Device and method for manufacturing a component for rotor blade lightning protection

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9702338-B2
Application number	US-201214126093-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jul 10, 2012
Priority date	Jul 15, 2011
Publication date	Jul 11, 2017
Grant date	Jul 11, 2017

Abstract

The invention relates to a device ( 10 ) for manufacturing a fiber composite component ( 3, 4, 5 ), which is connected to an attachment element ( 22 ), for a rotor blade ( 2 ) of a wind turbine ( 1 ), wherein the fiber composite component ( 3, 4, 5 ) is or will be manufactured from at least one fiber material ( 15, 21 ) and at least one matrix material, wherein the attachment element ( 22 ) is provided with a first region ( 221 ) arranged outside of the fiber composite component ( 3, 4, 5 ) and a second region ( 222 ) integrated into the fiber composite component ( 3, 4, 5 ), comprising a manufacturing mold ( 11 ) for the fiber composite component ( 3, 4, 5 ) with a recess ( 12 ), wherein the recess ( 12 ) has a first region ( 121 ) for receiving the first region ( 221 ) of the attachment element ( 22 ), and a retention device ( 13 ), by means of which fluid matrix material is or will be retained from the first region ( 121 ) of the recess ( 12 ).

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. A device for manufacturing a fiber composite component, which is connected to an attachment element, for a rotor blade of a wind turbine, wherein said fiber composite component is manufactured from at least one fiber material and at least one flowable matrix material, wherein said attachment element is provided with a first region arranged outside of said fiber composite component and a second region integrated into said fiber composite component, said device comprising:
a manufacturing mold for said fiber composite component including a recess, wherein said recess has a first region comprising a bend for receiving said first region of said attachment element to form a cable loop for lightning protection, and a retention device that prevents said flowable matrix material from entering said first region of said recess and from contacting said first region of said attachment element; and
a second region of said recess for receiving said second region of said attachment element permitting said second region of said attachment element to be embedded in said flowable matrix material.

2. The device according to claim 1 , wherein said retention device is a seal, by means of which said first region of said recess is sealed impermeably against said flowable matrix material.

3. The device according to claim 1 , wherein said retention device is reusable.

4. The device according to claim 1 , wherein said retention device is made of silicone.

5. The device according to claim 1 , comprising a permeable cover that covers said second region of said recess which said flowable matrix material permeates.

6. The device according claim 5 , wherein at least one of a top side of said retention device for said first region of said recess and a top side of said cover for said second region of said recess mainly represents a continuation of an inner surface of said manufacturing mold near said recess.

7. The device according to claim 5 , wherein at least one of said recess, said retention device for said first region of said recess and said cover for said second region of said recess include at least sections complementary in shape to said attachment element.

8. The device according to claim 5 , wherein said cover for said second region of said recess is a hard fiber board.

9. A fiber composite rotor blade web, for a rotor blade of a wind turbine, wherein the fiber composite rotor blade web is made of at least one fiber material and at least one flowable matrix material and comprises an attachment element provided with a first region arranged outside of said fiber composite rotor blade web and a second region integrated into said fiber composite rotor blade web, said fiber composite rotor blade web being made by a method comprising the following steps:
providing a manufacturing mold for the fiber composite rotor blade web including a recess, wherein said recess has a first region arranged as a loop for receiving said first region of said attachment element, and a retention device,
inserting said attachment element into said manufacturing mold, wherein said first region of said attachment element is arranged in said first region of said recess,
sealing with said retention element said first region of said recess which prevents said flowable matrix material from contacting said first region of said attachment element,
introducing said fiber material and said flowable matrix material into the manufacturing mold while preventing said flowable matrix material from contacting said first region of said attachment element;
providing a second region of said recess for receiving said second region of said attachment element, arranging said second region of said attachment element in said second region of said recess, introducing said fiber material and said flowable matrix material into the manufacturing mold so as to integrate said second region of said attachment element in said matrix material, wherein said second region of said recess is covered at least partially permitting permeation of said flowable matrix material.

10. The fiber composite rotor blade web according to claim 9 , comprising arranging at least one part of the fiber material below said second region of said attachment element in said manufacturing mold.

11. The fiber composite rotor blade web according to claim 9 , comprising sealing said first region of said recess using silicone.

12. A rotor blade for a wind turbine comprising said fiber composite rotor blade web according to claim 9 .

13. The rotor blade according to claim 12 , wherein said attachment element is a part of a lightning protection device for the rotor blade.

14. A wind turbine with said rotor blade according to claim 12 .

15. A wind turbine with said rotor blade according to claim 13 .

16. A device for manufacturing a fiber composite component of a rotor blade of a wind turbine in which a lightning protection cable is disposed, wherein said fiber composite component is formed of at least one fiber material and at least one matrix material, wherein said lightning protection cable is provided with a first region arranged as a loop outside of said fiber composite component and a second region integrated into said fiber composite component extending longitudinally along a length of said rotor blade, comprising:
a manufacturing mold for manufacturing said fiber composite component including a recess, wherein said recess has a first region for receiving said first region of said lightning protection cable extending as said loop, a seal which prevents flowable said matrix material from entering said first region of said recess so that said first region of said lightning protection cable is not in contact with said flowable matrix material, and a second region of said recess for receiving said second region of said lightning protection cable and permitting said second region of said lightning protection cable to be integrated into said matrix material.

17. The device of claim 1 including multiple fiber layers of said fiber material, one of said fiber layers being in contact with said retention device.

18. The fiber composite rotor blade web of claim 9 wherein said fiber composite component includes multiple fiber layers of said fiber material comprising applying one of said fiber layers into contact with said retention device.

19. The device of claim 16 including multiple fiber layers of said fiber material, one of said fiber layers being in contact with said seal.

20. A rotor blade of a wind turbine with lightning protection, comprising:
a rotor blade shell;
a fiber composite component that is positioned as an interior support of said rotor blade shell, wherein said fiber composite component is formed of at least one fiber material and at least one matrix material and extends along a length of said rotor blade;
a lightning protection cable including a first region arranged as a loop outside of said fiber composite component and a second region integrated into said fiber composite component extending longitudinally along the length of said rotor blade, said lightning protection cable being adapted to be grounded;
a receiver positioned on an exterior surface of said rotor blade and being electrically conductive;
an electrical connector fastened as part of said loop, and no other components being in contact with said loop in said rotor blade shell; and
an electrical conductor extending from said receiver to said electrical connector.

Assignees

• Richers Tilman
• Zeller Lenz Simon
• Danekas Kai
• Senvion Se
• Carbon Rotec Gmbh & Co Kg

Inventors

• Richers Tilman
• Zeller Lenz Simon
• Danekas Kai

Classifications

• F03D80/30

  Lightning protection · CPC title

• B29C70/42 Primary

  for producing articles of definite length, i.e. discrete articles · CPC title

• B29C70/72

  Encapsulating inserts having non-encapsulated projections, e.g. extremities or terminal portions of electrical components {(B29C70/742 takes precedence)} · CPC title

• F03D1/065

  characterised by their construction elements (F03D13/10 takes precedence) · CPC title

• B29C70/86

  Incorporated in coherent impregnated reinforcing layers, {e.g. by winding} · CPC title