrates a sledge being m oved along the tower and with a gripping structure with a blade fixed in a substantially vertical orientation ,
Fig. 1 1 illustrates a sledge with a support structure gripping around a tower and with a gripping structure with a blade fixed in a non-vertical orientation ,
Fig. 1 2 illustrates a sledge close to the top of the tower with a gripping structure having a blade fixed in an orientation suitable for fixation to the hub, and
Figs. 1 3 and 1 4 illustrate a sledge close to the top of the tower, the gripping structure being illustrated at two different angles. Detailed description of the drawings
Figs. 1 and 2 illustrate an embodiment of a sledge 1 of a mounting device according to the invention. The sledge 1 is illustrated at different views. The sledge 1 comprises a support structure being adapted to grip around a wind turbine tower (not shown) and being adapted to guide the sledge along an outer surface of the wind turbine tower. Furthermore, the sledge 1 comprises a gripping structure being adapted to provide a releasable fixation of a wind turbine blade (not shown) in a fixed orientation relative to the gripping structure.
In the illustrated embodiment, the support structure comprises two sets of curve-shaped arms 2. The arms 2 are movable away from each other towards an open position in order to be able to arrange the support structure in a position ready to catch an adjacent wind turbine tower. And the arms 2 are movable toward each other to a gripping position in which the tower is caught. The movement of the arms 2 is controlled by actuators 3.
In the illustrated embodiment, the gripping structure comprises a set of two jaws 4. Each jaw 4 forms two gripping points 5 which in a closed position, i.e. a fixation position, form contact with a turbine blade (not shown) arranged between the jaws 4. Furthermore, the gripping structure comprises four actuators 6 for movement of the jaws 4 from an open position in which a turbine blade can be arranged between the jaws 4 to a fixation position in which the blade (not shown) is fixed.
Furthermore, the sledge 1 comprises a tilt device which facilitates tilting of the gripping structure relative to the support structure. In the illustrated embodiment, this is done by four actuators 7 (only two of them are shown). The actuators 7 allow for tilting of the gripping structure along an axis being perpendicular to the tower (not shown).
The sledge 1 also comprises a cable support which is adapted to provide a variable point of attach for the cable connection. By a variable point of attach, it is possible to vary the position of the centre of gravity, thus providing balance of the sledge 1 and the wind turbine blade (not shown). In the illustrated embodiment, the cable support comprises two cable guiding arms 8 each provided with a free spinning wheel 9. The point of attach can be varied by the support actuators 10 (only one of them is shown).
The support structure comprises fixations in the form of a suction device 11 at the end of each arm 2 in order to maintaining a close contact between the sledge 1 and an outer surface of the tower (not shown).
Fig.3 illustrates a sledge 1 with a support structure gripping around a wind turbine tower 12 by the use of two sets of curve-shaped arms 2 at a lower end of the tower 12. The arms 2 partly embrace the tower 12. The jaws 4 are positioned substantially vertical. In a preferred embodiment, the jaws 4 will be tilted around a centre axis 13 of the gripping structure to a substantially horizontal orientation before fixing a turbine blade with the gripping structure, the centre axis 13 being substantially perpendicular to the tower 12.
