Hollow structural member

• US 7,464,512 B1
• Filed: 03/10/2004
• Issued: 12/16/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 03/10/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Valmont Industries Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Valmont Industries Incorporated
• Inventors: Perina, Mark J.
• Primary Examiner(s): Chilcot, Jr.; Richard E
• Assistant Examiner(s): LAUX, JESSICA L
• Application Number:
  US10/797,778
• Time in Patent Office: 1,742 Days
• Field of Search: 521/53, 527/261, 527/263, 527/264, 527/371, 527/361, 527/321, 526/510.1, 526/510.2, 526/510.3, 526/510.7, 256 6504- 6506, 256/65.08
• US Class Current: 52/651.01
• CPC Class Codes: E04H 12/08 of metal
• CPC Class Codes: F05B 2240/912 on a tower
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 10/728 Onshore wind turbines

Abstract

A structural member such as a wind turbine tower comprising a plurality of elongated hollow pole sections secured together in an end-to-end relationship with each of the hollow pole sections comprising a plurality of longitudinally extending peripheral sections joined together. Each of the peripheral sections is bent along at least one longitudinally extending break line to define a plurality of angled wall sections extending between longitudinally inwardly extending edge portions. The edge portions of the peripheral sections are bolted together to form a hollow pole section.

Claims

1. A hollow, elongated, structural member comprising:

a plurality of elongated hollow pole sections secured together in an end-to-end relationship;

each of said hollow pole sections comprising a plurality of longitudinally extending peripheral sections joined together;

each of said peripheral sections having upper and lower end edges and first and second side edges;

each of said peripheral sections having first and second vertically extending break lines formed therein adjacent said first and second side edges respectively to form longitudinally inwardly extending first and second edge portions;

each of said peripheral sections also having a plurality of spaced-apart longitudinally extending break lines formed therein between said first and second break lines to form a plurality of substantially planar angled wall sections between said first and second break lines;

said edge portions of said peripheral sections being bolted together by bolt members to form a hollow pole section;

the planar angled wall sections immediately adjacent said first and second break lines of said adjacent peripheral sections defining an externally presented general V-shape therebetween.

2. A wind turbine tower, comprising;

a plurality of elongated hollow pole sections secured together in an end-to-end relationship;

each of said hollow pole sections comprising a plurality of longitudinally extending peripheral sections joined together;

each of said peripheral sections having upper and lower end edges and first and second side edges;

each of said peripheral sections having first and second vertically extending break lines formed therein adjacent said first and second side edges respectively to form longitudinally inwardly extending first and second edge portions;

each of said peripheral sections also having a plurality of spaced-apart longitudinally extending break lines formed therein between said first and second break lines to form a plurality of substantially planar angled wall sections between said first and second break lines;

said edge portions of said peripheral sections being bolted together by bolt members to form a hollow pole section;

the planar angled wall sections immediately adjacent said first and second break lines of said adjacent peripheral sections defining an externally presented general V-shape therebetween.