WO2014070084A2

WO2014070084A2 - Platform and methods for assembling and mounting in wind tower

Info

Publication number: WO2014070084A2
Application number: PCT/SE2013/051260
Authority: WO
Inventors: Johan Schagerlind; Rune Svensson
Original assignee: Sapa Ab
Priority date: 2012-11-02
Filing date: 2013-10-29
Publication date: 2014-05-08
Also published as: WO2014070084A3; SE1251245A1

Abstract

The invention related to a platform made of the extruded self-carrying profiles supported by the supporting frame fixed to the inner interior walls. The platform floor is made either from the single individual profiles or is made from the pre-assembled or pre-fabricated segments to be joined together on the site. The platform parts are made of a light and rigid stiff material such as aluminium, aluminium alloys, preferably by extrusion or any suitable composite. The single profiles, the smaller pre-fabricated sections of light material are much easier to transport and assemble. Alternatively the platform is also provided with circumference floor movable segments mounted at its perimeter that might extend outside of the floor and thus allow elimination of gaps between the inner interior walls and the platform circumference. This prevents the falling through down e.g. the service tools and/or personnel.

Description

Platform and Methods for Assembling and Mounting in Wind Tower

The present invention relates to a platform to be used in a wind turbine tower interior and is made of aluminium extruded profiles instead of a steel sheet and associated methods for assembling such a platform and methods for mounting it the wind tower. The platform can be used in any elongate and narrow tubular space that can vary in cross-sectional dimensions like wind power towers or mining shafts. The platform can be pre-assembled as one piece or a number of segments to be assembled during mounting at the site or fully assembled at the site from individual extruded profiles.

Background

Due to the height of a wind tower for mounting the wind turbine of a wind turbine power plant, the tower is usually transported by segments which are assembled together on the place of use. It is known in the art a great variety of the different platforms used within the wind turbine power plant or tower interior for building intermediate levels during the tower mounting and the wind generator assembly and for later used for the service purposes in the tower. It is known that the wind tower segments have varying cross-sections shapes and dimensions and also varying wall thickness of the tower portions, thus individually unique platforms are manufactured for use at each tower section having a different cross sectional shape and/or wall thickness. This mean that for only one tower there are necessary to manufacture a number of different individual platforms which increases the manufacturing costs.

EP2 060 706 discloses a wind tower with a platform which is mounted to the inner interior of the tower segment by a plurality of mounting assemblies having slidable mounting brackets for adjustment during mounting to the tower segments interior and its dimensions' tolerance. This adjustment cannot solve a problem with mounting of the platforms in non-cylindrical or tapered or conical elongated tubular interiors such as sections of towers at the top and /or shafts, where the inner dimensions differ more than the usual tolerance within a couple of centimetres. The other way of adjustment or fitting a standard or uniform platform size into the various diameter of the tower interior is disclosed in CN201702531 U. The arrangement allows compensate only slightly variable diameters by the radially movable adjusting blocks. Thus the problem of fitting the platform into the various diameters of the tapered or conical shape tower is not solved.

Usually, the platforms as in EP 2 0060 706 have a generally circular shape and are manufactured from solid steel plates or plate segments forming a floor. The steel plate shall be thick enough to withstand the applied loads without bending and deformations, and therefore is rather heavy, material consuming and expensive. To prevent the bending under the loads and facilitate the mounting to the tower sections' inner interior, the floor of the steel plate is supported by beams forming a support frame of the platform. This construction is rather heavy, material consuming and difficult to transport to the wind tower site.

In order to make the platform lighter, EP 2 418 383 discloses a platform formed as a grid structure or grating of aluminium and /or steel, which takes up load and transfers it to a fixation at the wall. The construction requires steel beams to support the platform. The cells are so big (2-15 cm) that for safety for individuals stepping on the platform plates of metal are required to cover these openings as small parts or service tools may fall through.

US 7,762,037 discloses platforms supported by support elements but has a disadvantage of big gaps between the platforms edges and inner interior of tower with risks for falling down of individuals and things.

US 8,033,078 discloses platforms made by beams supporting base of the platform. This solution does not provide solution of fitting of the platform in different cross-section interiors and assembling of plurality of base elements be screwing is very time consuming and inefficient on the site.

The problem with fitting the uniform size platforms in tapered or conical shape of the elongated tubular sections of the windmill towers is solved by US201 1/0173915 disclosing a platform having a basic centre module with radial telescoping supporting beams. The platform is assembled from a plurality of radial sections or modules connected to the radial beams and modules are assembled by snap-in or spring locks. The platforms are made from aluminium floor plates that are bent to be self-supporting are known but such plates are only produced in a few locations in the world and this create a logistic problem with their delivery to the site. The known plates have width of about 500 mm and are bolted together, each piece are engineered and manufactured in to the specific size that makes production expensive. This solution does not provide a pre-fabricating possibility due to problem with transporting of ready-assembled platform and is labour time consuming at the site. Besides that, the platform design it is limiting the configuration of the platform and does not provide openings required for different purposes, having the only opening of the limited size and only in the centre of the platform. Such opening does not allow the load to be hoisted through the platform and does not have opening mounting cables. There is a need for non-expensively manufactured platforms of the definite/required strength and able to withstand bending loads; the platform that at the same time has a lower weight than the conventional ones and are easy to transport and easier to maintain. The platform design shall allow assembling at the site either the individual parts which are easy to compactly pack and transport due to the parts shape and size or from pre-fabricated segments for an accelerated assembling at the site. Assembling at the site shall preferably exclude processes such as welding or screwing that are time consuming. A possibility to use the standard pre-fabricated modules or the sections when assembling the platform decreases sufficiently the labour time and manufacturing costs. There is further a need of fitting the uniform or the same sized platform into the inner interiors of the different circumference dimensions of the same tower or the shaft that might have the various shapes (tapered or conical). Alternatively, the uniformed and/or uniformly sized platform can be used for the different towers/shafts having various dimensions and various cross sections. The platform preferably shall fit into the inner tower /shaft interior without gaps between the walls and the floor or do not have big holes into the platform floor or between the inner interior walls and the platform so that tools or the persons might fall down though it. Such uniform or one-size platforms are cheaper than the individually sized to each tower section platforms due to serial manufacturing on the contrary to individual designing/manufacturing.

