Assembly system and method for assembling a tower for a wind generator

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10364800-B2
Application number	US-201415311106-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	May 19, 2014
Priority date	May 19, 2014
Publication date	Jul 30, 2019
Grant date	Jul 30, 2019

Abstract

The invention has for object a system for assembling a tower for a wind generator consisting of a plurality of blocks, comprising:
a structure for lifting each one of said blocks, and a structure for supporting said lifting structure, the lifting structure being moveable in relation to the support structure between a block-gripping position and a block-holding position, the lifting structure comprising a body for gripping each block.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. A system for assembling a tower for a wind generator consisting of a plurality of blocks, comprising:
an internal structure for lifting each one of said blocks, and
an external structure for supporting said lifting structure, the lifting structure able to be moveable in relation to the support structure between a block-gripping position and a block-holding position, the lifting structure comprising a body for gripping each block,
wherein the body for gripping comprises at least one rod able to penetrate into a recess of each block,
wherein said at least one rod can be retracted, said at least one rod extending in a direction perpendicular to the movement of the lifting structure between the block-gripping position and the block-holding position,
wherein said at least one rod is arranged to extend outside the block when the block is disposed inside the lifting structure and the supporting structure, and
wherein the lifting structure comprises:
at least one holding arm, said at least one holding arm comprising:
a longitudinal portion, and
an abutment portion arranged to bear laterally on the block,

said at least one rod and said at least one holding arm constituting the only interfaces between the system and each block.

2. The system for assembling according to claim 1 , comprising a plurality of rods arranged substantially in a same plane and two adjacent rods forming between them an angle of about 360° divided by the total number of rods.

3. The system according to claim 1 , comprising a plurality of holding arms arranged in the vicinity of a first end of the block and a plurality of holding arms arranged in the vicinity of a second end of the block.

4. The system according to claim 1 , comprising a device for guiding the lifting structure in the support structure.

5. The system according to claim 1 , wherein the device for guiding comprises at least one element able to slide or roll along a rail of the support structure.

6. The system according to claim 5 , wherein the device for guiding comprises two pairs of said elements able to slide or roll along a rail of the support structure, a first pair arranged in the vicinity of a first end of uprights of the lifting structure and a second pair arranged in the vicinity of a second end of said uprights of the lifting structure.

7. The system according to claim 1 , wherein the support structure comprises at least two pillars arranged parallel to one another.

8. The system according to claim 1 , comprising a motor means of the lifting structure in the structure support.

9. The system according to claim 8 , wherein the motor means comprises at least one actuator with a cable or with a threaded bar or a rack device or a large stroke actuator.

10. The system according to claim 9 , wherein the motor means comprises four cable actuators, with each cable being connected to one upright of the lifting structure and able to slide in relation to the support structure.

11. The system according to claim 1 , wherein the support structure and/or the lifting structure comprises at least one stiffening rod.

12. A method for assembling a tower for a wind generator consisting of a plurality of blocks, using a system for assembling comprising:
a structure for lifting each one of said blocks, and
a structure for supporting said lifting structure, the lifting structure able to be moveable in the support structure between a block-gripping position and a block-holding position, the lifting structure comprising a body for gripping each block, the body for gripping comprising at least one rod able to penetrate into a recess of each block,
wherein said at least one rod can be retracted, said at least one rod extending in a direction perpendicular to a direction of the movement of the lifting structure between the block-gripping position and the block-holding position, and said at least one rod being arranged to extend outside the block when the block is disposed inside the lifting structure and the supporting structure, wherein the lifting structure comprises at least one holding arm, said at least one holding arm comprising a longitudinal portion and an abutment portion arranged to bear laterally on the block,
said at least one rod and said at least one holding arm constituting the only interfaces between the system and each block, the method for assembling comprising a step of:
gripping of a block of the tower resting on an initial location, by the body for gripping the lifting structure in the gripping position, in which said at least one rod extends perpendicularly to the direction movement of the lifting structure and penetrates said recess of the block, and said at least one rod bears against the block,
displacement of the lifting structure from the gripping position to the holding position of the blocks, the lifting structure sliding in the supporting structure,
positioning another block on the same initial location as the previously displaced block,
placing the block that is being gripped on said another block and disengaging the lifting structure,
gripping said another block in the gripping position, in which said at least one rod extends perpendicularly to the direction movement of the lifting structure and penetrates said recess of the block, and said at least one rod bears against the block.

13. The method for assembling according to claim 12 , wherein, in the step of displacing, the block is secured with the lifting structure.

14. The method for assembling according to claim 12 , wherein the system for assembling is arranged in such a way that the direction of displacement of the structure for guiding is a vertical direction, and wherein, in the block-holding position, the block secured with the body for gripping is held at a height that is higher than the height of the following block to be assembled.

15. The method for assembling according to claim 12 , comprising a step of displacing the lifting structure from the holding position to the block deposited during a step of placing, until the block secured with the body for gripping is placed on the deposited block.

16. The method for assembling according to claim 15 , comprising a step of detaching the body for gripping and the block secured with the body for gripping during the step of gripping.

17. The method for assembling according to claim 16 , comprising a step of displacing the lifting structure to the gripping position.

18. The method for assembling according to claim 12 using the system for assembling according to claim 3 , wherein the step of gripping comprises a step of inserting a retractable rod into a recess (E) of the block to be grasped.

19. The method for assembling according to claim 12 using the system for assembling according to claim 3 , wherein the step of detaching consists in retracting the retractable rod until the portion of the rod inserted beforehand into the block is arranged outside of the block.

20. The method for assembling according to claim 12 using the system for assembling according to claim 8 , wherein during each step of displacing the lifting structure in the support structure, the lifting structure is guided by the device for guiding.

Assignees

• Soletanche Freyssinet

Inventors

• Joss Beat
• Fabry Nicolas
• Melen Benoît

Classifications

• F03D13/10 Primary

  Assembly of wind motors; Arrangements for erecting wind motors · CPC title

• F05B2240/912

  on a tower · CPC title

• F03D13/20

  Arrangements for mounting or supporting wind motors; Masts or towers for wind motors · CPC title

• E04H12/344

  Arrangements for lifting tower sections for placing additional sections under them · CPC title

• B66D3/20

  with driving motor, e.g. electric motor, and drum or barrel contained in a common housing · CPC title