Transport frame for a wind turbine blade

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10890163-B2
Application number	US-201616066722-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Dec 23, 2016
Priority date	Dec 30, 2015
Publication date	Jan 12, 2021
Grant date	Jan 12, 2021

Abstract

A transport frame having a longitudinal, lateral and upright extent for receiving a tip portion of a wind turbine blade is disclosed. The frame is stackable with identical frames and has a tip saddle assembly including a saddle with a support surface shaped to receive a blade tip, and a clamping mechanism having a hinged clamping arm operable between an open position and a closed position, the clamping arm, when open, allowing a blade tip to be lowered into the saddle, and when closed, securely restraining the blade tip against upward movement. The tip saddle assembly further includes a preventer serving to maintain the clamping arm in the closed position over a blade. A method of using the transport frame to clamp a wind turbine blade is also disclosed.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. A transport frame having a longitudinal, lateral and upright extent, and being configured for receiving a tip portion of a longitudinally extending wind turbine blade, said frame being stackable with identical frames, said frame having a tip saddle assembly comprising a saddle with a support surface shaped to receive a blade tip with its chordwise extent lying approximately horizontal, and a clamping mechanism having a hinged clamping arm configured to be operable between a raised, open position and a lowered, closed position;
said clamping arm, when open, allowing a blade tip to be lowered into said saddle with its chordwise extent generally horizontal, and when closed, securely restraining said blade tip against upward movement;
said clamping arm extending between a hinge point and a free end;
said tip saddle assembly further including a preventer serving to maintain said clamping arm in said closed position over a blade and which preventer has a middle portion extending between a first end and a second end; and
wherein said tip saddle assembly further includes a fixing for respective said first and second ends of said preventer;
said tip saddle assembly being configured such that said preventer exerts a downward force on said clamping arm when the middle portion thereof passes under tension over a portion of said clamping arm between said hinge point and said free end, and wherein said preventer is anchored at said first and said second ends to said tip saddle assembly.

2. The transport frame according to claim 1 , wherein said clamping arm has a boss on an upper surface thereof between said pivot point and said free end, said boss preferably being configured to receive a middle portion of said preventer and to retain same in place when said preventer is under tension.

3. The transport frame according to claim 1 , wherein said preventer fixing is located at said tip saddle assembly proximate said hinge point and in fixed relation to said tip saddle.

4. The transport frame according to claim 1 , wherein said first end of said preventer is fixable at said preventer fixing at said tip saddle assembly whereas said second end of said preventer is adjustably fixed said preventer fixing at said tip saddle assembly.

5. The transport frame according to claim 1 , wherein said preventer comprises a tensioner capable of applying tension thereto when said first and said second end are respectively anchored.

6. The transport frame according to claim 5 , wherein said tensioner is a ratchet lever.

7. The transport frame according to claim 5 , wherein said tensioner comprises a tightening mechanism at said preventer fixing of said tip saddle assembly, in particular at an anchor point thereof.

8. The transport frame according to claim 1 , wherein said preventer fixing comprises a respective first and second anchor point for each said first and second ends of said preventer.

9. The transport frame according to claim 1 , further comprising a mechanism for raising or lowering said clamping arm by means of a cable winding device of said clamping mechanism.

10. The transport frame according to claim 9 , wherein a winch cable runs from said winch up over a raised runner and descends to an attachment point on said clamping arm.

11. The transport frame according to claim 1 , wherein a lowering action of the clamp arm is driven by gravity.

12. The transport frame according to claim 1 , wherein said cable winding device is located proximate said clamping arm hinge point.

13. The transport frame according to claim 1 , wherein an inextensible, flexible guy runs down to a fixing point on said clamping arm to prohibit a lowering of said clamping arm below a predetermined level or angle.

14. The transport frame according to claim 1 , wherein said tip saddle assembly is freely movable in translation relative to said frame, in a lengthwise direction of said frame.

15. The transport frame according to claim 1 , wherein said tip saddle assembly comprises two said clamping arms spaced in a lengthwise direction of said frame, each clamping arm being associated with a respective said preventer and a respective said preventer fixing.

16. The transport frame according to claim 1 , further comprising an operator access platform proximate to said hinge point.

17. The transport frame according to claim 1 , wherein said free end, in a closed position of said clamping arm, reaches across less than the full chordwise extent of the said saddle or blade when supported thereon.

18. A method for clamping a mid- or tip-region of a wind turbine blade in a transport frame according to claim 1 , said method including
placing said clamping arm in said open position,
placing a portion of said blade on said tip saddle,
lowering said clamping arm over said blade,
connecting or fixing a first end of said preventer at a preventer fixing,
positioning a middle portion of said preventer over said clamping arm,
fixing a second end of said preventer at said preventer fixing, and
tensioning said preventer to thereby exert a downward force on said clamping arm.

19. The method according to claim 18 further including lowering said clamping arm under the action of gravity using a winding device.

20. The method according to claim 19 , wherein said winding device is positioned nearby said clamping arm hinge point.

21. The method according to claim 18 , further including fixing said preventer to said tip saddle assembly nearby said clamping arm hinge point.

22. The method according to claim 18 including tensioning said preventer by actuating a tightening mechanism at said tip saddle assembly at a said second end of said preventer.

23. The method according to claim 18 further including transporting said wind turbine blade aboard a shipping vessel.

24. The method according to claim 19 , further including opening said tip saddle assembly by actuating said winding device to move said clamping arm into said open, raised position.

25. The method according to claim 18 , wherein said clamping arm is a first clamping arm and wherein said method additionally includes operating a second clamping arm in the same way as the said first claiming arm, said second clamping arm being provided in association with said tip saddle assembly.

Assignees

• Vestas Wind Sys As

Inventors

• Kastrup Michael
• Quintana Lucia
• Botwright Adrian
• Vahle Troels
• Damm Martin
• Fredriksen Kristoffer Lolk
• Jasper Carsten

Classifications

• Y02E10/72

  Wind turbines with rotation axis in wind direction · CPC title

• F03D13/40 Primary

  Arrangements or methods specially adapted for transporting wind motor components · CPC title

• B60P3/40

  for carrying long loads, e.g. with separate wheeled load supporting elements ({E04G21/14 takes precedence}; signal devices to be attached to overhanging load B60Q7/02) · CPC title

• B63B25/28

  for deck loads · CPC title