Summary of the invention

It is a first object of the present invention to provide a platform that is much lighter at the same strength parameters as conventional one, having a floor that is self-carrying or self- supporting and been assembled from a plurality of the extruded profiles by mechanical interconnection without use of any additional manufacturing process such as e.g. screwing and/or welding processes.

The object is achieved by the platform in accordance with the independent claim 1 by the platform for fitting into an interior formed by inner circumference walls defining an elongated space like wind tower. The platform comprises a circumference support frame mounted to the circumference walls by a plurality of mounting units for mounting the platform support frame to the inner circumference walls. A floor is self-carrying and to be supported by the circumference support frame at its perimeter and does not require the carrying beams across the floor for its strengthening. The floor is assembled from a plurality of single or individual extruded and interconnected metal preferably aluminium self-supporting profiles which are interconnected only mechanically via their edges along their length and thus forming the self- carrying or self-supporting floor of the required strength. The weight of the floor is about 50% or in some cases up to 30% comparing to the conventional floor of steel plate with the same strength /withstanding loads properties and dimension, thus the invention reduces the platform weight of about 50%- 70%.

The second object of the invention is to adjust the uniform sized platform to varying in diameter inner circumference walls at different levels of the same construction (like tower) or to the different constructions. This object is achieved partly by an adjustable in radial direction mounting unit for mounting the platform to the inner circumference walls according to the independent claim 18 and partly by providing further additional movable floor segments with possibility to extend outside the platform floor according to Claims 14 and 15 thus covering the possible gaps between the walls and the platform floor.

The third object of the invention is a profile used for assembling the platform floor and preferably extruded from aluminium or alternatively from a suitable compound. The profile for assembling a self-supporting floor of the platform having a top surfaces forming the floor, a rear surface that is opposite to the top surface and provided with stiffening extensions extending perpendicular to the rear surface and longitudinally in the extrusion or the profile length direction and a connecting inserting part on one longitudinal edge of the profile and a connecting receiving part on the other longitudinal edge of the profile; the connecting parts forming a mechanical joint. The profile provides a required strength under the load and is used for mechanically assembling a self-carrying or self-supporting platform floor.

The interconnecting parts of the profile can be manufactures in various forms and shapes such that the interconnecting part on the first edge of one profile fits into the interconnecting part at the second edge of the other piece of the extruded profile, like one is sliding into the other from the cut ends when assembled and are not limited to shown in Figures as a hook/groove connection. The interconnecting parts provide a pure mechanical interconnection or a joint that does not require any further process steps like welding, screwing and the like to ensure the floor assembling.

The forth objective of the invention is a mounting unit adopted to maintain the platform to the inner circumference walls and adapted to adjust the platform position relative the walls. The mounting unit for maintaining the platform is adapted to connect two neighbouring frame elements and comprises a mounting bracket for mounting to the wall and a coupling element is arranged movably relative to the bracket via their interacting surfaces. The interacting surface of the bracket and the interacting surface of the coupling element are provided with teeth and adopted to interact for fixation the bracket relative to the element in the desired position.

The invention further provides methods of assembling the platform either from individual profiles or from the pre-fabricated sections, method of adjusting the platform floor dimension to the inner circumference walls in accordance with the attached claims. Embodiments are given by the dependent claims.

The method of assembling comprises the steps of mechanically interconnecting of the single extruded profiles one to the other along their edges in longitudinal or extrusion direction so as to form the platform floor. The interconnection is achieved by inserting an inserting part of a first neighbouring profile into a receiving part of a second neighbouring profile along their longitudinal direction.

The cut or short ends of the extruded profiles, which are perpendicular to the longitudinal or extrusion direction and which are not resting on the support frame, are provided or covered by edge profiles. The platform floor is equipped also with a plurality of additional floor segments that are mounted movably in radial direction for adjustment of the floor dimension to the inner circumference walls. The floor segments can be foldable or slidably mounted about a circumference of the platform floor enabling adjusting the floor size to the inner interior so as to cover the gaps between the inner circumference walls and the platform floor.

Brief description of the drawings

Figure 1 shows a first embodiment of the platform according to the invention having circular frame 3 and two supporting beams 4 supporting the profiles ends at openings 9, 10 of the platform.

Figure 2 shows the first embodiment of the platform further provided with a floor 2, forming two openings 9, 10.

Figures 3A shows the first embodiment of the circular shape platform further provided with radially movable floor segments 12 according to the invention and Figure 3B shows the second embodiment of polygonal shape platform 1 with the movable floor segments and a safety barrier 15.

Figures 4A, B illustrate the two separate identical extruded profiles 5, 5' (in two and three dimensions accordingly) for forming the platform 1 self- carrying floor 2 according to the invention. The profiles 5, 5' are cut of the desired/required length and situated prior to assembling one along the other.

Figure 4C illustrates the two separate identical extruded profiles 5, 5' (in two and three dimensions accordingly) of the desired/required length at the first step of the assembling when situated one adjacent the other and interconnected.

Figures 4D, E illustrate the two separate identical extruded profiles 5, 5' (in two and three dimensions accordingly) of the desired/required length at the second step of the assembling when rotated one relative the other to the finally assembled working/exploitation position forming a joint 7.

