Vestas Wind Systems A/s

Mhi Vestas Offshore Wind A/s

Adrian Botwright

Gunnar K Storgaard Pedersen

Troels Vahle

Kristoffer Lolk Fredriksen

Michael Kastrup

Jacob Antonsen

Lucia Quintana

Peter Frans Thomsen

Martin Damm

Carsten Jasper

Mark Ursell-Smith

Stefan Maroti

Henning Mortensen

Henning Nørholm Just

Kristian Kaagaard Hansen

Lucía Quintana

Kristoffer Lolk Frederiksen

Søren Hvolgaard Kruuse

Henningnorholm Just

Martin Dam

In order to provide an improved and cost-efficient method for performing an exchange of up-tower main components on an off-shore wind turbine a method is disclosed in during which a non-permanent service platform is temporarily coupled to a wind turbine tower lower section. In addition, a wind turbine structure and a system including such a structure are described, the wind turbine structure and the respective system being designed to allow performing the described method.

Method for exchanging an up-tower main component of an off-shore wind turbine

The invention relates to a spreader bar () for distributing a lifting force from a crane () onto a two lifting regions () f a load () to be lifted. The spreader bar comprises a frame () and first and second systems (). Each system comprises a lifting pulley (), a connector () for connecting the spreader bar to the respective lifting region via a main wire () guided by the lifting pulley, an actuator () for vertically moving the connector via an actuator wire (), and a movably arranged suspension element () connecting the actuator wire and the main wire. A compensator () compensates for possible fluctuations in the vertical distance between the respective lifting region of the load and the spreader bar. Such fluctuations can be due to the crane or the load being located on a floating vessel. When the suspension element is engaged with a blocking element (), the lifting force from the crane can be transferred to the main wire in order to lift the load.

Spreader bar for distributing a lifting force of a crane and method of using such a spreader bar

A tool () for aligning tubular structures () of a wind turbine comprises: a plurality of hanger members () configured to be pivotably attached to an end region of a first tubular structure () so as to extend axially outward therefrom, each of the hanger members comprising a guide part () adapted to engage an interior wall () of a second tubular structure (); at least one cable () connecting the hanger members () together; and a tension mechanism arranged to adjust a tension of the at least one cable (). The tension mechanism is operable to adjust said tension to pivot the guide parts () into engagement with the interior wall () of the second tubular structure () when the first tubular structure () is moved axially toward the second tubular structure (), thereby to guide the first tubular structure () into axial alignment with the second tubular structure ().

Wind turbine alignment tool

Transport frame and method; the transport frame having a longitudinal, lateral and upright extent, and configured for transporting a root end or tip portion of a longitudinally extending wind turbine blade, the frame being stackable with similar frames, the frame having four top shoulders and four feet, the feet of the frame being conformed to be stackable on corresponding shoulders of another similar frame, wherein each shoulder is provided with a locating finger, each finger having a height above the shoulder, and wherein each foot is provided with a recess conformed to receive a locating finger, and wherein a first locating finger has a height greater than each of the three remaining locating fingers.

Transport frame for a wind turbine blade

A transport frame having a longitudinal, lateral and upright extent for receiving a tip portion of a wind turbine blade is disclosed. The frame is stackable with identical frames and has a tip saddle assembly including a saddle with a support surface shaped to receive a blade tip, and a clamping mechanism having a hinged clamping arm operable between an open position and a closed position, the clamping arm, when open, allowing a blade tip to be lowered into the saddle, and when closed, securely restraining the blade tip against upward movement. The tip saddle assembly further includes a preventer serving to maintain the clamping arm in the closed position over a blade. A method of using the transport frame to clamp a wind turbine blade is also disclosed.

Lifting yoke and method; the lifting yoke configured for connecting to, and lifting, a wind turbine blade transport frame, said yoke being generally rectangular and comprising four corner posts connected by struts; each corner post being configured for internally receiving therein an upwardly oriented locating finger atop a said transport frame shoulder; said corner post having a housing enclosing an internal space and extending between a lower foot face and a top; said corner post having, at said lower foot face, an aperture dimensioned to receive a said locating finger into said internal space; said corner post further comprising guide surfaces enclosed within said housing and spaced apart to define a locking space and configured to snugly receive a said locating finger; each guide surface comprising a locking aperture; wherein a movable locking element is configured to engage both said locking apertures to thereby bridge said locking space; said locking element being configured to engage a lifting point at said locating finger; said movable locking element constituting the primary lifting element of said lifting yoke.

Lifting frame for a wind turbine blade

An assembly of two structural parts of a wind turbine wherein the structural parts are to be connected in a flange-to-flange connection, the assembly further comprising a wind turbine installation system for guiding two structural parts of a wind turbine during installation, the system comprising: a guide system for guiding the engagement of the first structural part to the second structural part, the guide system comprising: a guide post coupled to the first structural part; a guide receiver coupled to the second structural part and configured to receive the guide post therein; and a shock absorber arranged to dampen shock loads from the engagement of the guide post with the guide receiver.

