Wind turbine blade transportation system and method
First Claim
1. A system for transporting an airfoil having a root end, a tip end, and a midsection over a railroad, utilizing a first railcar coupled to a second railcar, the first and second rail cars each having a deck for supporting a load, the system comprising:
- a bracket fixed to the root end of the airfoil and connected to the first railcar, said bracket oriented to support the airfoil above the deck of the first railcar and align the tip end of the airfoil toward the second railcar;
a sling stand connected to the second railcar, anda flexible sling hung from said sling stand and aligned to engage and support the midsection of the airfoil above the deck of the second railcar, and accommodate misalignment between the first railcar and second railcar during transport over the railroad.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A system for transporting an airfoil having a root end, a tip end, and a midsection over a railroad, utilizing a first railcar coupled to a second rail car. The system includes a bracket fixed to the root end of the airfoil and also connected to the first railcar, where the bracket is oriented to align the tip end of the airfoil toward the second rail car. A sling stand is connected to the second railcar, and a sling is hung from the sling stand and aligned to engage and support the midsection of the airfoil, and thereby accommodates misalignment during transport over the railroad. A pair of rollers are disposed on either side of the airfoil to limit lateral movement thereof.
49 Citations
20 Claims
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1. A system for transporting an airfoil having a root end, a tip end, and a midsection over a railroad, utilizing a first railcar coupled to a second railcar, the first and second rail cars each having a deck for supporting a load, the system comprising:
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a bracket fixed to the root end of the airfoil and connected to the first railcar, said bracket oriented to support the airfoil above the deck of the first railcar and align the tip end of the airfoil toward the second railcar; a sling stand connected to the second railcar, and a flexible sling hung from said sling stand and aligned to engage and support the midsection of the airfoil above the deck of the second railcar, and accommodate misalignment between the first railcar and second railcar during transport over the railroad. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15)
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16. A method for transporting an airfoil having a root end, a tip end, and a midsection over a railroad, utilizing a first railcar and a second rail car, the first and second rail cars each having a deck for supporting a load, the method comprising the steps of:
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connecting a sling stand to the second railcar; hanging a flexible sling from the sling stand; coupling the first railcar to the second railcar; fixing a bracket to the root end of the airfoil; connecting the bracket to the first railcar, and orienting the bracket to support the airfoil above the deck of the first railcar and align the tip end of the airfoil toward the second rail car; supporting the midsection of the airfoil with the sling above the deck of the first railcar, and accommodating misalignment between the first railcar and second railcar during transport over the railroad by flexing the sling. - View Dependent Claims (17, 18, 19, 20)
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Specification