WO2013068008A1 - A female guiding device and a guiding assembly for guiding the connection of two rotor blade segments of a wind turbine - Google Patents

A female guiding device and a guiding assembly for guiding the connection of two rotor blade segments of a wind turbine Download PDF

Info

Publication number
WO2013068008A1
WO2013068008A1 PCT/DK2012/000064 DK2012000064W WO2013068008A1 WO 2013068008 A1 WO2013068008 A1 WO 2013068008A1 DK 2012000064 W DK2012000064 W DK 2012000064W WO 2013068008 A1 WO2013068008 A1 WO 2013068008A1
Authority
WO
WIPO (PCT)
Prior art keywords
guiding device
female
rotor blade
male
guiding
Prior art date
Application number
PCT/DK2012/000064
Other languages
French (fr)
Inventor
Paul Teichert
Original Assignee
Pp Energy Aps
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 Pp Energy Aps filed Critical Pp Energy Aps
Publication of WO2013068008A1 publication Critical patent/WO2013068008A1/en

Links

Classifications

    • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
    • F03—MACHINES OR ENGINES FOR LIQUIDS; WIND, SPRING, OR WEIGHT MOTORS; PRODUCING MECHANICAL POWER OR A REACTIVE PROPULSIVE THRUST, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
    • F03D—WIND MOTORS
    • F03D1/00—Wind motors with rotation axis substantially parallel to the air flow entering the rotor 
    • F03D1/06—Rotors
    • F03D1/065—Rotors characterised by their construction elements
    • F03D1/0658—Arrangements for fixing wind-engaging parts to a hub
    • 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
    • F03D1/00—Wind motors with rotation axis substantially parallel to the air flow entering the rotor 
    • F03D1/06—Rotors
    • F03D1/065—Rotors characterised by their construction elements
    • F03D1/0675—Rotors characterised by their construction elements of the blades
    • 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
    • F05—INDEXING SCHEMES RELATING TO ENGINES OR PUMPS IN VARIOUS SUBCLASSES OF CLASSES F01-F04
    • F05B—INDEXING SCHEME RELATING TO WIND, SPRING, WEIGHT, INERTIA OR LIKE MOTORS, TO MACHINES OR ENGINES FOR LIQUIDS COVERED BY SUBCLASSES F03B, F03D AND F03G
    • F05B2230/00—Manufacture
    • F05B2230/60—Assembly methods
    • F05B2230/604—Assembly methods using positioning or alignment devices for aligning or centering, e.g. pins
    • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
    • F05—INDEXING SCHEMES RELATING TO ENGINES OR PUMPS IN VARIOUS SUBCLASSES OF CLASSES F01-F04
    • F05B—INDEXING SCHEME RELATING TO WIND, SPRING, WEIGHT, INERTIA OR LIKE MOTORS, TO MACHINES OR ENGINES FOR LIQUIDS COVERED BY SUBCLASSES F03B, F03D AND F03G
    • F05B2240/00—Components
    • F05B2240/20—Rotors
    • F05B2240/30—Characteristics of rotor blades, i.e. of any element transforming dynamic fluid energy to or from rotational energy and being attached to a rotor
    • F05B2240/302—Segmented or sectional blades
    • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
    • F05—INDEXING SCHEMES RELATING TO ENGINES OR PUMPS IN VARIOUS SUBCLASSES OF CLASSES F01-F04
    • F05B—INDEXING SCHEME RELATING TO WIND, SPRING, WEIGHT, INERTIA OR LIKE MOTORS, TO MACHINES OR ENGINES FOR LIQUIDS COVERED BY SUBCLASSES F03B, F03D AND F03G
    • F05B2260/00—Function
    • F05B2260/30—Retaining components in desired mutual position
    • 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
    • Y02P—CLIMATE CHANGE MITIGATION TECHNOLOGIES IN THE PRODUCTION OR PROCESSING OF GOODS
    • Y02P70/00—Climate change mitigation technologies in the production process for final industrial or consumer products
    • Y02P70/50—Manufacturing or production processes characterised by the final manufactured product

