Method for erecting a wind turbine tower using stud bolts

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-12000377-B2
Application number	US-202017611939-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	May 19, 2020
Priority date	May 21, 2019
Publication date	Jun 4, 2024
Grant date	Jun 4, 2024

Abstract

A method for erecting a wind turbine tower is disclosed. A tower section ( 8 ) comprising a lower flange ( 9 ) and an upper flange ( 10 ), and a plurality of stud bolts ( 6 ) and nuts ( 7 ) are provided. The tower section ( 8 ) is oriented in an upright position with the lower flange ( 9 ) below the upper flange ( 10 ), and stud bolts ( 6 ) are positioned in bolt holes ( 12 ) in the lower flange ( 9 ) with nuts ( 7 ) arranged on an upper side of the lower flange ( 9 ). The tower section ( 8 ) is lifted to a mounting position on top of another tower section ( 13 ), and a flange combination is formed by aligning the bolt holes ( 12 ) formed in the lower flange ( 9 ) of the tower section ( 8 ) with bolt holes ( 15 ) formed in an upper flange ( 14 ) of the other tower section ( 13 ), while advancing the stud bolts ( 6 ) through the bolt holes ( 12, 15 ). The invention further provides a socket tool ( 16 ) for screwing nuts ( 7 ) onto stud bolts ( 6 ) in a manner which positions the stud bolts ( 6 ) correctly with respect to a flange ( 9 ).

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. A method for erecting a wind turbine tower, the method comprising the steps of:
providing a tower section comprising a lower flange and an upper flange, each flange being provided with a plurality of through-going bolt holes,
providing a plurality of stud bolts and a pair of nuts for each stud bolt of the plurality of stud bolts,
mounting a nut of the pair of nuts to one end of each stud bolt,
orienting the tower section in an upright position with the lower flange below the upper flange,
positioning the plurality of stud bolts in the plurality of bolt holes in the lower flange with the nut of each stud bolt arranged on an upper side of the lower flange,
lifting the tower section to a mounting position on top of another tower section,
forming a flange combination by aligning the plurality of through-going bolt holes formed in the lower flange of the tower section with a plurality of through-going bolt holes formed in an upper flange of the another tower section, while advancing the plurality of stud bolts through the bolt holes of the tower section and the another tower section,
mounting an other nut of the pair of nuts on a lower part of each of the stud bolts,
mounting a socket tool on an end part of one of the stud bolts of the plurality of stud bolts,
adjusting a position of the stud bolt relative to the flange combination, using the socket tool, such that a predetermined portion of the stud bolt is positioned above the lower flange,
moving the other nut into abutment with the upper flange of the other tower section, and
tensioning the stud bolts, thereby securing the tower section to the other tower section.

2. The method according to claim 1 , wherein the socket tool comprises a bolt engaging part comprising a body having an inner cavity arranged to receive an end part of a stud bolt, a stud bolt engaging arrangement configured for positively engaging the stud bolt and transferring movements of a tool to the stud bolt, and a length adjuster configured for adjusting a free length of the end part of the stud bolt, and wherein the step of adjusting a position of the stud bolt is performed by operating the length adjuster.

3. The method according to claim 2 , wherein the inner cavity of the body of the socket tool is provided with an inner thread corresponding to a threaded portion of the stud bolt and with an end portion at an open end of the inner cavity, wherein the length adjuster of the socket tool comprises an inner part arranged in a portion of the inner cavity and being provided with an outer thread being arranged in threaded engagement with the inner thread of the inner cavity, the inner part being provided with an end portion, and wherein the step of adjusting a position of the stud bolt comprises operating the length adjuster until the end portion of the body abuts a nut arranged on the upper part of the stud bolt and the end portion of the inner part abuts an upper end of the stud bolt.

4. The method according to claim 3 , wherein the stud bolt engaging arrangement of the socket tool comprises a tool engaging part, and wherein the step of operating the length adjuster comprises operating a driving tool engaging the tool engaging part.

5. The method according to claim 1 , further comprising the step of removing the socket tool from the end part of the stud bolt.

6. The method according to claim 1 , wherein the step of positioning the plurality of stud bolts in the plurality of bolt holes in the lower flange is performed using a bolt gripping tool.

7. The method according to claim 6 , wherein the bolt gripping tool comprises a gripping portion arranged to grip a stud bolt and a moving portion arranged to move the gripping portion, and wherein the step of positioning the plurality of stud bolts in the plurality of bolt holes comprises the steps of:
moving the gripping portion to a position of a stud bolt by means of the moving portion,
gripping the stud bolt by means of the gripping portion,
moving the gripping portion and the stud bolt to a bolt hole by means of the moving portion,
positioning the stud bolt in the bolt hole, and
releasing the stud bolt from the gripping portion.

8. The method according to claim 7 , wherein the step of gripping the stud bolt by means of the gripping portion is performed by means of a magnet forming part of the gripping portion.

9. The method according to claim 7 , wherein the steps of moving the gripping portion comprise lifting and/or swinging the gripping portion.

10. The method according to claim 1 , wherein the step of orienting the tower section in an upright position comprises positioning the tower section on at least two tower supports, thereby arranging the lower flange at a level about the ground.

11. The method according to claim 1 , wherein the step of tensioning the stud bolts is performed using a hydraulic tensioning tool.

12. The method according to claim 1 , wherein the step of tensioning the stud bolts includes tensioning the stud bolts from above the lower flange of the tower section.

Assignees

• Vestas Wind Sys As

Inventors

• Sørensen Jakob Anders
• Broe Christine
• Johansen Rasmus Sanderhoff

Classifications

• F03D13/20 Primary

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

• B23P19/067

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

• E04H12/085

  Details of flanges for tubular masts · CPC title

• E04H12/342

  Arrangements for stacking tower sections on top of each other (E04H12/344 takes precedence) · CPC title

• F05B2230/604

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