WO2010031528A2

WO2010031528A2 - Hoisting device for a wind turbine

Info

Publication number: WO2010031528A2
Application number: PCT/EP2009/006641
Authority: WO
Inventors: Avner Dror
Original assignee: Suzlon Energy Gmbh
Priority date: 2008-09-17
Filing date: 2009-09-14
Publication date: 2010-03-25
Also published as: WO2010031528A3; EP2329138A2; DE102008047769A1; DE102008047769B4

Abstract

The invention relates to a hoisting device (1) for a wind turbine (100), said device being movable on a support track (3) in a machine housing (2) of the wind turbine. The machine housing is rotatably mounted on a tower (101) and supports a rotor and a drive train. Suitable crane systems are needed to supply the required means and tools to the machine housing (2) for servicing and repair purposes. Up to now, chain hoists have been used for small to medium-sized loads, up to approx. 1 tonne, the hooks of which hoists can be lowered through a hatch in the floor of the machine housing. One disadvantage is that the size of the useful load is limited by the size of the floor hatch. According to the invention, a hoisting device for the wind turbine is displaceably provided on the support track in a machine housing of the wind turbine. The support track of the hoisting device runs completely within the machine housing and comprises a roller mechanism and a load arm. The load arm and roller mechanism are designed in such a way that the load arm projects through a substantially vertical wall of the machine housing.

Description

Lifting device for a wind turbine

The invention relates to a lifting device for a wind turbine, wherein the lifting device is slidably provided on a web carrier in a nacelle of the wind turbine. The nacelle is rotatably mounted on a tower and carries a rotor and a drive train. In order to be able to bring the necessary resources and tools into the machine house for maintenance and repair purposes, suitable crane systems are required. Since it is not always possible to build a mobile crane on a wind turbine and continue to cause very high costs, it makes sense to equip a wind turbine with a ship's crane. So far, for small to medium loads, to about a ton, a chain hoist or the like used, the hook can be drained through a floor hatch in the nacelle. Thus, spare parts, such as a drive motor for the azimuth bearing, can be hoisted from the ground into the machine house. This results in the disadvantage that the size of the payload is limited by the size of the floor hatch.

EP 1 859 165 B1 discloses a crane arrangement which, inter alia, avoids the above-mentioned disadvantages. For this purpose, the crane arrangement comprises a web carrier and a lifting device displaceable thereon. The web carrier projects beyond the edge of the lining of the machine house and is from a

Surrounded by disguise. Thus, the lifting device or trolley can go beyond the edge of the machine house and lower the hook for receiving payloads to the ground. The protruding design of the crane assembly adversely affects the size, the cost of the housing, the transport and the aesthetics of the machine house.

BESTATIGUNGSKOPIE It is an object of the invention to provide an improved lifting device for a wind turbine and an improved wind turbine, wherein the disadvantages of the prior art are avoided.

The object is achieved with the features of the main claim 1 by the lifting device for the wind turbine is slidably provided on the web carrier in a nacelle of the wind turbine. In this case, the web carrier of the lifting device runs completely within the machine house and comprises a scroll and a load arm. Load arm and scroll are designed such that the load arm can protrude through a substantially vertical wall of the machine house. This results, inter alia, in the advantage that all payloads can be heaved into the machine house through a substantially vertically formed hatch in the wall, in particular at the rear of the wind turbine. The advantageous embodiment of the lifting device with the load arm allows for the first time that the web carrier can be formed completely and exclusively in the machine house. Because the load arm is capable of

Projecting wall of the wind turbine, as he also dominates the web carrier, preferably in the direction of displacement of the lifting device on the web carrier.

In a particularly advantageous embodiment of the invention, the load arm is rotatably mounted on the scroll of the lifting device. The axis of rotation of the possibility of rotation or pivoting of the load arm on the scroll runs substantially horizontally. Thus, the load arm can be pivoted between an upper and lower position. Since the inlet opening of the load chain or the load cable is located at the outer end of the load arm facing away from the axis of rotation, the maximum usable lifting height of the lifting device varies between a maximum and a minimum value, depending on the position of the load arm.