Definitions

  • the present invention relates to a female guiding device for guiding the connection of two rotor blade segments of a wind turbine at the location of the wind turbine.
  • the invention further relates to a guiding assembly for guiding connection of two or more rotor blade segments.
  • the blades are made from a plurality of blade segments, which are assembled at the erection site of the wind turbine. There is a need in the art to ship the rotor blade in segments and then join the segments at the location of the wind turbine. It is not only a problem to transport the large rotor blades to the erection site; also the suspension of these large rotor blades is a problem.
  • a segment divided rotor blade comprises a plurality of blade segments such as two, three, four, five, six or any other number.
  • a segment divided rotor blade typically comprises one hub blade segment, one tip blade segment and between zero and a plurality of intermediate blade segments. In connection with the transportation it will be appreciated that a large number of blade sections is selected, because the larger the number of blade sections is, the easier it will be to transport the blade prior to assembly.
  • the design of the rotor blades is chosen to have a relatively light structure and a relatively light material is selected. This gives major challenges for the design of the connection of the rotor blade segments.
  • the blade segment may be manufactured of high strength material, such as fibre glass or carbon fibre. Such materials are often fastened to each other by means of an adhesive such as a two-component epoxy adhesive.
  • Some blade segments may be reinforced by defining a cord extending from a leading edge to a trailing edge of the wind turbine blade.
  • Each of the blade segments may be reinforced by means of spar segments which extend inside the blade segment in the longitudinal direction thereof.
  • Each of the spars may define two opposing webs which are interconnected by means of two opposing caps. The caps extend in a direction parallel to the cord and the webs extend in a direction parallel to the thickness of the blade.
  • a segment divided rotor blade could comprise a plurality of blade segments such as two, three, four, five, six or any other number.
  • connecting two rotor blade segments should be interpreted to mean connecting two consecutive segments. If, for example, the rotor blade only comprises two segments, it will be a guiding device for guiding connection of the tip blade segment to the hub blade segment. If the rotor blade, for example, comprises three segments, the guiding device will be used for guiding connection of the intermediate blade segment to the hub blade segment. After connecting these two segments, the guiding device could be used for connecting the tip blade segment to the intermediate segment which is then already connected to the hub blade segment. If the rotor blade comprises four segments a guiding device will first connect intermediate segment to hub segment, intermediate to intermediate and finally tip segment to second intermediate blade segment etc.
  • the type of the female fixing arrangement adapted to secure fixation to the rotor blade segment depends on the type of rotor blade and would be a selection for the skilled person, e.g. fixation by vacuum, pressing pads, rubber pads, cautious grip on the longitudinal girder, different type of fittings etc.
  • the female guiding device may be suspended from a crane or the like or the top of the wind turbine e.g. the nacelle or hub and then lowered down to the end of the rotor blade segment to be fixed on the blade segment e.g. by contact means maintaining the female guiding device in the right position on the rotor blade segment.
  • the invention provides a guiding assembly for guiding connection of a second rotor blade segment to a first rotor blade segment, the guiding assembly comprising:
  • the guiding assembly may comprise a male engagement part of the male guiding device where the male engagement part is placed at the upper part of the male guiding device when the male guiding device is fixed to the second rotor blade segment.
  • the male engagement part is pointing in the direction of the female engagement part.
  • the male guiding device is furthermore provided with inclined walls complimentary to the inclined walls on the female guiding device.
  • the male guiding device may be detachably attached to the second rotor blade segment.
  • Both the female guiding device and the male guiding device may be detachably attached to their respective rotor blade segments.
  • the coupling guide is a self-adjusting coupling guide.
  • Figs. 2-4 illustrate the section A from Fig. 1 when two rotor blade segments of a wind turbine are being connected.
  • Figs. 2-4 discloses a second rotor blade segment where the male guiding device 6 is placed at the upper end of the second rotor blade segment 4B and where the male engagement part is pointing in the direction of the female engagement part.

