Bolt connection for a tower of a wind turbine

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10378516-B2
Application number	US-201715657249-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jul 24, 2017
Priority date	Jul 27, 2016
Publication date	Aug 13, 2019
Grant date	Aug 13, 2019

Abstract

A bolt connection of a tower for a wind turbine is provided, the bolt connection including a tower base module with a tower flange, wherein the tower flange forms the bottom end of the tower, a base flange for connecting the tower base module with a foundation, wherein the base flange includes a traverse bore, and a bolt which extends through the traverse bore of the base flange, wherein the bolt includes a bolt head which is arranged at the bottom side of the base flange facing the foundation. The bolt connection further includes a clamping element which at least partially covers the bolt head. The clamping element presses the bolt head against the bottom side of the base flange.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. A bolt connection of a tower for a wind turbine, the bolt connection comprising:
a tower base module with a tower flange, wherein the tower flange forms the bottom end of the tower,
a base flange for connecting the tower base module with a foundation, wherein the base flange comprises a traverse bore, and
a bolt which extends through the traverse bore of the base flange, wherein the bolt comprises a bolt head which is arranged at the bottom side of the base flange facing the foundation,
wherein the bolt connection further comprises a clamping element which at least partially covers the bolt head, wherein the clamping element comprises one or more lateral surfaces, wherein at least one of the lateral surfaces comprise a first section having a vertical orientation, a second section having an angled inclination, wherein the slope of the second section is constant throughout and different than the slope of the first section, and a third section having a horizontal orientation, the third section contacting the base flange, wherein the clamping element is attached to the base flange by a first attachment bolt and a second attachment bolt, wherein the first attachment bolt is located on an inner radius of the base flange and the second attachment bolt is located on an outer radius of the base flange, and
the clamping element presses the bolt head against the bottom side of the base flange such that liquid concrete or grout cannot enter into the space between the bolt head and the flange while connecting the tower with a foundation.

2. The bolt connection according to claim 1 , wherein the bolt head comprises an end face and one or more lateral surfaces, the end face facing away from the bottom side of the base flange, and
the clamping element comprises an attachment section for attachment of the clamping element to the bottom side of the base flange, the one or more lateral surfaces for at least partially covering the one or more lateral surfaces of the bolt head, and an end face for at least partially covering the end face of the bolt head.

3. The bolt connection according to claim 1 , wherein the end face of the clamping element comprises an indentation for exerting compressive forces on the bolt head.

4. The bolt connection according to claim 2 , wherein the at least one of the lateral surfaces of the clamping element comprises the angled inclination section such that a washer which has a diameter which is greater than the diameter of the bolt head may be fit between the bolt head and the base flange.

5. The bolt connection according to claim 1 , wherein the bolt head has six lateral surfaces, resulting in a substantially hexagonal cross section in a plane perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the bolt, and
at least two of the lateral surfaces are covered with the clamping element.

6. The bolt connection according to claim 1 , wherein the clamping element is configured as a bracket.

7. The bolt connection according to claim 1 , wherein the bolt connection further comprises attachment bolts for attaching the clamping element to the base flange via the attachment section of the clamping element.

8. The bolt connection according to claim 1 , wherein the bolt connection comprises a plurality of bolts and a plurality of corresponding transverse bores.

9. The bolt connection according to claim 1 , wherein the tower flange has an annular shape, and
the transverse bores are arranged circumferentially at the tower flange.

10. A wind turbine comprising:
a tower and a foundation, wherein the tower is attached to the foundation by a bolt connection
a tower base module with a tower flange, wherein the tower flange forms the bottom end of the tower,
a base flange for connecting the tower base module with a foundation, wherein the base flange comprises a traverse bore, and
a bolt which extends through the traverse bore of the base flange, wherein the bolt comprises a bolt head which is arranged at the bottom side of the base flange facing the foundation,
wherein the bolt connection further comprises a clamping element which at least partially covers the bolt head, wherein the clamping element comprises one or more lateral surfaces, wherein at least one of the lateral surfaces a first section having a vertical orientation a second section having an angled inclination, wherein the slope of the second section is constant throughout and different than the slope of the first section, and a third section having a horizontal orientation, the third section contacting the base flange wherein the clamping element is attached to the base flange by a first attachment bolt and a second attachment bolt, wherein the first attachment bolt is located on an inner radius of the base flange and the second attachment bolt is located on an outer radius of the base flange, and
the clamping element presses the bolt head against the bottom side of the base flange.

11. A bolt connection of a tower for a wind turbine, the bolt connection comprising:
a tower base module with a tower flange, wherein the tower flange forms the bottom end of the tower,
a base flange for connecting the tower base module with a foundation, wherein the base flange comprises a traverse bore, and
a bolt which extends through the traverse bore of the base flange, wherein the bolt comprises a bolt head which is arranged at the bottom side of the base flange facing the foundation,
wherein the bolt connection further comprises a clamping element which at least partially covers the bolt head, and
the clamping element presses the bolt head against the bottom side of the base flange, wherein the bolt head comprises an end face and one or more lateral surfaces, the end face facing away from the bottom side of the base flange, and
the clamping element comprises an attachment section for attachment of the clamping element to the bottom side of the base flange, one or more lateral surfaces for at least partially covering the one or more lateral surfaces of the bolt head, and an end face for at least partially covering the end face of the bolt head and wherein at least one of the lateral surfaces of the clamping element comprises a first section having a vertical orientation and a second section having a horizontal orientation, the second section contacting the base flange, wherein the first section and the second section are connected by a third section having an angled inclination, wherein the slope of the third section is constant throughout and different than the slope of the first section, such that a washer which has a diameter which is greater than the diameter of the bolt head may be fit between the bolt head and the base flange wherein the clamping element is attached to the base flange by a first attachment bolt and a second attachment bolt, wherein the first attachment bolt is located on an inner radius of the base flange and the second attachment bolt is located on an outer radius of the base flange.

Assignees

• Siemens Ag
• Siemens Gamesa Renewable Energy As

Inventors

• Hoeeg Christian Elkjaer
• Jensen Martin Johan Smith

Classifications

• F16B39/105

  locking the bold head or nut into a hole or cavity, e.g. with the cup washer, ring or sleeve deformed into a dimple in the cavity · CPC title

• F05B2260/301

  Retaining bolts or nuts · CPC title

• F03D80/00 Primary

  Details, components or accessories not provided for in groups F03D1/00 - F03D17/00 · CPC title

• F03D13/20 Primary

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

• E02D27/425

  specially adapted for wind motors masts (wind motors per se F03D1/00) · CPC title