Figs.4-7 illustrate an embodiment of a sledge 1 with a support structure gripping around a tower 12 with two curve-shaped arms 2 (in Figs.4 and 5 only one arm 2 is shown). The gripping structure fixes a turbine blade 14 in a substantially horizontal orientation by the use of two jaws 4 (only Fig.4 illustrates both jaws 4).
Fig.8 illustrates a sledge 1 at the lower end of a tower 12 with a gripping structure fixing a turbine blade 14 between two jaws 4 each having two gripping points 5 (only three of them can be seen).
Fig.9 illustrates a sledge 1 with a gripping structure fixing a turbine blade 14 between two jaws 4. Each of the curve-shaped arms 2 being adapted to grip around a turbine tower (not shown) comprises a roller 15 being adapted to roll on the outer surface of a turbine tower in order to allow the sledge 1 to be forced along the tower without leaving footprint on or otherwise damaging the outer surface of the tower. Likewise, a set of rollers 16 is positioned at a centre part of the sledge 1.
Fig. 10 illustrates a sledge 1 being moved along a turbine tower 12 with a gripping structure having a turbine blade 14 fixed between a set of jaws 4, the blade 14 being moved in a substantially vertical orientation.
Fig. 11 illustrates a sledge 1 being relatively close to the top end of a turbine tower 12. The support structure grips around the tower 12 by the use of two curve-shaped arms 2 and the gripping structure fixes a blade 14 in a non- vertical orientation by the use of a set of jaws 4. After having reached a desired height, the turbine blade 14 is tilted from a substantially horizontal orientation to a substantially vertical orientation by a tilting device 17. This may e.g. be at 75 meters above ground level depending on the length of the turbine blade 14 in order to ensure sufficient space between the end of the blade 14 and the fixation point at the hub. Near the top of the turbine tower 12, the blade 14 is tilted in order to be positioned correctly in relation to the hub (not shown). The turbine blade 14 may have been elevated in a substantially horizontal position in order to limit wind load on the blade, since the size of the load may be higher when elevating the blade in a substantially vertical orientation.
The sledge 1 is adapted to be moved along the turbine tower 12 by aid of a cable connection to a hoist located at the top of the tower. The cable (not shown) is connected to a winch 18 at the sledge 1.
In Fig. 12 the turbine blade 14 has been tilted into an orientation suitable for fixation to the hub (not shown).
Figs. 13 and 14 illustrate an embodiment of a sledge 1 close to the top end of the tower 12 in the proximity of the hub (not shown). The turbine blade 14 has been elevated along the turbine tower 12 in a substantially horizontal orientation. Close to the top end of the tower 12, the blade 14 has firstly been tilted approximately 90°, thus reorienting the blade 14 from a substantially horizontal orientation into a substantially vertical orientation. Subsequently, the blade 14 has been displaced substantially horizontally up to 3 meters, i.e. away from the turbine tower 12, as indicated by the arrow 19 illustrated in Fig. 13.
Fig. 14 illustrates the blade 14 having been tilted for the second time, the tilt angle being approximately 10° in order to facilitate attachment to the hub (not shown). Finally, the blade 14 is displaced for the second time by the use of the displacement structure 20.
During the second displacement of the blade 14, the blade 14 is simultaneously horizontally and vertically displaced in order to be correctly received in the hub. The movement of the blade 14 is thus in a straight path along an axis 21 , the axis 21 being inclined in relation to the centre axis 22 of the turbine tower 12. The movement is carried out by sliding the gripping structure along a front part 23 of the displacement structure 20.