In order to enable a defined operation of the lifting device, means are provided which allow a defined arrangement of the load arm in at least two defined positions A and B. For this purpose, locking pins in the Rolling be inserted, which cause a positive entanglement of load arm and scroll.

However, it is also conceivable to provide the load arm freely pivotable and positionable on the scroll. Thus, the position of the load arm can be adjusted as needed. Preferably, these are motor or hydraulic

Provide adjusting. For example, between the scroll and the pivotable load arm, a spindle drive or hydraulic cylinder may be provided, whereby the relative position of the load arm relative to the scroll can be adjusted. Furthermore, this can also be done the load chain of the electric chain hoist in a favorable manner, possibly via sprockets in the form of a pulley, between the scroll and the load.

The displacement of the lifting device on the web carrier can be simplified by the scroll is slidably mounted on a carrier roll on the web carrier and an upper support surface of the web carrier is applied essentially to support the weight forces.

Furthermore, the scroll can be slidably mounted on the web carrier via a rigid pair of support rollers and a rotatable or pivotable pair of support rollers. It can be dispensed with the use of pressure rollers, if the payload on the load arm does not lead to a lifting of the scroll.

Advantageously, the scroll can be provided with a pressure roller which acts on a lower support surface of the web carrier. This is necessary because the center of gravity of the lifting device with payload does not coincide with the force application point of the carrying roller, and thus the web carrier must absorb a torque from the lifting device.

To achieve the above object, the invention further discloses a

Wind turbine comprising a nacelle on a tower rotatably seconded engine house with a wall. In this machine house a web support is provided, to which a lifting device is slidably mounted by means of a scroll. This - A -

Web carrier runs completely and exclusively within the machine house. The lifting device comprises a load arm, which is suitable to project through the substantially vertical wall of the machine house. Thus, it is made possible for the first time to hoist objects by means of a lifting device through a rear, vertical hatch in the wind turbine without the web carrier projects beyond the edge of the wind turbine. The lifting device of the wind turbine may advantageously further comprise the above-listed features of claims 2 to 8 partially or completely.

In a further embodiment of the invention, the hatch in the wall of the machine house is designed such that it can be penetrated by the load arm only in a lowered position (B). This shows a significant advantage of this design. Such a hatch often does not extend to the ceiling height of the machine house, as for example on the hatch still designed as a roller shutter closing device is arranged, the division of the multi-part housing of the machine house runs such that the hatch is formed only to the end of the division of the rear wall , or a characteristic of the hatch over the entire height of the engine house is simply not desirable. The low, but advantageous shape of the hatch would be in conflict with the requirement of the lifting device to maximize the lifting height in the machine house, because the lifting device or the web carrier is provided in a maximum mounting height in the machine house to a maximum working and lifting height of the To allow lifting device. In order to keep the size of the hatch as low as possible, while ensuring a maximum difference of the working stroke of the lifting device in the machine house, the vertical position of the load arm is variable because of its pivotal arrangement. In lowered, lower position B, the load arm can project through the hatch and thus accommodate a payload on the ground under the nacelle.

Another embodiment of the invention discloses that the web carrier is curved in the nacelle. This allows payloads to a predetermined Positions are transported in the machine house, which can not be reached straight from the hatch. Especially with such an expression of the web carrier, the arrangement with a support and two pressure rollers with respect to the cornering of the lifting device is very favorable. The curve of the web carrier may be formed to a circular shape. This ensures that the

Lifting device can cover and reach a large area of the machine house.

In addition, it may be considered to arrange a second lifting device on the web carrier. This can preferably roll on a web carrier with small curve radii, without jamming.

A wind turbine with a lifting device with one or more features of the described embodiments proves to be advantageous in terms of ease of maintenance and manufacturing costs, among other things.

