Root end assembly for manufacturing a wind turbine blade

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-12398690-B2
Application number	US-202218566828-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jun 23, 2022
Priority date	Jun 28, 2021
Publication date	Aug 26, 2025
Grant date	Aug 26, 2025

Abstract

The present invention relates to a root end assembly ( 100 ) for incorporating a plurality of fastening members ( 74 ) into the root end of a wind turbine blade shell part during a moulding operation. The root end assembly ( 100 ) comprises a mounting plate ( 70 ) with a plurality of apertures ( 72 ) and a plurality of sheath members ( 83 ), each sheath member being disposed in a respective aperture of the plurality of apertures ( 72 ). Connection members ( 78 ) are received in the sheath members ( 83 ), and a plurality of said fastening members ( 74 ) are releasably attached to a respective connection member of the plurality of connection members ( 78 ) such that the fastening members ( 74 ) extend substantially normal to a first surface ( 77 ) of the mounting plate ( 70 ). The apertures ( 72 ) are dimensioned for allowing translational movement of the sheath members ( 83 ) in the respective apertures ( 72 ).

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. A root end assembly ( 100 ) for incorporating a plurality of fastening members ( 74 ) into the root end of a wind turbine blade shell part, the root end assembly ( 100 ) comprising:
a mounting plate ( 70 ) comprising a first surface ( 77 ), an opposing second surface ( 79 ) and a plurality of apertures ( 72 ) extending through the mounting plate ( 70 ) from the first surface ( 77 ) to the second surface ( 79 ), wherein the plurality of apertures ( 72 ) are arranged in the mounting plate ( 70 ) along an arc-shaped path ( 96 );
a plurality of sheath members ( 83 ), each of the sheath members being disposed in a respective aperture of the plurality of apertures ( 72 ); and
a plurality of connection members ( 78 ), each of the connection members being received in a respective sheath member of the plurality of sheath members ( 83 ),
wherein each of the fastening members is releasably attached to a respective connection member of the plurality of connection members ( 78 ) such that the fastening members ( 74 ) extend substantially normal to the first surface ( 77 ) of the mounting plate ( 70 ), and
wherein at least a subset of the apertures ( 72 ) is dimensioned for allowing translational movement of the sheath members ( 83 ) in the respective apertures ( 72 ).

2. The root end assembly ( 100 ) according to claim 1 , wherein the mounting plate ( 70 ) further comprises a plurality of biasing members ( 94 ), each biasing member extending at least partly into a respective aperture of the plurality of apertures ( 72 ), wherein each biasing member ( 94 ) is engaged with a respective sheath member ( 83 ) for biasing the sheath member towards a first position within the respective aperture.

3. The root end assembly ( 100 ) according to claim 2 , wherein the biasing member comprises a spring, a hydraulic actuator, a pneumatic actuator, or an elastic member.

4. The root end assembly ( 100 ) according to claim 3 , wherein the elastic member comprises vulcanized rubber.

5. The root end assembly ( 100 ) according to claim 1 , wherein the arc-shaped path ( 96 ) comprises a semi-circular path or a circular path.

6. The root end assembly ( 100 ) according to claim 1 , wherein said translational movement is between a first position and a second position of the sheath member within its respective the aperture.

7. The root end assembly ( 100 ) according to claim 1 , wherein dimensions of the apertures ( 72 ) vary along said arc-shaped path ( 96 ).

8. The root end assembly ( 100 ) according to claim 1 , wherein dimensions of the apertures ( 72 ) decrease from end points of the arc-shaped path towards a midpoint of the arc-shaped path.

9. The root end assembly ( 100 ) according to claim 1 , wherein the plurality of apertures ( 72 ) includes apertures ( 72 ) having a first shape and apertures ( 72 ) having a second shape, wherein the first shape is different from the second shape.

10. The root end assembly ( 100 ) according to claim 1 , wherein the first surface ( 77 ) and/or the second surface ( 79 ) of the mounting plate comprises one or more recessed portions ( 71 a , 71 b ), each recessed portion surrounding a respective aperture of the plurality of apertures, and wherein one or more of the sheath members ( 83 ) comprises a flange ( 97 a , 97 b ), said flange being disposed in the recessed portion of the mounting plate.

11. The root end assembly ( 100 ) according to claim 1 , wherein each of the connection members is received in a respective one of the sheath members in a snug fit arrangement.

12. The root end assembly ( 100 ) according to claim 1 , wherein the fastening members ( 74 ) are bushings.

13. A method of manufacturing a wind turbine blade shell part, wherein the method comprises the steps of:
a) arranging one or more outer fibre layers on a mould surface, the one or more outer fibre layers defining an outer surface of the wind turbine blade shell part;
b) providing a root end assembly ( 100 ) according to claim 1 ;
c) arranging the plurality of fastening members ( 74 ) of the root end assembly ( 100 ) on top of the one or more outer fibre layers at a root end section of the mould, while the fastening members ( 74 ) are releasably attached to the respective connection members ( 78 ) of the root end assembly ( 100 );
d) arranging one or more inner fibre layers on top of the plurality of fastening members ( 74 );
e) supplying a resin to the outer and inner fibre layers;
f) allowing the resin to cure so as to form the composite structure; and
g) detaching the connection members ( 78 ) from the fastening members ( 74 ) and removing the mounting plate ( 70 ).

14. The method according to claim 13 , wherein at least a subset of the fastening members ( 74 ) undergoes translational movement relative to the mounting plate ( 70 ) during steps e) and/or f).

15. The method according to claim 14 , wherein said translational movement is between a first position and a second position of the respective fastening members ( 74 ) relative to the mounting plate ( 70 ).

16. The method according to claim 13 , wherein the mounting plate ( 70 ) further comprises a plurality of biasing members ( 94 ) each being engaged with a respective sheath member for biasing the sheath member towards a first position within its respective aperture, and wherein the respective sheath members ( 83 ) return to said first position after detaching the connection members ( 78 ) from the fastening members ( 74 ).

Assignees

• Lm Wind Power Blades S A S
• Lm Wind Power As

Inventors

• Barslev Henrik
• Iversen Morten Dall

Classifications

• F03D1/0658 Primary

  Arrangements for fixing wind-engaging parts to a hub · CPC title

• B29C33/12

  with incorporated means for positioning inserts, e.g. labels {(positioning reinforcements B29C70/541)} · CPC title

• F05B2260/301

  Retaining bolts or nuts · CPC title

• F05B2230/20

  essentially without removing material · CPC title

• B29L2031/085

  Wind turbine blades · CPC title