Wind energy plant having an observation platform

• US 6,998,729 B1
• Filed: 11/28/2000
• Issued: 02/14/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 03/17/2000
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Aloys Wobben
• Original Assignee: Aloys Wobben
• Inventors: Wobben, Aloys
• Primary Examiner(s): Schuberg, Darren
• Assistant Examiner(s): Cuevas, Pedro J.
• Application Number:
  US10/221,337
• Time in Patent Office: 1,904 Days
• Field of Search: 290 53- 55, 290/44
• US Class Current: 290/54
• CPC Class Codes: E04G 3/24 specially adapted for particular parts of buildings or for buildings of particular shape, e.g. chimney stacks or pylons E04G3/28 takes precedence; E04G1/362, E04G3/305 take precedence; scaffolding usable on slipways and in dry docks B63C5/02
• CPC Class Codes: E04G 3/243 following the outside contour of a building E04G3/26 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: F03D 80/00 Details, components or accessories not provided for in groups F03D1/00 - F03D17/00
• CPC Class Codes: Y02B 10/30 Wind power
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 10/72 Wind turbines with rotation axis in wind direction
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 10/728 Onshore wind turbines

Abstract

The invention concerns a wind power installation comprising a rotor which is coupled to a generator within a machine housing. Such wind power installations have already long been known, for example the wind power installations of types E-40 and E-66 from Enercon, Aurich.

The object of the invention is to improve sightseeing options of a wind power installation, in which respect more people than previously can view such wind power installations.

A wind power installation comprising a rotor which is coupled to a generator within a machine housing, characterised in that an observation platform is arranged below the machine housing on the pylon of the wind power installation and is fixed by means of a support structure to the pylon of the wind power installation, wherein the support structure comprises an upper carrier arrangement and a lower carrier arrangement, wherein each carrier arrangement comprises a plurality of substantially identically formed support arms which are distributed around the periphery of the pylon, that the observation platform substantially completely surrounds the pylon, that the upper support arm arrangement carries a roof of the observation platform, that the lower support arm structure carries a floor of the observation platform, that the upper and the lower carrier arrangements receive holding means for windows which are distributed over the periphery of the observation platform and permit the user of the observation platform, in use of the observation platform, to have a panoramic view over the landscape.

Claims

1. A wind power installation comprising:

a rotor which is coupled to a generator within a machine housing;

an observation platform arranged below the machine housing on a pylon of the wind power installation and fixed by means of a support structure to the pylon of th4e wind power installation, wherein the support structure comprises an upper carrier arrangement and a lower carrier arrangement, wherein each carrier arrangement comprises a plurality of substantially identically formed support arms which are distributed around the periphery of the pylon, such that the observation platform substantially surrounds the pylon, the upper support arm arrangement carries a roof of the observation platform, the lower support arm structure carries a floor of the observation platform, the upper and the lower carrier arrangements receive holding means for windows which are distributed over the periphery of the observation platform and permit the user of the observation platform, in use of the observation platform, to have a panoramic view over the landscape.

2. The wind power installation as set forth in claim 1 wherein the support arms of the upper carrier arrangement are longer than the support arms of the lower carrier arrangement.

3. The wind power installation as set forth in claim 1 wherein the support arms are affixed to the pylon and the wind power installation and the pylon in the region of the observation platform comprises steel and/or concrete.

4. The wind power installation as set forth in claim 1 wherein the lower and the upper carrier arrangement respectively comprise twelve support arms, wherein associated with an upper support arm vertically therebeneath is a lower support arm.

5. The wind power installation as set forth in claim 1 wherein the access to the observation platform comprises a ladder, a stairway or an elevator within or outside the pylon.

6. The wind power installation as set forth in claim 1 wherein the spacing between the observation platform and the machine housing of the wind power installation is less than the spacing between the rotor blade tip of a rotor blade and the rotor blade hub.

7. The wind power installation as set forth in claim 1 wherein the spacing of the observation platform relative to the machine housing is greater than the spacing between a rotor blade tip of a rotor blade and a rotor blade hub.

8. The wind power installation as set forth in claim 1 wherein the windows of the observation platform are so inclined that an upper edge of the windows is further away from the pylon than a lower edge.

9. The wind power installation as set forth in claim 1 wherein the observation platform is mounted rotatably about the pylon and is rotatable preferably by a motor drive about the pylon.

10. The wind power installation as set forth in claim 1 wherein the observation platform has acoustic sound insulation which very substantially prevents the penetration of external noise into the observation platform, in particular the noise produced by the wind power installation.

11. A wind park comprising a plurality of wind power installations, wherein one of those wind power installations is fitted with an observation platform as set forth in claim 1 and said installation with the observation platform is enclosed within the wind park by a plurality of wind power installations.

12. The wind park in particular as set forth in claim 11 wherein the wind power installation with the observation platform is so arranged within the wind park that the majority of wind power installations of the wind park and preferably each wind power installation of the wind park is to be seen from the observation platform.

13. The wind power installation of claim 1 wherein the observation platform is a fire observation tower.