Figures 5A-5E illustrate the connection steps similar to the illustrated above in Fig.4 for two separate identical extruded profiles 5, 5' (in two and three dimensions accordingly) of slightly different shape from the profiles 5, 5' shown in Fig.4.

Figures 6A, 6B show the individual extruded profiles with different shapes of their top surfaces providing an anti-slippery protection 6.

Figure 7 illustrates an opening 9 (for weigh load, personal access or the other mounting needs) formed in any place of the platform 1 by the edge profiles 11.

Figure 8 shows a number of different edge profiles 1 1 that might be used to form any opening in any location of the platform 1.

Figure 9A shows the circular form of the platform floor 2 according to the first embodiment of the invention with one opening 9 for personnel access/loads transportation and one opening for mounting cables 10.

Figure 9B shows a polygonal form of the platform floor 2 according to a second embodiment of the invention with one opening for access 9 and one opening for mounting cables 10.

Figure 10A illustrates a polygonal frame 3 for the floor of Figure 9B for the second embodiment of the invention and Figure 10B illustrates the polygonal frame 3 for the floor of Figure 12C.

Figure 1 1 illustrates the polygonal assembled platform floor 2 of the second embodiment without openings (can be at the first level). Such the platform does not require the supporting beams as being a self-carrying construction. Figures 12A, 12B, illustrate the polygonal platform floor made of three pre-fabricated sections 21 , 22, 23 shown from an up-side and a down-side correspondingly according to the first embodiment and Fig 12C- for the second embodiment of the pre-fabricated floor 2 sections according to the invention.

Figure 13 shows a supporting frame and the floor according to Fig. 12A, 12B, the floor is assembled from 3 pre-fabricated sections polygonal (octagonal) platform floor sections with two openings for access and loads and one smaller for mounting of cables for the second embodiment of the platform according to the invention.

Figure 14A, 14B illustrate the octagonal platform floor according to the second embodiment but further provided with eight movable in radial direction floor segments 12 according to the invention for covering the gaps between the platform edge and the inner interior wall surface. The segments are movable between a first withdrawn position when they are mostly situated over the floor as in Fig. 14A and a second pulled out position as in Fig. 14B, when the segments are moved from the withdrawn position in radial direction maximum extending towards the inner circumference walls.

Figures 15A, 15B illustrate in the enlarged form the floor movable segments 12 in two positions (non-working as indicated by arrow A and extended as indicated by arrow B).

Figures 16A-16C show in two dimensional drawing a first embodiment of a mounting unit 13 comprising a mounting bracket 1 13 to be fixed to the inner interior circumference walls and a coupling element 213 to which two of the frame 3 circumference elements 31 are connected. The coupling element 213 is movable relative to the bracket 113. The fixed mounting bracket 1 13 and the movable coupling element 213 have a toothed gear-rack type connection there between.

Figures 17A-17C illustrate the above brackets 113, 213 first embodiment in three dimensioned drawings. The bracket 113 has a slot 16 that might function as a guiding means for controlling a radial movement of element 213 relative to the bracket 1 13 and for fixing the movable coupling element 213 relative the bracket 113 by the bolt/nut connection.

Figures 18A-18C illustrate the second embodiment of the mounting unit 13 without the toothed interconnection between the bracket 113 and the coupling element 213. In this embodiment the mounting bracket 1 13 has a slot 16 and the coupling element 213 has a guiding means (not shown) e.g. such as a threaded pin 17 and two nuts 18 (alternatively, the bolt 17 and a nut 18) controlling the movement of the coupling element 213 relative the fixed to the circumference wall bracket 1 13 with a possibility to fix it in the desired position relative to the bracket 113. Detailed description of the invention

A platform 1 is suitable for use in any elongated interior like within the wind power tower or the wind turbine tower or alternatively in a mining shaft. The platform 1 is assembled from a single individual extruded profile, which is preferably extruded from aluminium and its alloys and then cut into the pieces 5, 5'. The other composite materials also can be used. The platform 1 can be up to 5000 mm in diameter or in its maximal dimension (if not a circular shape), the embodiment shown in Fig. 13 has dimensions between 4160 mm and 4360 mm. The platform 1 has one of a circular and a polygonal circumference shape. The platform 1 can be manufactured either in the circular shape as shown in Fig. 1-3A or have the polygonal form as in Figs. 3B, 9B and Figs. 10-13.

Here is illustrated an octagonal platform 1 shape, while the hexagonal or a square platform can be manufactured (not shown). The platform 1 floor 2 is assembled from the extruded identical profiles 5, 5' so that the connecting inserting part 55 of the first profile (5) is inserted into the receiving part 56 of the second neighbouring profile 5' forming a joint (7). The joint (7) between the extruded neighbouring profiles 5, 5' along their longitudinal edges is a secure mechanical interconnection without an additional welding and/or bolting and/or screwing and/or riveting process for assembling of the floor 2, which decreases the manufacturing cost. The profile 5, 5' in Fig. 4A-4B comprises a top surface 51 forming the floor 2 of the platform 1 when align one to another and a rear surface 52 situated opposite to the top surface 51. The each single profile 5, 5' has a width of its top surface 51 and an appropriate length defining the length of the profiles 5, 5' in their longitudinal or extrusion direction. Normally, the width of the profile is about 300-400 mm but can be up to about 650 mm. The minimal width of the profile 5, 5' top surface 51 is about 100 mm to be still economically profitable. It is to be understood, that it is not necessarily all the profiles 5, 5' forming the floor have the same width. The widths of the top surfaces 51 of the profiles 5, 5' can vary within the same floor 2 depending on the profile 5, 5' location and the platform design. The profiles 5, 5' at the circumference or the sides of the platform 1 (depending on the chosen shape of the platform, polygonal or circular) can be smaller relative to the neighbouring profile and lack the stiffening extensions 53, 54 on its rear side 52. The thickness of the profile panel forming the top surface 51 is normally made between 1 and 4 mm, and preferably 2,5 mm depending the distance between two neighbouring stiffening elements or extensions such as ribs 53 or legs 54 formed on the rear surface 52 of the profile panel for increasing the profile bending stiffness. The each extruded profile 5, 5' has at least one stiffening extension 53, 54 extending perpendicularly from the rear surface 52 in the longitudinal extrusion direction of the extruded profile 5, 5'. The stiffening extension is at least one of a rib 53 and a leg 54. When the width of the top surface 51 of the profile 5, 5' is less than 100 mm (between 10- 100 mm), the stiffening extension 53, 54 are not required as the profile own stiffness is sufficient.

