Connection assembly for wind turbine tower

• US 10,053,886 B2
• Filed: 11/29/2016
• Issued: 08/21/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 11/29/2016
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: GE Infrastructure Technology, LLC (General Electric Company)
• Original Assignee: General Electric Company
• Inventors: Pal, Sujan Kumar, Nanukuttan, Biju, Chandrashekhara, Pranesh Attikodige
• Primary Examiner(s): Kwiecinski, Ryan D
• Application Number:
  US15/363,338
• Publication Number:
  US 20180148949A1
• Time in Patent Office: 630 Days
• CPC Class Codes: E04B 1/48 Dowels, i.e. members adapted to penetrate the surfaces of two parts and to take the shear stresses
• CPC Class Codes: E04B 2001/2415 Brackets, gussets, joining plates
• CPC Class Codes: E04H 12/08 of metal
• CPC Class Codes: F03D 13/20 Arrangements for mounting or supporting wind motors; Masts or towers for wind motors
• CPC Class Codes: F16B 5/045 without the use of separate rivets
• CPC Class Codes: F16B 5/12 Fastening strips or bars to sheets or plates, e.g. rubber strips, decorative strips for motor vehicles, by means of clips friction- grip releasable fastenings in general F16B2/00; fastening rods or tubular parts to flat surfaces at an angle F16B9/00
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 10/728 Onshore wind turbines

Abstract

A connection assembly for a tower of a wind turbine is provided. The connection assembly includes a first tower section segment having an inner surface spaced apart from an outer surface. A second tower section segment is positioned adjacent to the first tower section segment and includes an inner surface spaced apart from an outer surface. The first tower section segment and the second tower section segment define a vertically extending gap therebetween. A connector plate includes a first connector plate portion, a second connector plate portion spaced apart from the first connector plate portion, and a third connector plate portion positioned between the first connector plate portion and the second connector plate portion. The first connector plate portion couples to the first tower section segment. The second connector plate portion couples to the second tower section segment. The third connector plate portion extends through the vertically extending gap.

Claims

1. A connection assembly for a tower of a wind turbine, the connection assembly comprising:

a first tower section segment comprising an inner surface spaced apart from an outer surface and a plurality of studs;

a second tower section segment positioned adjacent to the first tower section segment, the second tower section segment comprising an inner surface spaced apart from an outer surface, the second tower segment defining a plurality of mounting apertures extending therethrough, wherein the first tower section segment and the second tower section segment define a vertically extending gap therebetween and at least partially define a tower interior; and

a connector plate comprising a first connector plate portion, a second connector plate portion spaced apart from the first connector plate portion, and a third connector plate portion positioned between the first connector plate portion and the second connector plate portion, the first connector plate portion defining a plurality of mounting apertures, the second connector plate portion defining a plurality of studs;

wherein the first connector plate portion couples to the first tower section segment, the second connector plate portion couples to the second tower section segment, and the third connector plate portion extends through the vertically extending gap, and

wherein each of the plurality of studs on the first tower section segment extends through one of the plurality of apertures defined by the first connector plate portion and each of the plurality of studs on the second connector plate portion extends through one of the plurality of apertures defined by the second tower section segment.

2. The connection assembly of claim 1, wherein the first connector plate portion is radially spaced apart from the second connector plate portion, and wherein the first connector plate portion contacts the radially inner surface of the first tower section segment and the second connector plate portion contacts the radially outer surface to the second tower section segment.

3. The connection assembly of claim 2, wherein the third connector plate portion is oriented at angle relative to the first connector plate portion and the second connector plate portion.

4. The connection assembly of claim 2, wherein the connector plate is S-shaped.

5. The connection assembly of claim 1, wherein the first tower section segment comprises a vertical length, the second tower section segment comprises a vertical length, and the connector plate comprises a vertical length, and wherein the vertical length of the first tower section segment, the vertical length of the second tower section segment, and the vertical length of the connector plate are equal.

6. The connection assembly of claim 1, further comprising:

a plurality of fasteners, each fastener engaging one of the plurality of studs on the first tower segment or one of the plurality of studs on the second connector plate portion such that the plurality of fasteners are positioned within the tower interior.

7. The connection assembly of claim 1, The connection assembly of claim 1, further comprising:

a plurality of fasteners, each fastener engaging one of the plurality of studs on the first tower segment or one of the plurality of studs on the second connector plate portion such that the plurality of fasteners are positioned within the tower interior.

8. A wind turbine, comprising:

a nacelle;

a rotor coupled to the nacelle, the rotor comprising a hub and at least one rotor blade extending from the hub; and

a tower supporting the nacelle, the tower comprising;

a first tower section segment comprising an inner surface spaced apart from an outer surface and a plurality of studs;

a second tower section segment positioned adjacent to the first tower section segment, the second tower section segment comprising an inner surface spaced apart from an outer surface, the second tower segment defining a plurality of mounting apertures extending therethrough, wherein the first tower section segment and the second tower section segment define a vertically extending gap therebetween; and

a connector plate comprising a first connector plate portion, a second connector plate portion spaced apart from the first connector plate portion, and a third connector plate portion positioned between the first connector plate portion and the second connector plate portion, the first connector plate portion defining a plurality of mounting apertures, the second connector plate portion defining a plurality of studs;

wherein the first connector plate portion couples to the first tower section segment, the second connector plate portion couples to the second tower section segment, and the third connector plate portion extends through the vertically extending gap, and

wherein each of the plurality of studs on the first tower section segment extends through one of the plurality of apertures defined by the first connector plate portion and each of the plurality of studs on the second connector plate portion extends through one of the plurality of apertures defined by the second tower section segment.

9. The wind turbine of claim 8, wherein the first connector plate portion is radially spaced apart from the second connector plate portion, and wherein the third connector plate portion is oriented at an angle relative to the first connector plate portion and the second connector plate portion.

10. The wind turbine of claim 8, wherein the first tower section segment comprises a vertical length, the second tower section segment comprises a vertical length, and the connector plate comprises a vertical length, and wherein the vertical length of the first t section segment, the vertical length of the second tower section segment, and the vertical length of the connector plate are the same.

11. The wind turbine of claim 8, wherein the third connector plate portion is oriented at angle relative to the first connector plate portion and the second connector plate portion.

12. The wind turbine of claim 8, wherein the connector plate is S-shaped.