U.S. patent application number 10/515932 was filed with the patent office on 2006-01-05 for flange connection.
Invention is credited to Aloys Wobben.
Application Number | 20060000185 10/515932 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 7714583 |
Filed Date | 2006-01-05 |
United States Patent
Application |
20060000185 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Wobben; Aloys |
January 5, 2006 |
Flange connection
Abstract
A method of connecting two flanges, in particular such flanges
which are mounted to segments (rings) of a pylon of, for example, a
wind power installation and connect said segments to each other,
wherein the flanges are connected together in force-locking
relationship. In one aspect, the method of connecting two flanges,
wherein to connect the two flanges provided in the connecting
region is a layer which in a first period of time prior to the
connection and in a third period of time after the connection is
less deformable than in a second period of time, wherein the second
period of time is between the first and third periods of time.
Inventors: |
Wobben; Aloys; (Aurich,
DE) |
Correspondence
Address: |
SEED INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY LAW GROUP PLLC
701 FIFTH AVE
SUITE 6300
SEATTLE
WA
98104-7092
US
|
Family ID: |
7714583 |
Appl. No.: |
10/515932 |
Filed: |
May 16, 2003 |
PCT Filed: |
May 16, 2003 |
PCT NO: |
PCT/EP03/05146 |
371 Date: |
June 27, 2005 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
52/745.15 |
Current CPC
Class: |
E04H 12/085
20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
052/745.15 |
International
Class: |
E04B 1/00 20060101
E04B001/00 |
Foreign Application Data
Date |
Code |
Application Number |
May 25, 2002 |
DE |
102 23 429.9 |
Claims
1. A method of connecting pylon segments of a wind power
installation at an erection site of the wind power installation,
wherein two pylon segments are provided at their facing sides with
a flange, wherein provided between the two flanges is a layer which
in a first period of time prior to the connection and in a third
period of time after the connection is less deformable than in a
second period of time, wherein the second period of time is between
the first and third periods of time and wherein during the second
period of time the viscosity of the layer is reduced and the
flanges are already connected together in force-locking
relationship during the first period of time by a screw connection
and the layer is either applied there prior to the transport of a
segment or at the erection site it is removed from a transport
packaging and laid on to an abutment face of a flange.
2. A method as set forth in claim 1 wherein the layer thickness is
approximately in a range of between 0.1 mm and 20 mm.
3. A method as set forth in claim 1 wherein the layer is applied
prior to the connection at one side to a co-operating connecting
portion of the flange connection.
4. A method as set forth in claim 1 wherein electric lines are laid
within the layer and the viscosity of the layer is decreased after
the operation of connecting the flanges by means of a flow of
current in the electric lines.
5. A method according to claim 1 wherein a transmission of force
between the two flanges is substantially not influenced by the
layer.
6. A method as set forth in claim 1 wherein the layer comprises a
thermoplastic material.
7. A method of connecting two pylon segments comprising: applying a
layer to a flange of a first pylon segment; increasing a
deformability of the layer; and coupling the flange of the first
pylon segment to a flange of a second pylon segment.
8. The method of claim 7 wherein increasing a deformability of the
layer comprises applying an electrical current to a conductor in
the layer.
9. The method of claim 7 wherein the layer comprises a
thermoplastic material.
10. The method of claim 7 wherein a thickness of the layer is
approximately 0.1 mm to 20 mm.
11. The method of claim 7, further comprising: decreasing the
deformability of the layer after coupling the flange of the first
pylon segment to the flange of the second pylon segment.
12. A pylon segment, comprising: a flange to couple the pylon
segment to another pylon segment; a layer adhered to the flange;
and means for adjusting a deformability of the layer.
Description
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0001] 1. Field of the Invention
[0002] The present invention concerns a method of connecting two
flanges mounted to segments (rings) of a pylon of a wind power
installation together in force-locking relationship.
[0003] 2. Description of the Related Art
[0004] Flange connections have long been known in the state of the
art and are universally employed. In that respect screws are
frequently used as connecting means between the flanges, the screws
providing a force-locking connection between the co-operating
connecting portions.
[0005] In that respect the quality of such a flange connection,
besides being dependent on a careful choice of material and
faultless implementation of the assembly procedure, is also
dependent on the surface of the abutment faces. They have to be
machined in a particularly complicated and expensive fashion and
precisely in order to achieve a sufficiently large and flat contact
face.