Landscapes

  • Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Life Sciences & Earth Sciences (AREA)
  • Sustainable Development (AREA)
  • Sustainable Energy (AREA)
  • Chemical & Material Sciences (AREA)
  • Combustion & Propulsion (AREA)
  • Mechanical Engineering (AREA)
  • General Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Wind Motors (AREA)

Abstract

A female guiding device (5) for guiding the connection of two rotor blade segments (4A, 4B) of a wind turbine by using a male guiding device (6), the female guiding device (5) comprising: > A female fixing arrangement adapted to secure fixation of the female guiding device (5) to a first rotor blade segment (4A), > A female engagement part (8) adapted to engage a male guiding device (6) fixed on a second rotor blade segment (4B), > A linking arrangement (7) for connecting the second rotor blade segment (4B) to the female guiding device (5). The invention further provides a guiding assembly comprising a male and a female guiding device for guiding the connection of two rotor blade segments

Description

A FEMALE GUIDING DEVICE AND A GUIDING ASSEMBLY FOR GUIDING THE CONNECTION OF TWO ROTOR BLADE SEGMENTS OF A WIND TURBINE.
Field of the invention
The present invention relates to a female guiding device for guiding the connection of two rotor blade segments of a wind turbine at the location of the wind turbine. The invention further relates to a guiding assembly for guiding connection of two or more rotor blade segments.
Background of the invention The size, shape and weight of rotor blades are factors that contribute to the energy efficiency of wind turbines. An increase in the rotor blade size increases the energy production of a wind turbine, while a decrease in weight also furthers the efficiency of a wind turbine. Furthermore, as rotor blade sizes grow, extra attention needs to be given to the structural integrity of the rotor blades.
In recent years wind turbines have grown significantly in size, and the outer shape of the rotor blade has not only changed to be longer but also to have a complex structure. Not only the thickness and the width change from the hub end to the tip end and from the leading edge to the trailing edge. The blade may also be pre-bent, angled, and/or twisted.
Wind turbines typically comprise three blades, each blade today having a weight of up to more than 26 tons and a length of up to 75 m or more. This size will probably also grow in the future.
In order to facilitate transport of such large blades it is envisaged that the blades are made from a plurality of blade segments, which are assembled at the erection site of the wind turbine. There is a need in the art to ship the rotor blade in segments and then join the segments at the location of the wind turbine. It is not only a problem to transport the large rotor blades to the erection site; also the suspension of these large rotor blades is a problem. A segment divided rotor blade comprises a plurality of blade segments such as two, three, four, five, six or any other number. A segment divided rotor blade typically comprises one hub blade segment, one tip blade segment and between zero and a plurality of intermediate blade segments. In connection with the transportation it will be appreciated that a large number of blade sections is selected, because the larger the number of blade sections is, the easier it will be to transport the blade prior to assembly.
Segment divided rotor blades furthermore have the advantage that the tip segment of a rotor blade can be replaced.
Wind farms are often situated in remote landscapes, on hill-tops or at offshore locations; these locations can be difficult to access. Heavy cranes can cause substantial damage to the ground and access roads. Offshore installation is often using a jack-up rig, a type of a mobile platform crane that is able to stand still on the sea floor resting on a number of supporting legs.
Large cranes and jack-up rigs are inherently costly and difficult to transport, deploy, operate and demobilise. In addition, they can only be deployed in low- level wind conditions.
The geometry and the vulnerability of the blades makes it difficult to position and assemble the blade segments and it is necessary to use several cranes, and different techniques for handling ropes, wire etc..
With the increasing height and size of wind turbines and particularly of the sea based wind turbines and their rotor blades, the design of the rotor blades is chosen to have a relatively light structure and a relatively light material is selected. This gives major challenges for the design of the connection of the rotor blade segments.
The blade segments may be connected in joining zones when the blade is assembled. It is important that these joining zones are not damaged during assembly and suspension. In use, the joining zones are subject to bending and centrifugal loading caused by the rotation of the blade. Accordingly, the joints must be designed to cope with the shear stress and normal stress caused by these types of loadings.
The blade segment may be manufactured of high strength material, such as fibre glass or carbon fibre. Such materials are often fastened to each other by means of an adhesive such as a two-component epoxy adhesive. Some blade segments may be reinforced by defining a cord extending from a leading edge to a trailing edge of the wind turbine blade. Each of the blade segments may be reinforced by means of spar segments which extend inside the blade segment in the longitudinal direction thereof. Each of the spars may define two opposing webs which are interconnected by means of two opposing caps. The caps extend in a direction parallel to the cord and the webs extend in a direction parallel to the thickness of the blade. Each spar section may define at least one joining zone with at least one fastening end which is adapted to be connected, fastened or attached to a corresponding fastening end of another blade spar section, so as to connect two blade segments to each other when the blade is assembled. The fastening ends of the spar sections may be connected in pairs, so that the fastening end of each pair defines at least a part of the joint.
