Methods for Transporting Wind Turbine Blades

• US 20150198140A1
• Filed: 01/13/2015
• Published: 07/16/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 01/16/2014
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: BNSF Logistics, LLC (Berkshire Hathaway Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: BNSF Logistics, LLC (Berkshire Hathaway Incorporated)
• Inventors: Sigurdsson, Sigurd Ernir
• Granted Patent: US 9,494,140 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: A47B 81/00 Cabinets or racks specially adapted for other particular purposes, e.g. for storing guns or skis
• 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

Abstract

A system for transporting wind turbine blades includes a first support structure for supporting a cylindrical root section of a first wind turbine blade and a second support structure aligned with and spaced from the first support structure for supporting a tip section of the first wind turbine blade. A third support structure is included for supporting a tip section of a second wind turbine blade. A fourth support structure is spaced from and aligned with the third support structure for supporting a cylindrical root section of the second wind turbine blade. The first and second wind turbine blades extend with an edge-vertical orientation in opposing directions such that a tip of the first wind turbine blade is disposed horizontally adjacent the cylindrical root section of the second wind turbine blade and a tip of the second wind turbine blade is disposed horizontally adjacent the cylindrical root section of the first wind turbine blade.

Claims

1. A system for transporting wind turbine blades, comprising:

a first support structure for supporting a cylindrical root section of a first wind turbine blade;

a second support structure aligned with and spaced from the first support structure for supporting a tip section of the first wind turbine blade;

a third support structure for supporting a tip section of a second wind turbine blade; and

a fourth support structure spaced from and aligned with the third support structure for supporting a cylindrical root section of the second wind turbine blade, wherein the first and second wind turbine blades extend with an edge-vertical orientation in opposing directions such that a tip of the first wind turbine blade is disposed adjacent the cylindrical root section of the second wind turbine blade and a tip of the second wind turbine blade is disposed adjacent the cylindrical root section of the first wind turbine blade.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein:

the first support structure comprises a selected one of an array of subframes of a first end frame, each subframe of the array of subframes of the first end frame for supporting a cylindrical root section of a wind turbine blade;

the second support structure comprises a selected one of an array of subframes of a first middle frame, each subframe of the array of subframes of the first middle frame aligned with a corresponding subframe of the array of subframes of the first end frame for supporting, in an edge-vertical orientation, a tip section of a wind turbine having a cylindrical root section supported by the corresponding subframe of the first end frame;

the third support structure comprises a selected one of an array of subframes of a second middle frame, each subframe of the array of subframes of the second middle frame for supporting a tip section of a wind turbine blade in an edge-vertical orientation; and

the fourth support structure comprises a selected one of an array of subframes of a second end frame, each subframe of the array of subframes of the second end frame aligned with a corresponding subframe of the array of subframes of the second middle frame for supporting a cylindrical root section of a wind turbine blade having a tip section supported by the corresponding subframe of the second middle frame.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein the first support structure comprises a frame and a root support assembly, the root support assembly comprising:

a strap supported by the frame for disposition below the cylindrical root section of the first wind turbine blade; and

at least one ear supported by the frame and having apertures for receiving bolts for securing the cylindrical root section of the first wind turbine blade.

4. The system of claim 3, wherein the root support structure further comprises another strap for disposition around an outer surface of the cylindrical root section of the first wind turbine blade and adapted to be fastened to the frame for securing the cylindrical root section of the first turbine blade.

5. The system of claim 1, wherein the second support structure comprises a frame and a root support assembly, the root support assembly comprising:

a strap supported by the frame for disposition below the cylindrical root section of the second wind turbine blade; and

at least one ear supported by the frame and having apertures for receiving bolts for securing the cylindrical root section of the second wind turbine blade.

6. The system of claim 5, wherein the root support structure further comprises another strap for disposition around an outer surface of the cylindrical root section of the second wind turbine blade and adapted to be fastened to the frame for securing the cylindrical root section of the second turbine blade.

