Vestas Wind Systems A/s

Kurt Jensen

Henrik Timm Sørensen

Joris Kofman

Gunnar K Storgaard Pedersen

Aksel Petersen

Michael Kastrup

Kennet Hvid Nielsen

Per Larsen Barklin

Ariel De Silvio

Denys Kotushenko

Dan Mølgaard Mathiasen

Maria Victoria Cano Pedrosa

A transportation arrangement () includes a truck () and a trailer () operatively coupled to each other for hauling a blade. A separate dolly vehicle () is coupled with the truck and trailer. The transportation arrangement () also includes a blade () extending between a root end () and a tip end (), wherein a root region () of the blade () proximate the root end () is supported on one of the trailer () or dolly vehicle () so as to span between the trailer and dolly vehicle. The root region () of the blade is pivotable relative to the support element about a first vertical axis (V) spaced apart from the root end (). The tip region () of the blade () proximate the tip end () is pivotable relative to the support element about a second vertical axis (V). At least a portion of the root region () and at least a portion of the tip region () are configured to extend laterally away from the side of the transportation arrangement when the trailer () and dolly vehicle () are longitudinally offset from each other.

Apparatuses, systems and methods for the transportation of wind turbine blades on roadways

A transportation arrangement () includes a dolly and a clamp () secured to the dolly (). The clamp () includes a frame () having a lower portion () coupled to the dolly () and an upper portion () selectively rotatable relative to the lower portion (), a saddle () positioned on the lower portion of the frame, a jaw () movably positioned on the upper portion () of the frame (), and an actuator () operatively coupled to the jaw () and configured to move the jaw () relative to the saddle () to apply a clamping force on a blade (). The actuator () is configured to extend the jaw () toward the saddle () in response to the clamping force being less than or equal to a minimum threshold clamping force, and may be configured to retract the jaw () away from the saddle () in response to the clamping force being greater than or equal to a maximum threshold clamping force. A method of transporting a blade () is also disclosed.

Active clamping system for road transportation of a wind turbine blade and related method

A transportation arrangement () includes a train () including at least first and second railcars () operatively coupled to each other for hauling by a locomotive along a railroad and having a first side () and a second side (). The transportation arrangement () also includes a blade () extending between a root end () and a tip end (), wherein a root region () of the blade () proximate the root end () is supported on the first railcar () and pivotable relative thereto about a first vertical axis (V) spaced apart from the root end (), and wherein a tip region () of the blade () proximate the tip end () is supported on the second railcar () and pivotable relative thereto about a second vertical axis (V), such that at least a portion of the root region () is configured to extend laterally away from the first side () of the train () when the first and second railcars () are longitudinally offset from each other.

Apparatuses for wind turbine blade railroad transportation and related systems and methods

A tip bolster () for supporting a wind turbine blade () on a railcar () includes a clamp () including first and second clamp arms () having first and second jaws (), respectively, and supporting a pliable saddle () extending therebetween, the pliable saddle () being configured to support a portion of the blade () interposed between the first and second clamp arms () and to conform to an exterior surface thereof.

A tip bolster () for supporting a wind turbine blade () on a railcar () includes a clamp () including first and second clamp arms () having first and second jaws (), respectively, and being configured to be selectively movable relative to each other in a clamping direction for applying and releasing a clamping force on the blade () interposed therebetween, via the first and second jaws (), wherein the first and second clamp arms () are configured to be urged relatively toward each other in response to a decrease in the clamping force.

A gripper for holding a wind turbine blade when the wind turbine blade is being transported. The gripper comprises a lower blade holding structure configured to engage an underside of the wind turbine blade, an upper blade holding structure configured to engage an upper side of the wind turbine blade and a force transfer mechanism operatively coupled to at least one of the lower or upper blade holding structures. The force transfer mechanism is configured to increase the force applied between the lower blade holding structure and the underside of the wind turbine blade and/or between the upper blade holding structure and the upper side of the wind turbine blade when the wind turbine blade is accelerated during movement along a central longitudinal axis of the wind turbine blade.

Gripper for holding a wind turbine blade and method of holding a wind turbine blade

A support frame () and method are described herein for support of a wind turbine blade () on a vehicle during transport to an installation site. A load indicator () is provided adjacent one or more support pads () when using the support frame (), with the load indicator () being configured to determine and communicate an amount of movement of the wind turbine blade () relative to the support frame () during initial loading into the support frame () and during transport. To this end, the load indicator () helps assure that the wind turbine blade () is properly loaded into the support frame () in a desired transport position, while also confirming whether significant shocks or other movements have occurred during transport that could lead to a higher likelihood of internal or external damage at the blade ().

Support frame and method for determining movements of a wind turbine blade during transport to an installation site

The invention provides a turning stand for turning a rotor hub from a position having its prospective axis of rotation oriented vertically to a position having its prospective axis of rotation oriented inclined or transversally to a vertical orientation. The turning stand comprises a base frame, a curved support frame and a second attachment structure for attachment of a lifting device to the rotor hub. The base frame has a support plane and a first attachment structure for attachment to a rotor shaft link of a rotor hub, the support plane and the first attachment structure being arranged on opposite sides of the base frame. The curved support frame comprises a curved frame section and a straight frame section having a curved support surface section and a straight support surface section, respectively. The straight frame section with the straight support surface section is arranged laterally of the prospective axis of rotation of the rotor hub and the straight support surface section is angled to the prospective axis of rotation of the rotor hub by less than 15&#xb0;. The curved frame section is connected between the base frame and the straight frame section such that the curved support surface section curves from the support plane to the straight support surface section. The second attachment structure is arranged laterally to the prospective axis of rotation of the rotor hub and is arranged on an opposite side of the position for the rotor hub with respect to the straight frame section. The invention further provides a method for turning a rotor hub from a position having its prospective axis of rotation oriented vertically to a position having its prospective axis of rotation oriented inclined or transversally to a vertical orientation. A rotor hub is provided in an inventive turning stand with a rotor shaft link of the rotor hub being attached to the first attachment structure. The second attachment structure is attached to the rotor hub. A lifting device is attached to the second attachment structure and lifts the second attachment structure, thereby rolling off the rotor hub on the curved support surface section until the prospective axis of rotation of the rotor hub is oriented in an angle with respect to ground corresponding to the angle of the axis of rotation of the rotor shaft with respect to ground.

Growing community of inventors

Arhus N, Denmark

Kurt Jensen