Tool and a method for moving a wind turbine drivetrain component

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10508643-B2
Application number	US-201214360191-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Nov 15, 2012
Priority date	Nov 25, 2011
Publication date	Dec 17, 2019
Grant date	Dec 17, 2019

Abstract

The invention provides a tool for moving a drivetrain component in a nacelle of a horizontal axis wind turbine, the nacelle comprising a nacelle structure, the component being connected, in operation of the wind turbine, to a rotor of the wind turbine, the tool comprising at least drive unit for moving the component in relation to the nacelle in a direction parallel to the rotational axis of the rotor, and a plurality of position adjustment devices adapted to be located between the nacelle structure and the component, and distributed so that rotational movement of the component can be provided by coordinated control of the position adjustment devices.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. A horizontal axis wind turbine, comprising:
a nacelle including a nacelle structure;
a rotor defining a rotational axis;
a drivetrain component connected to the rotor; and
a tool for moving the drivetrain component in the nacelle, the tool including:
at least one drive unit for moving the component in relation to the nacelle in a direction parallel to the rotational axis of the rotor, wherein the at least one drive unit generates a motive force that causes the movement of the component in relation to the nacelle, and
a plurality of position adjustment devices adapted to be located between the nacelle structure and the component, and distributed so that rotational movement of the component can be provided by coordinated control of the position adjustment devices, wherein at least one of the position adjustment devices is arranged below an uppermost aspect of the component.

2. The wind turbine according to claim 1 , wherein, in a space defined by an x-axis that is parallel to the rotational axis of the rotor, a y-axis that is horizontal and perpendicular to the x-axis, and a z-axis that is perpendicular to the x-axis and to the y-axis, for control of the rotational position around an axis that is parallel to the y-axis, at least two of the position adjustment devices are distributed in a plane that is parallel to the plane defined by the x and z axes.

3. The wind turbine according to claim 1 , wherein at least two of the position adjustment devices are distributed in a direction parallel to the rotational axis of the rotor so that the attitude of the component in relation to the nacelle can be controlled by means of said at least two position adjustment devices.

4. The wind turbine according to claim 1 , wherein, in a space defined by an x-axis that is parallel to the rotational axis of the rotor, a y-axis that is horizontal and perpendicular to the x-axis, and a z-axis that is perpendicular to the x-axis and to the y-axis, for the control of the rotational position of the component around an axis that is parallel to the x-axis, at least two of the position adjustment devices are distributed in a plane that is parallel to the plane defined by the y and z axes.

5. The wind turbine according to claim 1 , wherein at least two of the position adjustment devices are distributed in a direction parallel to an axis that is horizontal and perpendicular to the rotor rotational axis, so that the rotational position of the component around an axis that is parallel to the rotational axis of the rotor can be controlled by means of the position adjustment devices.

6. The wind turbine according to claim 1 , wherein the position adjustment devices comprise a plurality of first position adjustment devices adapted to act between a respective first location on the nacelle structure or on an intermediate part, and a respective second location on the component or on an interface portion positioned between the component and the respective first position adjustment device, the second location being higher than the first location.

7. The wind turbine according to claim 6 , wherein the first position adjustment devices are linear actuators.

8. The wind turbine according to claim 1 , wherein the position adjustment devices comprises a plurality of first position adjustment devices each arranged to be subjected to a compression force when carrying at least a part of the weight of the component.

9. The wind turbine according to claim 1 , wherein the tool includes at least one transport assembly including at least one of said at least one drive unit, and at least two of said position adjustment devices.

10. The wind turbine according to claim 9 , wherein the transport assembly comprises a sled to which at least one of the at least one drive unit is connected, which sled is adapted to slide on the nacelle structure or a part adapted to be fixed to the nacelle structure.

11. The wind turbine according to claim 1 , wherein the tool includes two transport assemblies each comprising a drive unit, the transport assemblies being distributed along a horizontal axis that is perpendicular to the rotor rotational axis and located on either side of the component, two position adjustment devices being located on each transport assembly and are distributed along the rotor rotational axis.

12. A tool for moving a drivetrain component in a nacelle of a horizontal axis wind turbine, the nacelle comprising a nacelle structure, the component being connected, in operation of the wind turbine, to a rotor of the wind turbine, the tool comprising:
at least one drive unit for moving the component in relation to the nacelle in a direction parallel to the rotational axis of the rotor, wherein the at least one drive unit generates a motive force that causes the movement of the component in relation to the nacelle, and
a plurality of position adjustment devices adapted to be located between the nacelle structure and the component, and distributed so that rotational movement of the component can be provided by coordinated control of the position adjustment devices,
wherein at least two of the position adjustment devices are second position adjustment devices and wherein, in a space defined by an x-axis that is parallel to the rotational axis of the rotor, a y-axis that is horizontal and perpendicular to the x-axis, and a z-axis that is perpendicular to the x-axis and to the y-axis, the second position adjustment devices are distributed in a plane that is parallel to the plane defined by the x and y axes so that the rotational position of the component in relation to the nacelle and about the z-axis can be controlled by means of the second position adjustment devices.

13. The tool according to claim 12 , wherein there are at least four second position adjustment devices, located in pairs distributed along the y-axis and on either side of the component, and where the second position adjustment devices of each pair are distributed along the x-axis.

14. The tool according to claim 13 , wherein the second position adjustment devices are each adapted to provide a force between the component and the nacelle structure, which force is parallel to, or has a component in, the plane defined by the x-axis and the y-axis.

15. A horizontal axis wind turbine, comprising:
a nacelle including a nacelle structure;
a rotor defining a rotational axis;
a drivetrain component connected to the rotor; and
a tool for moving the drivetrain component in the nacelle, the tool including:
at least one drive unit for moving the component in relation to the nacelle in a direction parallel to the rotational axis of the rotor, wherein the at least one drive unit generates a motive force that causes the movement of the component in relation to the nacelle, and
a plurality of position adjustment devices adapted to be located between the nacelle structure and the component, and distributed so that rotational movement of the component can be provided by coordinated control of the position adjustment devices, wherein at least one of the position adjustment devices includes at least one of a hydraulic actuator, an electric linear actuator, or a screw type linear actuator.

Assignees

• Vestas Wind Sys As

Inventors

• Hansen Erland Falk
• Mogensen Morten
• Damgaard Mads

Classifications

• F05B2230/60

  Assembly methods · CPC title

• F03D15/00

  Transmission of mechanical power · CPC title

• F05B2240/14

  Casings, housings, nacelles, gondels or the like, protecting or supporting assemblies there within · CPC title

• F03D13/10 Primary

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

• F05B2230/604

  using positioning or alignment devices for aligning or centering, e.g. pins · CPC title