Wind turbine blade bearing removal apparatus and method

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9617981-B2
Application number	US-201113978463-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Dec 19, 2011
Priority date	Jan 7, 2011
Publication date	Apr 11, 2017
Grant date	Apr 11, 2017

Abstract

The invention relates to a wind turbine blade bearing removal apparatus and method for facilitating the change-over of the blade root bearing assembly ( 58 ) of a wind turbine blade ( 54 ). A plurality of support shoulders or yokes ( 60 ) are located on the hub ( 50 ) of the wind turbine rotor and provide attachment points for respective actuators ( 62 ). Corresponding attachment points ( 66 ) are provided in the wind turbine blade ( 54 ) via a blade support (section 64 ), which is constructed in the blade between the blade root bearing assembly ( 58 ) and the tip. The actuators ( 62 ) are mounted between the hub ( 50 ) and the blade root bearing assembly ( 58 ) and therefore support the blade ( 54 ) in a suspended position when the bearing is to be retained. The actuators ( 62 ) allow the blade to be easily reattached to the hub ( 50 ) when the blade root bearing replacement is completed.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. A wind turbine blade-hub support apparatus, comprising:
a wind turbine blade comprising:
a blade body having a blade root portion and a blade tip portion; and
a blade support section connected to the blade root portion;

attachment points provided on a wind turbine rotor hub, each respective attachment point corresponding to a respective attachment point on the blade support section; and
a plurality of actuators, wherein each actuator is mounted between one of the attachment points on the rotor hub and the corresponding attachment point on the wind turbine blade, and wherein each actuator has an actuated position in which the wind turbine blade is supported in a separated position from the wind turbine rotor hub,
wherein the separated position is a distance substantially less than the length of the wind turbine blade,
wherein the attachment points of the blade extend outwardly of an external surface of the blade body, and
wherein for at least one of the attachment points, the wind turbine rotor hub or the blade support section is pivotably attached to one of the plurality of actuators.

2. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the blade support section includes an annular flange connected to the end of the blade body at the blade root portion, and wherein the blade support section has a plurality of connectors for making a secure, releasable connection to a blade root bearing assembly.

3. The apparatus of claim 2 , wherein the blade support section comprises a reinforcing brace, located within a circumference of the annular flange.

4. The apparatus of claim 3 , wherein the reinforcing brace comprises reinforcing members that span from one attachment point location to another within an inner circumference of the blade support section.

5. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the blade support section comprises a plurality of attachment point brackets.

6. The apparatus of claim 5 , wherein the blade support section comprises a frame member comprising a plurality of reinforcing spokes connected within an internal circumference of the blade body in the blade root portion.

7. The apparatus of claim 6 , wherein the reinforcing spokes terminate at a reinforced central hub.

8. The apparatus of claim 6 , wherein at least one or more of the reinforcing spokes connect to an inner surface of the blade body internally of a location where the attachment point brackets are situated.

9. The apparatus of claim 8 , wherein the at least one or more of the reinforcing spokes are connected by a fastener to an attachment point bracket.

10. The apparatus of claim 6 , having a reinforcing brace comprising one or more radial tie arms for providing a cable attachment point.

11. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein one side of the blade support section is left substantially free of attachment points.

12. The apparatus of claim 11 , wherein all of the attachment points are located within a 180 degree arc around a circumference of the blade support section.

13. The apparatus of claim 11 , wherein all of the attachment points are located within a 200 degree arc around a circumference of the blade support section.

14. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the blade support section comprises at least three attachment points.

15. The apparatus of claim 3 , wherein the reinforcing brace is positioned within the blade support section such that when a cable is attached to the reinforcing brace, the blade adopts a tilted angle with respect to a tower of the wind turbine, facilitating the connection of the blade root bearing assembly to the rotor hub of the wind turbine.

16. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the plurality of actuators includes a hydraulic or pneumatic ram.

17. A wind turbine comprising the wind turbine blade-hub support apparatus of claim 1 .

18. A wind turbine comprising the wind turbine blade-hub support apparatus of claim 1 wherein the attachment points further comprise a retaining bolt or a screw at each end of the plurality of actuators.

19. A method of replacing a blade root bearing assembly in a wind turbine, in which at least one wind turbine blade is connected to a wind turbine rotor hub via the blade root bearing assembly, the at least one wind turbine blade having a blade body with a blade root portion and a blade support section located at the blade root portion of the blade comprising attachment points for mounting a plurality of actuators between the at least one wind turbine blade and attachment points on the rotor hub of the wind turbine at which the at least one wind turbine blade is attached, wherein one side of the blade support section is left substantially free of attachment points, and wherein the attachment points of the blade extend outwardly of an external surface of the blade body, the method comprising:
attaching the plurality of actuators between respective attachment points on the wind turbine rotor hub and on the blade support section;
releasing a connection between the wind turbine rotor hub and the wind turbine blade root bearing assembly;
activating the plurality of actuators to separate the wind turbine blade root bearing assembly from the wind turbine rotor hub; and
removing the blade root bearing assembly in a direction that is generally perpendicular to the direction in which the actuator is extended through the one side of the blade support section that is left substantially free of attachment points while the blade is suspended from the rotor hub on the plurality of actuators.

20. The method of claim 19 , comprising:
activating the plurality of actuators to draw the wind turbine blade into contact with the wind turbine rotor hub such that the blade can be connected to the wind turbine rotor hub.

21. The method of claim 19 , comprising drawing the wind turbine blade into contact with the wind turbine rotor hub such that the blade can be connected to the wind turbine rotor hub using a cable attached to a reinforcing brace provided for the wind turbine blade.

22. The method of claim 21 , wherein the reinforcing brace is located inside the blade support section.

23. A wind turbine blade-hub support apparatus, comprising:
a wind turbine blade comprising:
a blade body having a blade root portion and a blade tip portion; and
a blade support section connected to the blade root portion;

attachment points provided on a wind turbine rotor hub, each respective attachment point corresponding to a respective attachment point on the blade support section; and
a plurality of actuators, wherein each actuator is mounted between one of the attachment points on the rotor hub and the corresponding attachment point on the wind turbine blade, and wherein each actuator has an actuated position in which the wind turbine blade is supported in a separated position from the wind turbine rotor hub,
wherein the plurality of actuators includes a hydraulic or pneumatic ram, and
wherein the attachment points of the blade extend outwardly of an external surface of the blade body.

Assignees

• Hancock Mark
• Vestas Wind Sys As

Inventors

• Hancock Mark

Classifications

• F05B2270/605

  pneumatic actuators · CPC title

• F05B2260/507

  using servos, independent actuators, etc. · CPC title

• F03D1/0658

  Arrangements for fixing wind-engaging parts to a hub · CPC title

• F05B2270/604

  hydraulic actuators · CPC title

• F03D80/70

  Bearing or lubricating arrangements · CPC title