WIND TURBINE TOWER, A WIND TURBINE, A WIND TURBINE TOWER ELEVATOR AND A METHOD FOR ASSEMBLING A WIND TURBINE TOWER

• US 20090016897A1
• Filed: 07/17/2008
• Published: 01/15/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 01/17/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Vestas Wind Systems A/S
• Original Assignee: Vestas Wind Systems A/S
• Inventors: Olgaard, Borge
• Granted Patent: US 7,877,935 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 416/244.R
• CPC Class Codes: B66B 9/187 with a liftway specially adapted for temporary connection to a building or other structure B66B9/193 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: E04H 12/08 of metal
• CPC Class Codes: E04H 12/34 Arrangements for erecting or lowering towers, masts, poles, chimney stacks, or the like
• 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 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 2230/50 Building or constructing in particular ways
• CPC Class Codes: F05B 2250/131 polygonal
• 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 29/49963 Threaded fastener

Abstract

The invention relates to a wind turbine tower comprising at least two annular tower rings placed vertically on top of each other. The wind turbine tower is characterized in that, a first tower ring overlaps at least a further tower ring of the at least two tower rings. The invention further relates to a wind turbine, a wind turbine tower elevator for use in a wind turbine tower and a method for assembling a wind turbine tower.

Claims

1. A wind turbine comprising

a wind turbine tower comprising at least two annular tower rings placed vertically on top of each other,

characterized in that

a first tower ring of said at least two tower rings overlaps at least a further tower ring of said at least two tower rings.

2. The wind turbine according to claim 1, wherein said at least two tower rings overlaps in a substantially horizontal overlap region consisting of a bottom section of a tower ring and a top section of another tower rings.

3. The wind turbine according to claim 2, wherein said substantially horizontal overlap region extends in said tower rings longitudinal direction.

4. The wind turbine according to claim 2, wherein said bottom section and/or said top section are angled in an angle α

, β

, respectively, in relation to a middle section of said tower rings.

5. The wind turbine according to claim 4, wherein said angles α

, β

are between 0.5° and

15°

, preferably 1° and

10° and

most preferred between 2° and

7°

.

6. The wind turbine according to claim 1, wherein said at least two tower rings overlaps downwards, making an upper tower ring overlap a lower tower ring placed immediately beneath said upper tower ring and so on.

7. The wind turbine according to claim 1, wherein said at least two tower rings are connected through said substantially horizontal overlap region.

8. The wind turbine according to claim 7, wherein said at least two tower rings are connected by bolts.

9. The wind turbine according to claim 1, wherein said at least two tower rings are of substantially constant height.

10. The wind turbine according to claim 1, wherein said at least two tower rings are made of steel.

11. The wind turbine according to claim 1, wherein said at least two tower rings comprise at least two tower plates.

12. The wind turbine according to claim 1, wherein said at least two tower rings comprise between 1 and 50, preferably 3 and 30 and most preferred between 5 and 11, such as 8 horizontally juxtaposed tower plates.

13. The wind turbine according to claim 11, wherein said at least two tower plates comprise a first vertical or substantially vertical side section and a second vertical or substantially vertical side section where said first side section overlaps a second side section of a horizontally juxtaposed tower plate.

14. The wind turbine according to claim 13, wherein said at least two tower plates are connected through said overlap by bolts.

15. The wind turbine according to claim 11, wherein said at least two tower plates comprise between 1 and 5, preferably 2 or 3 vertically or substantially vertically bends.

16. The wind turbine according to claim 11, wherein said at least two tower plates has a bottom width (Wb) which are wider than the width of the top width (Wt).

17. The wind turbine according to claim 11, wherein said tower plates in a tower ring are substantially identical in shape.

18. The wind turbine according to claim 11, wherein said at least two tower plates comprise a cut-out in at least one corner.

19. The wind turbine according to claim 11, wherein said at least two tower plates has a longitudinal extend (Lp) of between 1 and 50 m, preferably between 3 and 30 m, and most preferred between 7 and 15 m.

20. The wind turbine according to claim 1, wherein said at least two tower rings are tapered.

21. The wind turbine according to claim 1, wherein said at least two tower rings are polygonal shaped.

26. The wind turbine according to claim 1 comprising

a tower elevator for use in a wind turbine tower,

characterized in that

said elevator comprises means for enabling both vertically and horizontally movement of said elevator.

22. The wind turbine comprising

a tower elevator for use in a wind turbine tower,

characterized in that

said elevator comprises means for enabling both vertically and horizontally movement of said elevator.

23. The wind turbine according to claim 22, wherein said elevator comprise means for making an elevator basket of said elevator maintaining a constant distance to the inside surface of said wind turbine tower.

24. The wind turbine according to claim 23, wherein said means comprise a number of rails attached to the inside of said tower by means of magnets.

25. The wind turbine according to claim 22, wherein said means enabling horizontally movement of said elevator comprise a substantially horizontal annular rail.

27. A method for assembling a wind turbine tower of a wind turbine, said method comprising the steps of

establishing at least two tower rings

mounting a first tower ring of said at least two tower rings on at least a further tower ring of said at least two tower rings, making said first tower ring overlap said further tower ring, and

connecting said first tower ring and said further tower ring through their overlap by use of connection means.

28. The method according to claim 27, wherein said at least two tower rings overlaps in a substantially horizontal overlap region consisting of a bottom section of a tower ring and a top section of another tower rings.

29. The method according to claim 27, wherein said connection means are bolts.

30. The method according to claim 27, wherein said connection means are tightened up by use of an elevator which comprises means for enabling both vertically and horizontally movement of said elevator.

31. The method according to claim 30, wherein an elevator basket of said elevator maintains a substantially constant distance to the inside surface of said tower rings.

32. The method according to claim 27, wherein said assembling is done at or in close proximity of the mounting site where said wind turbine tower is to be erected.