Wind turbine tower section, a wind turbine having such tower section and method for forming such tower section

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9617751-B2
Application number	US-201414778555-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Mar 25, 2014
Priority date	Mar 25, 2013
Publication date	Apr 11, 2017
Grant date	Apr 11, 2017

Abstract

It includes at least one platform defining a plane, first and second sets of complementary coupling elements associated with the tower section and the platform respectively, and arranged in levels. In a first relative position of the sets of coupling elements, the platform is allowed to pass, in a substantially horizontal position, through different levels of sets of coupling elements and in a second relative position of the sets of coupling elements, the platform rests with its second set of coupling elements on a first set of coupling elements of one given level. A device for moving the platform may be provided for fitting it inside the tower section. The first or the second set of coupling elements in different levels are aligned along a longitudinal direction inside the tower section.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. A wind turbine tower section adapted to receive wind turbine components therein, comprising:
at least one platform defining a plane, and
a device for coupling the platform to a wall of the tower section, whereby the device comprises a first set of coupling elements having substantially the same configuration and being associated with the tower section wall, and a second set of coupling elements associated with the platform, wherein at least one of the first or second sets of coupling elements comprises a pivotable element, and whereby the first set of coupling elements are arranged in levels on the tower section wall defining different corresponding planes, wherein:
in a first pivoted relative position of the pivotable element, the platform is allowed to pass from below through the different levels of the first set of coupling elements while the platform plane is substantially parallel to, or coincident with the corresponding plane defined by the first set of coupling elements at the respective level; and
in a second pivoted relative position of the pivotable element, the platform rests with its second set of coupling elements in engagement with the first set of coupling elements at the respective level such that the platform is fully supported relative to the tower section wall by the pivotable element.

2. The tower section of claim 1 , wherein the first set of coupling elements is fixed to the tower section wall and the second set of coupling elements comprises the pivotal element the pivots relative to the platform.

3. The tower section of claim 1 , wherein the first set of coupling elements comprises the pivotable element that pivots relative to the tower section wall and the second set of coupling elements is fixed on the platform.

4. The tower section of claim 3 , wherein the first set of coupling elements is radially pivotable within the plane of the platform.

5. The tower section of claim 1 , wherein the non-pivotal one of the first or second sets of coupling elements is displaceable relative to the corresponding plane defined by the first set of coupling elements.

6. The tower section of claim 1 , wherein one of the first or second sets of coupling elements comprises a harpoon like element capable of being attached to the other of the first or second sets of coupling elements.

7. The tower section of claim 6 , wherein the harpoon like element is adapted for being selectively attached to the first or second sets of coupling elements.

8. The tower section of claim 1 , wherein the device for coupling the platform includes at least one magnet capable of keeping the first and second sets of coupling elements mutually attached.

9. The tower section of claim 1 , wherein the tower section comprises a number of platforms arranged in corresponding levels of the first and second sets of coupling elements.

10. The tower section of claim 1 , wherein the tower section further includes a second device for moving the platform for purposes of fitting the platform to the tower section wall.

11. The tower section of claim 10 , wherein the second device for moving the platform is adapted for moving the platform and placing it on the tower section wall at a given height inside the tower section.

12. The tower section of claim 11 , wherein the second device is temporary.

13. The tower section of claim 1 , wherein the first and second sets of coupling elements comprises at least three respective coupling elements radially distributed at each level of the tower section wall and on each platform.

14. The tower section of claim 1 , wherein the first set of coupling elements is complementary to the second set of coupling elements.

15. The tower section of claim 1 , wherein the first set of coupling elements in the different levels are aligned along a longitudinal direction inside the tower section.

16. A wind turbine comprising a tower including at least one tower section adapted to at least receive wind turbine components therein, at least one platform defining a plane, and a device for coupling the platform to a wall of the tower section, whereby the device comprises a first set of coupling elements having substantially the same configuration and being associated with the tower section wall, and a second set of coupling associated with the platform, wherein at least one of the first or second sets of coupling elements comprises a pivotable element, and whereby the first set of coupling elements are arranged in corresponding planes on the tower section wall, wherein:
in a first relative pivoted position of the pivotable element, the platform is allowed to pass from below through different levels of the second sets of coupling elements while the platform plane is substantially parallel to, or coincident with the corresponding planes; and
in a second relative pivoted position of the pivotable element, the platform rests with its second set of coupling elements engaged with a first set of coupling elements of one given level such that the platform is fully supported relative to the tower section wall by the pivotable element.

17. The wind turbine of claim 16 , wherein the tower section is a lower section of the tower.

18. A method for forming a wind turbine tower, the tower comprising a number of tower sections, each being adapted to at least receive wind turbine components therein, each defining a plane, and a device for coupling a platform to a wall of the tower section whereby the device comprises a first set of coupling elements having substantially the same configuration and being associated with the tower section wall, and a second set of coupling elements associated with the platform, wherein at least one of the first or second sets of coupling elements comprises a pivotable element, and whereby the first set of coupling elements are arranged in corresponding planes, wherein:
in a first relative pivoted position of the pivotable element, the platform is allowed to pass from below through different levels of the second sets of coupling elements while the platform plane is substantially parallel to, or coincident with the corresponding planes; and
in a second relative pivoted position of the pivotable, elment, the platform rests with its second set of coupling elements engaged with a first set of coupling elements of one given level;
wherein the method comprises the steps of:
arranging the platform inside the tower; and

positioning the platform such that the second set of coupling elements is engaged with a first set of coupling elements such that the platform is fully supported relative to the tower section wall by the pivotable element.

19. The method of claim 18 , wherein arranging the platform inside the tower is carried out by hoisting the platform from a bottom of the tower.

Assignees

• Alstom Renewable Technologies

Inventors

• Jane Panella Xavier
• Roman Mallada Jose Luis
• Gonzalez Del Egido Alberto

Classifications

• Y02E10/728

  Onshore wind turbines · CPC title

• F05B2230/60

  Assembly methods · CPC title

• E04B1/40

  Fixed Constructions · mapped topic

• F03D1/001

  Mechanical Engineering · mapped topic

• F05B2240/912

  on a tower · CPC title