In the context of the invention, a method for operating a lifting device is disclosed, wherein at least the following steps are carried out:

Picking up a payload, wherein the load arm is arranged in a lower position B on the scroll,

- Moving the lifting device on the web carrier, so that the lifting device and the payload are completely inside the machine house, and

Changing the arrangement of the load arm on the scroll from the lower position B to an upper position A.

The method according to the invention is particularly favorable when, before the load arm is changed from position B to position A, the lifting device is relieved. Thus, the adjustment can be particularly simple and without excessive

Force effort to be performed. A wind turbine can be operated in a particularly simple and cost-effective manner if the method described above is used. Further details of the invention will become apparent from the drawings with reference to the description.

In the drawings shows

1 is a vertical section through a machine house a wind turbine with a lifting device in two different positions,

2 a horizontal vertical section according to FIG. 1.

3 is a detailed view of the lifting device in the upper position A of FIG. 1,

4 shows an embodiment of a lifting device in lower position B similar to FIG. 1,

Fig. 5 shows a further embodiment of the lifting device according to the invention, and

Fig. 6 is a side view of an exemplary wind turbine.

1 shows an embodiment of the lifting device 1 according to the invention for a wind turbine 100. Such lifting devices 1 are installed in a machine house 2 in a wind turbine, wherein a drive train is mounted mounted on a machine carrier 5 in the machine house 2. An exemplary wind turbine 100 is illustrated in FIG. 6, wherein a nacelle 2 is rotatably mounted about a vertical axis. The invention can also be used in other types of wind turbines.

The basic mode of operation of the lifting device 1 according to the invention is clear from the embodiments described in FIGS. 1 to 4. The machine house 2 is rotatably mounted on a tower 101 of the wind turbine 100 by means of a not shown azimuth bearing 10 via the machine carrier 5. This azimuth bearing 10 is used inter alia for receiving and discharging thrust, gyro and yaw forces from the machine frame 5 in the tower. In this case, the wind tracking of the machine house 2 is made possible by means of the azimuth bearing 10 and the azimuth drives 11. In this case, the machine house 2 in a rotated horizontally about a substantially vertical axis of rotation, so that the wind flows perpendicular to a plane of rotation of the unillustrated rotor 103, 104, and thus the energy yield is maximized. It may be necessary to replace the azimuth drives 11. This can be carried out particularly easily with the aid of the lifting device 1.

On the machine carrier 5, the housing 12 of the machine house 2 and the main components of the drive train are mounted. The drive train comprises the rotor shaft 6 which carries the rotor comprising the rotor blades 104 and hub 104. The rotor shaft 6 is supported by a rotor bearing 7, wherein the torque support is realized via the gear 9, in which the rotor shaft 6 opens. The transmission 9 converts the slow, high momentary rotational movement of the rotor shaft 6 into a fast low momentum rotation, which in turn is introduced into the generator 8 for generating electrical energy. In addition to these briefly outlined components are in the machine house 2 control cabinets and other electrical components to find. A possible replacement of the majority of these components can be done with the help of the lifting device 1.

In the machine house 2, a web support 3 is provided curved mounted. The web carrier 3 may extend in a partially circular manner, which makes it possible to get into as many areas of the machine house 2 as possible. The web carrier is to be mounted as high as possible in order to obtain a maximum lifting height H _max _ _{A of} the lifting device 1. The lifting device 1 is slidably mounted on the web carrier 3. In Fig. 1, the lifting device 1 is shown for better understanding of the invention in two different positions, although only one lifting device 1 is to be provided in the machine house 2. These two different positions A and B are shown in detail in FIGS. 3 and 4. At the same time, a slightly modified embodiment of the lifting device 1 is introduced with FIG. In Fig. 2, a second lifting device 102 is shown, which has no load arm, thus shorter builds, and thus better at the circular, strongly curved portion of the web carrier is displaced.

