Apparatus and method for providing a secure tension connection

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-12331773-B2
Application number	US-202117166209-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Feb 3, 2021
Priority date	Feb 20, 2020
Publication date	Jun 17, 2025
Grant date	Jun 17, 2025

Abstract

Provided is an apparatus for providing a secure tension connection, the apparatus including a fastener) with a flange for interaction with a shank, a plurality of lifting elements, and a plurality of spacers. Also provide is a wind turbine with such an apparatus, a tool for securing an apparatus and a method for providing a secure tension connection.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. An apparatus for providing a secure tension connection,
the apparatus comprising:
a fastener with a flange for interaction with a shank, the flange having an inner part that is a connection area for the shank, and an outer part that protrudes from the inner part to form an outer edge of the flange; and
a plurality of spacers having an opening;
wherein the flange comprises a plurality of spaced-apart through holes overlying a support member, the plurality of spaced-apart through holes configured to allow lifting elements to pass through the spaced-apart through holes from a top side of the flange and extend a distance from a bottom side of the flange to contact the support member;
wherein the lifting elements are configured to contact the support member under an applied torque thereby tensioning the fastener by forming a gap between the support member and the flange, and each spacer of the plurality of spacers is inserted within the gap;
wherein the spaced-apart through holes are configured to allow the lifting elements to be removed from the top side of the flange, and, when the lifting elements are removed from the plurality of spaced-apart through holes of the flange, tension forces applied on the fastener are maintained by the plurality of spacers and the bottom side of the flange physically contacts the plurality of spacers;
wherein the fastener is a bolt, the flange is a head of the bolt, and a bottom end of the shank, which is distal to the head is located within a connection element configured to receive the fastener;
wherein the plurality of spacers reside underneath the flange from the inner part of the flange to at least the outer edge of the flange;
wherein the plurality of spacers are flexible to provide a suspension that isolates the shank from external influences.

2. The apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the plurality of spaced-apart holes are spaced about an outer peripheral part of the flange.

3. The apparatus according to claim 1 , further comprising at least one cover, wherein the at least one cover is configured to cover at least one of the plurality of spaced-apart holes after the plurality of lifting elements are removed from the fastener.

4. A wind turbine comprising a plurality of components, wherein at least two components of the plurality of components are secured to each other by the apparatus according claim 1 .

5. A tool for securing the apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the tool comprises:
a multispindle; and
a distance sensor;
wherein the multispindle is configured to apply a torque provided by a torque drive to the plurality of lifting elements of the apparatus until a distance between a reference point and the apparatus, measured by the distance sensor, becomes smaller than a given threshold.

6. The tool according to claim 5 , wherein the tool comprises at least one actuator for inserting the plurality of spacers in the gap between the fastener and the support member.

7. The tool according to claim 5 , further comprising a control unit, wherein the control unit is adapted to drive the multispindle until a given reference distance between the multispindle and the fastener of the apparatus or a given torque is reached and to use the reached position of the multispindle as a reference point.

8. The tool according to claim 5 , wherein the tool) comprises at least one extraction element for extraction of the plurality of lifting elements from the fastener of the apparatus.

9. The apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the opening of the spacers allows each spacer to be inserted within the gap while the lifting elements are present in the gap.

10. The apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the opening of the spacers receives the lifting element so that the spacers are arranged around the lifting element without any need to remove the lifting element for installing the spacers.

11. The apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein a shape of the plurality of spacers enables a form-fit connection in the gap between the fastener and the support member.

12. The apparatus according to claim 11 , wherein the shape of the plurality of spacers is a flat metal plate.

13. The apparatus according to claim 12 , wherein the flat metal plate is semi-circle shaped.

14. The apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the connection element is not a nut.

15. A method for providing a secure tension connection,
the method comprising:
providing an apparatus comprising: a fastener with a flange for interaction with a shank, the flange having an inner part that is a connection area for the shank, and an outer part that protrudes from the inner part to form an outer edge of the flange; and a plurality of spacers having an opening; wherein the flange comprises a plurality of spaced-apart through holes overlying a support member, the plurality of spaced-apart through holes configured to allow lifting elements to pass through the spaced-apart through holes from a top side of the flange and extend a distance from a bottom side of the flange to contact the support member; wherein the lifting elements are configured to contact the support member under an applied torque thereby tensioning the fastener by forming a gap between the support member and the flange, and each spacer of the plurality of spacers is inserted within the gap; wherein the spaced-apart through holes are configured to allow the lifting elements to be removed from the top side of the flange, and, when the lifting elements are removed from the plurality of spaced-apart through holes of the flange, tension forces applied on the fastener are maintained by the plurality of spacers and the bottom side of the flange physically contacts the plurality of spacers; wherein the fastener is a bolt, the flange is a head of the bolt, and a bottom end of the shank, which is distal to the head is located within a connection element configured to receive the fastener; wherein the plurality of spacers reside underneath the flange from the inner part of the flange to at least the outer edge of the flange; wherein the plurality of spacers are flexible to provide a suspension that isolates the shank from external influences;
applying a torque to the plurality of lifting elements of the apparatus until a distance between a reference point and the apparatus becomes smaller than a given threshold and a gap is formed between the fastener and the support member;
inserting the plurality of spacers of the apparatus in the gap; and
removing the plurality of lifting elements from the fastener.

16. The method according to claim 15 , wherein at least one lifting element (of the plurality of lifting elements is removed by a lifting protocol that ensures a resulting gap section corresponds to a specific shape of a spacer.

17. The method according to claim 16 , wherein according to the lifting protocol at least one first lifting element is inserted in the fastener and at least one first spacer is inserted in a corresponding first gap section in a first step, and in a second step, after the first step, at least one second lifting element is inserted in the fastener and at least one second spacer is inserted in a corresponding second gap section.

Assignees

• Siemens Gamesa Renewable Energy Innovation & Technology SL

Inventors

• Redin Miqueleiz Juan

Classifications

• F16B31/04 Primary

  for maintaining {a} tensile load · CPC title

• Y02E10/72

  Wind turbines with rotation axis in wind direction · CPC title

• F05B2260/30

  Retaining components in desired mutual position · CPC title

• B23P19/067

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

• B25B23/00

  Details of, or accessories for, spanners, wrenches, screwdrivers (bolt tensioners B25B29/02) · CPC title