TRANSPORTATION SYSTEMS, ELEVATOR SYSTEMS, KITS, TOWER SECTIONS AND METHODS FOR PERFORMING ASSEMBLY OR MAINTENANCE OPERATIONS IN TOWERS

• US 20200131786A1
• Filed: 07/04/2018
• Published: 04/30/2020
• Est. Priority Date: 07/05/2017
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Alimak Group Management AB, Limak Group Management AB
• Original Assignee: Alimak Group Management AB
• Inventors: LEGUA GRACIA, Carlos
• Granted Patent: US 10,968,643 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• CPC Class Codes: B66B 9/00 Kinds or types of lifts in, or associated with, buildings or other structures characterised by control systems B66B1/00; apparatus for raising or lowering persons on stages of theatres A63J5/12
• CPC Class Codes: E04G 2003/283 mobile horizontally
• CPC Class Codes: E04G 3/243 following the outside contour of a building E04G3/26 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: E04G 3/246 following the inside contour of a building
• CPC Class Codes: E04G 3/28 Mobile scaffolds; Scaffolds with mobile platforms movable inspection or maintenance platforms for bridges E01D19/106, lifting devices for movable platforms, e.g. on vehicles B66F11/04
• CPC Class Codes: E04G 5/14 Railings
• CPC Class Codes: F03D 13/10 Assembly of wind motors; Arrangements for erecting wind motors
• CPC Class Codes: F03D 80/50 Maintenance or repair
• CPC Class Codes: F05B 2230/61 using auxiliary equipment for lifting or holding
• 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

Provided are examples of transportation systems, elevator systems, and kits for use in towers, as well as tower sections and methods for performing assembly or maintenance operations in towers, particularly wind turbine towers, guides mounted in tower sections for transporting an operator or robot along an inside of a tower and an elevator carrying parts of such guides.

Claims

1. A transportation system for performing assembly or maintenance operations in a tower structure, optionally a wind turbine tower, the transportation system comprising:

a fixed guide attached to a tower structure for guiding a transportation unit;

wherein the fixed guide is configured to be connected to a movable guide configured to be mounted in an elevator car of an elevator system and extends from a first end to a second end less than 360°

along an internal circular perimeter of a tower structure; and

a transportation unit comprising a undercarriage for displacing the transportation unit along the fixed guide.

2. A transportation system according to claim 1, wherein the transportation unit comprises a robot.

3. A transportation system according to claim 1, wherein the transportation unit is a trolley configured to host an operator in a tower structure.

4. A transportation system according to claim 3, wherein the transportation unit comprises a structure having a platform for supporting an operator and a guard rail system.

5. A transportation system according to claim 3, wherein an undercarriage of the transportation unit is rotatably connected to a structure for horizontally rotating the structure with respect to the undercarriage.

6. A transportation system according to claim 1, wherein the transportation unit further comprises a driving system for driving the undercarriage.

7. A transportation system according to claim 1, wherein the fixed guide comprises an outer rail and an inner rail;

and optionally the outer rail and the inner rail are substantially parallel.

8. A transportation system according to claim 1, wherein the undercarriage comprises a wheel assembly having at least one main wheel for rolling along the fixed guide.

11. A kit for performing assembly or maintenance operations in a tower structure, optionally in a wind turbine tower, comprising:

a transportation system according to claim 1;

an elevator system comprising an elevator car, the elevator car comprising;

a movable guide support structure;

a movable guide extending from a first end to a second end and connected to the support structure;

wherein the movable guide is configured to be connected to a fixed guide attached to a tower structure and further configured to horizontally guide a transportation unit.

12. A kit according to claim 11, wherein the kit comprises a first connecting guide for detachably connecting the movable guide of the elevator car and the fixed guide of the transportation system.

13. A kit according to claim 12, wherein the first connecting guide is configured to connect the first end of the fixed guide to the first end of the movable guide.

14. A kit according to claim 13, wherein the kit comprises a second connecting guide configured to detachably connect the second end of the fixed guide to the second end of the movable guide.

15. A method for performing assembly or maintenance operations in a tower structure, optionally in a wind turbine tower, comprising:

providing a kit according to claim 11;

placing the transportation unit on the movable guide of the elevator car;

aligning the movable guide of the elevator car and the fixed guide.

16. The kit according to claim 11, wherein the movable guide support structure of the elevator car and the movable guide are configured to support a transportation unit.

9-10. -10. (canceled)