Tower erecting system

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2016010356-A1
Application number	US-201514860281-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Sep 21, 2015
Priority date	Jan 20, 2012
Publication date	Jan 14, 2016
Grant date	—

Abstract

In certain embodiments, a tower lifting system comprises a primary lifting system and a secondary lifting system. The primary lifting system includes a lift cap configured to support a tower section to be lifted, the lift cap having a first plurality of hoists, and a lift pole coupled to the lift cap, the lift pole having a lifting mechanism configured to lift the lift cap, the lift pole, and the tower section to be lifted from within a previously lifted tower section. The secondary lifting system comprises a second plurality of hoists configured to raise the tower section to be lifted to the lift cap from a tower foundation.

First claim

1 . A method for erecting a tower, comprising:
nesting frusto-conical tower sections within one another and within a frusto-conical tower base; securing the frusto-conical tower base to a tower foundation; lifting each frusto-conical tower section from within the frusto-conical tower base with a lifting apparatus; and securing each frusto-conical tower section to the frusto-conical tower base or to a previously lifted frusto-conical tower section.

2 . The method of claim 1 , comprising securing a nacelle having a wind turbine to the lifting apparatus.

3 . The method of claim 1 , comprising monitoring an angle of the lifting apparatus with a leveling sensor, and adjusting an angle of the lifting apparatus with a control system coupled to the leveling sensor and the lifting apparatus based upon feedback from the leveling sensor.

4 . The method of claim 3 , wherein adjusting the angle of the lifting apparatus with the control system comprises regulating operation of at least one hoist of the lifting apparatus.

5 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the lifting apparatus comprises a secondary lifting system configured to raise each frusto-conical tower section to a lifting position, and a primary lifting system configured to raise each frusto-conical tower section and the lifting apparatus into an assembled position.

6 . The method of claim 5 , comprising raising each frusto-conical tower section to the lifting position with a plurality of hoists of the secondary lifting system.

7 . The method of claim 5 , comprising raising each frusto-conical tower section and the lifting apparatus into the assembled position with a lift pole, a lift cap, and a plurality of hoists of the primary lifting system.

8 . The method of claim 7 , wherein the lift cap is disposed at an axial end of the frusto-conical tower sections, the plurality of hoists is disposed on an outer surface of the lift cap, and the lift pole is disposed within an inner volume of at least one frusto-conical tower section.

9 . The method of claim 1 , wherein a cross-section of each frusto-conical tower section in a plane parallel with a base of each frusto-conical tower section has a polygonal, circular, oval, corrugated, or fluted shape.

10 . A tower lifting system, comprising:
a primary lifting system disposed at least partially internal to an inner volume of a first tower section of a multi-section tower, wherein the inner volume of the first tower section is defined by a wall of the first tower section, and wherein the primary lifting system is configured to raise the first tower section, a secondary lifting system, and the primary lifting system to an assembled position; and the secondary lifting system, wherein the secondary lifting system is configured to raise the first tower section to a lifting position.

11 . The system of claim 10 , wherein the secondary lifting system comprises first hoists configured to raise the first tower section to the lifting position from a tower foundation and mounts configured to secure the first tower section in the lifting position.

12 . The system of claim 10 , wherein the primary lifting system comprises a lift pole and a plurality of cables, wherein the lift pole is configured to lift the first tower section to the assembled position as the plurality of cables are reeled in by second hoists.

13 . The system of claim 10 , wherein the primary lifting system is configured to support and lift a nacelle of the tower, wherein the nacelle comprises a wind turbine rotor, a wind turbine generator, or both.

14 . The system of claim 10 , comprising a leveling sensor coupled to a control system, wherein the control system is configured to regulate operation of the primary lifting system based upon feedback from the leveling sensor.

15 . The system of claim 14 , wherein the control system is configured to regulate operation of at least one hoist of the primary lifting system based upon feedback from the leveling sensor.

16 . A system, comprising:
a lift cap configured to be disposed on an axial end of a nested plurality of tower sections, wherein the lift cap is configured to support a tower section of the nested plurality of tower sections to be lifted, and the lift cap comprises a first plurality of hoists disposed on an outer surface of the lift cap; and a lift pole coupled to the lift cap, wherein the lift pole comprises a lifting mechanism configured to lift the lift cap, the lift pole, and the tower section to be lifted from within a previously lifted tower section of a plurality of nested tower sections.

17 . The system of claim 16 , wherein the lifting mechanism comprises a first plurality of pulleys disposed on a first axial end of the lift pole and a second plurality of pulleys disposed on a second axial end of the lift pole.

18 . The system of claim 17 , wherein each of the first plurality of hoists comprises a respective cable routed through at least one of the first plurality of pulleys and at least one of the second plurality of pulleys, and wherein each cable is configured to couple to a respective lifting lug of the previously lifted tower section.

19 . The system of claim 16 , comprising a second plurality of hoists disposed on an inner surface of the lift cap, wherein the second plurality of hoists is configured to raise the tower section to be lifted from a lowered position to a raised position against the lift cap.

20 . The system of claim 16 , wherein the lift cap comprises a plurality of wheels configured to travel along an outer surface of the previously lifted tower section as the lifting mechanism lifts the lift cap, the lift pole, and the tower section to be lifted.

Assignees

• Illinois Tool Works

Inventors

• Jones Jerald Edward
• Rhoades Valerie Lisa

Classifications

• E04H12/342 Primary

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

• E04H12/344

  Arrangements for lifting tower sections for placing additional sections under them · CPC title

• F03D13/20

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

• E04H12/34 Primary

  Arrangements for erecting or lowering towers, masts, poles, chimney stacks, or the like · CPC title

• Y02E10/728

  Onshore wind turbines · CPC title