The blade segments may be fastened to each other in a plurality of different ways. One way may be at least one joint portion projecting from one end of the segment which allows the blade segment to be coupled to an adjacent blade segment which comprises a mating joint portion. Other ways may be by adhesive bonding and/or by fasteners, ribs, attachment members, flanges, bolts and nuts or other feature. Common to all is that the joints must be precise and must not be damaged during assembly. The assembly process is therefore also very time consuming.
With the increasing heights and sizes of wind turbines, the above-mentioned challenges have become increasingly important.
Summary of the invention
It is an objective of the invention to provide a guiding device for guiding connection of two or more rotor blade segments in an easy and cost efficient way without damaging blade or gear and in a safe manner.
Known joint designs for connecting the blade segments typically have a variety of disadvantages. For example many known joint designs do not provide for sufficient alignment of the blade segments. As such, a significant amount of time is wasted in aligning the blade segments for assembly of the rotor blade. Additionally, many known joint designs include various complex interconnecting components, thereby increasing the amount of time needed to assemble the blade segments. Accordingly, there is a need for a joint design for wind turbine rotor blade segments which simplifies the assembly of the blade segments into a rotor blade and also allows for a more accurate assembly of the blade segments into a rotor blade.
It is an objective of the invention to provide a guiding device for use not only when the wind turbine is being erected but also for use as a guiding device for replacement of a rotor blade segment. The tip segment of the rotor blade is the part of the blade which is exposed to maximum speed and therefore has a particular need to be replaced. A guiding device may also be used on already mounted rotor blades for replacing, repairing or servicing a blade segment etc., if a tip segment needs to be upgraded or retrofitted for adjustment of its performance e.g. elongation of the tip segment, a new design of the tip segment or adding new feature as for example better aerodynamic, noise reducing elements etc.
It is an objective of the invention to provide a guiding device for the connection of the rotor blade segments where the joining zones will be protected as much as possible.
These and other objectives are achieved by the invention as explained in detail in the following.
In a first aspect, the invention relates to a female guiding device for guiding the connection of two rotor blade segments of a wind turbine by using a male guiding device, the female guiding device comprising:
■ A female fixing arrangement adapted to secure fixation of the female guiding device to a first rotor blade segment,
■ A female engagement part adapted to engage the male guiding device fixed on a second rotor blade segment,
■ A linking arrangement for connection of the second rotor blade segment (4B) to the female guiding.
A segment divided rotor blade could comprise a plurality of blade segments such as two, three, four, five, six or any other number. In the present context the term "connecting two rotor blade segments" should be interpreted to mean connecting two consecutive segments. If, for example, the rotor blade only comprises two segments, it will be a guiding device for guiding connection of the tip blade segment to the hub blade segment. If the rotor blade, for example, comprises three segments, the guiding device will be used for guiding connection of the intermediate blade segment to the hub blade segment. After connecting these two segments, the guiding device could be used for connecting the tip blade segment to the intermediate segment which is then already connected to the hub blade segment. If the rotor blade comprises four segments a guiding device will first connect intermediate segment to hub segment, intermediate to intermediate and finally tip segment to second intermediate blade segment etc.
The female guide according to the invention may be fixed to the hub blade segment and the male guiding device may be fixed to the tip segment, and the tip segment is lifted into guiding connection of the two rotor blade segments. But according to the invention it could as well be the opposite way, namely that the male part is fixed to the hub section and the female guiding device is fixed to the tip blade segment and the tip blade segment with the female guiding device is lifted into connection with the male guiding device.
The type of the female fixing arrangement adapted to secure fixation to the rotor blade segment depends on the type of rotor blade and would be a selection for the skilled person, e.g. fixation by vacuum, pressing pads, rubber pads, cautious grip on the longitudinal girder, different type of fittings etc.
The female guiding device may be provided with a female engagement part placed at the lowest part of the female guiding device when the female guiding device is fixed to a first rotor blade segment.
