Method and system for servicing wind turbine rotor

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2016146183-A1
Application number	US-201414548530-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Nov 20, 2014
Priority date	Nov 20, 2014
Publication date	May 26, 2016
Grant date	—

Abstract

A system for enabling servicing of a rotor of a wind turbine is provided. A rotor servicing fixture attaches to a first and second rotor blade, and contacts a wind turbine tower. A clamp assembly is connected to the rotor servicing fixture, and clamps onto a third rotor blade. The clamp assembly lowers the third rotor blade from a hub and raises it back to the hub. A lifting assembly is connected to the rotor servicing fixture and the clamp assembly, and is configured for raising and lowering the third rotor blade via the clamp assembly. A slide assembly is connected to the rotor servicing fixture, and is configured to support the rotor part and to slidably move the rotor part away from or towards the wind turbine. The system enables the rotor part to be removed or replaced without requiring the rotor to be removed from the wind turbine.

First claim

1 . A system for enabling servicing of a rotor of a wind turbine comprising:
a rotor servicing fixture configured to attach to and be supported by a first rotor blade and a second rotor blade, the rotor servicing fixture configured to contact a tower of the wind turbine; a clamp assembly connected to the rotor servicing fixture, the clamp assembly configured to clamp onto a third rotor blade, the clamp assembly configured to lower the third rotor blade from a hub and to raise the third lower blade back to the hub; a lifting assembly connected to the rotor servicing fixture and the clamp assembly, the lifting assembly configured for raising and lowering the third rotor blade via the clamp assembly; a slide assembly connected to the rotor servicing fixture, the slide assembly configured to support the rotor part and to slidably move the rotor part away from or towards the wind turbine; and wherein the system enables the rotor part to be removed or replaced without requiring the rotor to be removed from the wind turbine.

2 . The system of claim 1 , the rotor servicing fixture further comprising:
a first leg and a second leg, both the first leg and the second leg configured to contact the tower of the wind turbine; and wherein both the first leg and the second leg comprise adjustable extension sections.

3 . The system of claim 2 , the rotor servicing fixture further comprising:
a main body having a vertical support section connected to the first leg and the second leg, the vertical support section connected to a top section having a lifting member configured for attachment to a crane; the top section is connected to a rotor blade clamp assembly that is configured to attach to the first rotor blade and the second rotor blade when both the first rotor blade and the second rotor blade remain attached to the rotor; and wherein the first rotor blade is oriented generally at a 10 o'clock position and the second rotor blade is oriented generally at a 2 o'clock position.

4 . The system of claim 1 , the clamp assembly further comprising:
a generally C-shaped clamp having articulated arms, the arms configured to open to pass over a root section of the third rotor blade and to close and clamp onto the root section.

5 . The system of claim 4 , wherein the articulated arms are at least one of:
hydraulically activated, pneumatically activated or tightened around the root section with a cable, a strap or a chain.

6 . The system of claim 1 , the lifting assembly further comprising:
a plurality of cylinders configured to raise or lower; and wherein the plurality of cylinders are hydraulically activated or pneumatically activated.

7 . The system of claim 1 , the slide assembly further comprising:
a frame having at least two sliding rails, wherein the rails slide back and forth to permit the rotor part to be moved away from or towards the wind turbine.

8 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the rotor part is a pitch bearing.

9 . A method for servicing a rotor of a wind turbine comprising:
attaching a rotor servicing fixture to the rotor of the wind turbine, the rotor servicing fixture configured to attach to and be supported by a first rotor blade and a second rotor blade, the rotor servicing fixture configured to contact a tower of the wind turbine; attaching a clamp assembly onto a third rotor blade, the clamp assembly connected to the rotor servicing fixture, the clamp assembly configured to clamp onto the third rotor blade; lowering the third rotor blade by a predetermined amount with the clamp assembly and a lifting assembly, the clamp assembly configured to lower the third rotor blade from a hub and to raise the third lower blade back to the hub, and the lifting assembly is connected to the rotor servicing fixture and the clamp assembly, the lifting assembly configured for raising and lowering the third rotor blade via the clamp assembly; servicing the rotor part, wherein the servicing is performed without removing the rotor from the wind turbine.

10 . The method of claim 9 , further comprising:
transporting the rotor part with a slide assembly, the slide assembly connected to the rotor servicing fixture and configured to support the rotor part and to slidably move the rotor part away from or towards the wind turbine.

11 . The method of claim 9 , the attaching a rotor servicing fixture step further comprising:
raising the rotor servicing fixture to the rotor with a crane.

12 . The method of claim 9 , the rotor servicing fixture further comprising:
a first leg and a second leg, both the first leg and the second leg configured to contact the tower of the wind turbine; and wherein both the first leg and the second leg comprise adjustable extension sections.

13 . The method of claim 9 , the rotor servicing fixture further comprising:
a main body having a vertical support section connected to the first leg and the second leg, the vertical support section connected to a top section having a lifting member configured for attachment to a crane; the top section is connected to a rotor blade clamp assembly that is configured to attach to the first rotor blade and the second rotor blade when both the first rotor blade and the second rotor blade remain attached to the rotor; and wherein the first rotor blade is oriented generally at a 10 o'clock position and the second rotor blade is oriented generally at a 2 o'clock position.

14 . The method of claim 9 , the clamp assembly further comprising:
a generally C-shaped clamp having articulated arms, the arms configured to open to pass over a root section of the third rotor blade and to close and clamp onto the root section.

15 . The method of claim 14 , wherein the articulated arms are at least one of:
hydraulically activated, pneumatically activated or tightened around the root section with a cable, a strap or a chain.

16 . The method of claim 9 , the lifting assembly further comprising:
a plurality of cylinders configured to raise or lower; and wherein the plurality of cylinders are hydraulically activated or pneumatically activated.

17 . The method of claim 10 , the slide assembly further comprising:
a frame having at least two sliding rails, wherein the rails slide back and forth to permit the rotor part to be moved away from or towards the wind turbine.

18 . The method of claim 9 , wherein the rotor part is a pitch bearing.

19 . The method of claim 9 , wherein the servicing step includes removing or replacing the rotor part.

20 . The method of claim 19 , method further comprising the step of:
raising the third rotor blade back up to the hub by using the lifting assembly, and reconnecting the third rotor blade to the hub.

Assignees

• Gen Electric
• Ge Wind Energy Gmbh

Inventors

• Puls Ingo

Classifications

• F03D1/003 Primary

  Mechanical Engineering · mapped topic

• F03D1/001

  Mechanical Engineering · mapped topic

• B66F3/24

  fluid-pressure operated (water-pressure machines F03B; hydraulic gearings F16H; cylinders, pistons F16J; fluid-pressure servomotors F15B) · CPC title

• F03D1/06

  Rotors · CPC title

• F03D11/0008

  Mechanical Engineering · mapped topic