Position B describes the lowered position of the lifting device 1, which in Fig. 1 and in Fig. 4, a hatch 13 of the housing 12 of the machine house 2 protrudes. Compared to the raised position A of the lifting device 1 (FIG. 3), the maximum lifting heights Hm _3x- A and H _max _B of the two positions A and B differ by a height difference ΔH. To achieve this, the load arm 17 of the lifting device 1 can be pivoted about a horizontal pivot axis 18 by a pivot angle α. The web carrier 3 is mounted so high in the machine house 2, so that even a voluminous payload 19 on the existing components 6, 7, 8 can be lifted in the machine house 2. In order to exploit the maximum height H _max _A, the load arm 17 of the lifting device 1 is brought to the raised position A and fixed.

In order to move the payload 19 in the machine housing 2 in, the load arm 17, the wall 14 through the hatch 13 at the back of the

Machine housing 2 protrude so that the load hook 21 can be lowered to accommodate the payload 19. The small height of the hatch 13 does not allow the load arm 17 of the lifting device 1 in the raised position A can protrude from the machine house 2, because the size of the hatch 13 by design conditions, such as division of the housing 12, and the space for a Roller door 20 determined. If the height of the hatch were designed to be so high that no positional adjustment of the load arm would be necessary, then the pivotability of the load arm could be dispensed with. This embodiment, which is not explicitly shown here, is expressly within the scope of the invention, and is hereby disclosed.

In Fig. 3 is located on the web support 3, the lifting device 1 in the raised position A, whereby a maximum lifting height H _max _ _{A is} achieved. The assembly of the lifting device 1 comprises a scroll 15, to which an electric chain hoist 22 is attached to the load arm 17. The scroll 15 has specially designed support rollers 23 and pressure rollers 24 which bear against a lower flange 4 of the web carrier 3. The pressure rollers 24 receive a torque caused by the center of gravity displaced payload 19, to prevent tilting or lifting of the scroll. The carrying rollers 23 are used to absorb the weight and are formed with lateral ribs and thus allow cornering on the curved web carrier 3. If the weight load is too large, another pair of idlers can be added. The load arm 17 is attached to side shields 16 of the roller unit 15 in the required loading length L in the direction of travel or laterally projecting as a unit. The load arm can be configured trapezoidal or arbitrary in the form of an angle. At the outer end of the load arm 17, a sprocket 27 is mounted in an end piece 25 for deflecting the load chain 26, via which the driven by the electric chain 22 load chain 26 runs and this deflects in the required loading length L from the electric chain hoist 22 in the load direction downwards. The load arm 17 is designed so that a maximum height H _max _ _A can be achieved by a low overall height of the machine house 2, which is particularly advantageous for low work spaces. The load can be fixed to the scroll, which is not shown in the embodiment shown and is already described above. Characterized that the load arm 17 is rotatably arranged on the axis of rotation 18 on the scroll 15 in the vertical direction, the stroke position between position A and B of the load arm 17 can be changed in this way.

In the embodiment of the lifting device of FIG. 3, the side plate 16 of the scroll 15 next to the axis of rotation 18 two locking holes 28 for the detection of the load arm 17 in order to determine the load arm 17 in the upper position A and the lower position B. In this case, the chain memory 29 is suspended swinging. The movable suspension of the load arm 17 allows, especially in confined spaces, the picking up and setting down of a load at different maximum lifting heights H _max B and H _{max A} with a height difference ΔH. When a payload 19 is to be introduced into the machine house 2, the following method is used: The payload 19 is located at the bottom under the load hook 21 of the lifting device 1. The load arm 17 of the lifting device 1 is to bring in the lower position B, so that Load arm 17 can protrude through the open roller door 20 of the wall 14 of the housing 12 of the machine house 2. The load hook 21 is in the lower position B with the maximum lifting height H _max _ _B - It should be noted that in the figures, the respective maximum lifting heights H _ma χ_B and Hm _ax _ _{A are given} with respect to the fulcrum of the sprocket 27, and Thus, the load hook 21 results in a constant difference, which should be neglected. By pressing the electric chain hoist 22, the load hook 21 on the

Load chain 26 lowered to the payload 19 and attached thereto. Consequently, the payload 19 can only be lifted up to the lower maximum lifting height H _max _B.

