Transport System for Transportation of a Spar

• US 20100252977A1
• Filed: 03/30/2010
• Published: 10/07/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 04/01/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Vestas Wind Systems A/S
• Original Assignee: Vestas Wind Systems A/S
• Inventors: Jørgensen, Henning, Hansen, Jens Jessen
• Granted Patent: US 8,342,491 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 269/287
• CPC Class Codes: F03D 13/40 Arrangements or methods specially adapted for transporting wind motor components
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 10/72 Wind turbines with rotation axis in wind direction
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/49332 Propeller making

Abstract

A transport system for transporting at least one blade or spar for a wind turbine. The blade or spar has a root end and a tip end. The transport system comprises a root frame structure for holding the root end and a fixation device adapted to fixate and support the blade or spar between the root end and tip end.

Claims

1. A transport system for transporting at least one blade or spar for a wind turbine, the blade or spar having a root end and a tip end and the transport system comprising:

a root frame structure for holding the root end, and

a fixation device adapted to fixate and support the blade or spar between the root end and the tip end,

wherein the fixation device has at least one rolling means and at least one device connection means for connecting to a second fixation device so that one fixation device can be stacked on top of another fixation device.

2. The transport system according to claim 1, wherein the root frame structure comprises a root support means, such as a projecting flange or a seat, for receiving the root end.

3. The transport system according to claim 1, wherein the fixation device comprises at least one device fixation means for receiving the blade or spar, the device fixation means having a configuration which conforms to an outside shape of the blade and/or the spar.

4. The transport system according to claim 3, wherein the device fixation means comprises a padding means for abutting the outside of the blade or the spar.

5. The transport system according to claim 3, wherein the device fixation means comprises a hose clamp.

6. The transport system according to claim 3, wherein the device fixation means comprises a first and a second part, the first part being hingedly connected to the second part.

7. The transport system according to claim 1, further comprising a main frame structure to which the root frame structure is connectable and wherein the main frame structure has at least one main frame support means for supporting two or more root frame structures.

8. The transport system according to claim 1, wherein the connection means has a shape conforming to the second fixation device.

9. The transport system according to claim 1, wherein the connection means is a projecting part and/or an indentation corresponding to a projecting part and/or indentation of the second fixation device, and/or wherein the connection means comprises a fastening means for fastening of the second fixation device.

10. The transport system according to claim 9, wherein the main frame support means is positioned on a first side of the main frame structure for connection to a root frame structure and wherein a frame projecting means is provided on a second side of the main frame structure opposite the first side, the frame projecting means projecting from the second side so that, when loaded with the root frame structure, the main frame structure maintains an upright position.

11. The transport system according to claim 9, wherein the main frame support means is a crossbar on which a device projecting means of the fixation device is supported.

12. The transport system according to claim 1, wherein the root frame structure has root frame connection means adapted to receive a second root frame structure so that one root frame structure can be stacked on top of another.

13. The transport system according to claim 1, wherein the fixation device has at least two wheels arranged at each side of the fixation device so that the wheels project sideways from the fixation device when one fixation device is stacked on top of another.

14. The transport system according to claim 1, further comprising a base frame structure for receiving at least one fixation device.

15. The transport arrangement comprising two transport systems according to claim 1, where each blade or spar has a direction of extension from the root end to the tip end, wherein the fixation devices are stacked one on top of another and are arranged in the same base frame structure so that the blades or spars attached to the first transport system lie in an opposite direction of extension than the direction of extension of the blades or spars attached to the second transport system.

16. A mounting method for mounting of one or more blades or spars for a wind turbine before transport, the blade or spar having a root end and a tip end and the method comprising the steps of:

fastening a root end of a first blade or spar onto a root frame structure according to claim 1 and,

placing the first blade or spar in a fixation device according to claim 1.

17. The mounting method according to claim 16, further comprising the steps of:

fastening a second root end of a second blade or spar onto a second root frame structure,

placing the second blade or spar in a second fixation device,

connecting the first root frame structure to a main frame structure,

arranging the second fixation device on top of the first fixation device, and

arranging the second root frame structure on top of the first root frame structure.