System and method for transporting or storing wind turbine tower sections

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2018111750-A1
Application number	US-201615333242-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Oct 25, 2016
Priority date	Oct 25, 2016
Publication date	Apr 26, 2018
Grant date	—

Abstract

The present disclosure is directed to a system for transporting or storing one or more tower sections of a tower of a wind turbine. The system includes at least one pair of cradle elements having a first cradle element configured to support a lower portion of the tower section and a second cradle element configured to support an upper portion of the tower section. The first and second cradle elements are securable to a flange of one of the tower sections and are also reversible in that a first side of the first and second cradle elements is configured to accommodate a tower section having a first diameter and an opposite, second side of the first and second cradle elements is configured to accommodate a tower section having a different, second diameter. The system also includes a pair of support members coupled to each of the first and second cradle elements.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1 . A system for transporting or storing one or more tower sections of a tower of a wind turbine, the system comprising:
at least one pair of cradle elements comprising:
a first cradle element configured to support a lower portion of the tower section; and,
a second cradle element configured to support an upper portion of the tower section, the first and second cradle elements securable to a flange of one of the tower sections and being reversible in that a first side of the first and second cradle elements is configured to accommodate a tower section having a first diameter and an opposite, second side of the first and second cradle elements is configured to accommodate a tower section having a different, second diameter; and,
a pair of support members coupled to each of the first and second cradle elements.

2 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the first and second cradle elements each comprise one or more bolt slot openings, the first and second cradle elements securable to the flange of one of the tower sections via one or more flange bolts being secured through the one or more bolt slot openings.

3 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the first and second cradle elements each comprise an upper surface, the upper surfaces comprising one or more fork lift pockets.

4 . The system of claim 3 , wherein the upper surface of the first cradle element and a lower surface of the second cradle element each comprise a pair of recesses configured to receive the pair of support members.

5 . The system of claim 3 , wherein the upper surface of the second cradle element is a flat continuous upper surface configured for receiving a first cradle element of an adjacent tower section stacked thereon.

6 . The system of claim 4 , wherein each of the support members comprise an H-shaped cross-section comprising parallel flanges separated by a web.

7 . The system of claim 6 , wherein each of support members comprises one or more rod members welded between the parallel flanges adjacent to the web on one or more sides thereof.

8 . The system of claim 6 , further comprising at least one shim plate configured to fit within each of the recesses.

9 . The system of claim 8 , wherein each of support members comprises opposing end caps comprising one or more bolt hole locations configured to receive shim bolts that secure the shim plates thereto.

10 . The system of claim 1 , wherein at least one of the first cradle element or the second cradle element comprises one or more trunnions configured on opposing sides thereof.

11 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the first and second cradle elements comprise one or more attachment locations configured to receive at least one of a chain or strap for securing the first and second cradle elements to a foundation, wherein the one or more attachment locations comprise one or more D-rings.

12 . The system of claim 1 , further comprising a plurality of pairs of cradle elements and a plurality of pairs of support members configured to fit a plurality of tower sections having varying diameters.

13 . A system for transporting or storing one or more tower sections of a tower of a wind turbine, the system comprising:
at least one cradle element configured to support a lower portion of the tower section, the cradle element securable to a flange of one of the tower sections and being reversible in that the cradle element comprises:
a first side comprising a first arrangement of bolt holes that correspond to bolt locations of the flange of a tower section having a first diameter; and,
an opposite, second side comprising a second arrangement of bolt holes that correspond to bolt locations of the flange of a tower section having a different, second diameter.

14 . A method of transporting or storing tower sections of a tower of a wind turbine, the method comprising:
arranging a first tower section in a horizontal position; selecting a pair of cradle elements for securing to a flange of the first tower section based on a diameter of the flanges, the pair of cradle elements comprising a first cradle element and a second cradle element; securing the first cradle element to a lower portion of the flange of the first tower section; installing first ends of a pair of support members into a first pair of recesses defined by the first cradle element; installing second ends of the pair of support members into a second pair of recesses defined by the second cradle element; and, securing the second cradle element to an upper portion of the flange of the first tower section.

15 . The method of claim 14 , further comprising securing at least one of the first or second cradle elements at the flange to a foundation.

16 . The method of claim 14 , further comprising identifying a center line of the flange of the first tower section and locating a center of the first and second cradle elements for the flange at the center line.

17 . The method of claim 14 , further comprising selecting which side of the first and second cradle elements to secure to the lower and upper portions of the flange of the first tower section, respectively, wherein a first side of the first and second cradle elements is configured to accommodate a tower section having a first diameter and an opposite, second side of the first and second cradle elements is configured to accommodate a tower section having a different, second diameter.

18 . The method of claim 14 , wherein securing the first and second cradle elements to the lower and upper portion of the flange of the first tower section, respectively, further comprises:
while the first tower section is held in place, aligning one or more bolt slot openings of the first and second cradle elements with bolt locations of the flange of the first tower section; inserting a plurality of bolts through the one or more bolt slot openings; and, mounting the first and second cradle elements to the lower and upper portion of the flange of the first tower section, respectively, via the bolts.

19 . The method of claim 14 , further comprising inserting at least one of a support pad or a shim plate into at least one of the first or second pairs of recesses of the first and second cradle elements before inserting the pair of support members.

20 . The method of claim 14 , further comprising securing additional first cradle elements to lower portions of a flange of a second tower section and stacking the second tower section atop the first tower section.

Assignees

• Gen Electric

Inventors

• Klein Douglas C
• Liles Joseph
• Stuart Peter

Classifications

• B65D2585/6897

  others · CPC title

• B65D85/68 Primary

  for machines, engines or vehicles in assembled or dismantled form · CPC title

• F16M11/00

  Stands or trestles as supports for apparatus or articles placed thereon {; Stands for scientific apparatus such as gravitational force meters} (without heads F16M13/00; easels or stands for blackboards or the like A47B97/04; show-stands A47F7/00; for workmen E04G1/32; {sockets or holders for poles or posts E04H12/22;} supporting or suspending for lighting devices F21V21/00) · CPC title

• B60P3/40

  for carrying long loads, e.g. with separate wheeled load supporting elements ({E04G21/14 takes precedence}; signal devices to be attached to overhanging load B60Q7/02) · CPC title

• B60P7/12

  the load being tree-trunks, beams, drums, tubes, or the like · CPC title