The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Dec. 06, 2011
Filed:
Oct. 02, 2007
Tracy Livingston, Heber, UT (US);
James Goldhardt, Heber City, UT (US);
Terry Schrader, Southlake, TX (US);
James Lott, Newburgh, IN (US);
David Oliphant, Heber City, UT (US);
Harry Daugherty, Whitehouse, OH (US);
Tracy Livingston, Heber, UT (US);
James Goldhardt, Heber City, UT (US);
Terry Schrader, Southlake, TX (US);
James Lott, Newburgh, IN (US);
David Oliphant, Heber City, UT (US);
Harry Daugherty, Whitehouse, OH (US);
General Electric Company, Schenectady, NY (US);
Abstract
An apparatus and method for mounting a wind turbine and blade assembly on the upper end of a wind turbine tower. In one aspect the apparatus generally includes a ginpole that is used to assemble the tower and a lifting frame or truss that is removably secured to a top bay assembly of the tower using the ginpole. The lifting frame or truss is operated using either cables or hydraulic rams and extends fore of the tower when the frame or truss is in a first position and generally above the tower when in a second position. When in the first position, a wind turbine or blade assembly can be hoisted to the top of the tower. The wind turbine or blade assembly is then moved into position for mounting to the tower as the frame or truss is pivoted to a second position. When the turbine and blade assembly are secured to the tower, the frame or truss is disconnected from the tower and lowered to the ground followed by the ginpole being lowered to the ground.