U.S. patent application number 12/268569 was filed with the patent office on 2009-03-05 for method for the production of a connection flange.
Invention is credited to Aloys Wobben.
Application Number | 20090058079 12/268569 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 33482428 |
Filed Date | 2009-03-05 |
United States Patent
Application |
20090058079 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Wobben; Aloys |
March 5, 2009 |
METHOD FOR THE PRODUCTION OF A CONNECTION FLANGE
Abstract
A method for the production of an annular connection flange
includes producing the annular connection flange from an element in
the form of a circular ring. The element in the form of a circular
ring has a substantially triangular profile. An annular flange
includes a tubular portion configured to be mounted to an end of a
tubular component, and a flange collar adjoining an end of the
tubular portion and extending radially inwardly therefrom.
Inventors: |
Wobben; Aloys; (Aurich,
DE) |
Correspondence
Address: |
SEED INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY LAW GROUP PLLC
701 FIFTH AVE, SUITE 5400
SEATTLE
WA
98104
US
|
Family ID: |
33482428 |
Appl. No.: |
12/268569 |
Filed: |
November 11, 2008 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
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11293872 |
Dec 2, 2005 |
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12268569 |
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PCT/EP2004/002862 |
Mar 19, 2004 |
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11293872 |
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Current U.S.
Class: |
285/148.25 ;
290/55 |
Current CPC
Class: |
Y10T 29/49616 20150115;
Y02E 10/721 20130101; Y10T 29/49995 20150115; Y02E 10/728 20130101;
Y02P 70/50 20151101; F03D 1/065 20130101; Y10T 29/49631 20150115;
E04H 12/08 20130101; Y02P 70/523 20151101; Y10T 83/0467 20150401;
Y10T 29/49623 20150115; Y02E 10/72 20130101; F05B 2240/912
20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
285/148.25 ;
290/55 |
International
Class: |
F16L 55/00 20060101
F16L055/00; F03D 9/00 20060101 F03D009/00 |
Foreign Application Data
Date |
Code |
Application Number |
Jun 2, 2003 |
DE |
10325032.8 |
Claims
1-2. (canceled)
3. An annular flange comprising: a tubular portion configured to be
mounted to an end of a tubular component; and a flange collar
adjoining an end of the tubular portion and extending radially
inwardly therefrom, the flange collar defining a flange surface
oriented axially away from the tubular portion, and the flange
collar having a beveled region at a free end of the flange
collar.
4. The annular flange of claim 3, wherein the flange collar has a
smaller thickness in the beveled region of the flange collar than
in a region proximate where the flange collar adjoins the tubular
portion.
5. The annular flange of claim 3, wherein the tubular portion is
inclined with respect to a central axis of the annular flange.
6. A wind power plant, comprising: a pylon segment; and the annular
flange of claim 3 mounted to the pylon segment.
Description
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION
[0001] This application claims priority from the International
Application PCT/EP2004/002862, filed Mar. 19, 2004, which
application is incorporated herein by reference in its
entirety.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0002] 1. Field of the Invention
[0003] DE 101 26 049 A1 already discloses an annular connection
flange having a tubular portion for mounting to an end of a tubular
component, in particular for a pylon segment for constructing a
pylon of a wind power installation, wherein it is formed with a
flange collar radially adjoining one end of the portion and having
a flange surface oriented axially away from the tubular
portion.
[0004] 2. Description of the Related Art
[0005] To produce such an annular connection flange, the state of
the art uses an element in the form of a circular ring which is
substantially quadrangular in its cross-section (profile) and that
element in the form of the circular ring is then machined so that
the annular connection flange is left. In the machining operation
material is removed from the element in the form of the circular
ring, in a not insignificant amount, in order then to obtain in the
cross-section (profile), the desired profile of the annular
connection flange, in one piece. It is therefore accordingly known
for a connection flange to be turned in one piece from a metal
semifinished product, to produce the connection flange.
[0006] Above-mentioned DE 101 26 049 also discloses an annular
connection flange in which the outside wall of the tubular portion
is conical, in particular for mounting to a component which is also
conical.
BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0007] The invention is based on the realization that, at its free
end, the flange collar has to transmit only relatively low forces
and possibly even no forces at all. Therefore in terms of the
strength and the stability of the connection flange, it is harmless
if the thickness of the flange collar at its free end is less than
in the region where the flange collar forms a transition into the
tubular portion. That can also provide that the starting material
which can be used for production of the connection flange is not
for example just a segment in the form of a circular ring which is
of a substantially rectangular cross-sectional configuration, but
it can also be substantially of a triangular cross-section.