[0006] In that respect in particular the expenditure involved for
machining the surface is high and increases over-proportionally
with an increasing size of the components to be machined.
[0007] When erecting buildings mortar is introduced between the
abutment faces of the individual bricks. That mortar serves to
connect the bricks together but also compensates for unevenness of
the surface. It will be noted however that it has to be either
produced on site or transported to the site. There it is then
worked manually. In that respect working with the mortar requires a
certain degree of practice in order to apply a suitable amount of
mortar.
[0008] It is known from DE 100 33 845 to use a polymer instead of
the mortar. That polymer is applied in a pasty phase and then,
optionally after the addition of a hardener, can harden. The
operation of applying the polymer is also affected manually and is
thus labor-intensive. In addition the polymer also has to be
prepared by the addition of hardener in a suitable amount. Here too
the preparation process requires some experience.
BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0009] In one aspect an embodiment provides a flange connection and
a method of making a flange connection which can be produced at a
lower level of expense with the quality of the connection remaining
at least the same.
[0010] In another aspect, a method of connecting pylon segments of
a wind power installation at the erection site of the wind power
installation comprises: providing a flange on facing sides of two
pylon segments; inserting a layer between the two flanges prior to
connection of the segments; coupling the flanges together;
decreasing a viscosity of the layer; and adjusting the coupling of
the flanges; and increasing the viscosity of the layer.
[0011] An embodiment provides that, before the flanges are placed
one upon the other, a connecting layer is provided on one of the
connecting flanges. That connecting layer is of a markedly lower
viscosity after the flanges are connected for a time in a second
period of time than in the first period of time prior to connection
of the flanges and in a third period of time after connection of
the flanges.
[0012] A considerable time saving can be achieved if the layer no
longer has to be applied to one of the co-operating flange portions
on the building site itself, but that layer is already previously
applied there. In addition that layer can comprise for example
thermoplastic material (plastic material). That makes it possible
to already ensure a uniform quality for the layer upon the
manufacture thereof under controlled conditions and in that way the
danger for example of inclusions of foreign material into the layer
when working with it in the open air can be reliably eliminated. In
addition either that layer can be laid on the abutment face prior
to transport of the individual sections of a pylon or it can be
removed on the building site from a transport packaging and laid on
the abutment face in such a way as to save time.
[0013] In order not to detrimentally influence the strength of the
flange connection and to permit the use of identical connecting
means such as for example screws of a predetermined length, the
layer may be of a predetermined layer thickness of between about
0.1 mm and 20 mm, preferably between about 0.1 mm and 10 mm. Such a
layer thickness is sufficient as that layer is intended to
compensate for surface roughness and unevenness of the abutment
faces but it is generally not intended to influence the
transmission of force.
[0014] In one embodiment there are provided means for influencing
the viscosity of the layer. In that way the layer can be
transported to the site in a solid condition and incorporated
there. In the incorporation situation the viscosity of the layer
can be so changed that it is adapted to the surfaces of the
abutment faces. That can be accomplished, for example, by heating
wires being integrated into a thermoplastic material. As soon as
the preformed layer or layers is or are incorporated, the heating
wires are supplied with a current. Due to the increase in
temperature the viscosity of the material falls and it is adapted
to the surfaces against which it bears. As soon as the current is
switched off the heating wires cool down and thus also cool the
thermoplastic material and the material solidifies again.
[0015] The possibility of reducing the viscosity of the material by
heating it naturally also affords advantages in terms of
dismantling if for example individual sections of a pylon are to be
separated from each other again. After release of the screw
connections which provide the force-locking connection, the
material is heated again, its viscosity falls and the pylon
sections can be separated without any problem.
[0016] In one embodiment, the layer or layer segments at least on
one side are coated with an adhesive. In that way the layer
segments can be fixed in a predetermined position. Therefore the
layer or the layer segments can already be laid on the abutment
face during the production for example of a pylon section and then
adhere to that abutment face so that unintentional displacement
during transporting and during assembly is prevented.
[0017] Even if the layer segments are only worked on the building
site, the adhesive can naturally prevent unintentional
displacement. In that case the sides of the layer or layer
segments, which are coated with adhesive, can be covered with a
sheet or film in order to avoid unwanted soiling of the adhesive
and thus impairment of its adhesion capability.
