Wind turbine rotor blade for a rotor with a spinner

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9765646-B2
Application number	US-201414477204-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Sep 4, 2014
Priority date	Nov 27, 2013
Publication date	Sep 19, 2017
Grant date	Sep 19, 2017

Abstract

A wind turbine rotor blade is for mounting on a rotor hub covered by a spinner having a rotor blade opening and includes a wind turbine rotor blade body having a fastening section and a longitudinal section. The fastening section is configured for fastening the rotor blade body on the rotor hub. The longitudinal section is arranged inside the rotor blade opening when the wind turbine rotor blade is mounted on the rotor hub. The longitudinal section and the rotor blade opening conjointly define an annular gap therebetween when the wind turbine rotor blade is mounted on the rotor hub. A cover profile is fastened on the wind turbine rotor blade and covers the annular gap. The cover profile has a circular ring-shaped outer edge and a circular ring-shaped inner edge. The inner edge is disposed at a radial distance from the wind turbine rotor blade. An annular-shaped cover element is fastened on the wind turbine rotor blade and bridges the radial distance.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A wind turbine rotor blade for mounting on a rotor hub which is covered by a spinner having a rotor blade opening, the wind turbine rotor blade comprising:
a wind turbine rotor blade body having a fastening section and a longitudinal section;
said fastening section being configured for fastening said rotor blade body on the rotor hub;
said longitudinal section being configured to be arranged inside said rotor blade opening when said wind turbine rotor blade is mounted on said rotor hub;
said longitudinal section and the rotor blade opening conjointly defining an annular gap therebetween when said wind turbine rotor blade is mounted on said rotor hub;
a cover profile fastened on said wind turbine rotor blade and configured to cover said annular gap;
said cover profile having a circular ring-shaped outer edge and a circular ring-shaped inner edge;
said circular ring-shaped inner edge being disposed at a radial distance from said wind turbine rotor blade; and,
an annular-shaped cover element fastened on said wind turbine rotor blade and configured to bridge said radial distance.

2. The wind turbine rotor blade of claim 1 , wherein:
said circular ring-shaped inner edge defines a circumferential direction; and,
said radial distance varies in said circumferential direction.

3. The wind turbine rotor blade of claim 1 , wherein said cover profile further has a retaining section extending from said inner edge in the direction of said fastening section.

4. The wind turbine rotor blade of claim 1 further comprising:
a multiplicity of adjustable fastening elements adaptable to said radial distance between said cover profile and said rotor blade body; and,
said cover profile being fastened on said wind turbine rotor blade body via said multiplicity of adjustable fastening elements.

5. The wind turbine rotor blade of claim 4 , wherein said fastening elements each have a threaded pin and an adjustable stop.

6. The wind turbine of claim 1 , wherein said cover element butts against said cover profile.

7. A method for making a wind turbine rotor blade comprising the steps of:
providing a wind turbine rotor blade configured to be mounted on a rotor hub which is covered by a spinner having a rotor blade opening, the wind turbine rotor blade having a fastening section for fastening the wind turbine rotor blade on the rotor hub and a longitudinal section which is to be arranged inside the rotor blade opening;
providing a cover profile configured to cover an annular gap between the longitudinal section and the rotor blade opening, the cover profile having a circular-shaped outer edge and a circular-shaped inner edge;
arranging and fastening the cover profile on the wind turbine rotor blade in such a manner that the inner edge of the cover profile is at a radial distance from the wind turbine rotor blade; and,
arranging and fastening a cover element on the wind turbine rotor blade in such a manner that the cover element bridges the radial distance.

8. The method of claim 7 further comprising the steps of:
attaching a multiplicity of fastening elements having adjustable spacers on the wind turbine rotor blade; and,
adapting the spacers to the radial distance between the cover profile and the wind turbine rotor blade.

9. The method of claim 8 , wherein a positioning tool is at least one of aligned on the fastening section and fastened on the fastening section.

10. The method of claim 9 further comprising the step of positioning the fastening elements on the wind turbine rotor blade via the positioning tool.

11. The method of claim 9 , wherein at least one of the spacers is adapted to the radial distance between the cover profile and the wind turbine rotor blade via the positioning tool.

12. The method of claim 9 , wherein the positioning tool has a socket, the method further comprising the step of inserting the fastening element into the socket of the positioning tool after the positioning tool is oriented or fastened to the fastening section.

13. The method of claim 7 , wherein the cover element is fastened to the wind turbine rotor blade before the wind turbine rotor blade is transported to an erection site; and, the cover profile is fastened to the wind turbine rotor blade after the wind turbine rotor blade has been transported to the erection site.

Assignees

• Nordex Energy Gmbh

Inventors

• Lipka Thomas

Classifications

• F03D1/0658 Primary

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

• F05B2260/301

  Retaining bolts or nuts · CPC title

• F03D13/10

  Assembly of wind motors; Arrangements for erecting wind motors · CPC title

• F01D25/24 Primary

  Casings (modified for heating or cooling F01D25/14); Casing parts, e.g. diaphragms, casing fastenings (casings for rotary machines or engines in general F16M {; special arrangements in stators dealing with breaking-off of part of rotor F01D21/045}) · CPC title

• B23Q3/00

  Devices holding, supporting, or positioning work or tools, of a kind normally removable from the machine (work-tables or other parts, e.g. faceplates, normally not incorporating means for securing work B23Q1/00; automatic position control B23Q15/00 {; food cutting boards A47J47/00; workpiece support for dies B21D37/02}; rotary tool heads for turning-machines B23B3/24, B23B3/26; non-driven tool holders B23B29/00; general features of turrets B23B29/24 {; drawbars in spindles B23B31/261; for electrical discharge machining B23H11/003; for welding B23K37/04; means for securing grinding wheels B24B45/00; mountings for abrasive wheels B24D5/16}; tools or bench devices for fastening, connecting, disengaging or holding B25B {; chucks for percussive tools B25D17/084; work benches for manual work B25H1/00; devices for securing circular saw blades B27B5/32; for assembling or manufacturing aircrafts B64F5/10; devices for holding circuit boards H05K13/0061; for holding semiconductors or wafers H10P72/00}) · CPC title