[0008] The particular advantage is that in that way the cutting or
turning operations for producing the connection flange from the
semifinished product are considerably reduced. When the
semifinished product is of a substantially triangular
cross-section, it is also markedly better than a previous
semifinished product because at the initial stage the semifinished
product does not need to have as much material as hitherto. Further
configurations are the subject-matter of the appendant claims.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWING(S)
[0009] FIG. 1 shows a semifinished product in accordance with the
state prior of the art,
[0010] FIG. 2 shows a semifinished product according to the
invention of substantially triangular cross-section,
[0011] FIG. 3 shows a semifinished product according to the
invention with a concave surface,
[0012] FIGS. 4 and 5 show semifinished products of a first
embodiment,
[0013] FIGS. 6 and 7 show semifinished products of a second
embodiment,
[0014] FIGS. 8 and 9 show semifinished products of a third
embodiment,
[0015] FIGS. 10 and 11 show a fourth embodiment of the semifinished
products, and
[0016] FIG. 12 shows a workpiece from which two flanges are
produced.
[0017] FIG. 13 is an example of a finished product according to
principles of the present invention.
[0018] FIG. 14 is an alternative embodiment of a finished product
according to principles of the present invention.
[0019] FIG. 15 is an embodiment showing the flange of the present
invention in the final structure.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
[0020] FIG. 1 shows a semifinished product 20 as is used in the
state of the art, of a rectangular cross-section, from which the
flange is produced. It can be seen that the semifinished product 20
is generally of rectangular or square cross-sectional shape 22. The
final product to be produced is similar to that shown in FIG.
15.
[0021] FIG. 2 shows a semifinished product 24 according to the
invention of substantially triangular cross-section 26, wherein the
hypotenuse of the triangle is straight. FIG. 3, instead of a
straight hypotenuse, illustrates an arc 28, thus affording a
concave surface portion.
[0022] FIG. 4 shows a first embodiment, according to the state of
the art. The semifinished product 20 is illustrated as being
rectangular in this Figure and a broken line 30 indicates what
region of that semifinished product is not needed in accordance
with the invention from the outset.
[0023] FIG. 5 is a view in cross-section through a corresponding
semifinished product 24 after having been cut along line 30. In the
remaining FIGS. 4-12, those regions 32 which have to be removed to
obtain the final product are shown in cross-hatched. They can be
removed by any acceptable method, such as by machining, grinding or
other known methods to remove metal.
[0024] The views in FIGS. 6 and 7 are comparable to those in FIGS.
4 and 5. The difference is that, in FIGS. 6 and 7, the inner edge
34 of the flange ring is no longer rectangular but of a bevelled
configuration.
[0025] FIGS. 8 and 9 show a comparable embodiment to that shown in
FIGS. 4 and 5, but with a concave surface portion instead of a
straight surface.
[0026] FIGS. 10 and 11 show an embodiment with an inclined flange
35. Some material 33 is cut from the back surface of the
semifinished product 24.
[0027] FIG. 12 again shows a right-angled semifinished product and
illustrates how two flanges can be obtained from a single a
semifinished product. According to one method of the present
invention, a rectangular cross-section flange is cut in half along
a diagonal line 30 as shown in FIG. 12. After this, each half has
the section 32 removed by acceptable metal working techniques.
Thus, the current method can obtain two flanges in place of the one
flange that was obtained in the prior art.
[0028] FIGS. 13 and 14 show completed finished products prior to
use in the structure of the type described in DE 101 26 049 A1. The
structure therefore includes an L-shaped flange 25 having a first
end 35 and an upstanding leg 36. In the embodiment of FIG. 14, the
leg 35 has a beveled edge 34.
[0029] FIG. 15 is an example of the flange 25 as used in a
completed construction. This Figure is taken from DE 101 26 049 A1.
The flange 25 is mounted in a completed structure to provide
connection and support. Leg ends 35 extend inward and vertical arms
36 are along the outer surface. The flange 25 is connected by
welding, bolting or other appropriate technique to the end
structure.
[0030] All of the above U.S. patents, U.S. patent application
publications, U.S. patent applications, foreign patents, foreign
patent applications and non-patent publications referred to in this
specification and/or listed in the Application Data Sheet, are
incorporated herein by reference, in their entirety.
[0031] 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.
Accordingly, the invention is not limited except as by the appended
claims.
* * * * *