Arrangement and method to rotate the hub of a wind turbine

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9810202-B2
Application number	US-201313855839-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Apr 3, 2013
Priority date	Apr 11, 2012
Publication date	Nov 7, 2017
Grant date	Nov 7, 2017

Abstract

An arrangement and a method of rotating a hub of a wind turbine are provided. A wind turbine includes a hub mounted to a nacelle, whereby the hub is rotatable around an axis of rotation in respect to the nacelle. A rotor blade is arranged at the hub that leads to a torque around the axis of rotation of the hub. A counter weight is attached to the hub, whereby the counter weight has a mass that leads to a counter-torque around the axis of rotation. The counter-torque interacts with the torque during the installation of a second rotor blade to the hub. The counter weight is mounted to the hub by a mechanical arrangement that is rotatable in respect to the hub around the axis of rotation of the hub. The mechanical arrangement and the counter weight are rotatable in respect to the hub into a certain predetermined position.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. A wind turbine, comprising:
a hub mounted to a nacelle, wherein the hub is rotatable with respect to the nacelle around an axis of rotation of the hub,
a first rotor blade arranged at the hub, wherein the first rotor blade leads to a torque around the axis of rotation of the hub,
a counter weight mounted to the hub by a lever that is rotatable with respect to the hub around the axis of rotation so that the lever and the counter weight are rotatable with respect to the hub into a predetermined position, wherein the lever is mounted at the axis of rotation of the hub; and
whereby the counter weight is adapted to provide a counter-torque around the axis of rotation of the hub, wherein the counter-torque reduces the torque of the first rotor blade.

2. The wind turbine according to claim 1 , wherein the counter weight is arranged such that the counter-torque facilitates a rotation of the hub into a predefined position which is used for arranging the second rotor blade to the hub.

3. The wind turbine according to claim 1 , wherein the counter-torque of the counter weight at least partially compensates the torque of the first rotor blade attached to the hub.

4. The wind turbine according to claim 1 , wherein the counter weight is mounted to the hub via the lever such that the counter weight is moveable along an axis towards and away from the axis of rotation of the hub.

5. The wind turbine according to claim 1 , wherein the counter weight is movable along the lever.

6. The wind turbine according to claim 5 , wherein the counter weight is movable with respect to the hub such that the counter weight is movable along an axis towards and away from the axis of rotation of the hub.

7. The wind turbine according to claim 1 , wherein the counter weight and the lever are detachable from the hub after installation of the first rotor blade and the second rotor blade.

8. A method for use with a wind turbine, comprising:
mounting a hub of the wind turbine to a nacelle, wherein the hub is rotatable with respect to the nacelle around an axis of rotation of the hub,
arranging a first rotor blade at the hub, wherein the first rotor blade leads to a torque around the axis of rotation,
arranging a counter weight to the hub via a lever, wherein a mass of the counter-weight leads to a counter-torque around the axis of rotation, wherein the counter-torque interacts with the torque during installation of a second rotor blade to the hub, wherein the lever is mounted at the axis of rotation the hub, and
rotating the counter weight and the lever around the axis of rotation of the hub with respect to the hub into a predetermined position.

Assignees

• Falkenberg Peter Loevenskjold
• Maj Karl Aage
• Nielsen Jacob Blach
• Poulsen Henning
• Rasmussen Brian
• Stiesdal Henrik
• Siemens Ag

Inventors

• Falkenberg Peter Loevenskjold
• Maj Karl Aage
• Nielsen Jacob Blach
• Poulsen Henning
• Rasmussen Brian
• Stiesdal Henrik

Classifications

• F03D1/0658 Primary

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

• F05B2230/608

  for adjusting the position or the alignment, e.g. wedges or excenters · CPC title

• F03D80/00 Primary

  Details, components or accessories not provided for in groups F03D1/00 - F03D17/00 · CPC title

• Y02E10/72

  Wind turbines with rotation axis in wind direction · CPC title

• Y02E10/721

  Cross-Sectional Technologies · mapped topic