The female guiding device may be suspended from a crane or the like or the top of the wind turbine e.g. the nacelle or hub and then lowered down to the end of the rotor blade segment to be fixed on the blade segment e.g. by contact means maintaining the female guiding device in the right position on the rotor blade segment.
The female engagement part may be provided with inclined walls. The inclined walls may have a straight, inclined shape but the walls could as well have more curved shape, as long as they guide the male guiding device into correct engagement.
The female engagement part may have three-dimensional inclining walls, whereby the two rotor blade segments can be angled relative to each other. In one embodiment the inclined walls form a funnel-like opening with the widest opening end pointing in the direction away from the female guiding device, thereby being ready for guiding a male guiding device.
The female guiding device may be provided with a female engagement part comprising a first pair of inclined walls angled in one direction and a second pair of inclined walls angled in another direction. This allows the coupling guide to connect the rotor blade segment in two planes in the longitudinal direction of the blade plane and in the transverse direction of the blade plane. The female guiding device could also guide the second blade segment in the third plane in the profundity direction. The female guiding device may also be provided to firstly guide the connection in one direction and thereafter in another direction. The female guiding device may be provided with a female engagement part comprising a magnetic material for attracting a male guiding part.
The female guiding device may comprise more than one female engagement part.
The linking arrangement may comprise one or more hoisting devices like Capstan or drum winches, hoists, tackles, blocks or pulleys or the like for controlling the lines, wires or cables used for lifting and/or lowering the second rotor blade segment in relation to the first rotor blade segment.
The female guiding device may be detachably attached to the first rotor blade segment.
According to a second aspect, the invention provides a guiding assembly for guiding connection of a second rotor blade segment to a first rotor blade segment, the guiding assembly comprising:
■ A female guiding device as described above, and ■ A male guiding device comprising: a male engagement part adapted to engage the female guiding device, the male guiding device further comprising a fixing arrangement adapted to secure fixation of the male guiding device to the second rotor blade segment, the male guiding device further comprising an anchorage point for lines, cables, wires or the like for lifting and/or lowering the second rotor blade segment in relation to the first rotor blade segment. It should be noted that a skilled person would readily recognise that the features described in combination with the first aspect of the invention could also be combined with the second aspect of the invention, and vice versa.
The guiding assembly may comprise a male engagement part of the male guiding device where the male engagement part is placed at the upper part of the male guiding device when the male guiding device is fixed to the second rotor blade segment. Hereby it is provided that the male engagement part is pointing in the direction of the female engagement part. In an embodiment of the guiding assembly the male guiding device is furthermore provided with inclined walls complimentary to the inclined walls on the female guiding device.
Hereby, it is achieved that the two coupling guides will automatically be coupled upon lifting the second rotor blade segment. The inclined walls secure a quick and a self-adjusting coupling.
The male guiding device may be detachably attached to the second rotor blade segment.
Both the female guiding device and the male guiding device may be detachably attached to their respective rotor blade segments. In a preferred embodiment the coupling guide is a self-adjusting coupling guide.
The fixation of the fixation part to the rotor blade segment depends on the type of rotor blade and would be a selection for the skilled person, e.g. fixation by vacuum, pressing pads, rubber pads, cautiously grip on the longitudinal girder, different type of fittings etc.
The Figures In the following, the invention will be described in further detail with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which
Fig. 1 illustrates a wind turbine and a guiding assembly device for guiding the connection of two rotor blade segments.
Figs. 2-4 illustrate the section A from Fig. 1 when two rotor blade segments of a wind turbine are being connected.
Detailed description The female guiding device and the guiding assembly for guiding the connection of two rotor blade segments will be explained in general with reference to Figs. 1-4.
Figs. 1 - 4 illustrate the guiding device in a schematic matter. Many of the elements are not drawned to scale for the purpose of clarity and/or illustration.
Fig. 1 discloses a wind turbine tower 1 upon which a nacelle 2 is mounted. From the nacelle 2 extends a not visible main shaft on which a hub 3 with a rotor blade 4 comprising two segments 4A and 4B is being mounted.
In the shown situation only one rotor blade 4 is disclosed. The wind turbine is stopped and the disclosed rotor blade 4 extends essentially vertically, and with the rear edge of the rotor blade near the tower 1. Figs. 2-4 illustrate the section A from Fig. 1 when two rotor blade segments 4A and 4B are being connected. The Figs, represent a sequence, showing the guiding method for connecting the rotor blade segments 4A, 4B. The segment 4A is the hub blade segment already mounted on the hub and the segment 4B is the tip blade segment to be mounted on the hub blade segment 4A.