As shown in Fig. 4B, the leg 54 extending from the rear surface 52 of the profile 5 adjacent to its longitudinal edge has a stop element 8 for interacting with the corresponding stop element 8 on the leg 54 situated adjacent to edge of the profile 5' when the profiles 5, 5' are interconnected forming a purely mechanical joint 7 in one operation.

This stop element 8 of the profile 5 additionally ensues the relative position of the profiles 5, 5' in the assembled status by interacting with the corresponding stop element 8 of the neighbouring profile 5'.

The each of the profiles 5, 5' has on its first longitudinal edge the connecting inserting part 55 and the receiving part 56 situated on the second longitudinal edge (see Figs. 4-5) of the same profile. The inserting part in a cross section perpendicular to the profile 5 longitudinal direction has a hook 55 shape, and the receiving part in the cross section perpendicular to the profile 5' longitudinal direction has a groove 56 shape. (Fig 4-6)

For assembling the floor 2, the hook 55 edge of the first profile piece 5 is to be inserted into the groove 56 edge of the second profile piece 5', and the profiles 5, 5' are rotated so as to bring the profiles 5, 5' top surfaces 51 in the same even position. Alternatively, as in Fig. 5A- 5E, stop elements 8 can absent and the load is taken only by the interaction of the inserting 55 and the receiving 56 parts forming a mechanical joint 7 (see Fig. 4D). The legs 54 extend perpendicularly to the rear surface 52 and can be used for mounting the cables, lightening armature or the other suitable equipment. Due to the profiles 5, 5' special design at the longitudinal edges, the hook 55 as the inserting part easily fits into the receiving groove 56 and then the profiles 5, 5' are rotated into the working position (Figs 4C-4E and 5C-5E) one relative the other so that the top surfaces 51 of the neighbouring profiles 5, 5' are even to each other and form the floor 2, a joint 7 is formed between the individual profiles 5, 5'. This purely mechanical joint 7 does not require any other process steps or operations like welding or screwing together on the building site for ensuring the profiles 5, 5' in the assembled state and thus saves labour time and cost.

Alternative solutions with the other shapes of the inserting and receiving parts are also possible, e g the inserting part of the first profile 5 can be inserted by sliding (not shown) into the receiving part of the second neighbouring profile 5' from its cut end (the end where the profiles are cut in the pieces of the appropriate length) of the second profile 5' so that the secure mechanical connection or a joint 7 is achieved.

The platform 1 is mounted within an inner interior of the e g the wind power tower onto a circumference supporting frame 3. The form or shape of the supporting frame 3 depends on the shape of the used platform 1. The frame 3 supports the cut ends of the profiles 5 and the edges where necessary. The circumference supporting frame 3 preferably comprises a plurality of interconnected sections or the frame elements 31. The frame 3 by the plurality of mounting elements or units 13 is fixed to the inner circumference walls of the wind tower.

For the polygonal shape of the platform 1 as in Fig.10-1 1 , the frame elements 31 are also made of the identical extruded profiles cut into the pieces of the required length as illustrated in Fig.16-18, preferably from aluminium and its alloys, and interconnected by the mounting elements 13 to form the supporting circumference frame 3. Due to the frame elements 31 linear shape, when the octagonal platform 1 is to be fitted into the circular shaped interior of the wind power tower, the gaps occur between these elements 31 and the circumference of the often circular form walls. Those gaps shall be covered for the safety reasons, e g by additional floor segments 12 (Fig 14, 15). In the case of circular form platform 1 as in Fig. 3A, the additional segments 12 are necessary for covering the gap occurring between the circular floor 2 circumference of a smaller diameter and the tower inner wall circumference when the uniformly sized platform 1 to be fit into the tower interior of the varying dimensions in conical part of the tower (e g when in the interior has the larger diameter than the diameter of the platform 1). As illustrated in Fig. 16-18, the mounting element or the mounting unit 13 comprises at least two parts. The mounting unit or element 13 is adapted to connect two neighbouring frame elements 31 and comprises a mounting bracket 113 for mounting to the wall and a coupling element 213 arranged movably relative to the bracket 1 13 via their interacting surfaces 1 13A, 213A. The mounting unit or element 13 has the interacting surfaces 1 13A . 213A of the bracket 113 and of the element 213 each comprise a guiding means 16, 17, 18 where the guiding means is a slot 16 with a bolt 17 inserted therethrough and fixed by the nut 18 so that the mounting element 213 arranged to move relative to the bracket 113 in the platform 1 radial direction. Any other alternative guiding means can be used within the scope of the inventions. The interacting surface 113A of the bracket 113 and the interacting surface 213A of the coupling element 213 of the mounting unit 13 are provided correspondingly with teeth 1 13B, 213B and adopted to interact for fixation the bracket 1 13 relative to the element 213 in the desired position by the toothed gear-rack type connection. The mounting bracket 1 13 is none movably fixed to the inner interior circumference walls of the tower or the shaft (e g by screwing directly to the walls through the shown in Fig. 17, 18 holes). The coupling element 213, to which two frame elements 31 are connected by simple bolt/nut connections, is movably mounted onto the bracket 1 13 so that its downward contact surface 213A can move relative to the upper contact surface 1 13A of the bracket 1 13 in radial direction of the tower and the inner circumference walls (Fig.16A-C). The bracket 113 is also manufactured from the extruded profile, preferably made from aluminium and its alloys, that is cut in the pieces of the appropriate lengths. The width of the bracket 1 13 surface 113A extending in the radial direction (relative to the tower) is varying from 10 cm and up. The slot 16 length defines the possible movement of the platform floor 2 relative to the circumference walls and thus the variation of the platform 1 dimension (e g diameter). The width of the bracket contact surface 1 13A is here of about 25 cm. The contact surface 213A is provided with a slot 16 in the middle together with an inserted bolt 17 as a guiding means for radial movement of the coupling element 213 relative to the bracket 1 13 and the circumference walls. The bolt 17 is inserted through the slot 16 in the bracket 1 13 and through the coupling element 213 and fixed by the nut 18 (or a threaded pin 17 with two nuts 18) allowing the radial movement of element 213 relative the bracket 1 13 when adjusting the position of the platform 1 floor 2 relative to the inner circumference walls of the tower.