7. The system of claim 1, wherein the second support structure comprises a tip section support assembly for supporting the tip section edge of the first wind turbine blade in the edge-vertical orientation, the tip section support assembly comprising:

a U-shaped receptacle for receiving an edge of the tip section of the first wind turbine blade;

first and second opposing pivoting flaps extending from corresponding first and second opposing edges of the U-shaped receptacle for contracting against opposing surfaces of the tip section of the first wind turbine blade.

8. The system of claim 7, wherein the tip section support assembly further comprises:

a first hinge assembly pivotally coupling the first flap with the first edge of the U-shaped receptacle;

a first threaded screw and threaded nut assembly for applying force to pivot the first flap around the first hinge assembly;

a second hinge assembly pivotally coupling the second flap with the second edge of the U-shaped receptacle; and

a second threaded screw and threaded nut assembly for applying force to pivot the second flap around the first hinge assembly.

9. The system of claim 1, wherein the third support structure comprises a tip section support assembly for supporting the tip section edge of the first wind turbine blade in the edge-vertical orientation, the tip section support assembly comprising:

a U-shaped receptacle for receiving an edge of the tip section of the first wind turbine blade;

first and second opposing pivoting flaps extending from corresponding first and second opposing edges of the U-shaped receptacle for contracting against opposing surfaces of the tip section of the first wind turbine blade.

10. The system of claim 9, wherein the tip section support assembly further comprises:

a first hinge assembly pivotally coupling the first flap with the first edge of the U-shaped receptacle;

a first threaded screw and threaded nut assembly for applying force to pivot the first flap around the first hinge assembly;

a second hinge assembly pivotally coupling the second flap with the second edge of the U-shaped receptacle; and

a second threaded screw and threaded nut assembly for applying force to pivot the second flap around the first hinge assembly.

11. The system of claim 1, wherein the third and fourth support structures support such that the tip of the first wind turbine blade is disposed underneath the cylindrical root section of the second wind turbine blade and the tip of the second wind turbine blade is disposed underneath the cylindrical root section of the first wind turbine blade.

12. A wind turbine transportation pack comprising:

a first end frame comprising a plurality of subframes each for supporting a cylindrical root section of a wind turbine blade disposed in an edge-vertical orientation;

a first middle frame comprising a plurality of subframes, each subframe of the middle frame spaced from and aligned with a corresponding subframe of the first end frame and adapted to support a tip section of a wind turbine blade having a cylindrical root section supported by the corresponding subframe of the first end frame;

a second end frame comprising a plurality of subframes each for supporting a cylindrical root section of a wind turbine blade disposed in an edge-vertical orientation;

second middle frame comprising a plurality of subframes, each subframe of the second middle frame spaced from and aligned with a corresponding subframe of the second end frame and adapted to support a tip section of a wind turbine blade having a cylindrical root section supported by the corresponding subframe of the second end frame; and

wherein a selected pair of horizontally adjacent wind turbine blades extend through a corresponding pair of aligned subframes of the first and second middle frames in opposing directions such that a tip of a first wind turbine blade of the pair is disposed adjacent the cylindrical root section of a second wind turbine blade of the pair and a tip of the second wind turbine blade of the pair is disposed adjacent the cylindrical root section of the first wind turbine blade of the pair.

13. The wind turbine transportation pack of claim 12, wherein each of the plurality of subframes of each of the first and second end frames support assembly include:

a strap supported by the subframe for disposition below the cylindrical root section of a corresponding wind turbine blade; and

at least one ear supported by the subframe and having apertures for receiving bolts for securing the cylindrical root section of the corresponding wind turbine blade.

14. The system of claim 13, wherein the root support structure further comprises another strap for disposition around an outer surface of the cylindrical root section of the corresponding wind turbine blade and adapted to be fastened to the subframe for securing the cylindrical root section of the corresponding turbine blade.

