WIND TURBINE BLADE HANDLING ABOARD A VESSEL

• US 20170370346A1
• Filed: 12/21/2015
• Published: 12/28/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 12/23/2014
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Vestas Wind Systems A/S
• Original Assignee: MHI Vestas Offshore Wind A/S (Vestas Wind Systems A/S)
• Inventors: BOTWRIGHT, Adrian, URSELL-SMITH, Mark, MAROTI, Stefan
• Granted Patent: US 10,385,827 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• CPC Class Codes: B63B 25/00 Load-accommodating arrangements, e.g. stowing, trimming; Vessels characterised thereby trimming otherwise than by cargo division, e.g. by use of ballast B63B43/06, B63B43/08; constructive aspects of cargo spaces B63B11/00; hatches, hatchways B63B19/12
• CPC Class Codes: B63B 35/003 for transporting very large loads, e.g. offshore structure modules construction methods for artificial islands mounted on piles E02B17/00; for transporting marine vessels B63B35/40; docks B63C1/00
• CPC Class Codes: F03D 13/40 Arrangements or methods specially adapted for transporting wind motor components
• CPC Class Codes: F05B 2230/6102 carried on a floating platform
• CPC Class Codes: F05B 2240/95 offshore
• CPC Class Codes: F05B 2260/02 Transport, e.g. specific adaptations or devices for conveyance transport of wind turbines or equipments therefore F03D13/40
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 10/72 Wind turbines with rotation axis in wind direction
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 10/727 Offshore wind turbines
• CPC Class Codes: Y02P 70/50 Manufacturing or production processes characterised by the final manufactured product

Abstract

A method is provided for handling wind turbine blades aboard a vessel, the method including providing on the vessel a blade rack assembly configured to accommodate more than one blade, the rack assembly having at least a root rack and a tip rack, and the root rack and tip rack defining between them a blade support plane. The method also includes providing a jack acting between the vessel and one of the root or tip rack; and raising or lowering one of the root or tip rack aboard the vessel by the jack to thereby move the blade support plane through an elevation angle θ. A jack assembly on a wind turbine installation vessel and an offshore wind turbine installation vessel are also provided, each capable of raising or lowering a rack of wind turbine blade root or tip support frame elements.

Claims

1. A method for handling wind turbine blades aboard a vessel, said method comprising:

providing on said vessel a blade rack arrangement configured to accommodate more than one blade, said rack arrangement comprising at least a root rack and a tip rack, wherein said root rack and said tip rack between them define a blade support plane;

providing a jack acting between said vessel and one of said root or tip rack; and

raising or lowering one of said root or tip rack aboard said vessel by means of said jack to thereby move said blade support plane through an elevation angle.

2. The method according to claim 1, wherein the other one of said root or tip rack is substantially not raised or lowered.

3. The method according to claim 1, wherein the other one of said root or tip rack is positioned atop a static base frame and is thereby supported at a height above a loading deck of said vessel.

4. The method according to claim 1, each said root or tip rack being comprised of root or tip frame elements, each frame element being configured to support a respective root or tip portion of a single blade and preferably each root or tip frame element being separably connectable to one or more adjacent frame elements in said root or top rack.

5. The method according to claim 1, additionally comprising providing a pivot under the other one of said root or tip rack.

6. The method according to claim 1, wherein said jack comprises a drive element and further comprises a rotatable rack spacer capable of rotating between a lowered support position and a raised support position.

7. The method according to claim 1, wherein said elevation angle through which said blade support plane is moved is of at least three degrees.

8. The method according to claim 1, further including providing a connecting boom between said root rack and said tip rack.

9. A jack on a wind turbine installation vessel capable of raising or lowering a rack of wind turbine blade root or tip support frame elements of a blade rack arrangement, according to the method of claim 1, said jack comprising a lifting platform driven by a drive device and being positionable at a said root or tip rack to be raised or lowered.

10. The jack according to claim 9, said jack further comprising a pivot positionable at another said root or tip rack of said rack arrangement.

11. The jack according to claim 9, said pivot being rotatably coupled to said lifting platform by a coupling linkage.

12. The jack according to claim 9 wherein said drive device is a linear drive and is coupled to a rotatable rack spacer, said rack spacer being rotatably coupled to a pivot joint at said rack and being rotatably coupled to said linear drive.

13. The jack according to claim 12 wherein said rotatable rack spacer is configured to exhibit a raised rack support position and a lowered rack support position and wherein said jack assembly is configured to rotate said rotatable rack spacer between said raised and said lowered positions by means of said linear drive.

14. An offshore wind turbine installation vessel comprising a loading deck, a crane and a jack according to claim 9.