WIND TURBINE TOWER, CONNECTION MEANS FOR ASSEMBLING A WIND TURBINE TOWER AND METHODS THEREOF

• US 20080308696A1
• Filed: 05/23/2008
• Published: 12/18/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 11/24/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Vestas Wind Systems A/S
• Original Assignee: Vestas Wind Systems A/S
• Inventors: Kristensen, Jonas
• Granted Patent: US 8,225,576 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 248/230.1
• CPC Class Codes: E04H 12/085 Details of flanges for tubular masts
• CPC Class Codes: F03D 13/10 Assembly of wind motors; Arrangements for erecting wind motors
• CPC Class Codes: F03D 13/20 Arrangements for mounting or supporting wind motors; Masts or towers for wind motors
• CPC Class Codes: F03D 13/22 Foundations specially adapted for wind motors
• CPC Class Codes: F05B 2260/301 Retaining bolts or nuts
• CPC Class Codes: F16B 23/0007 characterised by the shape of the recess or the protrusion engaging the tool F16B23/0069 and F16B23/0076 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 10/72 Wind turbines with rotation axis in wind direction
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 10/728 Onshore wind turbines
• CPC Class Codes: Y02P 70/50 Manufacturing or production processes characterised by the final manufactured product
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/49947 by applying separate fastener

Abstract

The invention relates to a wind turbine tower comprising a tower foundation, and at least two tower sections connected by numerous sets of connecting means positioned in close proximity of each other. The connecting means comprising at least one nut with at least one assembly opening for interacting with an assembly tool.

The invention also relates to a method for assembling a wind turbine tower and a method for manufacturing a nut of connection means for fixating a wind turbine tower including at least two tower sections.

Claims

1. A wind turbine tower comprising

a tower foundation, and

at least two tower sections connected by numerous sets of connecting means positioned in close proximity of each other, characterised in that

said connecting means comprising at least one nut with at least one assembly opening for interacting with an assembly tool.

2. The wind turbine tower according to claim 1, characterised in that said nut with a bolt form a set of connection means.

3. The wind turbine tower according to claim 2, characterised in that the lower part of the nut comprises an opening with an internal thread corresponding to the thread of the bolt in the set.

4. The wind turbine tower according to claim 1, characterised in that said nut comprises one assembly opening for interacting with an assembly tool.

5. The wind turbine tower according to claim 4, characterised in that said one opening is positioned in the upper part of the nut and is shaped as a slot, square, penta, hex, cross, Torx or any similar shaped socket for interacting with the assembly tool.

6. The wind turbine tower according to claim 3, characterised in that the size (X_b) of the opening in the internal thread of the nut is larger than the size (X_a) of the assembly opening.

7. The wind turbine tower according to claim 1, characterised in that said nut comprises two or three assembly openings for interacting with one assembly tool.

8. The wind turbine tower according to claim 7, characterised in that said more than one opening are positioned in the upper part of the nut and are circular shaped sockets such as “

snake eyes”

for interacting with the assembly tool.

9. The wind turbine tower according to claim 1, characterised in that said tower sections are connected in a flanged joint with one or more arrays of sets of connection means.

10. The wind turbine tower according to claim 1, characterised in that the nuts of said sets of connection means are tightened by said assembly tool.

11. The wind turbine tower according to claim 2, characterised in that bolts of said sets of connection means comprise means for interacting with a holding tool.

12. The wind turbine tower according to claim 11, characterised in that said bolts comprise a bolt head and/or an internal opening for interacting with said holding tool.

13. The wind turbine tower according to claim 9, characterised in that the length (L_b) of the shaft of said bolt is pre-chosen to correspond substantially to the sum of the size (T_f) of said flanged joint and the length (L_n2) of the internal thread part of said nut.

14. The wind turbine tower according to claim 1, characterised in that the length (Ln₂) of the internal thread part of said nut is similar to the length (L_n1) of the assembly opening of said nut.

15. Connection means for assembling a wind turbine tower, said means comprising

a bolt with a threaded part, and

a nut with an internal threaded part corresponding to the thread of said bolt,

characterised in that

said nut further comprises at least one assembly opening for interacting with an assembly tool.

16. Connection means according to claim 15, characterised in that said at least one assembly opening is positioned in an upper part of the nut in relation to a lower part comprising the internal thread.

17. Connection means according to claim 15, characterised in that said bolt comprises means such as a bolt head and/or an internal opening for interacting with a holding tool.

18. Connection means according to claim 15, characterised in that said one opening is positioned in the upper part of the nut and is shaped as a slot, square, penta, hex, cross, Torx or any similar shaped socket for interacting with the assembly tool.

19. A Method for assembling a wind turbine tower comprising at least two tower sections at a wind turbine site, said method comprising the steps of

establishing a foundation,

positioning a first tower section on the foundation and fixating said first tower section to the foundation by sets of connection means,

positioning a further tower section on the first tower section and fixating said first tower section to the foundation by sets of connection means, and so on until the tower is established,

characterised in that

said fixating is initiated by an assembly tool tightening a set of connection means by entering at least one assembly opening in a nut of said set of connection means.

20. The Method for assembling according to claim 19, characterised in that the nut of said set of connection means is tightened by said assembly tool.

21. The Method for assembling according to claim 19, characterised in that a bolt of said set of connection means is at least held in place by a holding tool.

22. A Method for manufacturing a nut of the connection means for fixating wind turbine tower including at least two tower sections, said method comprising the steps of

establishing a through going hole in said nut,

establishing an assembly opening in the nut, and

establishing an internal thread in the lower part of the hole whereby the size of the internal thread is larger than the size of the assembly opening.