Lifting Device for a Wind Turbine Rotor Blade

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2017218915-A1
Application number	US-201615011725-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Feb 1, 2016
Priority date	Feb 1, 2016
Publication date	Aug 3, 2017
Grant date	—

Abstract

The present disclosure is directed to a lifting device for a rotor blade of a wind turbine. The lifting device includes at least one cradle and a vacuum sealing system configured with the cradle. The cradle has a profile that corresponds to at least one of the exterior surfaces of the rotor blade so as to support at least a portion of the rotor blade. The vacuum sealing system is configured to secure the rotor blade to the cradle as the rotor blade is lifted and/or lowered from a hub mounted atop a tower of the wind turbine.

First claim

1 . A lift system a rotor blade of a wind turbine, the lift system mprising:
a rotor blade having exterior surfaces defining a pressure side, a suction side, a leading edge, and a trailing edge extending in a generally span-wise direction between a tip and a root; a lifting device comprising at least one cradle comprising a blade-contacting surface having a shape that corresponds to at least one of the exterior surfaces of the rotor blade so as to support at least a portion of the rotor blade the at least one cradle further comprising least one seal secured around at least a portion of a periphery of the blade-contacting surface and a vacuum channel extending through the at least one cradle to the blade-contacting surface within the seal; and, a vacuum sealing system configured to secure the rotor blade to the seal as the rotor blade is lifted or lowered from a hub mounted atop a tower of the wind turbine.

2 - 3 . (canceled)

4 . The lift system of claim 1 , wherein the at least one seal is constructed of an elastomeric material, wherein the elastomeric material comprises at least one of a polyurethane, a rubber, a silicone, or a latex.

5 . The lift system of claim 1 , wherein the vacuum sealing system further comprises:
a vacuum reservoir, a vacuum pump configured with the vacuum reservoir, and one or more valves configured therebetween.

6 . The lift system of claim 5 , further comprising a controller and one or more sensors, the controller configured to receive signals from the one or more sensors so as to control the one or more valves to provide a vacuum between the at least one seal and the rotor blade.

7 . The lift system of claim 5 , wherein the at least one vacuum channel is in fluid communication with the vacuum reservoir.

8 . The lift system of claim 1 , further comprising a root cradle for supporting the root of the rotor blade and a tip cradle for supporting the tip of the rotor blade.

9 . The lift system of claim 8 , wherein the lifting device further comprises a structural frame body for connecting and supporting the root cradle and the tip cradle.

10 . The lift system of claim 1 , further comprising one or more safety features configured to restrict movement of the rotor

11 . The lift system of claim 10 , further comprising a crane and a crane cable or sling, the crane cable or sling connected to the crane and the structural frame body for lifting or lowering the rotor blade between the hub and the ground.

12 . A lifting device for lifting or lowering a rotor blade to and from a hub mounted atop a tower of a wind turbine, the lifting device comprising:
at least one cradle configured to support at least a portion of the rotor blade, the at least one cradle comprising a blade-contacting surface having a shape profile that corresponds to at least one of the exterior surfaces of the rotor blade, the at least one cradle further comprising least one seal secured around at least a portion of a periphery of the blade-contacting surface and a vacuum channel extending through the at least one cradle to the blade-contacting surface; and, a vacuum sealing system configured with the cradle so as to secure the rotor blade to the seal as the rotor blade is lifted or lowered to and from the hub.

13 - 14 . (canceled)

15 . The lifting device of claim 12 , wherein the at least one seal is constructed of an elastomeric material, wherein the elastomeric material comprises at least one of a polyurethane, a rubber, a silicone, or a latex.

16 . The lifting device of claim 12 , wherein the vacuum sealing system further comprises:
a vacuum reservoir, a vacuum pump configured with the vacuum reservoir, and one or more valves configured therebetween, wherein the at least one cradle further comprises at least one vacuum channel configured therethrough, the at least one vacuum channel in fluid communication with the vacuum reservoir.

17 . The lifting device of claim 12 , further comprising:
a root cradle for supporting the root of the rotor blade, a tip cradle for supporting the tip of the rotor blade, and a structural frame body for connecting and supporting the root cradle and the tip cradle.

18 . The lifting device of claim 12 , further comprises one or more safety features configured to restrict movement of the rotor blade.

19 . A method for lifting a rotor blade to a hub mounted atop a tower of a wind turbine, the method comprising:
placing a root of the rotor blade atop a first seal secured around at least a portion of a periphery of a root cradle of a lifting device; placing a tip of the rotor blade atop a second seal secured around at least a portion of a periphery of a tip cradle of the lifting device; securing the root and the tip of the rotor blade in the root and tip cradles, respectively, via a vacuum sealing system configured with each of the cradles, the vacuum sealing system comprising at least one vacuum channel extending through each of the root and tip cradles to blade-contacting surfaces thereof within the first and second seals, respectively; securing a crane cable or sling to the lifting device; and, lifting, via a crane secured to the crane cable or sling, the rotor blade to the hub mounted atop the tower of the wind turbine.

20 . The method of claim 19 , further comprising:
receiving, via one or more sensors, a plurality of pressure signals indicative of a vacuum pressure of the vacuum sealing system, and controlling, via a controller communicatively coupled to the one or more sensors, the vacuum pressure of the vacuum sealing system so as to maintain a vacuum between the root and the tip of the rotor blade and the root cradle and the tip cradle, respectively.

Assignees

• Gen Electric

Inventors

• Wilmot Theodore Steven
• Busbey Bruce Clark
• Close Ryan Spencer

Classifications

• B66C1/108

  for lifting parts of wind turbines · CPC title

• B66C23/185 Primary

  for use erecting wind turbines (B66C23/207 takes precedence) · CPC title

• F03D1/0675

  of the blades · CPC title

• F03D1/0691

  of the hub · CPC title

• F05B2230/61

  using auxiliary equipment for lifting or holding · CPC title