Means for securing the lower end of a wind turbine tower to a foundation

• US 7,360,340 B2
• Filed: 04/12/2005
• Issued: 04/22/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 04/12/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Valmont Industries Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Valmont Industries Incorporated
• Inventors: Grundman, Curtis M., Koch, Dan A.
• Primary Examiner(s): Chilcot, Jr.; Richard E.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Wendell; Mark R
• Application Number:
  US11/104,154
• Publication Number:
  US 20060236648A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,106 Days
• Field of Search: 537/261, 537/263, 537/264, 531/53, 537/371, 537/361, 537/321, 5365101-65103, 536/510.7, 532/96, 53/40, 537/314, 403/110, 403/188, 403/262, 403/312, 248/200, 248/300, 416/DIG.6, 174/45.R, 343/875
• US Class Current: 52/40
• CPC Class Codes: E04C 3/30 Columns; Pillars; Struts not designed for end loading E04C3/02; posts, masts, as independent structures E04H12/00
• CPC Class Codes: F03D 13/20 Arrangements for mounting or supporting wind motors; Masts or towers for wind motors
• CPC Class Codes: F03D 13/22 Foundations specially adapted for wind motors
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 10/72 Wind turbines with rotation axis in wind direction
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 10/728 Onshore wind turbines

Abstract

An inverted T-shaped connection member is disclosed for securing the lower end of an upstanding wind turbine tower to a foundation with the tower comprising a plurality of longitudinally extending peripheral sections joined together with each of the peripheral sections being bent along a plurality of longitudinally extending break lines to define a plurality of angled wall sections extending between inwardly extending edge portions with the lower ends of the peripheral sections having bolt openings formed therein. Each of the inverted T-shaped connection members has a generally horizontally disposed base portion and a generally vertically disposed web portion. The base portions of the connection members are secured to the foundation by bolts or the like. The upper ends of the web portions have bolt openings formed therein with the same being secured to the lower end of the tower by means of splice plates.

Claims

1. In combination:

a wind turbine tower foundation;

an upstanding wind turbine tower comprising a plurality of longitudinally extending peripheral sections joined together with each of the peripheral sections defining a plurality of wall sections extending between edge portions;

a plurality of inverted T-shaped connection members having a generally horizontally disposed base portion and a generally vertically disposed web portion, having upper and lower ends and opposite sides, secured thereto and extending upwardly therefrom;

said base portions of said connection members being secured to said foundation;

said upper ends of said web portions having bolt openings formed therein;

a first splice plate, having upper and lower ends, positioned at one side of each of said web portions and at one side of the respective wall section or edge portion;

a second splice plate, having upper and lower ends, positioned at the other side of each of said web portions and at the other side of the respective wall section or edge portion;

a plurality of bolts extending through said lower ends of said first splice plates, said web portions, and said lower ends of said second splice plates;

a plurality of bolts extending through said upper ends of said first splice plates, said respective wall section or edge portion, and said upper ends of said second splice plates.

3. The structure of claim 1 wherein shims are positioned between said lower ends of said splice plate and said sides of said web portion of said connection member when said upper ends of said splice plates are embracing a pair of edge portions.

4. The structure of claim 1 wherein shims are positioned between said upper ends of said splice plates and the wall section of a peripheral section.

5. The structure of claim 1 wherein a connection member is positioned at the lower end of each of the wall sections.

6. The structure of claim 5 wherein the edge portions of adjacent peripheral sections are positioned adjacent one another and wherein a connection element is secured to the lower ends of adjacent edge portions.

7. The structure of claim 6 wherein the upper ends of first and second splice plates are positioned on opposite sides of the adjacent edge portions and are secured thereto.

8. The structure of claim 6 wherein the lower ends of said first and second splice plates, which are positioned on opposite sides of the adjacent edge portions, are secured to said web portion of the associated connection element.

9. The structure of claim 8 wherein shims are positioned between said web portion and the lower ends of said first and second splice plates.

10. The structure of claim 1 wherein each of the peripheral sections are bent along a plurality of longitudinally extending break lines to define a plurality of angled wall sections which extend between inwardly extending edge portions.

11. The structure of claim 3 wherein splice plates secure the lower ends of the respective wall section or edge portion to the web portions of the connection members.

12. The structure of claim 3 wherein shims are positioned between said lower ends of said splice plate and said sides of said web portion of said connection member when said upper ends of said splice plates are embracing a pair of inwardly extending edge portions.

13. The structure of claim 3 wherein shims are positioned between said upper ends of said splice plates and the angled wall section of a peripheral section.

14. The structure of claim 3 wherein each of the peripheral sections are bent along a plurality of longitudinally extending break lines to define a plurality of angled wall sections which extend between inwardly extending edge portions.

2. In combination:

a wind turbine tower foundation;

an upstanding wind turbine tower comprising a plurality of longitudinally extending peripheral sections joined together with each of the peripheral sections defining a plurality of wall sections extending between edge portions;

a means for securing the lower end of an upstanding wind turbine tower to a foundation with the tower comprising a plurality of longitudinally extending peripheral sections joined together with each of the peripheral sections defining a plurality of wall sections extending between edge portions, the lower ends of the peripheral sections having bolt openings formed therein, comprising;

a plurality of inverted T-shaped connection members having a generally horizontally disposed base portion and a generally vertically disposed web portion, having upper and lower ends and opposite sides, secured thereto and extending upwardly therefrom;

said base portions of said connection members being secured to said foundation;

said upper ends of said web portions having bolt openings formed therein;

said upper ends of said web portions being secured to the lower ends of the respective wall section or edge portion.