The female guiding device 5 for guiding the connection is fixed on a not visible female fixing arrangement adapted to secure fixation of the female guiding device to the end of the first rotor blade segment 4A, in this illustration the end of the hub blade segment. Figs. 2-4 show the female guiding device 5 as fixed to the end of the hub blade segment, but the female guiding device could just as well be suspended from a crane or the like or from the top of the wind turbine e.g. the nacelle or hub and then lowered down to the end of the rotor blade segment and there be fixed on the blade segment e.g. by contact means maintaining the female guiding device 5 in the right position on the rotor blade segment. The female guiding device 5 comprises a female engagement part 8 adapted to engage a male guiding device 6 fixed on a second rotor blade segment 4B. The female engagement part 8 is placed at the lowest part of the female guiding device. The female engagement part 8 may be provided with inclined walls.
The inclined walls may, as shown in Figs. 2-4, have the shape of a funnel-like opening with the widest opening end pointing in the direction away from the female guiding device and thereby ready for guiding a male guiding device. In the figures the inclined walls are shown as straight, inclined walls but the walls could also have a more curved form, as long as they guide the male guiding device into correct engagement. The Figs. 2-4 show the female engagement part guiding the second blade segment in two planes in the longitudinal direction of the blade plane and in the transverse direction of the blade plane. The female guiding device could also guide the second blade segment in the third plane in the profundity direction. The female guiding device may also be provided to firstly guide the connection in one direction and thereafter in another direction.
In the Figs. 2-4 the female guiding device is disclosed with only one female engagement part. The female guiding device could also be provided with more than one engagement part.
Figs. 2-4 disclose a female guiding device 5 comprising a linking arrangement 7 for connection of the second rotor blade segment 4B to the female guiding device 6. The linking arrangement may comprise one or more pulleys or the like for controlling the lines, wires or cables used for lifting and/or lowering the second rotor blade segment in relation to the first rotor blade segment.
Figs. 2-4 disclose a second rotor blade segment, a tip blade segment 4B, with a male guiding device 6 fixed with a not visible male fixing arrangement. The fixing arrangement is adapted to secure fixation of the male guiding device 6 to the second rotor blade segment 4B. The male guiding device 6 comprises a male engagement part 10, the male engagement part 10 being adapted to engage the female engagement part 8. In the disclosed embodiment the male guiding device 6 further comprises an anchorage point for lines, cables, wires or the like for lifting and/or lowering the second rotor blade segment 4B in relation to the first rotor blade segment 4A.
The embodiment disclosed in Figs. 2-4 discloses a second rotor blade segment where the male guiding device 6 is placed at the upper end of the second rotor blade segment 4B and where the male engagement part is pointing in the direction of the female engagement part.
The male engagement part 10 of the male guiding device 6 is provided with inclined walls corresponding to the inclined walls on the female engagement part 8 of the female guide device 5. Both the female guiding device 5 and the male guiding device 6 may be detachably attached to their respective rotor blade segments 4A, 4B.
The method for guiding the connection of two rotor blade segments 4A and 4B is disclosed in Figs. 2-4. The method comprises the step of fixing the guiding assembly for guiding the connection of a second rotor blade segment to a first rotor blade segment, where the female guiding device is fixed to the first rotor blade segment and the male guiding device is fixed to the second rotor blade segment, the two guiding devices being linked together. The second rotor blade segment 4B is lifted up. The male engagement part 10 placed on the male guiding device 6 is automatically coupled to a corresponding coupling guide 8 placed on the female guiding device When the second rotor blade segment 4B is lifted further up, the self-adjusting coupling guides 8 and 10 are automatically connecting the two rotor blade segments 4A and 4B in a correct angle in relation to one another. When the rotor blade segments 4A and 4B are connected, the respective guiding devices can be detached from the rotor blade segments 4A and 4B and lowered down.
In Figs. 2-4 the female guide is disclosed as being fixed to the hub blade segment and the male guiding device is disclosed as being fixed to the tip segment, and the tip segment is lifted into guiding connection of the two rotor blade segments. But an opposite arrangement would be possible as well, namely that the male part was fixed to the hub section and the female guiding device was fixed to the tip blade segment, the tip blade segment with the female guiding device being lifted into connection with the male guiding device.
It will be understood that other embodiments, variations, etc. are possible when designing such contact means and that combinations hereof are possible as well.