The payload 19 now depends on the load arm 17 in front of the hatch 13, whereupon the entire lifting device 1 can be moved manually or with motor support on the web carrier 3 in the direction of displacement 33 into the interior of the machine house 2. Means for motor support are not shown here.

In order to lift the payload 19 in the interior of the machine house 2 to the desired location, the lower maximum lifting height H _{max B is} often not sufficient, especially for large payloads. Therefore, the load arm 17 of the lifting device 1 is to be pivoted to the upper position A with a larger maximum lifting height H _max _ _A. For this purpose, the payload 19 is preferably discontinued in order to allow easy adjustment of the position of the load arm 19.

The setting of the maximum lifting heights H _max _ _A and H _max _ _B can mechanically according to FIG. 3, for example, with a hinged to the load arm 17, self-locking threaded spindle 30 or a lever joint done, with the load arm 17 can be locked in the required height.

The lifting height can also be changed completely automatically with the aid of the electric chain hoist 22. This is in the lower position B after lifting and Settling of the payload 19 of the load hooks 21 left attached to the remote payload 19 or hung on a fixed point present at the working floor. Then, a not-shown locking pin is pulled into the lower locking hole 28. Thereafter, the lifting motor of the electric chain hoist 22 is operated and the load chain 26 is switched to lifting. Due to the counterweight of the

Electric chain hoist 22 and the weight of the chain memory 29 at fully retracted load chain 26 of the load arm 17 is automatically pulled up even until the desired upper stroke position is reached in position A. The automatic adjustment of the lifting height is ensured by the fact that the electric chain hoist 22 is arranged with the chain memory 29 as a counterweight to the load arm 17. The upper position A is secured by means of the upper locking hole 28. A variable or maximum utilization of the lifting height H _ma χ_ _{A of} the electric chain hoist 22 is thus possible. Particularly when transporting payloads 19 through a hatch 13 arranged at a low room height, it is advantageous if the lifting height is variable when receiving and depositing payloads.

When setting the lower stroke position in position B with a maximum lifting height H _ma χ_ _B in Fig. 3, the procedure is essentially the reverse. After receiving the payload 19 in the upper stroke position in position A, the load chain 26 is relieved by supporting the payload 19 and the locking pin pushed into the upper locking hole 28. After hooking the load hook 21 at a fixed point and by switching on the Feinhubs the electric chain hoist 22 of the load arm 17 is pulled down and locked in position B in the lower stroke position. The payload 19 can then be transported through the lower hatch 13. The head of the load arm 17 is formed so that the sprocket 27 for deflecting the load chain 26 causes a safe chain guide on the chain inlet as well as on the chain outlet, so that a chain twist and chain skipping over the chain pockets is prevented even at high chain speeds. In Fig. 5, a further embodiment of the lifting device 1 is introduced, wherein the load arm 17 is designed substantially identical to the embodiment of FIG. 3 and 4, which is why the same components are provided with the same reference numerals. The lifting device 1 of FIG. 5 includes an alternative design of the scroll 115. In this case, two pairs of support rollers 123, 124 are provided, whereby an optimal load distribution of the weight of the payload 19 is made possible. In addition, the carrier 125 of the support rollers 124 is rotatably connected to the side plate 116 of the scroll such that the cornering of the lifting device 1 is improved. The feature combinations disclosed in the exemplary embodiments described are not intended to limit the invention, but rather the features of the different embodiments can also be combined with one another.

