Automated tightening of bolts

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11292094-B2
Application number	US-201816769350-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Nov 26, 2018
Priority date	Dec 6, 2017
Publication date	Apr 5, 2022
Grant date	Apr 5, 2022

Abstract

The invention relates to a method for the controlled and automatic tensioning of bolts pre-installed in a flange joint between a hub and a main shaft in a nacelle of a wind turbine as well as to a bolt tensioning system for such method. The method comprises arranging a fixture inside the nacelle and mounting a bolt tensioning tool to the fixture which is mounted movable in an axial direction and in a working area perpendicularly hereto. First the flange joint is rotated to position a first set of bolts within the working area of the bolt tensioning tool, and then the bolt tensioning tool is controlled alternately to move the tensioning tool into a position for tensioning a bolt and to tension the bolt, until all bolts of the first set of bolts have been tensioned. The rotation of the flange joint may be controlled by operating a rotation tool operably connected to the main shaft, gearbox, and/or generator.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. A method for the controlled and automatic tensioning of bolts pre-installed in a flange joint between a hub and a main shaft in a nacelle of a wind turbine, the method comprising
arranging a fixture inside the nacelle and stationary relative to the nacelle;
mounting a bolt tensioning tool to the fixture, wherein the bolt tensioning tool is mounted movable in an axial direction along a direction of the main shaft axis, and movable in a working area perpendicularly to the axial direction;
arranging a control unit to control a rotation of the flange joint, the moving of the bolt tensioning tool, and the application of tension by the bolt tensioning tool;
rotating the flange joint to position a first set of bolts within the working area of the bolt tensioning tool; and
tensioning bolts by alternately moving the tensioning tool into a position for tensioning a bolt of the first set of bolts and tensioning the bolt, repeating the moving and tensioning steps for each respective bolt of the first set of bolts until all bolts of the first set of bolts have been tensioned.

2. The method according to claim 1 further comprising subsequently rotating the flange joint to position a second set of bolts within the working area of the bolt tensioning tool.

3. The method according to claim 2 , wherein the second set of bolts is positioned away from the first set of bolts in the flange joint.

4. The method according to claim 1 comprising subsequently repeating the steps of rotating the flange joint and tensioning bolts, until all bolts in the flange joint have been tensioned.

5. The method according to claim 1 , wherein the rotation of the flange joint is controlled according to a predefined sequence of rotation angles.

6. The method according to claim 1 , wherein the control unit is configured to log for each bolt a bolt identification parameter and the tension applied to tension the bolt.

7. The method according to claim 6 , wherein the bolt identification parameter is determined by the position of the bolt in the flange joint relative to a reference point.

8. The method according to claim 1 further comprising initially rotating the flange joint to line up to a fixed flange reference point.

9. The method according to claim 1 , wherein the rotation of the flange joint is controlled by operating a rotation tool operably connected to the main shaft, gearbox, and/or generator.

10. The method according to claim 1 further comprising obtaining, by an image capturing device, one or more images of a least a part of the flange joint.

11. The method according to claim 10 , wherein the bolt tensioning tool is positioned depending on a result of processing at least some of the obtained images.

12. The method according to claim 1 wherein the tensioning of a bolt is applied to loosen the bolt.

13. A bolt tensioning system for the controlled and automatic tensioning of bolts pre-installed in a flange joint between a hub and a main shaft in a nacelle of a wind turbine, the system comprising
a fixture arranged inside the nacelle and stationary relative to the nacelle, and
a bolt tensioning tool mounted to the fixture, wherein the bolt tensioning tool is mounted movable in an axial direction along a direction of the main shaft axis, and movable in a working area perpendicularly to the axial direction,
the system further comprising a control unit configured to control a rotation of the flange joint and coupled to the bolt tensioning tool to control the moving of the bolt tensioning tool, and the application of tension by the bolt tensioning tool, wherein the control unit is configured for controlling the rotation of the flange joint to position a first set of bolts within the working area of the bolt tensioning tool and controlling the bolt tensioning tool alternately to move into a position for tensioning a bolt of the first set of bolts and to tension the bolt, until all bolts of the first set of bolts have been tensioned.

14. The bolt tensioning system according to claim 13 , wherein the system comprises a rotation tool operably connected to the main shaft, gearbox, and/or generator, and wherein the control unit is coupled to the rotation tool to control the rotation of the flange joint.

Assignees

• Vestas Wind Sys As

Inventors

• Bosukonda Pradeep
• Mikkelsen Per Sveigaard
• Rossel Tobias Østergaard

Classifications

• Y02E10/72

  Wind turbines with rotation axis in wind direction · CPC title

• F03D13/10 Primary

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

• F03D15/00

  Transmission of mechanical power · CPC title

• F05B2260/301

  Retaining bolts or nuts · CPC title

• B23P19/067 Primary

  Bolt tensioners (for hand tools B25B29/02) · CPC title