The corresponding contact surfaces 1 13A, 213A of the coupling element 213 and the bracket 1 13 can be provided with teeth 1 13B, 213B (Fig. 16-17) which interact for ensuring the platform position when it is finally adjusted to the required position. Alternatively, the contact surfaces 1 13A, 213A can be smooth to provide the continuous adjustment.

When any openings or pass-through holes 9, 10 in the floor 2 such as for access of personnel or for loading goods or for mounting cables are to be made, the self- supporting profiles 5, 5' forming the self-supporting floor 2 might need the additional support for the profiles 5, 5' short cut ends (forming the openings) such as additional supporting beams 4 (Fig. , 2, 3A, 10A, 10B, 13) and/or edge profiles 1 1. The supporting frame 3 of the frame sections 31 forming the circumference supporting frame 3 mounted to the circumference walls might further comprise at least one supporting beam 4, if the floor 2 requires at least one opening or pass-through hole 9, 10. The amount of the additional beams 4 defines by the configuration and amount of the openings 9, 10 to be made in the floor 2 (Fig.10, 12C, 13). The beams 4 are also preferably made from the extruded profiles, preferably from aluminium and its alloys while the standard steel beams can be also used when appropriate. The additional beams 4 allow use the shorter pieces of the profiles 5, 5' for the floor 2 (not by the length of the entire platform diameter) and to change the direction of the individual profiles 5, 5' , required by the floor 2 design and the desired openings 9, 10 locations as illustrated in Fig. 3B and Fig 10B.

Additionally the safety barrier 15 (stairs are not shown) can be provided to the opening or pass-through hole 10 for personnel access. Those are also preferably made of aluminium and its alloys. The barrier 15 of aluminium has weight of about 13 kg. For the embodiment shown in Fig. 3B, the dimension is about 3,9 m, the total weight is 221 kg, the segment 12 has weight of 8 kg, the bracket /mounting element 13 is 8 kg, the octagonal frame 3 weights 88 kg, the three floor segments 21 , 22, 23 are totally weight 89 kg.

The conventional Nordex platform of steel plate of 2 mm in thickness of the same dimension (diameter), the weight of the floor is of about 180 kg, and the carrying framing is also about 180 kg.

Generally, in this invention, all parts with an exception for only bolts and nuts are made of the same material such as aluminium and its alloys. This makes the entire construction much lighter (of about 30% weight comparing to the conventional platform from the steel of the same dimension and stiffness). The platform 1 of the extruded profiles 5, 5', the floor 2, the segments 12, the supporting frame 3, the supporting beams 4, the mounting units 13 and possible barriers 15 are preferably made of one aluminium and aluminium alloys. Made of the aluminium alloy, the floor 2 weights about 90 kg for the platform over 4 m in diameter, the frame and beams weight of about 90 kg, each floor segment 12 weights about 23 kg and the barrier 15 weights about 13 kg.

It is much easier and environmentally friendly solution as allows to re-melt all parts of the platform at once, if/when needed. The parts of the construction are "smarter" as have a required strength and allow easier and faster assembling of the entire platform construction, no welding or screwing or rivets are required. Beside those advantages, the parts manufactured from the same metal are better from the galvanic corrosion point of view, and thus increasing the life length of the platform 1 as the entire construction. Where is necessary, the steel bolts/nuts can be covered with a composite sleeve or any other suitable insulations or alternatively, the potential galvanic corrosion problem due contact of aluminium and steel parts can be minimised by the other known methods.

A method of manufacturing the platform 1 comprises the following steps. The single extruded profiles 5, 5' are mechanically interconnected one to the other along their longitudinal edges or in extrusion direction so as to form the platform floor 2. The inserting part 55 of the profile 5 is inserted into the receiving part 56 of the neighbouring profile 5' and rotated relative each other so as the top surfaces 51 of the profile 5 is situated on the same level uniformly with the top surface 51 of the profile 5' and both neighbouring profiles 5, 5' will have the common even top surface forming the floor 2. The next profile 5, 5' is interconnected in the same manner until the floor 2 is not completely assembled. The ends of the profiles 5, 5' where those are cut into the appropriate length, which are not resting on the support frame 3, are provided by the edge profiles 1 1 to cover the cut ends of the profiles 5' 5' and provide an additional support for those, e g when/if any opening 9 for loading goods or personnel assess or the opening 10 for mounting the cables or other needs are made. The edge profiles 1 1 (Fig.7) can extend some centimetres over the floor 2 top surface 51 preventing the works from the stepping into the hole 9, 10 and can be formed in various forms as illustrated in Fig.8. As the edge profiles 1 1 can be used a standard profiles or especially designed, if any other functions to be associated with them. The barriers 15 as in Fig.3B can be also arranged for safety reasons. The cut ends of each of the single profile 5, 5' are supported by one of the support frame 3, frame element 31 and an edge profile 1 1.