Claims

Patent Claims
A female guiding device (5) for guiding the connection of two rotor blade segments (4A.4B) of a wind turbine by using a male guiding device (6), the female guiding device (5) comprising:
> A female fixing arrangement adapted to secure fixation of the female guiding device (5) to a first rotor blade segment (4A),
> A female engagement part (8) adapted to engage a male guiding device (6) fixed on a second rotor blade segment (4B),
> A linking arrangement (7) for connecting the second rotor blade segment (4B) to the female guiding device (5).
A female guiding device (5) according to claim 1 , wherein the female engagement part (8) is placed at the lowest part of the female guiding device (5), when the female guiding device is fixed to a first rotor blade segment (4A).
A female guiding device (5) according to claim 2, wherein the female engagement part (8) is provided with inclined walls.
A female guiding device (5) according to claim 3, wherein the inclined walls form a funnel-like opening with the widest opening end pointing in the direction away from the female guiding device, thereby being ready for guiding a male guiding device (6).
A female guiding device (5) according to claim 2 or 3, wherein the female engagement part (8) comprises a first pair of inclined walls angled in one direction and a second pair of inclined walls angled in another direction.
A female guiding device (5) according to claim 2, wherein the female engagement part (8) comprises a magnetic material for attracting a male guiding device (6).
7. A female guiding device (5) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the female guiding device (5) comprises more than one female engagement part (8).
8. A female guiding device (5) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the linking arrangement (7) comprises one or more pulleys or the like for controlling lines, wires or cables used for lifting and/or lowering the second rotor blade segment (4B) in relation to the first rotor blade segment (4A).
9. A female guiding device (5) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the female guiding device (5) is detachably attached to the first rotor blade segment (4A).
10. A guiding assembly for guiding the connection of a second rotor blade segment (4B) to a first rotor blade segment (4A), the guiding assembly comprising:
> A female guiding device (5) according to any one of the preceding claims, and
> A male guiding device (6) comprising: a male engagement part adapted to engage the female guiding device (5), the male guiding device further comprising a male fixing arrangement adapted to secure fixation of the male guide device (6) to the second rotor blade segment (4B), the male guiding device (6) further comprising an anchorage point for lines, cables, wires or the like for lifting and/or lowering the second rotor blade segment (4B) in relation to the first rotor blade segment (4A). 1 1. A guiding assembly according to claim 10, wherein the male engagement part (10) of the male guiding device (6) is placed at the upper part of the male guiding device, when the male guiding device is fixed to the second rotor blade segment (4B).
12. A guiding assembly according to claim 1 1 , wherein the male engagement part (10) of the male guiding device (6) is provided with inclined walls corresponding to the inclined walls on the female guide device (5).
13. A guiding assembly according to any one of the claims 10 -12, wherein the male guiding device (6) is detachably attached to the second rotor blade segment (4B).
PCT/DK2012/000064 2011-11-08 2012-06-06 A female guiding device and a guiding assembly for guiding the connection of two rotor blade segments of a wind turbine WO2013068008A1 (en)

Applications Claiming Priority (2)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
DKPA201100865 2011-11-08
DKPA201100865 2011-11-08

Publications (1)

Publication Number Publication Date
WO2013068008A1 true WO2013068008A1 (en) 2013-05-16

Family

ID=46275650

Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
PCT/DK2012/000064 WO2013068008A1 (en) 2011-11-08 2012-06-06 A female guiding device and a guiding assembly for guiding the connection of two rotor blade segments of a wind turbine

Country Status (1)

