Wind Turbine Rotor Blade Having Segmented Tip

• US 20100303631A1
• Filed: 06/17/2009
• Published: 12/02/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 05/29/2009
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Vestas Wind Systems A/S
• Original Assignee: Vestas Wind Systems A/S
• Inventors: Vuillaume, Amaury Denis, Payne, Christopher Gordon Thomas
• Application Number:
  US12/486,372
• Publication Number:
  US 20100303631A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 416/226
• CPC Class Codes: F03D 1/0675 of the blades
• CPC Class Codes: F03D 13/10 Assembly of wind motors; Arrangements for erecting wind motors
• CPC Class Codes: F03D 13/40 Arrangements or methods specially adapted for transporting wind motor components
• CPC Class Codes: F05B 2230/60 Assembly methods
• CPC Class Codes: F05B 2240/302 Segmented or sectional blades
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 10/72 Wind turbines with rotation axis in wind direction
• CPC Class Codes: Y02P 70/50 Manufacturing or production processes characterised by the final manufactured product

Abstract

A wind turbine rotor blade is provided. The rotor blade comprises a root portion located in a proximal region of the rotor blade and a tip portion connected to the root portion and located in a distal region of the rotor blade. A spar extends from the root portion to the tip portion. The spar is a unitary member at the root portion and separates into a primary spar and a sub-spar towards the tip region of the rotor blade. Each spar and sub-spar has a respective lifting surface of the rotor blade associated therewith, each lifting surface being distinct from each other lifting surface.

Claims

1. A wind turbine rotor blade comprising:

a root portion located in a proximal region of the rotor blade;

a tip portion connected to the root portion and located in a distal region of the rotor blade;

a spar extending from the root portion to the tip portion, wherein the spar is a unitary member at the root portion and separates into a primary spar and a sub-spar towards the tip region of the rotor blade, each spar and sub-spar having associated therewith a respective lifting surface of the rotor blade, each lifting surface being distinct from each other lifting surface.

2. A rotor blade according to claim 1, wherein at least one said lifting surface is releasably mounted on the rotor blade.

3. A rotor blade according to claim 1, wherein the spar comprises a second sub-spar.

4. A rotor blade according to claim 3, wherein separation of a first sub-spar occurs at a first span-wise location and separation of a second sub-spar occurs at a second span-wise location.

6. A wind turbine installation comprising:

a tower;

a hub mounted atop the tower; and

a wind turbine rotor blade, according to claim 1, connected to the hub.

5. A wind turbine rotor blade substantially as herein described and with reference to the accompanying drawings.