Tower crane and method of mounting a wind turbine rotor blade

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10023443-B2
Application number	US-201414901824-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jul 1, 2014
Priority date	Jul 1, 2013
Publication date	Jul 17, 2018
Grant date	Jul 17, 2018

Abstract

The invention relates to a tower crane comprising a tower of at least one tower element, in particular a lattice piece, and a structural guying device having at least one guying rod for the horizontal anchorage of the tower at a structure. In accordance with the invention, the tower has a vertically adjustable guide frame, wherein at least one positioning rope is adjustably fastened to the guide frame. The invention furthermore relates to a method of mounting a wind turbine rotor blade.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. A tower crane comprising a tower with at least one tower element and a structural guying device having at least one guying rod for a horizontal anchorage of the tower at a structure;
wherein a guide frame is arranged vertically movably at the tower; wherein at least one positioning rope is adjustably fastened to the guide frame; and
wherein the guide frame is a U shape to engage around the tower at three sides.

2. The tower crane in accordance with claim 1 , wherein the guide frame is vertically adjustable along the tower via at least one rope guide.

3. The tower crane in accordance with claim 2 , wherein the at least one rope guide has a rope drum arranged at the tower and a deflection pulley arranged at a climb piece or in a guide piece.

4. The tower crane in accordance with claim 2 , wherein two rope guides are present for moving the guide frame and are adjustable with a two-rope winch having two rope drums.

5. The tower crane in accordance with claim 1 , wherein the U-shaped guide frame is angled at its open end to engage around corner regions of the tower.

6. The tower crane in accordance with claim 1 , wherein the guide frame is guided over rollers or slide bearings in corner regions of the tower.

7. The tower crane in accordance with claim 1 , wherein the guide frame is separable for installation and transportation.

8. The tower crane in accordance with claim 1 , wherein a winch is arranged at the guide frame for adjustment of the at least one positioning rope.

9. The tower crane in accordance with claim 1 , wherein telescopic struts are arranged at the guide frame for the guidance of the at least one positioning rope and/or as dampers.

10. The tower crane in accordance with claim 1 , wherein guide points for the at least one positioning rope provided at the guide frame rotate about the tower.

11. The tower crane in accordance with claim 1 , wherein the guide frame serves as a passenger elevator and/or as a goods elevator.

12. The tower crane in accordance with claim 1 , wherein a compensation weight is provided for weight compensation on a vertical movement of the guide frame.

13. The tower crane in accordance with claim 1 , wherein the at least one tower element is a lattice piece.

14. The tower crane in accordance with claim 1 , wherein two winches controllable independently of one another are provided for an independent adjustment of two positioning ropes.

15. A method of mounting a wind turbine rotor blade to a wind turbine rotor hub using a tower crane comprising a tower with at least one tower element with a structural guying device having at least one guying rod for a horizontal anchorage of the tower, wherein a U-shaped guide frame is arranged vertically movably at the tower, and wherein at least one positioning rope is adjustably fastened to the guide frame;
wherein the U-shaped guide frame engages around the tower at three sides; and
wherein the rotor blade is aligned with the at least one positioning rope starting from the guide frame.

16. The method in accordance with claim 15 , wherein the rotor blade is received by a rotor blade gripper arranged at an adjustment unit;
wherein a vertical guidance of the rotor blade takes place via a load rope at which the adjustment unit is suspended;
wherein a horizontal guidance or alignment of the rotor blade takes place via the at least one positioning rope; and
wherein a pitch and roll angle adjustment of the rotor blade along its longitudinal axis takes place via the adjustment unit.

Assignees

• Liebherr Werk Biberach Gmbh

Inventors

• Herse Thomas
• Stanger Norbert
• Eiwan Christoph

Classifications

• B66C23/185 Primary

  for use erecting wind turbines (B66C23/207 takes precedence) · CPC title

• B66C23/207

  with supporting couples provided by wind turbines · CPC title

• B66C13/08

  for depositing loads in desired attitudes or positions · CPC title

• B66C23/16

  with jibs supported by columns, e.g. towers having their lower end mounted for slewing movements · CPC title

• B66C1/108

  for lifting parts of wind turbines · CPC title