Lattice tower assembly for a wind turbine

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9038348-B1
Application number	US-201314132622-A
Country	US
Kind code	B1
Filing date	Dec 18, 2013
Priority date	Dec 18, 2013
Publication date	May 26, 2015
Grant date	May 26, 2015

Abstract

The present subject matter is directed to a lattice tower covering and/or assembly for a wind turbine. The lattice tower assembly includes a plurality of structural members connected together to define an open lattice tower. The structural members include a plurality of supports, a plurality of inner cross-support members, and a plurality of outer cross-support members. The inner and outer cross-support members are connected between the supports so as to define one or more openings. The lattice tower covering includes one or more panel elements. Each of the panel elements are retained in position between the supports and cover at least a portion of one or more of the openings. Further, the lattice tower covering has a surface area defined by the plurality of supports and the one or more panel elements.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A lattice tower assembly for a wind turbine, the lattice tower assembly comprising:
a plurality of structural members connected together to define an open lattice tower, the structural members comprising a plurality of supports, a plurality of inner cross-support members, and a plurality of outer cross-support members, the inner and outer cross-support members being connected between the supports so as to define one or more openings, wherein each of the inner cross-support members overlaps one of the outer cross-support members; and,
a lattice tower covering comprising one or more panel elements, each of the panel elements sandwiched between overlapping inner and outer cross-support members,
wherein the panel elements are configured to cover at least a portion of one or more of the openings, and wherein the lattice tower covering comprises a surface area defined by the plurality of supports and the one or more panel elements.

2. The lattice tower assembly of claim 1 , wherein the plurality of supports are configured so as to define an internal volume between each of the supports, wherein the panel elements are connected between the supports within the internal volume.

3. The lattice tower assembly of claim 2 , wherein the internal volume is defined by a height of each of the supports, a distance between the supports, and a width of each of the supports.

4. The lattice tower assembly of claim 1 , wherein the one or more panel elements are coupled to one or more of the cross-support members.

5. The lattice tower assembly of claim 1 , wherein each of the one or more panel elements comprise one of a corrugated profile, a curved profile, or a flat profile.

6. The lattice tower assembly of claim 1 , wherein the one or more panel elements are constructed of one of or a combination of a thermoplastic polymer or a metal, wherein the thermoplastic polymer comprises a polycarbonate.

7. The lattice tower assembly of claim 1 , further comprising one or more joints configured to secure the panel elements to the lattice tower assembly.

8. The lattice tower assembly of claim 7 , wherein the one or more joints further comprise at least one of a flat plate joint, a panel-leg joint, a Z-joint, an H-joint, a bolted-joint, or a U-shaped joint.

Assignees

• Gen Electric

Inventors

• Fang Biao
• Phelps Robert Allan
• Oliphant David Drue
• Weber William Clark

Classifications

• E04H12/10 Primary

  Truss-like structures · CPC title

• F05B2240/9121

  on a lattice tower · CPC title

• F03D11/04 Primary

  Mechanical Engineering · mapped topic

• Y02E10/728

  Onshore wind turbines · CPC title

• E04B2001/199

  Details of roofs, floors or walls supported by the framework · CPC title