U.S. patent application number 09/829362 was filed with the patent office on 2001-11-08 for method and means for mounting a wind turbine on a tower.
Invention is credited to Hansen, Anthony J., Willis, Jeffrey O..
Application Number | 20010038207 09/829362 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 24251219 |
Filed Date | 2001-11-08 |
United States Patent
Application |
20010038207 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Willis, Jeffrey O. ; et
al. |
November 8, 2001 |
Method and means for mounting a wind turbine on a tower
Abstract
An apparatus for mounting a wind turbine on the upper end of a
wind turbine tower is disclosed as well as the method of erecting
the same. The tower is provided with a pair of spaced-apart guide
rails positioned at one side thereof which extend from the lower
end to the upper end of the tower. A carriage is movably mounted on
the guide rails and has a platform pivotally mounted thereon
adapted to support the wind turbine thereon. The carriage positions
the wind turbine so that the spinner/hub and rotor blades may be
secured thereto while the wind turbine is at the lower end of the
tower and provides a means for slidably moving the wind turbine
from the carriage to the upper end of the tower when the carriage
has been winched to the upper end of the tower.
Inventors: |
Willis, Jeffrey O.; (Blair,
NE) ; Hansen, Anthony J.; (Elkhorn, NE) |
Correspondence
Address: |
ZARLEY MCKEE THOMTE VOORHEES & SEASE PLC
SUITE 3200
801 GRAND AVENUE
DES MOINES
IA
50309-2721
US
|
Family ID: |
24251219 |
Appl. No.: |
09/829362 |
Filed: |
April 9, 2001 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
|
|
|
|
|
|
Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
|
|
09829362 |
Apr 9, 2001 |
|
|
|
09563612 |
May 2, 2000 |
|
|
|
6278198 |
|
|
|
|
Current U.S.
Class: |
290/55 |
Current CPC
Class: |
Y02E 10/72 20130101;
F05B 2240/916 20130101; F03D 13/10 20160501; F05B 2230/61 20130101;
F03D 13/20 20160501; Y02E 10/728 20130101; Y02P 70/50 20151101;
F05B 2230/60 20130101; Y10S 416/06 20130101; F03D 13/40
20160501 |
Class at
Publication: |
290/55 |
International
Class: |
F03D 009/00; H02P
009/04 |
Claims
We claim:
1. In combination: a vertically disposed tower having upper and
lower ends; said lower end of said tower being positioned
substantially at ground level; and a ground engaging battered leg
structure, having upper and lower ends, secured at its upper end to
said tower intermediate the upper and lower ends thereof and
extending downwardly and outwardly therefrom so that the lower end
thereof is substantially positioned at ground level and anchored
thereto.
2. The combination of claim 1 wherein said battered leg structure
comprises a pair of leg members secured to said tower above the
lower end thereof which extend downwardly and outwardly
therefrom.
3. The combination of claim 2 wherein a plurality of braces are
secured to and extend between said leg members and said tower.
Description
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION
[0001] This is a divisional application of Petitioners' earlier
application Ser. No. 09/563,612 filed May 2, 2000, entitled "METHOD
AND MEANS FOR MOUNTING A WIND TURBINE ON A TOWER".
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0002] 1. Field of the Invention
[0003] This invention relates to a method and means for mounting a
wind turbine on the upper end of a supporting tower and more
particularly to a method and means wherein the turbine is winched
up the length of the tower on a carriage which rolls along a track
or guide rail positioned at one side of the tower.
[0004] 2. Description of the Related Art
[0005] Wind turbines are becoming more popular in the production of
electrical energy. The wind turbine normally comprises a
rotor-driven generator mounted atop a tower which may reach heights
of 70 meters or more. The tower is normally first erected and the
wind turbine is then normally mounted on the upper end of the tower
by means of an extremely large crane. The customary method of
mounting the wind turbine on the upper end of the tower is quite
expensive in that the extremely large crane used for positioning
the wind turbine on the tower is very expensive and it is costly to
have such a crane on site during the erection procedure. Thus, it
is advantageous to be able to mount the wind turbine on the upper
end of the tower without the use of the extremely large crane.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0006] The wind turbine assembly of this invention comprises a
vertically disposed tower having upper and lower ends with the
tower having a guide rail means positioned at one side of the tower
which extends between the lower and upper ends thereof. A turbine
support or carriage is provided which has a pivotal platform
mounted thereon adapted to have the wind turbine mounted thereon.