In order to fit the uniformly sized platforms 1 into the different sections of the e g tower having different dimensions of the inner circumference walls and adapt its size to the walls inner diameter avoiding gaps between the platform 1 periphery and the walls, which gaps might be bigger if the polygonal platform is used, the platform 1 is further equipped with a plurality of the of circumference floor segments or modules 12. The segments 12 are radially and slidably movable between a fully withdrawn and a fully pull-out positions relative to the platform 2 centre as illustrated in Fig. 3, 14, 15. The segments 12 are mounted movably in radial direction for adjustment of the floor 2 dimension to the inner circumference walls e g of the tower and covering possible gaps between the walls and the floor 2 circumference. The segments 12 are moving out (arrow B ) and/or moving in (arrow A) by sliding along the floor 2 as in Fig.15. The difference of the diameters between the fully pulled out and fully withdrawn segments 12 positions as illustrated in Fig. 14-15 is about 200 mm, which means that the gap or opening of about 100 mm between the floor 2 circumference and the walls at each side.

The gap occurs not only by fitting the octagonal platform into the circular shaped inner interior but also by the adjustment of the mounting elements 13 or the radial movement of the coupling element 213 relative to the bracket 1 13 (or the circumference walls) allowing the movement of the floor 2 circumference of about 100-150 mm at each mounting element 13 from the wall in order to fit the uniformed sized circular shaped platform into the inner interior of the larger diameter.

It is possible to vary the radial dimension of the segments 12 also so as to cover the larger then a couple of centimetres gaps. The segments 12 are moved or adjusted in the exploitation or fully pulled out position (covering the gaps, in arrow B direction) against the circumference walls and been fixed in this position. Possibly, the floor segments 12 can be formed so as to cover even the mounting elements 13 (not shown) also to provide more even floor 2 surface.

Alternatively, the floor segments 12 can be arranged foldable at the floor circumference and move between too positions such as a folded to cover the gap and unfolded.

A plurality of the circumference movable floor segments 12 is arranged on the platform perimeter with a possibility to be folded in direction of the arrow B of the platform centre and unfolded outwards in direction of arrow A.

An alternative method of assembling the platform 1 is manufacturing it from the pre- fabricated or pre-assembled modules 21 , 22, 23. The method of assembling has the following steps. First the pre-fabricated floor modules 21 , 22, 23 are assembled from the single extruded profiles 5, 5' (Fig. 12A-12C). The pre-fabricating or pre-assembling of the floor modules 21 ,22, 23 makes easier the platform 1 mounting at the site and saves maintaining time comparing to the assembling the platform 1 from the single individual profiles5, 5'. On the other hand, the single extruded profiles 5, 5' cut in the suitable length are much easier to transport than the modules 21 , 22, 23 or the entire platform floor 2. The platform 1 floor 2 as shown in Fig. 12A-12C is assembled from the plurality of pre-fabricated modules 21 , 22, 23 of the appropriate shape. The modules 21 , 22, 23 are pre-assembled from the single extruded profiles 5, 5' and provided with assembling stripes 14 on its rear surface for ensuring its shape during transportation and maintaining. The floor modules 21 , 22, 23 are interconnected mechanically when assembled to form the floor 2 similarly to assembling from the individual profiles 5, 5'. The pre-assembled floor modules 21 , 22, 23 are provided on its rear surface with at least one transversally situated relative to the profiles 5, 5' an assembling and transporting strip 14 (Fig.12B).The strip 14 is attached by screwing or spot welded to each individual extruded profile ensuring the module 21 , 22, 23 shape during the transportation and assembling. Thus, the platform floor 2 is assembled from a plurality of pre-fabricated modules 21 , 22, 23 of the appropriate shape; the modules (21 , 22, 23 are pre-assembled from the single extruded aluminium profiles 5, 5' of the appropriate dimensions) and provided with pre- assembling stripes 14 for transportation of the floor modules; the modules 21 , 22, 23) are interconnected only mechanically when assembled one to another to form the floor 2 as in Fig12.

Then the pre-fabricated modules 21 , 22, 23 of the appropriate shape are assembled at the site to each other by inserting of the inserting part 55 of the one module 21 into the receiving part 56 of the other module 22. The modules 21 , 22, 23 can have different configurations (Fig12) depending on the platform 1 design and amount /size of the required openings or pass-through holes 9, 10 and are interconnected by mechanical fitting one into the other when assembled one to another to form the floor 2 without use of extra processes like welding, riveting, screwing etc.

An extruded self-supporting or self-carrying profile 5, 5' is used for assembling a self- supporting floor 2 of the platform 1 , the platform 1 is adopted to be used in any elongated inner interior such as e g the wind power tower or the shaft. The profile 5, 5' has a top surfaces 51 for forming the floor 2, a rear surface 52 situated opposite to the top surface 51 and provided with stiffening extensions 53, 54.

The extensions are extending perpendicular to the surface 52 and longitudinally in the extrusion direction. The profile has along its edges in longitudinal or extrusion direction a connecting inserting part 55 on one longitudinal edge of the profile 5, 5' and a connecting receiving part (56) on the other longitudinal edge of the profile 5, 5'. These connecting parts 55, 56 form the purely mechanical joint 7 by one step connecting operation when one inserted into the other which does not require any further connection by other means like rivets, screws or welding.

