Tightening device

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-12366229-B2
Application number	US-202217695915-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Mar 16, 2022
Priority date	Mar 26, 2021
Publication date	Jul 22, 2025
Grant date	Jul 22, 2025

Abstract

A tightening device for a wind turbine configured to fasten and/or tighten a plurality of fasteners to a fastening target object, wherein the fasteners are arranged in a circle. The tightening device includes a center bearing unit for allowing the rotation of the tightening device about a center axis, a torque unit for applying torque on the fasteners to fasten and/or tighten the fasteners to the fastening target object, and a first arm extending in a radial direction from the center bearing unit and supporting the torque unit.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. A tightening device for a wind turbine configured to fasten and/or tighten a plurality of fasteners to a target object of the wind turbine, wherein the fasteners are arranged in a circle, the tightening device comprising:
a center bearing unit arranged to permit rotational movement of the tightening device about a center axis that is concentric with an axis of the target object, wherein the center bearing unit is configured to be attached to a surface of the target object of the wind turbine, wherein the center axis is normal relative to the surface of the target object to which the center bearing unit is configured to be attached to;
a torque unit to, in operation, apply torque to the fasteners to fasten and/or tighten the fasteners to the target object of the wind turbine; and
a first arm extending in a radial direction away from the center bearing unit, wherein the torque unit is mounted on the first arm between a first end of the first arm proximate the center bearing unit and a radial outer end of the arm, wherein the first arm is detachably connected to the center bearing unit.

2. The tightening device according to claim 1 , wherein the tightening device is configured to remove the fasteners from the target object.

3. The tightening device according to claim 1 , wherein the tightening device further comprises a rotational movement unit connected at the radial outer end of the first arm, the rotational movement unit including an electric motor, which, during operation, generates the rotational movement of the tightening device about the center axis.

4. The tightening device according to claim 3 , wherein the rotational movement unit further comprises a rotatable element comprising one of a sphere and a friction wheel arranged at a support connected to the tightening device, wherein the rotatable element, in operation, is driven by the electric motor so that the rotational movement unit rotates on a rotational movement unit rail circumferentially arranged along a perimeter of the target object to control the rotation and a position of the tightening device.

5. The tightening device according to claim 1 , wherein the torque unit comprises a tightening socket configured to engage the fasteners to tighten and/or fasten the fasteners to the target object.

6. The tightening device according to claim 1 , wherein the torque unit comprises a first torque unit rail to translate the torque unit along the radial direction to match a radial position of the torque unit with a radial position of the circle.

7. The tightening device according to claim 6 , wherein the torque unit comprises a second torque unit rail to translate the torque unit along an axial direction to engage the torque unit with a respective fastener of the fasteners to tighten the respective fastener to the target object.

8. The tightening device according to claim 1 , wherein the torque unit comprises a tolerance compensation unit to adjust misalignments between the torque unit and the fasteners.

9. The tightening device according to claim 8 , wherein the tolerance compensation unit comprises a plunger spring unit, wherein the plunger spring unit comprises a plurality of plungers and springs arranged to exert a radial force on a shaft of the torque unit to adjust the misalignments between the torque unit and the fasteners.

10. The tightening device according to claim 1 , wherein the torque unit further comprises a torque unit bearing arranged to permit rotational movement of the torque unit about a torque unit axis to fasten and/or tighten the fasteners.

11. The tightening device according to claim 1 , wherein the tightening device further comprises an energy chain supported by a guide and connected to an energy supply to provide energy to the tightening device.

12. The tightening device according to claim 1 , wherein the tightening device further comprises a controller unit responsive to respective sensors disposed on the rotational movement unit to control the rotation, angular position and/or tightening progress of the tightening device.

13. The tightening device according to claim 1 , wherein the first arm is attached to the center bearing unit by way of a removable connection.

14. The tightening device according to claim 1 , wherein the tightening device comprises a second arm extending at the opposite radial direction of the first arm.

15. The tightening device according to claim 14 , wherein a second torque unit is mounted on the second arm between a first end of the second arm proximate the center bearing unit and a radial outer end of the second arm, wherein the second arm is detachably connected to the center bearing unit.

16. The tightening device according to claim 1 , wherein the center bearing unit comprises an outer bearing ring connected to the first arm, and an inner bearing ring configured to be connected to the surface of the target object, and a plurality of roller elements arranged between the outer bearing ring and the inner bearing ring for allowing the rotational movement by way of rotation of the outer bearing ring around the center axis.

17. The tightening device according to claim 1 , wherein, when the center bearing unit is attached to the surface of the target object, said surface of the target object is disposed on a vertical plane, and the center axis lies on a horizontal plane.

18. A method for fastening and/or tightening a plurality of fasteners arranged in a circle to a target object by way of a tightening device, the tightening device comprising a center bearing unit configured to allow rotational movement of the tightening device about a center axis that is concentric with an axis of the target object, a torque unit, and a first arm extending radially from the center bearing unit, the method comprising:
configuring the center bearing unit to be attached to a surface of the target object of the wind turbine, wherein the center axis is normal relative to the surface of the target object to which the center bearing unit is configured to be attached to,
detachably connecting the first arm to the center bearing unit,
mounting the torque unit on the first arm between a first end of the first arm proximate the center bearing unit and a radial outer end of the arm,
adjusting a radial position of the torque unit to match with a radial position of the circle;
adjusting an angular position of the torque unit to match with an angular position of a first fastener of the plurality of fasteners to be fastened and/or tightened;
engaging the first fastener with the torque unit; and
fastening and/or tightening the first fastener by way of torque applied by the torque unit.

Assignees

• Siemens Gamesa Renewable Energy As

Inventors

• Heins Benjamin
• Kraemer Boy Dario

Classifications

• F05B2230/60

  Assembly methods · CPC title

• B23P19/06 Primary

  Screw or nut setting or loosening machines · CPC title

• B23P19/067

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

• Y02E10/72

  Wind turbines with rotation axis in wind direction · CPC title

• F03D13/00

  Assembly, mounting or commissioning of wind motors; Arrangements specially adapted for transporting wind motor components · CPC title