The carriage is initially supported on a wheeled frame means such
as a truck, trailer or the like. The truck is positioned so that
the carriage may be transferred from the truck to the lower end of
the guide rail means. The carriage is initially positioned on the
lower end of the guide rail in a vertically disposed position. Once
the carriage has been mounted on the lower end of the guide rail,
the platform of the carriage is pivotally moved to a horizontally
disposed position to enable the turbine to be mounted thereon with
the turbine being generally horizontally disposed. After the
turbine has been secured to the platform, the platform is pivoted
so that the wind turbine is substantially vertically disposed with
the main shaft (rotor shaft) thereof being positioned at the upper
portion of the wind turbine. The spinner/hub and rotor blades are
then secured to the main shaft with the rotor blades being disposed
in a horizontally disposed condition. A winch means then winches
the carriage, with the wind turbine thereon, to the upper end of
the tower. When the carriage reaches the upper end of the tower,
the platform is again pivoted to cause the wind turbine to be again
disposed in a substantially horizontally disposed position. The
wind turbine is then slidably moved horizontally onto the upper end
of the tower at which time the wind turbine is detached from the
platform sled and is securely fashioned to the upper end of the
tower. The carriage is then lowered to the lower end of the tower
and is removed from the guide rails and placed onto the truck so
that the carriage may be used for the erection of other wind
turbine assemblies. An alternative method is also disclosed.
[0007] In the alternative method, the carriage is initially
supported on a wheeled frame means such as a truck, trailer or the
like as in the previously described method. The truck is positioned
so that the carriage may be transferred from the truck to the lower
end of the guide rail means. The carriage is initially positioned
on the lower end of the guide rail in a vertically disposed
position. Once the carriage has been mounted on the lower end of
the guide rail, the platform of the carriage is pivotally moved to
a horizontally disposed position to enable the turbine to be
mounted thereon with the turbine being generally horizontally
disposed and with the turbine being positioned so that the main
shaft of the turbine extends towards one side of the tower. After
the turbine has been secured to the platform, the carriage is
winched upwardly on the tower a distance greater than the
rotor-swept area. The spinner/hub and rotor blades are then secured
to the main shaft with the rotor blades being disposed in a
vertically disposed condition. The winch means then winches the
carriage, with the wind turbine thereon, to the upper end of the
tower. When the carriage reaches the upper end of the tower, the
wind turbine is then slidably moved horizontally onto the upper end
of the tower at which time the wind turbine is detached from the
platform sled and is securely fashioned to the upper end of the
tower. The carriage is then lowered to the lower end of the tower
and is removed from the guide rails and placed onto the truck so
that the carriage may be used for the erection of other wind
turbine assemblies. In the alternative method, the wind turbine
always remains in a horizontally disposed position, thereby
eliminating any problems with liquids draining from the gearbox,
generator, etc.
[0008] It is a principal object of the invention to provide an
improved method of erecting a wind turbine assembly.
[0009] A further object of the invention is to provide a method of
positioning a wind turbine on the upper end of a wind turbine tower
wherein the need of an extremely large crane is eliminated.
[0010] Still another object of the invention is to provide a wind
turbine assembly wherein the turbine tower has a guide rail at one
side thereof to accommodate a carriage to be vertically moved
upwardly thereon with the carriage supporting the wind turbine.
[0011] Still another object of the invention is to provide an
improved method and means for erecting a wind turbine assembly
which is less dangerous than the prior art methods of erecting the
same.
[0012] A further object of the invention is to provide an improved
tower for wind turbines.