Country Link
WO (1) WO2013068008A1 (en)

Cited By (1)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
EP4303430A1 (en) * 2022-07-04 2024-01-10 Siemens Gamesa Renewable Energy A/S Wind turbine assembly system and method for assembling a wind turbine

Citations (5)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
DE20109835U1 (en) * 2001-06-15 2002-01-24 Gerken GmbH, 40599 Düsseldorf platform
US20070253824A1 (en) * 2006-04-30 2007-11-01 Enno Eyb Modular rotor blade for a wind turbine and method for assembling same
US20090045631A1 (en) * 2005-10-31 2009-02-19 Tidal Generation Limited Deployment apparatus for submerged power plant
US20090169323A1 (en) * 2007-12-28 2009-07-02 General Electric Company Integrated shipping fixture and assembly method for jointed wind turbine blades
US20100310379A1 (en) * 2007-12-21 2010-12-09 General Electric Company Structure and method for self-aligning rotor blade joints

Patent Citations (5)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
DE20109835U1 (en) * 2001-06-15 2002-01-24 Gerken GmbH, 40599 Düsseldorf platform
US20090045631A1 (en) * 2005-10-31 2009-02-19 Tidal Generation Limited Deployment apparatus for submerged power plant
US20070253824A1 (en) * 2006-04-30 2007-11-01 Enno Eyb Modular rotor blade for a wind turbine and method for assembling same
US20100310379A1 (en) * 2007-12-21 2010-12-09 General Electric Company Structure and method for self-aligning rotor blade joints
US20090169323A1 (en) * 2007-12-28 2009-07-02 General Electric Company Integrated shipping fixture and assembly method for jointed wind turbine blades

Cited By (2)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
EP4303430A1 (en) * 2022-07-04 2024-01-10 Siemens Gamesa Renewable Energy A/S Wind turbine assembly system and method for assembling a wind turbine
WO2024008479A1 (en) * 2022-07-04 2024-01-11 Siemens Gamesa Renewable Energy A/S Wind turbine assembly system and method for assembling a wind turbine

Similar Documents

Publication Publication Date Title
CN108349713B (en) Hoisting system for mounting a wind turbine
CN109843777B (en) Method and apparatus for performing maintenance on wind turbine components
EP3091222B1 (en) System and method for replacing a pitch bearing
US9127650B2 (en) Tower assembly system for wind turbines and method thereof
US9068555B2 (en) Element for lifting the blade and method followed
CN102192111B (en) Installation method of blades of offshore wind turbine
EP2161394A1 (en) A lattice tower and an erection method for a wind generator with a lattice tower
EP2584190A2 (en) Hoisting Nacelle and Tower
US8191316B2 (en) Off-shore wind turbine and method of erecting a wind turbine tower
EP3091223B1 (en) Up-tower suspension system for a wind turbine rotor blade
US10508645B2 (en) System and method for suspending a rotor blade of a wind turbine uptower
US20140010661A1 (en) Wind turbine blade bearing removal apparatus and method
US9500178B2 (en) Wind turbine rotor and method of mounting
WO2013068008A1 (en) A female guiding device and a guiding assembly for guiding the connection of two rotor blade segments of a wind turbine
WO2021136569A1 (en) Method for assembling a wind turbine blade
EP3875753A1 (en) A wind turbine blade installation method
CN114080498B (en) Method for handling wind turbine components and related lifting system
CN207777078U (en) Tower
CN207777081U (en) Tower
WO2022119452A1 (en) Systems and methods related to climbing and assembling tower structures
WO2023191626A1 (en) Method and structures for use in mounting a super structure on a foundation pile
BR112019019186B1 (en) LIFTING SYSTEM FOR AT LEAST ONE OF AN INSTALLATION, A DECOMMISSION OR MAINTENANCE OF A WIND TURBINE, AND, METHODS FOR LIFTING OPERATION

Legal Events

Date Code Title Description
121 Ep: the epo has been informed by wipo that ep was designated in this application

Ref document number: 12727273

Country of ref document: EP

Kind code of ref document: A1

122 Ep: pct application non-entry in european phase

Ref document number: 12727273

Country of ref document: EP

Kind code of ref document: A1