The profiles 5, 5' (as in Fig. 4-5) which are used for the platform 1 according to the invention have a width of the top surface 51 of about 315 mm, the high (including the extensions 53 and legs 54) of about 28 mm. The weight of such profile 5, 5' per floor surface is 10 kg/m² and stiffness is about 300000 mm⁴ for 1 m width of the floor 2. To achieve the same stiffness as above, it is necessary to use 10 mm thick steel plate with a weight of about 78 kg/m². If an aluminium plate or sheet to be used instead of extruded profiles, it is required the plate of 15 mm thick and it will weight of about 40 kg/m².

Alternatively, if the profiles 5, 5' (as in Fig. 4-5) have a width of the top surface 51 of about 284 mm, the high (including the extensions 53 and legs 54) of about 35 mm. The weight of such profile 5, 5' per floor surface is 12 kg/m² and stiffness is about 845000 mm⁴ for 1 m width of the floor 2.

To achieve the same stiffness as above, it is necessary to use 15 mm thick steel plate with a weight of about 1 15 kg/m². If an aluminium plate or sheet to be used instead of extruded profiles, it is required the plate of 21 mm thick plate and it will weight of about 57 kg/m².

It is clearly seen the advantage of minimising the weight of the platform 1 by use the extruded profile or panel 5, 5' for assembling the platform 1 floor 2. The light weight parts (modules 21 , 22, 23) or profiles 5, 5' are not requiring any special lifting equipment and can be operated by a man. The stiffening elements 53, 54 are substituting the support arrangements (as beams or the like), particularly in the longitudinal or extrusion direction.

If any support required by the construction of the platform, the support can be placed on the larges distances one from the other due to the self-supporting profiles. The profiles can be done up to 600 mm width and it is limited only by the extrusion equipment.

It is advantageous to use the extruded aluminium profile 5, 5' for assembling the floor 2 for the platform 1 to be fixed within an elongated inner interior defined by the circumference walls like within the wind power tower or the shaft.

During extrusion process each single individual extruded profile 5, 5' is provided with an anti slippery protection 6 on its top surface 51. The anti slippery protection 6 covers at least partly the width of the profile 5,5'. (Fig.6A, 6B) The anti slippery protection 6 made in form of a fluted or grooved top surface 51 of the each extruded profile 5, 5'. The each anti slippery protection 6 further may have punched or stamped ventilation holes 62. The flutes or grooves can be situated longitudinally and /or perpendicular to this direction. A method of adjusting the platform 1 size or fitting the platform 1 according to the invention to the inner circumference walls of an inner interior such as the wind tower or the shaft comprises the following steps. First the plurality of mounting brackets 113 are to be fixed to the circumference walls on the same level, then connecting the two frame elements 31 to the each coupling element 213 by bolt/nut connection and fixing it. Then the coupling elements 213 are to be maintained onto the corresponding mounting brackets 113 via their corresponding contact surfaces 213A and 113A and adjusted into the desired position via guiding means and/or interacting teeth 213B, 1 13B. The guiding means are formed e.g. by inserting the bolt 17 through the slot 16 and fixing it by the nut 18. The entire platform 1 position can be adjusted relative to the circumference interior walls in the radial direction. Then the floor segments (12) are to be moved radially so as to cover the possible gaps between the platform floor 2 perimeter and the inner circumference interior walls.

The extruded self-carrying or self-supporting aluminium profile 5, 5' is used for assembling a self-carrying floor 2 for the platform 1 which only needs to be supported by the circumference frame 3 and does not require the underlying breams for strengthening the floor 2 panel as such. The frame 3 is fixed by it perimeter or point wise by mounting elements 13 to the circumference walls which is defining an inner interior to be divided in a number of levels by the platform according to the invention.

The platform as described above can have other industrial or consumer applications and it not limited to only use within the wind power towers but applicable in any tubular or elongated shaped spaces of varied circumference dimensions such as mining shafts and the like.

Rather, the present invention can be implemented and utilised in connection to many other products and systems. The invention is not to be limited to the only extruded aluminium profiles but other extruded materials or composites providing the desired strength of the construction.

While the invention has been described in terms of various specific embodiments, it is to be understood that the invention can be practiced with modification within the spirit and scope of the claims.

Claims

Claims:

1. A platform (1) for fitting into an interior formed by inner circumference walls, the

platform (1) comprising :

a circumference support frame (3),

- a floor (2) supported by the support frame (3) at its perimeter, the floor (2) is assembled from a plurality of extruded self-supporting profiles (5, 5'); each extruded profile (5, 5') of the floor (2) has a width and an appropriate length defining the profile longitudinal direction; the profile (5,5') comprising a top surface (51) forming the floor (2), a rear surface (52) opposite to the top surface (51) and a connecting inserting part (55) on its first longitudinal edge and a receiving part (56) on the second longitudinal edge; the connecting inserting part (55) of the first profile (5) is inserted into the receiving part (56) of the second neighbouring profile (5') forming a joint (7) characterized in that a plurality of mounting units (13) are arranged for mounting the circumference support frame (3) to the inner circumference walls and in that the self-supporting profiles (5, 5') interconnected mechanically via their edges along their length to form the self- supporting floor (2) of the required strength.

2. The platform (1) according to Claim 1 , characterised in that the joint (7) between the extruded neighbouring profiles (5', 5") along their longitudinal edges is a secure mechanical interconnection without an additional welding and/or bolting and/or screwing process for assembling of the floor (2).

3. The platform (1) according to Claims 1-2, characterised in that the extruded profile (5, 5') has at least one stiffening extension (53, 54) extending perpendicularly from the rear surface (52) in the longitudinal direction of the extruded profile (5, 5'), wherein the stiffening extension is at least one of a rib (53) and a leg (54).

