External ladder assembly for wind turbine nacelle

• US 10,641,042 B2
• Filed: 11/07/2017
• Issued: 05/05/2020
• Est. Priority Date: 11/07/2017
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: GE Infrastructure Technology, LLC (General Electric Company)
• Original Assignee: General Electric Company
• Inventors: Manikas, Brian William, Thomas, Gregory Clarence, Davidson, Paul Howard
• Primary Examiner(s): Mitchell, Katherine W
• Assistant Examiner(s): Bradford, Candace L
• Application Number:
  US15/805,168
• Publication Number:
  US 20190136626A1
• Time in Patent Office: 910 Days
• CPC Class Codes: E04G 3/20 supported by walls E04G3/28 takes precedence; wall-anchors for supporting scaffolds E04G5/04; consoles E04G5/06
• CPC Class Codes: E04G 3/243 following the outside contour of a building E04G3/26 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: E04G 5/14 Railings
• CPC Class Codes: E06C 7/18 Devices for preventing persons from falling life-saving belts A62B1/16 ; safety devices for window-cleaners A47L3/00
• CPC Class Codes: E06C 7/181 Additional gripping devices, e.g. handrails
• CPC Class Codes: E06C 7/182 situated at the top of the ladder
• CPC Class Codes: E06C 7/423 Ladder stabilising struts
• CPC Class Codes: E06C 7/48 Ladder heads; Supports for heads of ladders for resting against objects ladders attachable to structures such as poles E06C1/34
• CPC Class Codes: E06C 9/02 rigidly mounted
• CPC Class Codes: E06C 9/08 with rigid longitudinal members
• CPC Class Codes: F03D 13/10 Assembly of wind motors; Arrangements for erecting wind motors
• CPC Class Codes: F03D 80/00 Details, components or accessories not provided for in groups F03D1/00 - F03D17/00
• CPC Class Codes: F03D 80/50 Maintenance or repair
• CPC Class Codes: F05B 2240/14 Casings, housings, nacelles, gondels or the like, protecting or supporting assemblies there within
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 10/72 Wind turbines with rotation axis in wind direction

Abstract

An external ladder assembly for a nacelle of a wind turbine includes at least one ladder having parallel side legs and a plurality of rungs arranged between the parallel side legs. The ladder assembly also includes a ladder platform arranged with the ladder and configured for placement atop the nacelle. Further, the ladder assembly includes a mounting assembly for affixing the ladder platform atop the nacelle. More specifically, the mounting assembly is adjustable between multiple positions so as to level the ladder platform atop the nacelle. Thus, the ladder assembly provides access to one or more uptower, external features of the wind turbine.

Claims

1. An external ladder assembly for a nacelle of a wind turbine, the ladder assembly comprising:

at least one ladder comprising parallel side legs and a plurality of rungs arranged between the parallel side legs;

a ladder platform arranged with the ladder and configured for placement on an upper-most surface of the nacelle; and

,

a mounting assembly secured to and beneath the ladder platform for affixing the ladder platform on the upper-most surface of the nacelle, the mounting assembly being adjustable between multiple positions so as to level the ladder platform on the upper-most surface of the nacelle, the mounting assembly comprising a mounting frame with at least one adjustable frame member, the mounting frame mountable on the upper-most surface of the nacelle, the at least one adjustable frame member configured to lift or lower the ladder platform so as to provide a level surface on the upper-most surface of the nacelle, the mounting frame comprising one or more locating features for aligning the ladder platform thereon,

wherein the at least one ladder and the ladder platform provide access to one or more uptower, external features of the wind turbine.

2. The ladder assembly of claim 1, wherein the mounting assembly further comprises at least two adjustable frame members that are configured to lift or lower the ladder platform so as to provide a level surface on the upper-most surface of the nacelle.

3. The ladder assembly of claim 1, wherein the at least one adjustable frame member comprises a first end and second end, the first end mounted to the mounting frame via at least one fastener at a rotatable hinge point, the second end rotatable about the hinge point via at least one jacking component.

4. The ladder assembly of claim 1, wherein the at least one adjustable frame member is securable in place to maintain a position of the ladder platform after the ladder platform is level.

5. The ladder assembly of claim 1, wherein the one or more locating features comprises at least one of front locating features, rear locating features, side locating features, or combinations thereof.

6. The ladder assembly of claim 1, wherein the ladder is configured for placement adjacent to an exterior side of the nacelle.

7. The ladder assembly of claim 1, wherein the one or more uptower, external features comprise at least one of a platform, a pitch bearing, a rotor, a hub, a rotor blade, or an access door.

8. The ladder assembly of claim 1, further comprising a tie off location for personnel.

9. The ladder assembly of claim 1, wherein at least one of the at least one ladder or the ladder platform further comprises one or more handrails for personnel.