Assembly, system and method for offshore installation of wind turbines

Transport frame and method; the transport frame having a longitudinal, lateral and upright extent, and being configured for receiving a tip or root portion of a longitudinally extending wind turbine blade, said frame being stackable with similar frames, said frame comprising four upright frame struts which together define a generally cuboid internal space having a longitudinal extent between two pairs of said upright struts; said frame having, within said generally cuboid internal space, a tip or root saddle assembly comprising a saddle with a support surface shaped to receive a respective blade root or tip; said frame furthermore having four top shoulders and four feet, said feet of said frame being conformed to be stackable on corresponding said shoulders of another frame; and wherein said frame, proximate one or more said top or bottom corner thereof, comprises a retractable arm arrangement; wherein said frame further comprises, proximate at least one said top or bottom corner thereof, a claw arrangement; said retractable arm arrangement being configured to fixingly engage a corresponding claw arrangement at an adjacent similar frame in a stacked arrangement of the frames.

Transport frame pair configured for transporting a wind turbine blade, said frame pair comprising a tip frame and a root frame, each said tip and root frame being stackable with identical frames for blade transport or storage, each one of said tip and root frame comprising four upright frame struts which together define a generally cuboid internal space having a longitudinal extent between two pairs of said upright struts; said tip frame comprising a tip saddle assembly within said generally cuboid internal space, and said root frame comprising a root saddle assembly within said generally cuboid internal space, and wherein said root frame is configured to prohibit a translation movement of said root saddle assembly in a longitudinal direction of a blade supported in a root saddle of said root saddle assembly; and wherein said tip frame allows a translation movement of said tip saddle assembly in a longitudinal direction of a blade supported in a tip saddle of said tip saddle assembly. The longitudinal extent of the root frame may be more than twenty percent greater than the longitudinal extent of the tip frame.

Transport frames for a wind turbine blade

Transport frame and method; the transport frame having a longitudinal, lateral and upright extent, and configured for transporting a root end of a longitudinally extending wind turbine blade having a root face with protruding stud-bolts, said frame comprising a root saddle, said frame further comprising a releasable interface clamp configured for fixing a said blade root in said frame, said interface clamp extending from a forward nose through a rear hinge point in said root frame and, said interface clamp comprising a body with a forward abutment surface and a bearing surface rearward of said abutment surface, said body being hingedly movable into or out of engagement with one or more stud bolts protruding from the root face of a blade when positioned in said saddle, said interface clamp having a retracted position with its body away from said blade root face and away from said protruding stud-bolts, said interface clamp having an engagement position in which its said bearing surface extends transverse and adjacent to one or more said stud-bolts such that a tightening force applied to a said bearing surface pushes said abutment surface against said root face.

A method is provided for handling wind turbine blades aboard a vessel, the method including providing on the vessel a blade rack assembly configured to accommodate more than one blade, the rack assembly having at least a root rack and a tip rack, and the root rack and tip rack defining between them a blade support plane. The method also includes providing a jack acting between the vessel and one of the root or tip rack; and raising or lowering one of the root or tip rack aboard the vessel by the jack to thereby move the blade support plane through an elevation angle &#x3b8;. A jack assembly on a wind turbine installation vessel and an offshore wind turbine installation vessel are also provided, each capable of raising or lowering a rack of wind turbine blade root or tip support frame elements.

Wind turbine blade handling aboard a vessel

A method for storing and/or transporting a plurality of objects () for one or more wind turbines is presented, the method comprising&#x2014;arranging a first object () to be supported by a plurality of wheels (),&#x2014;arranging a second object () to be supported by a plurality of wheels (),&#x2014;rolling the first object into a first location (),&#x2014;subsequently raising the first object to a second location () above the first location, and&#x2014;subsequently rolling the second object into the first location, thereby inserting the second object under the first object.

Component handling, in particular wind turbine component handling

An apparatus for assembling a wind turbine includes a crane boom having a main bearing cable coupled to a component for lifting the component during assembly of the wind turbine, and a control mechanism coupled to the crane boom for controlling the orientation of the wind turbine component during the lift. The control mechanism includes a guide member coupled to the crane boom, a movable member coupled to the guide member and configured to be movable relative to the crane boom, a coupling member configured to couple the movable member to the wind turbine component being lifted by the crane boom, and a drive mechanism configured to actively move the movable member relative to the crane boom independent of the movement of the main bearing cable. A method for assembling a wind turbine includes using the coupling member to change the orientation of the component.

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Sabro, Denmark

Adrian Botwright