[0018] Further advantageous embodiments of the invention are set
forth in the detailed description and the appendant claims.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWING(S)
[0019] Embodiments of the invention are described in greater detail
hereinafter with reference to the Figures in which:
[0020] FIG. 1 shows a flange connection according to an
embodiment,
[0021] FIG. 2 shows a flange connection according to an embodiment
of the invention with an intermediate space between the
co-operating connecting portions,
[0022] FIG. 3 shows a flange connection according to an embodiment
of the invention with a post-worked intermediate space, and
[0023] FIG. 4 shows a plan view of a transition between two
segments.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
[0024] FIG. 1 shows two co-operating connecting portions 2, 4 of a
flange connection 100 of two segments 102, 104 of a pylon structure
106. Those co-operating connecting portions 2, 4 are oriented
towards each other with the abutment faces 3, 5 and are connected
together by a screw connection 6 to form a force-locking
connection. In order to compensate for surface roughnesses and
unevenness of the abutment faces 3, 5 there is provided a layer 10
(shown enlarged in the Figure). That layer 10 is arranged between
the co-operating connecting portions 2, 4 and is at least
temporarily deformable. In that way the surface structure of the
co-operating connecting portions 2, 4 at the abutment faces 3, 5 is
exactly reproduced in the layer 10 so that it is certain to involve
full-area contact.
[0025] As the layer 10 comprises a pressure-resistant material the
transmission of force in that flange connection can now take place
over the entire abutment faces 3, 5. In that case, the screw
connection 6 is provided to make the force-locking connection
between the two co-operating connecting portions 2, 4. The layer 10
does not generally serve to make that force-locking connection but
serves to compensate for surface irregularities.
[0026] The layer 10 can be a pre-shaped, segmented or one-piece
layer, for example comprising a thermoplastic material with
incorporated heating wires 108. After joining of the adjacent
segments the thermoplastic material can be heated and thus made
deformable. As a result it adapts itself to the surfaces of the
flanges and retains that form after cooling, in which case it
returns to its predetermined stiffness.
[0027] FIG. 2 shows a flange connection according to an embodiment
of the invention in which the layer 10 does not completely fill up
the intermediate space between the co-operating connecting portions
2, 4. In a use in relation to pylons, for example for wind power
installations however, moisture can penetrate into the open
intermediate space and cause damage there. As however it is
precisely in the case of pylons for wind power installations that
such flange connections have to transmit high levels of load, it is
important for that flange connection to be protected from that.
[0028] FIG. 3 shows that for example in the course of a
post-working operation a filling material 11 is incorporated into
those remaining intermediate spaces. That filling material 11 can
be for example silicone which is used for filling up the
intermediate spaces. In that way no moisture (and also no foreign
bodies) can penetrate thereinto and the flange connection is thus
protected therefrom.
[0029] FIG. 4 shows a plan view of a transition between two
segments in a number of examples. In example a) the transition
between the two layer segments 10 illustrated is a rectilinear
transition. In example b) the transition is stepped. The layer
segments can be securely positioned in a simple fashion by virtue
of that configuration. In example c) the layer segments 10 engage
hook-like into each other so that the segments are also prevented
from unintentionally slipping out of each other. In the embodiment
d) the transition between two layer segments is of an arcuate
configuration. That permits correction of the segment orientation
in a particularly simple manner without in that case giving rise to
unwanted spacings and thus air inclusions in the layer. Therefore,
particularly with transitions as shown in example d), with a
predetermined, relatively small length in respect of each
individual layer segment, with a standardized layer segment, it
would be possible to produce a layer according to the invention on
abutment faces involving different radii.
[0030] Electrical contacts can be provided at the mutually facing
ends of the layer segments 10, which contacts connect together
heating wires which are incorporated into the layer segments 10
(See heating wires 108 illustrated in FIG. 1). In that way the
operation of arranging the layer can be simplified and speeded
up.
[0031] Based on the foregoing benefits of the present invention, it
can be appreciated that the present invention is not limited to
pylons for wind turbines.
[0032] From the foregoing it will be appreciated that, although
specific embodiments of the invention have been described herein
for purposes of illustration, various modifications may be made
without deviating from the spirit and scope of the invention.
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