TRANSPORTATION ASSEMBLY FOR ROTOR BLADE

• US 20150329036A1
• Filed: 05/14/2014
• Published: 11/19/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 05/14/2014
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: GE Infrastructure Technology, LLC (GE Vernova, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: General Electric Company
• Inventors: Johnson, Stephen Bertram, Samudrala, Srikanth, Klein, Douglas C., Chen, Xianglei
• Granted Patent: US 9,429,139 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: B60P 3/40 for carrying long loads, e.g. with separate wheeled load supporting elements E04G21/14 takes precedence; signal devices to be attached to overhanging load B60Q7/02
• CPC Class Codes: B60P 7/0869 Protecting the strap or the load from wear
• CPC Class Codes: B60P 7/12 the load being tree-trunks, beams, drums, tubes, or the like
• CPC Class Codes: F03D 13/40 Arrangements or methods specially adapted for transporting wind motor components
• CPC Class Codes: F05B 2230/61 using auxiliary equipment for lifting or holding
• CPC Class Codes: F05B 2260/96 Preventing, counteracting or reducing vibration or noise
• 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

Transportation assemblies for rotor blades are provided. A transportation assembly includes a protection cap including a nose portion and a plurality of sidewall portions extending from the nose portion, the protection cap having a generally U-shaped cross-sectional profile. The transportation assembly further includes a restraint assembly including a first protrusion and a second protrusion each extending from the protection cap, the first protrusion and the second protrusion spaced apart along a width of the protection cap.

Claims

1. A transportation assembly for a rotor blade, the transportation system comprising:

a protection cap comprising a nose portion and a plurality of sidewall portions extending from the nose portion, the protection cap having a generally U-shaped cross-sectional profile; and

a restraint assembly comprising a first protrusion and a second protrusion each extending from the protection cap, the first protrusion and the second protrusion spaced apart along a width of the protection cap.

2. The transportation assembly of claim 1, wherein the first protrusion and the second protrusion are integral with the protection cap.

3. The transportation assembly of claim 1, wherein the first protrusion and the second protrusion are separate components from and mounted to the protection cap.

4. The transportation assembly of claim 1, wherein the first protrusion and the second protrusion are C-channels.

5. The transportation assembly of claim 1, wherein the restraint assembly further comprises a cross-bar extending between the first protrusion and the second protrusion, the cross-bar spaced from the protection cap.

6. The transportation assembly of claim 5, wherein the cross-bar is a single component mounted to the first protrusion and the second protrusion.

7. The transportation assembly of claim 5, wherein the cross-bar comprises a first portion mounted to the first protrusion, a second portion mounted to the second protrusion, and a third portion removably connectable to the first portion and the second portion.

8. The transportation assembly of claim 1, wherein the protection cap comprises a fiberglass laminate.

9. The transportation assembly of claim 1, Wherein the protection cap further comprises a reinforcement portion extending from the nose portion, the reinforcement portion comprising a fiberglass laminate.

10. The transportation assembly of claim 1, wherein the first protrusion and the second protrusion each extend from one of the plurality of sidewall portions.

11. The transportation assembly of claim 1, wherein the restraint assembly is a plurality of restraint assemblies.

12. The transportation assembly of claim 1, further comprising a sling generally surrounding the protection cap and disposed between the first protrusion and the second protrusion.

13. The transportation assembly of claim 12, wherein the restraint assembly further comprises a cross-bar extending between the first protrusion and the second protrusion, the cross-bar spaced from the protection cap, and wherein the sling is further disposed between the protection cap and the cross-bar.

14. The transportation assembly of claim 12, further comprising a frame generally surrounding the protection cap and the sling, wherein the sling is mounted to the frame.

15. The transportation assembly of claim 1, wherein the protection cap is a leading edge protection cap.

16. A transportation assembly for a rotor blade having exterior surfaces defining a pressure side, a suction side, a leading edge and a trailing edge each extending between a tip and a root, the rotor blade defining a span and a chord, the transportation assembly comprising:

a protection cap comprising a nose portion and a plurality of sidewall portions extending from the nose portion, the protection cap having a generally U-shaped cross-sectional profile;

a restraint assembly comprising a first protrusion and a second protrusion each extending from the protection cap, the first protrusion and the second protrusion spaced apart along a width of the protection cap;

a sling generally surrounding the protection cap and disposed between the first protrusion and the second protrusion; and

a frame generally surrounding the protection cap and the sling, wherein the sling is mounted to the frame.

17. The transportation assembly of claim 16, Wherein a flow modification device is configured on an exterior surface of the rotor blade and extends in a chord-wise direction beyond the trailing edge.

18. The transportation assembly of claim 17, wherein the flow modification device is configured on the rotor blade within an outboard area of the rotor blade, and wherein the transportation assembly contacts the rotor blade within the outboard area.

19. The transportation assembly of claim 16, wherein the leading edge of the rotor blade contacts the nose portion of the protection cap.