Tower segment handling method and apparatus

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2017030102-A1
Application number	US-201515303534-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Apr 14, 2015
Priority date	Apr 14, 2014
Publication date	Feb 2, 2017
Grant date	—

Abstract

This application relates to tower segment handling methods and apparatus, and in particular to methods and apparatus for handling segments of steel wind turbine towers. The wind turbine tower comprises a plurality of cylindrical vertical tower sections, which in the finished tower are mounted on top of one another. The vertical section of the tower has a longitudinal axis and comprises a plurality of wind turbine tower segments, the tower segments have vertical and horizontal edges and combine to form a complete vertical tower section by joining along their vertical edges. Adjacent vertical tower sections are joined to each other along the horizontal edges of the wind turbine tower segments. The tower segments are combined into a tower section using a flat roller bed on which the segments can be assembled. A method of assembling a tower section is discussed.

First claim

1 . A steel wind turbine tower segment for a steel wind turbine tower,
the wind turbine tower comprising a plurality of cylindrical vertical tower sections, which in the finished tower are mounted on top of one another, a vertical section of the tower having a longitudinal axis and comprising a plurality of wind turbine tower segments, the tower segments having vertical and horizontal edges and combining to form a complete vertical tower section by joining along their vertical edges, wherein adjacent vertical tower sections are joined to each other along the horizontal edges of the wind turbine tower segments, wherein the steel wind turbine tower segments comprise: a curved sheet having a curved profile and forming a partial longitudinal surface of the vertical tower section, the sheet having a first and second pair of opposing edges, the first pair of opposing edges forming the vertical edges of the tower segment and the second pair of opposing edges forming the horizontal edges; flanges coupled to the second pair of opposing edges to form upper and lower horizontal flanges; first and second respective support members coupled to the segment, the first and second respective support members spanning between the first pair of opposing edges to support the sheet in a curved profile when the segment is not joined to other tower segments.

2 . The wind turbine tower segment of claim 1 , wherein the first and second respective support members are coupled to the respective upper and lower horizontal flanges, to the segment or to vertical flanges attached to the vertical edges of the segment.

3 . The tower segment of claim 1 , wherein the first and second respective support members have load bearing surfaces for engaging with complementary load bearing surfaces of the first and second respective support members of the other wind turbine tower segments; and
the plurality of wind turbine tower segments are stackable on top of one another when the tower section is not assembled, with the load bearing surface of the first support member of a first wind turbine tower segment resting on the complementary load bearing surface of the first support member of a second wind turbine segment, lower in the stack.

4 . The wind turbine tower segment of claim 3 , wherein the first and second support members comprise a rigid beam, opposing surfaces of the rigid beam forming the complementary load bearing surfaces for engaging with the opposing surfaces of first and second support members on the other tower segments in the plurality of tower segments.

5 . The wind turbine tower segment of claim 4 , wherein one of the opposing surfaces of the rigid beam has a protruding lock portion and the other has a recess for receiving the protruding lock portion of the support member of the other tower segment.

6 . The wind turbine tower segment of claim 4 , wherein the rigid beam has angled shoulder portions at each end for joining to the respective horizontal flange, segment or vertical flange, the angled shoulder portions and the rigid beam each having a longitudinal axis, and the longitudinal axes of each of the shoulder portions and the rigid beam making a non-zero angle with the other longitudinal axes.

7 . The wind turbine tower segment of claim 1 , wherein the first and second support members are releasably coupled to the horizontal flange.

8 . The wind turbine tower segment of claim 1 , wherein the first and second support members are positioned longitudinally adjacent and outside the curved sheet of the tower segment, so that the upper and lower horizontal flanges are intermediate the tower segment and the respective first and second support members, and the first and second support members do not overlap the curved sheet when viewed along an axis orthogonal to the longitudinal axis of the segment.

9 . A vertical tower section of a wind turbine tower, comprising a plurality of the wind turbine tower segments defined in claim 1 .

10 . The vertical tower section of claim 9 , wherein the segments are identical in shape to one another.

11 . The vertical tower section of claim 9 , wherein the tower segments in the tower section are similar in shape, differing only in the angular extent of the cylindrical tower section subtended by each segment.

12 . The vertical tower section of claim 9 wherein the support members are identical in shape to one another.

13 . The vertical tower section of claim 9 , wherein the vertical tower sections are comprised of three or four equally shaped segments

14 . The vertical tower section of claim 9 , wherein the cylindrical vertical tower section has a circular cross-section.

15 . A wind turbine tower comprising a plurality of the vertical tower sections defined in claim 9 .

16 . The wind turbine tower of claim 15 , wherein the diameter of the cylindrical tower sections tapers from the base of the tower to the tip of the tower.

17 . A method of handling the wind turbine tower segments of claim 1 , the method comprising:
a) receiving a plurality of said tower segments; b) lifting a first segment in the plurality of segments, and loading the first segment onto a flat support bed so that the longitudinal axis of the tower segment is arranged substantially horizontally with respect to the ground on which the support bed is located, the support bed comprising at least two parallel beams running orthogonally to the longitudinal axis of the first segment; c) securing the first segment in place on the two parallel beams; d) lifting a second segment from the plurality of segments, and positioning the second segment adjacent and above the first segment; e) coupling the second segment to the first segment along a pair of respective first edges to form a partial vertical tower section, the partial vertical tower section having a join between the first and second segments at the first pair of first edges, and an opening between the second, opposite pair of first edges; f) releasing the first segment at one side so that it can roll under its own weight along the at least two parallel beams into a new equilibrium position; g) re-securing the first partial tower section in place on the two parallel beams; h) lifting a third segment in the plurality of segments, and positioning the third segment adjacent and above the partial vertical tower section, and coupling the third segment to the first segment along a pair of respective first edges, wherein the completed vertical tower section rests on the at least two parallel beams of the support bed in a horizontal orientation and so that the longitudinal axis of the vertical tower section is arranged substantially horizontally with respect to the ground on which the support bed is located.

18 . The method of claim 17 , wherein one or more of the lifting, loading, and positioning steps is carried out using a crane or vehicle with a hydraulic lifting arm.

19 . The method of claim 17 , wherein the loading and positioning steps are carried out using a rotational lifting tool supported on the crane.

20 . The method of claim 17 , comprising after step e) and before step f) inserting a rigid support member between the first edges of the first and second segments opposite the edges that were joined together, the rigid support member bridging the gap between the non-joined edges.

21 . The method of claim 20 , wherein the rigid support member comprises a telescopic supporting arm that can be extended and locked into position, and which can be collapsed

Assignees

• Vestas Wind Sys As

Inventors

• Pedersen Gunnar K Storgaard

Classifications

• F05B2230/61

  using auxiliary equipment for lifting or holding · CPC title

• F03D13/10 Primary

  Assembly of wind motors; Arrangements for erecting wind motors · CPC title

• F05B2230/604

  using positioning or alignment devices for aligning or centering, e.g. pins · CPC title

• F03D13/20

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

• F05B2230/60

  Assembly methods · CPC title