[0013] These and other objects will be apparent to those skilled in
the art.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0014] FIG. 1 is a side view of the wind turbine assembly of this
invention;
[0015] FIG. 2 is a side view of the wind turbine assembly of FIG. 1
as seen from the right of FIG. 1;
[0016] FIG. 3A is a side view of the tower and illustrating the
carriage supporting the wind turbine being supported on a trailer
at the lower end of the tower;
[0017] FIG. 3B is a somewhat enlarged partial view of FIG. 3A;
[0018] FIG. 4 is a view similar to FIG. 3B except that the carriage
is being moved from the trailer to the guide rail;
[0019] FIG. 5 is a view similar to FIG. 4 except that the carriage
has been completely removed from the trailer and has been mounted
on the carriage;
[0020] FIG. 6 is a view similar to FIG. 5 except that the platform
of the carriage is being pivoted to a horizontal position;
[0021] FIG. 7 is a view similar to FIG. 6 except that the platform
of the carriage has been pivoted to a horizontal position and the
wind turbine is being lowered towards the platform;
[0022] FIG. 8 is a view similar to FIG. 7 except that it
illustrates the turbine positioned on the platform of the
carriage;
[0023] FIG. 9 is a view similar to FIG. 8 except that it
illustrates the carriage platform and the turbine being moved to a
vertically disposed position;
[0024] FIG. 10 is a view similar to FIG. 9 except that the carriage
platform and wind turbine have been moved to a vertically disposed
position;
[0025] FIG. 11 is a view similar to FIG. 10 but which illustrates
the spinner/hub and rotors being lowered towards the wind
turbine;
[0026] FIG. 12 is a view similar to FIG. 11 except that the
spinner/hub and rotor blades have been mounted on the wind
turbine;
[0027] FIG. 13 is a view scene on lines 13-13 of FIG. 12;
[0028] FIG. 14 is a side view illustrating the carriage and wind
turbine having been moved to the upper end of the tower;
[0029] FIG. 15 is a view similar to FIG. 14 except that the
carriage platform is being pivoted from its vertically disposed
position to its horizontal position;
[0030] FIG. 16 is a view similar to FIG. 15 except that the
carriage platform and turbine have been moved to a horizontally
disposed position;
[0031] FIG. 17 is a view similar to FIG. 16 except that the turbine
is illustrated as having been slidably moved from the carriage
platform to the upper end of the tower;
[0032] FIG. 18 is a view similar to FIG. 17 except that the
carriage platform is illustrated as being pivotally moved towards a
vertically disposed position;
[0033] FIG. 19 is a view similar to FIG. 18 except that the
carriage is illustrated as being lowered towards the ground;
[0034] FIG. 20 is a view similar to FIG. 19 except that the
carriage is being illustrated as being moved onto the trailer;
[0035] FIG. 21 is a partial side view illustrating the connection
of the winch means with the carriage while the carriage is mounted
on a trailer;
[0036] FIG. 22 is a sectional view illustrating the relationship of
the tower, guide rail means and carriage;
[0037] FIG. 23 is a partial side view illustrating the carriage
platform in a vertically disposed position; and
[0038] FIG. 24 is a partial side view illustrating the carriage
platform having been moved to the upper end of the tower with the
broken lines illustrating the movement of a portion of the carriage
platform towards the upper end of the tower.
DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT
[0039] The wind turbine assembly of this invention is referred to
generally by the reference numeral 10 and includes a tower 12 which
may have a height of up to seventy meters or more. A support
structure 14 is in the form of a battered leg structure 14A and 14B
is provided at one side of the tower 12 for stability purposes.
Legs 14A and 14B are connected to the tower 12 by braces 15. The
numeral 16 refers to a conventional wind turbine including a
housing 18 which houses various components of the wind turbine 16
such as a cooling system, generator, gearbox, and a main shaft
extending therefrom onto which a spinner/hub 20 is mounted
including rotor blades 22. The wind turbine 16 includes a
conventional base portion 24 which is secured to the upper end of
the tower 12. To this point, the wind turbine assembly 10 is
generally of conventional prior art construction except for the
battered leg structure which stabilizes the tower 12, distributes
the load on the tower 12, and enables the tower 12 to be
constructed of a lighter weight material.
[0040] The tower 12 is provided with a guide rail means 26 which in
this case comprises a pair of vertically disposed and horizontally
spaced guide rails 28 and 30 positioned at one side of the tower 12
with the guide rails 28 and 30 extending between the lower and
upper ends of the tower 12. Although it is preferred that a pair of
guide rails 28 and 30 be provided, it is possible that any number
of guide rails could be provided, if desired. Further, the guide
rails 28 and 30 could be positioned on the opposite sides of the
tower 12 and could take shapes other than that disclosed. For
example, guide rails could be T-shaped if desired.