LIST OF REFERENCE NUMBERS

Lifting device 26 load chain

Machine house 27 sprocket

Web carrier 28 Arretierungsbohrung

Bottom flange 29 chain store

Machine carrier 30 threaded spindle

Rotor shaft 31 support surface

Rotor bearing 32 support surface

Generator 33 shift direction

Transmission 100 wind turbine

Azimuth bearing 101 tower

Azimuth drive 102 Lifting device

Housing 103 hub

Luke 104 rotor blade

Wall 115 scroll

Scroll 116 side plate

Side plate 123 carrying roller

Load arm 124 Support roller

Rotation axis 125 carrier

payload

Roller door α swing angle

Load hook Hmax_A max. Lifting height A

Electric chain hoist Hmax_B max. Lifting height B,

Support role Δh lift height difference

Pressure roller L Loading length

tail

Claims

claims

Lifting device (1) for a wind turbine (100), characterized in that

the lifting device (1) comprising a roller conveyor (15; 115) and a load arm (17) is designed in such a way that

- That the lifting device (1) is slidably on a web support (3) in the machine house (2) of the wind turbine (100) can be arranged, wherein the web carrier (3) extends completely and exclusively within the machine house (2), and

- That a substantially vertically extending wall (14) of the machine house (2) by means of the load arm (17) is simultaneously passable.

2. Lifting device (1) according to claim 1, characterized in that the load arm (17) is arranged rotatably about a substantially horizontal axis of rotation (18) on the scrollwork (15, 115).

3. Lifting device (1) according to claim 2, characterized in that the load arm (17) in at least two defined positions (A, B) and the scrollwork (15; 115) can be arranged.

4. Lifting device (1) according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that the scrollwork (15; 115) via at least one support roller (23; 123, 124) is displaceably mounted on the web carrier (3) and an upper support surface (31) of the web carrier (3) acted essentially to support the weight forces.

5. Lifting device (1) according to claim 4, characterized in that the scrollwork (115) comprises two pairs of support rollers (123,124).

6. Lifting device (1) according to claim 5, characterized in that the scroll (115) via a rigid pair of support rollers (123) and via a rotatable or pivotable pair of support rollers (124) is slidably mounted on the web carrier (3).

7. lifting device (1) according to claim 5, characterized in that at least one pressure roller (24) a lower support surface (32) of the web carrier (2) acted upon.

8. Lifting device (1) according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that means for adjusting the load arm (17) in the positions (A, B) are provided.

9. wind turbine (100) comprising a on a tower (101) rotatably seconded engine house (2) having a wall (14), wherein in the machine house (2) a web support (3) is provided, and on the web support (3) a Lifting device (1) by means of a scroll (15; 115) slidably disposed, characterized in that

- that the web carrier (3) extends completely and exclusively within the machine house (2),

- The lifting device (1) comprises a load arm (17) which is adapted to project through the substantially vertically extending wall (14) of the machine house (2).

10. Wind turbine (100) according to claim 9, characterized in that the lifting device (1) according to one or more of claims 2 to 8 is formed.

11. Wind turbine (100) according to claim 9 or 10, characterized in that in the wall (14), a hatch (13) is provided such that it can be carried by the load arm (17) only in a lowered position (B).

12. Wind turbine (100) according to one or more of the preceding claims 9 to 11, characterized in that the web carrier (3) curved in the machine housing (2) is formed.

13. Wind turbine (100) according to claim 12, characterized in that a second lifting device (102) is provided on the web carrier (3).

14. A method for operating a lifting device (1) according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized by the steps:

Picking up a payload (19), wherein the load arm (17) is arranged in a lower position (B) on the scrollwork (15),

- Moving the lifting device (1) on the web carrier (3), so that the lifting device (1) and the payload of the load arm (17) are located completely inside the machine house (2), and

- Changing the arrangement of the load arm (17) on the scroll (15) from the lower position (B) to an upper position (A).

15. The method according to claim 14, characterized in that prior to changing the position (B) in position (A) of the load arm (17), the lifting device (1) is relieved.