Keystone Tower Systems, Inc.

Loren Daniel Bridgers

Eric D Smith

Rosalind K Takata

Daniel Ainge

Alexander H Slocum, Jr

Eric Rubio

Alexander H Slocum

Eric D Simth

According to one aspect, a tubular structure may include a base and a wrap. The base may have a first surface and second surface opposite one another, the first surface defining an elongate cavity, and the base having a tubular shape defining a longitudinal axis extending along the elongate cavity. The wrap may be supported on the second surface of the base, the wrap including a plurality of layers, and each layer having a first longitudinal edge and a second longitudinal edge coupled to one another along a respective spiral seam associated with the given layer and extending about the longitudinal axis of the base.

Tubular structure reinforcing

A control system for forming a tapered structure includes a sensor providing feedback for a machine for forming a tapered structure including at least three rolls having at least one bend roll and at least two guide rolls. The guide rolls may include rollette banks having a plurality of rollettes. The machine may also include an adjustment mechanism to position at least one of the rolls, where a diameter of the tapered structure being formed is controlled by relative positions of the rolls. The machine may also include a joining element to join edges of a stock of material together as it is rolled through the rolls to form the tapered structure. The control system may also include a controller to receive feedback from the sensor and to send a control signal based on the feedback to the adjustment mechanism for positioning at least one of the rolls.

Control system and method for tapered structure construction

Spiral forming devices, systems, and methods can be used to join edges of a of a stock material, in a curved configuration, along one or more joints to form tubular structures, such as conical and/or cylindrical structures (e.g., frusto-conical structures). A planar form of the stock material can be formed from a plurality planar sheets coupled to one another in an abutting relationship. By controlling relative orientation and shapes of the plurality of planar sheets forming the stock material and/or by controlling a position of a roll bender used to curve the planar form of the stock material into the curved configuration, the curved configuration of the stock material can be controlled through transitions between sheets to facilitate rolling the sheets to a desired diameter with a reduced likelihood of dimples or other errors and to facilitate fit up between adjacent sheets in the curved configuration.

Sheet transitioning in spiral formed structures

Devices, systems, and methods are directed to automated techniques for fitting flanges to tubular sections used to form tubular structures, such as large-scale structures used in industrial applications (e.g., wind towers and pipelines). As compared to manual techniques for fitting flanges to tubular sections, the devices, systems, and methods of the present disclosure facilitate faster attachment of flanges, which may be useful for achieving cost-effective throughput. By way of further comparison to manual techniques, the devices, systems, and methods of the present disclosure may, further or instead, facilitate achieving tighter dimensional tolerances. In turn, such tighter dimensional tolerances may be useful for forming thinner-walled, lighter, and lower cost tubular structures. Still further or in the alternative, automated techniques for fitting flanges to tubular sections may facilitate attachment of multipiece flanges or other non-traditional flange geometries.

Flange fitting for tubular structures

Spiral forming methods can be used to join edges of a rolled material along a spiral joint to form conical and/or cylindrical structures. Alignment of the edges of the rolled material can be controlled in a wrapping direction as the material is being joined along the spiral joint to form the structure. By controlling alignment of the edges of the material as the edges of the material are being joined, small corrections can be made over the course of forming the structure facilitating control over geometric tolerances of the resulting spiral formed structure.

Spiral forming

Devices, systems, and methods are directed to mounting an auxiliary component to a tower based at least in part on a force distribution in which a normal force is greater than a shear force exerted by the auxiliary component on a shell of the tower such that the auxiliary component may be held in place relative to the tower without penetrating the shell of the tower. Thus, as compared to mounting techniques requiring penetration of the shell of the tower, this force distribution along the shell of the tower may facilitate mounting the auxiliary component to the tower with little to no impact on cost and/or structural requirements of the tower. Further, or instead, as compared to other mounting techniques, mounting the auxiliary component based at least in part on this force distribution may reduce or eliminate the need for specialized tools, thus facilitating in-field installation of the auxiliary component.

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Golden, CO, United States of America

Loren Daniel Bridgers