[0041] The numeral 32 refers generally to a carriage which is
adapted to move along the guide rails 28 and 30 and which includes
a platform 52 adapted to have the wind turbine 16 secured thereto
and which includes means for pivoting the platform 52 approximately
ninety degrees with respect to the carriage, as will be described
in more detail hereinafter. It is preferred that the carriage 32 be
removably positioned on a wheeled frame such as a truck or trailer
36 having a pair of spaced-apart guide rails 38 provided thereon
which are adapted to mate with or register with the lower ends of
the guide rails 28 and 30 so that the carriage 32 may be moved from
its position on the wheeled frame means 36 onto the guide rails 28
and 30.
[0042] Carriage 32 includes a pair of projecting frame members 40
and 42 having recessed portions 44 and 46 formed therein,
respectively, which are adapted to receive the guide rails 28 and
30 and which are also adapted to receive the guide rails 38 when
the carriage 32 is mounted on the wheeled frame means 36. It is
preferred that the recessed areas 44 and 46 be provided with a
plurality of slides or rollers 48 provided thereon to facilitate
the sliding movement of the carriage 32 with respect to the guide
rails 28 and 30. Generally speaking, carriage 32 includes a frame
means 50 having the platform 52 pivotally secured thereto and which
is movable therewith by means of power cylinder 54 or some other
mechanism. It is preferred that a slide mechanism 56 be slidably
mounted on platform 52 to enable the slide mechanism 56 to be moved
from the position illustrated in FIG. 24 to a position towards
tower 12 to enable the turbine 16 to be moved from the carriage to
the upper end of the tower 12 as will be more fully described
hereinafter. Slide 56 includes means for having the wind turbine 16
selectively secured thereto.
[0043] The numeral 58 refers to a winch which is preferably
positioned at the lower end of the tower 12 and which has a winch
cable 60 extending therefrom. Winch cable 60 preferably extends
around pulley 62 and thence upwardly to the upper end of the tower
12 wherein it extends over pulleys 64 and 66. Winch cable 60 then
extends downwardly, as seen in FIG. 21, for connection to the
carriage 32.
[0044] The tower 12 is first erected in conventional fashion,
except for the structure 14, with the guide rails 28 and 30 being
provided thereon as previously described. When it is desired to
mount the turbine 16 on the upper end of the tower 12, the wheeled
frame means 36 is positioned adjacent the lower end of the tower 12
so that the guide rails 38 mate with the lower ends of the guide
rails 28 and 30. The winch cable 60 is then connected to the
carriage 32 and the winch 58 is actuated so that the cable 60 pulls
the carriage 32 from the wheeled frame means 32 onto the lower ends
of the guide rails 28 and 30, as illustrated in FIGS. 4 and 5. When
the carriage 32 has been positioned on the lower end of the guide
rails 28 and 30, as illustrated in FIG. 5, the platform 52 is
pivotally moved from the vertically disposed position of FIG. 5 to
the position of FIG. 6 and then to the position of FIG. 7. At that
time, the wheeled frame means 36 may be moved away from the lower
end of the tower 12. When the platform 52 is in the position of
FIG. 5, a small crane is then used to lower the wind turbine 16
onto the slide 56 to which it is securely fastened, as illustrated
in FIG. 8. The platform 52 is then pivotally moved from the
position of FIG. 8 to the position of FIG. 9 and then to the
position of FIG. 10 wherein the wind turbine 16 is substantially
vertically disposed. When the wind turbine 16 is in the position of
FIGS. 10 and 11, the spinner/hub 20 with the rotor blades 22
attached thereto is lowered onto the main shaft of the wind turbine
16 by means of a small crane or the like. It should be noted that
the rotor blades 22 may be secured to the spinner/hub 20 after the
spinner/hub 20 has been mounted on the wind turbine 16. FIG. 12
illustrates the spinner/hub 20 and the rotor blades 22 mounted on
the wind turbine 16. FIG. 13 is a top view illustrating the wind
turbine 16 in the position of FIG. 12.