4. The platform (1) according to any of Claims 1-3, characterised in that the leg (54) extending from the rear surface (52) of the profile (5) adjacent to its longitudinal edge has a stop element (8) for interacting with the corresponding stop element (8) on the leg (54) situated adjacent to edge of the profile (5') when the profiles (5, 5') are interconnected forming the mechanical joint (7).

5. The platform (1) according to any of preceding Claims, characterised in that each extruded profile (5, 5') comprises an anti slippery protection (6) on the top surface (51) forming the floor (2); the anti slippery protection (6) covers at least partly the width of the profile (5,5') top surface (51).

6. The platform (1) according to Claim 5, characterised in that each anti slippery protection (6) further comprises punched or stamped ventilation holes (62).

7. The platform (1) according to any of Claims 1-6, characterised in that the inserting part in a cross section perpendicular to the profile (5) longitudinal direction has a hook (55) shape, and the receiving part in the cross section perpendicular to the profile (5) longitudinal direction has a groove (56) shape.

8. The platform (1) according to Claim 1 , characterised in that the platform floor (2) is assembled from a plurality of pre-fabricated modules (21 , 22, 23) of the appropriate shape; the modules (21 , 22, 23) are pre-assembled from the single extruded profiles (5, 5') and provided with assembling stripes (14); the modules (21 , 22, 23) are interconnected mechanically when assembled to form the floor (2).

9. The platform (1) according to Claims 1-8, characterised in that the circumference supporting frame (3) comprises the frame sections (31) forming the support for the floor (2) and is adapted to be fixed to the inner circumference walls.

10. The platform (1) according to Claims 1-9, characterised in that the supporting frame (3) further comprises at least one supporting beam (4).

1 1. The platform (1) according to Claims 1-10, characterised in that the floor (2) further comprising a plurality of the circumference floor segments (12) radially movable between a fully withdrawn and a fully pull-out positions relative to the floor (2) centre.

12. The platform (1) according to Claims 1-10, characterised in that the floor (2) further comprising a plurality of the circumference floor segments (12) arranged with possibility to be folded in direction of the platform centre and unfolded outwards.

13. The platform (1) according to any of the preceding Claims, characterised in that the platform (1) has one of a circular and a polygonal shape.

14. The platform (1) according to any of the preceding Claims, characterised in that the ends of each of the single profile (5, 5') are supported by one of the support frame (3), frame element (31) and an edge profile (11).

15. The platform (1) according to any of preceding Claims, characterised in that the floor (2) of the extruded profiles (5, 5'), the floor segments (12), the supporting frame (3), the supporting beams (4), the mounting units (13) and possible barriers (15) are made of one aluminium and aluminium alloys.

16. A mounting unit (13) for platform (1) according to Claims 1-15, characterised in that the unit (13) is adapted to connect two neighbouring frame elements (31) and comprises a mounting bracket (1 13) for mounting to the wall and a coupling element (213) arranged movably relative to the bracket (113) via their interacting surfaces (1 13A , 213A).

17. The mounting unit (13) according to Claim 16, characterised in that the interacting surfaces (113A, 213A) of the bracket (1 13) and of the element (213) provided with guiding means (16, 17, 18) so that the mounting element (213) is arranged to move relative to the bracket (1 13) in the platform (1) radial direction.

18. The mounting unit (13) according to Claim 17, characterised in that the guiding means is a slot (16) with a threaded pin (17) inserted therethrough and fixed by a nut 18.

19. The mounting unit (13) according to Claims 16-18, characterised in that the interacting surface (1 13A) of the bracket (1 13) and the interacting surface (213A) of the coupling element (213) of the mounting unit (13) are provided with teeth (1 13B, 213B) and adopted to interact for fixation the bracket (113) relative to the element (213) in the desired position.

20. A method of assembling the platform (1) according to Claims 1-15, comprising steps of : mechanically interconnecting of the single extruded profiles (5, 5') one to the other along their longitudinal direction so as to form a floor (2) by inserting an inserting part (55) of a profile (5) into a receiving part (56) of a neighbouring profile (5');

rotating the first profile (5) relative the second profile (5') about their parts (55, 56) so that the parts (55, 56) are interacting and the top surfaces (51) are along evenly forming the floor (2), characterized by

providing the floor (2) with plurality of additional floor segments (12) mounted movably in radial direction for adjustment of the floor (2) dimension to the inner circumference walls.

21. The method of assembling the platform (1) according to Claim 20, characterized by step of :

providing the cut ends of the extruded profiles (5, 5') which are not resting on the support frame (3) by edge profiles (11).

22. A method of assembling the platform (1) according to Claims 1-15 from a pre-fabricated modules (21 , 22, 23) of the floor (2), characterized by steps of: assembling each pre-fabricated module (21 , 22, 23) from the single profiles (5, 5') by inserting a connecting hook (8) of the first profile (5) into the receiving groove (9) of the second profile (5') and rotating the profiles (5, 5') relative each other so that the interconnection is achieved and the profiles (5, 5') top surfaces (51) are on the same level;

screwing each module (21 , 22, 23) from the rear surface side (52) by a transporting strips (14) perpendicularly to the profiles (5, 5') longitudinal direction (fig.4);

assembling the modules (21 ,22, 23) one to the other to form the platform (1) floor (2).

23. A method of adjusting the platform (1) according to any of Claims 1-15 to the inner circumference walls of an inner interior comprising steps of:

fixing the plurality of mounting brackets (113) to the circumference walls;

connecting two frame elements (31) to the coupling element (213);

maintaining the coupling elements (213) to the mounting brackets (1 13) via guiding means with a possibility to adjust the platform position relative to the circumference walls;

moving the floor segments (12) radially so as to cover the possible gap between the platform floor (2) and the circumference walls.