WIND POWER PLANT AND A METHOD FOR ASSEMBLING THE SAME

• US 20100126079A1
• Filed: 11/25/2009
• Published: 05/27/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 11/27/2008
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Vestas Wind Systems A/S
• Original Assignee: Vestas Wind Systems A/S
• Inventors: Kristensen, Jonas
• Application Number:
  US12/626,062
• Publication Number:
  US 20100126079A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 52/40
• CPC Class Codes: B25B 13/02 with rigid jaws B25B13/46, B25B13/48 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B25B 13/485 for theft-proof screws, bolts or nuts
• CPC Class Codes: E02D 27/42 Foundations for poles, masts or chimneys sockets or holders for poles or masts per se E04H12/22
• CPC Class Codes: E02D 27/425 specially adapted for wind motors masts wind motors per se F03D1/00
• CPC Class Codes: E04H 12/085 Details of flanges for tubular masts
• CPC Class Codes: F03D 13/22 Foundations specially adapted 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: F05B 2240/912 on a tower
• CPC Class Codes: F16B 23/0069 with holes to be engaged with corresponding pins on the tool or protruding pins to be engaged with corresponding holes on the tool
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 10/72 Wind turbines with rotation axis in wind direction
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 10/728 Onshore wind turbines

Abstract

A wind power plant includes a tower, the tower including at least one tower section provided with at least one flange and forming at least part of the wall of the tower. The power plant further includes an element provided with at least one flange and adapted to be installed adjacent the tower section. The tower section and the element have abutting flanges, the flanges being releasably interconnected by sets of bolts and nuts. At least one surface associated with each set of bolt and nut and facing away from the flanges is provided with a plurality of recesses for receiving projections of a tightening device. A method of joining a tower section and an adjacent element is also disclosed.

Claims

1. A wind power plant comprising a tower, said tower comprising at least one tower section provided with at least one flange and forming at least part of the wall of the tower,

said power plant further comprising an element provided with at least one flange and adapted to be installed adjacent said tower section, wherein said tower section and said element have abutting flanges, said flanges being releasably interconnected by sets of bolts and nuts,

wherein at least one surface associated with each set of bolt and nut and facing away from said flanges is provided with a plurality of recesses for receiving projections of a tightening device.

2. A wind power plant according to claim 1, wherein said element is a tower section.

3. A wind power plant according to claim 1, wherein said element is a tower foundation.

4. A wind power plant according to claim 1, wherein said element is a nacelle of the wind power plant.

5. A wind power plant according to claim 1, wherein said nuts are provided with said recesses.

6. A wind power plant according to claim 1, wherein said bolts each have a bolt head provided with said recesses.

7. A wind power plant according to claim 1, wherein at least one of said sets of bolts and nuts comprises a stud bolt and two nuts, said two nuts each provided with said recesses.

8. A wind power plant according to claim 1, wherein each bolt further comprises an at least partially threaded shaft, said bolt being arranged such that its shaft is parallel to the longitudinal axis of the tower, and wherein the distance between a wall of the tower facing said flange and an outer periphery of the shaft is less than 70 mm, more preferred less than 60 mm and most preferred less than 50 mm.

9. A wind power plant according to claim 1, wherein each bolt is arranged such that a head thereof is orientated downwards.

10. A wind power plant according to claim 1, wherein said recesses are provided with such depth that projections of a tightening device are fully insertable into said recesses.

11. A wind power plant according to claim 1, wherein the recesses are provided with such width that the inner lateral surfaces of the recesses abut outer lateral surfaces of projections of a tightening device when said projections are inserted into said recesses.

12. A wind power plant according to claim 1, wherein the recesses are cylindrical blind bores arranged parallel to each other.

13. A method for joining a tower section to an adjacent element of a wind power plant comprising:

arranging the tower section and the element such that a flange of tower section is brought into contact with a flange of the element,

aligning holes arranged in the flange of the tower section with holes arranged in the flange of the element,

interconnecting the flanges by sets of bolts and nuts, the bolts being arranged and extending through at least some of the aligned holes, and

tightening each set of bolt and nut with a tightening device having projections adapted to engage recesses provided in at least one surface associated with said set and facing away from the flanges.

14. A method according to claim 13, further comprising the step of arranging each bolt such that a head thereof is oriented downwards.