[0045] When the spinner/hub 20 and rotor blades 22 have been
mounted on the wind turbine 16, the carriage 32 with the wind
turbine 16 mounted thereon is winched to the upper end of the tower
12 by means of the winch 58. When the carriage 32 has been winched
to the position of FIG. 14, the platform 52 is pivotally moved from
its vertically disposed position to the position of FIG. 15 and
then to the position of FIG. 16. The slide 56 is then moved towards
the upper end of the tower 24, as indicated by the dashed arrow in
FIG. 24, so that the wind turbine 16 may be removed from the slide
56 and secured to the upper end of the tower 24. When the turbine
16 has been secured to the upper end of the tower 12, as
illustrated in FIG. 18, the platform 52 is pivotally moved from its
horizontally disposed position to the position of FIG. 18 and then
to a vertically disposed position. The carriage 32 is then lowered
on the guide rails 28 and 30 to the lower end of the tower. The
wheeled frame means 36 is then positioned adjacent the lower end of
the tower so that the guide rails 38 thereof register once again
with the guide rails 28 and 30. The carriage 32 is then moved from
the guide rails 28 and 30 onto the guide rails 38 of the wheeled
frame means 36 so that the carriage 32 is positioned on the wheeled
frame means 36. The wheeled frame means 36 and the carriage 32 may
then be moved to another location wherein another wind turbine
assembly 10 is to be erected.
[0046] The turbine 16 may be installed or mounted on the upper end
of the tower in a somewhat different way such as will now be
described. As in the previously described method, when it is
desired to mount the turbine 16 on the upper end of the tower 12,
the wheeled frame means 36 is positioned adjacent the lower end of
the tower 12 so that the guide rails 38 mate with the lower ends of
the guide rails 28 and 30. The winch cable 60 is then connected to
the carriage 32 and the winch 58 is actuated so that the cable 60
pulls the carriage 32 from the wheeled frame means 36 onto the
lower ends of the guide rails 28 and 30. When the carriage 32 has
been positioned on the lower end of the guide rails 28 and 30, the
platform 52 is pivotally moved from the vertically disposed
position of FIG. 5 to the position of FIG. 6 and then to the
position of FIG. 7. At that time, the wheeled frame means 36 may be
moved away from the lower end of the tower 12. When the platform 52
is in the position of FIG. 5, the carriage 32 is then winched
upwardly along the guide rails 28 and 30 until the carriage has
reached a height which is greater than the rotor-swept area. The
wind turbine 16 is then positioned on the platform 52 of the
carriage 32 by means of a small crane with the wind turbine 16
being horizontally disposed and with the main shaft thereof
extending laterally from one side of the tower. The spinner/hub 20
with the rotor blades 22 attached thereto are then secured to the
main shaft of the wind turbine 16 with the rotor blades being
vertically disposed.
[0047] When the spinner/hub 20 and the rotor blades 22 have been
mounted on the wind turbine 16, the carriage 32 with the wind
turbine 16 mounted thereon is winched to the upper end of the tower
12 by means of the winch 58. When the carriage 32 has been winched
to the upper end of the tower, the slide 56 is then moved towards
the upper end of the tower 24 so that the wind turbine 16 may be
removed from the slide 56 and secured to the upper end of the tower
24. When the turbine 16 has been secured to the upper end of the
tower 12, the carriage 32 is then lowered on the guide rails 28 and
30 to the lower end of the tower, as in the previously described
method.
[0048] The advantage of the alternate method is that the wind
turbine is always in a horizontally disposed position. In some
cases, if the wind turbine was vertically disposed and components
of the turbine have been previously filled with lubricating fluids,
cooling fluids, etc., some leakage could possibly occur. By
maintaining the wind turbine in the horizontally disposed
condition, leakage problems are eliminated.
[0049] Although the preferred method of moving the wind turbine to
the upper end of the tower is with a winch, it is possible that
other means could be utilized. For example, some form of ratcheting
mechanism could be utilized. A rack and pinion gear arrangement
which is motor-driven could also be used.
[0050] Thus it can be seen that a novel apparatus has been provided
for mounting a wind turbine on the upper end of a wind turbine
tower involving the use of a carriage which is movably mounted on
guide rails provided on the tower and wherein the need for an
extremely large crane is eliminated. The relationship of the
carriage 32 with respect to the guide rails 28 and 30 ensures that
undesirable horizontal movement between the carriage 32 and the
guide rails 28 and 30 will be prevented while permitting the
desirable vertical movement of the carriage 32 on the guide rails
28 and 30.
[0051] It can therefore be seen that a novel apparatus and method
has been provided which accomplishes at least all of its stated
objectives.
* * * * *