Claims

CLAI MS
1 . A m ounting device for m ounting or dem ounting a wind tu rbine blade to or from a hub which is located at a top end of a wind turbine tower, the m ounting device com prising a sledge, the sledge com prising a support structure and a gripping structure, the support structure being adapted to releasably grip the wind turbine tower and to guide the sledge along an outer su rface of the wind turbine tower between a bottom end position and a top end position of the tower, the gripping structure being adapted to provide a releasable fixation of the wind turbine blade in a fixed orientation relative to the gripping structure, wherein the sledge is adapted to be m oved along the tower by a com bination of the support structure and a cable connection to the top end.
2. A m ounting device according to claim 1 , wherein the support structure is adapted for a first configuration in which it grips a wind turbine tower and second configuration in which it guides the sledge along an outer surface of a wind tu rbine tower.
3. A m ounting device according to claim 1 or 2 , wherein the sledge is form ed to enable reorientation of a turbine blade by transfer of torque from the sledge to a wind tu rbine tower.
4. A m ounting device according to any of the preceding claim s, wherein the support structure com prises two curve-shaped arm s, the arm s being m ovable away from each other towards an open position in which the support structure can be arranged in a position ready to catch an adj acent wind turbine tower and being m ovable toward each other to a gripping position in which the tower is caught.
5. A m ounting device according to any of the preceding claim s, wherein the support structure com prises rollers adapted to roll on an outer surface of a wind turbine tower.
6. A mounting device according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the gripping structure is adapted to fix a wind turbine blade at a balance point.
7. A mounting device according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the gripping structure comprises a set of two jaws.
8. A mounting device according to claim 7, wherein the gripping structure comprises an actuator for movement of the jaws from an open position in which a turbine blade can be arranged between the jaws to a fixation position in which the blade is fixed.
9. A mounting device according to claim 8, wherein each jaw forms two gripping points which in the closed position form contact with a turbine blade arranged between the jaws.
10. A mounting device according to claim 8 or 9, wherein the gripping structure further comprises a locking member preventing movement of the jaws from the closed position.
11. Amounting device according to any of the preceding claim, further comprising a tilt device, said tilt device being arranged between the support structure and the gripping structure to facilitate tilting of the gripping structure relative to the support structure around at least two axes.
12. A mounting device according to claim 11 , wherein two of the at least two axes are perpendicular to each other and perpendicular to a central axis of a wind turbine tower when the sledge is guided along the wind turbine tower by the support structure.
13. A mounting device according to any of the preceding claims, further comprising a displacement structure adapted to displace the gripping structure relative to the sledge.
14. A mounting device according to claim 13, wherein the gripping structure is adapted for displacement in at least one direction.
15. A mounting device according to claim 13 or 14, wherein the gripping structure is adapted for displacement in a straight path at an angle to the tower.
16. A mounting device according to any of claims 13-15, wherein the gripping structure is adapted for displacement in at least two tilt angles.
17. A mounting device according to any of the preceding claims further comprising a cable support, the cable support providing a variable point of attach for the cable connection.
18. A mounting device for mounting or demounting a wind turbine blade to or from a hub which is located at a top end of a wind turbine tower, the mounting device comprising a sledge, the sledge comprising a support structure, a gripping structure, and a tilt device, the support structure being adapted to guide the sledge along an outer surface of the wind turbine tower between a bottom end position and a top end position of the tower, the gripping structure being adapted to provide a releasable fixation of the wind turbine blade in a fixed orientation relative to the gripping structure, and the tilt device being arranged between the support structure and the gripping structure to facilitate tilting of the gripping structure relative to the support structure around at least two axes.
19. A mounting device according to claim 18 further comprising drive means, said drive means comprising motor means for forcing the sledge along the wind turbine tower.
20. A mounting device according to claim 19, wherein the drive means further comprises a winch.
21 . A m ethod of m ounting or dem ounting a wind turbine blade to or from a hub which is located at a top end of a wind turbine tower, the m ethod com prising the steps of :
- providing a sledge and drive m eans adapted to drive the sledge along a wind tu rbine tower,
- providing a support structure to enable guidance of the sledge along an outer surface of the wind turbine tower between a bottom end position and a top end position of the tower,
- providing a gripping structure to provide a releasable fixation of the wind turbine blade in a fixed orientation relative to the gripping structure,
- gripping the turbine tower by use of the support structure,
- fixing a wind turbine blade by use of the gripping structure, and
elevating the wind turbine blade by use of the drive m eans.
22. A m ethod according to claim 21 further com prising a step in which the support structure grips around a wind turbine tower after having guided the sledge along an outer surface of the wind turbine tower.
23. A m ethod according to claim 21 or 22, further com prising a step of reorienting the wind turbine blade after having gripped the wind turbine tower.
24. A m ethod according to any of claim s 21 -23, wherein the blade is fixed without m odifying the blade.
25. A lifting device for lifting a wind tu rbine com ponent to or from a wind turbine tower, the lifting device com prising a sledge and drive m eans, the sledge com prising a support structure and a gripping structure, the support structure being adapted to grip around the wind turbine tower and to guide the sledge along an outer surface of the wind turbine tower between a bottom end position and a top end position of the tower, the gripping structure being adapted to provide a releasable fixation of the wind turbine com ponent in a fixed orientation relative to the gripping structu re, and the drive m eans com prising m otor m eans for forcing the sledge along the wind tu rbine tower.
PCT/EP2008/055333 2007-04-30 2008-04-30 A mounting device WO2008132226A1 (en)

Priority Applications (4)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
ES08736640T ES2387331T3 (en) 2007-04-30 2008-04-30 Mounting device
US12/598,208 US8191878B2 (en) 2007-04-30 2008-04-30 Mounting device
EP08736640A EP2144837B1 (en) 2007-04-30 2008-04-30 A mounting device
CN2008800141318A CN101765558B (en) 2007-04-30 2008-04-30 A mounting device

Applications Claiming Priority (2)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
DKPA200700642 2007-04-30
DKPA200700642 2007-04-30

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Publication Number Publication Date
WO2008132226A1 true WO2008132226A1 (en) 2008-11-06

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ES2387331T3 (en) 2012-09-20
EP2144837A1 (en) 2010-01-20
CN101765558A (en) 2010-06-30
EP2144837B1 (en) 2012-06-20

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