15. The system of claim 12, wherein each of the plurality of subframes of the first and second middle frames comprises a tip section support assembly for supporting the tip section of a corresponding wind turbine blade in the edge-vertical orientation, the tip section support assembly comprising:

a U-shaped receptacle for receiving an edge of the tip section of the corresponding wind turbine blade; and

first and second opposing pivoting flaps extending from corresponding first and second opposing edges of the U-shaped receptacle for contracting against opposing surfaces of the tip section of the corresponding wind turbine blade.

16. The system of claim 15, wherein the tip section support assembly further comprises:

a first hinge assembly pivotally coupling the first flap with the first edge of the U-shaped receptacle;

a first assembly for applying force to pivot the first flap around the first hinge assembly;

a second hinge assembly pivotally coupling the second flap with the second edge of the U-shaped receptacle; and

a second assembly for applying force to pivot the second flap around the first hinge assembly.

17. The system of claim 12, wherein the selected pair of horizontally adjacent wind turbine blades extend through the corresponding pair of aligned subframes of the first and second middle frames in opposing directions such that the tip of a first wind turbine blade of the pair is disposed underneath the cylindrical root section of the second wind turbine blade of the pair and the tip of the second wind turbine blade of the pair is disposed underneath the cylindrical root section of the first wind turbine blade of the pair.

18. The system of claim 16, wherein at least one of the first and second assemblies for applying force comprises a threaded screw extending through a threaded nut.

19. A wind turbine blade pack for transporting wind turbine blades, comprising:

a first subframe array having subframe; and

a first blade root support assembly supported by the subframe of the first subframe array for securing a cylindrical root section of a first wind turbine blade;

a second subframe array having a subframe spaced from and aligned with the subframe of the first subframe array;

a first blade tip section support assembly supported by the subframe of the second subframe array for securing a blade tip section of the first wind turbine blade in an edge-vertical orientation;

a third subframe array having subframe; and

a second blade root support assembly supported by the subframe of the third subframe array for supporting and securing a cylindrical root section of a second wind turbine blade;

a fourth subframe array having a subframe spaced from and aligned with the subframe of the third subframe array; and

a second blade tip section support assembly supported by the subframe of the fourth subframe array for securing a blade tip section of the second wind turbine blade in an edge-vertical orientation; and

wherein the first and second wind turbine blades extend in opposing directions through the subframes of the second and third subframe arrays such that a tip of the first wind turbine blade is disposed underneath the cylindrical root section of the second wind turbine blade and a tip of the second wind turbine blade is disposed underneath the cylindrical root section of the first wind turbine blade.

20. The wind turbine blade pack of claim 19, wherein each of the first, second, third, and fourth subframe arrays each comprises an array of m number of rows and n number of columns of subarrays for transporting up to n×

m×

2 number of wind turbine blades.

21. The wind turbine blade pack of claim 19, wherein each of the first and second blade root support assemblies comprises:

a strap supported by the subframe for disposition below a cylindrical root section of a corresponding one of the first and second wind turbine blades;

at least one ear supported by the subframe and having apertures for receiving bolts for securing the cylindrical root section of the corresponding wind turbine blade; and

another strap for disposition around an outer surface of the cylindrical root section of the corresponding wind turbine blade and adapted to be secured to the subframe.

22. The wind turbine blade pack of claim 19, wherein each tip section support assembly comprises:

a U-shaped receptacle for receiving an edge of the tip section of a corresponding one of the first and second wind turbine blades;

first and second opposing pivoting flaps extending from corresponding first and second opposing edges of the U-shaped receptacle for contracting against opposing surfaces of the tip section of the corresponding wind turbine blade;

a first hinge assembly pivotally coupling the first flap with the first edge of the U-shaped receptacle;

a first assembly for applying force to pivot the first flap around the first hinge assembly;

a second hinge assembly pivotally coupling the second flap with the second edge of the U-shaped receptacle; and

a second assembly for applying force to pivot the second flap around the first hinge assembly.