Wind turbine tower, connection means for assembling a wind turbine tower and methods thereof

• US 8,225,576 B2
• Filed: 05/23/2008
• Issued: 07/24/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 11/24/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Vestas Wind Systems A/S
• Original Assignee: Vestas Wind Systems A/S
• Inventors: Kristensen, Jonas
• Primary Examiner(s): WENDELL, MARK R
• Application Number:
  US12/126,643
• Publication Number:
  US 20080308696A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,523 Days
• Field of Search: 528/49, 528/48, 52/40, 526/32, 527/450.4, 528/45, 528/44, 527/411.4, 526/510.7, 526/551, 528/54, 528/55, 528/31, 526/510.1
• US Class Current: 52/741.14
• CPC Class Codes: E04H 12/085 Details of flanges for tubular masts
• CPC Class Codes: F03D 13/10 Assembly of wind motors; Arrangements for erecting wind motors
• 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: F05B 2260/301 Retaining bolts or nuts
• CPC Class Codes: F16B 23/0007 characterised by the shape of the recess or the protrusion engaging the tool F16B23/0069 and F16B23/0076 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 10/72 Wind turbines with rotation axis in wind direction
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 10/728 Onshore wind turbines
• CPC Class Codes: Y02P 70/50 Manufacturing or production processes characterised by the final manufactured product
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/49947 by applying separate fastener

Abstract

The invention relates to a wind turbine tower comprising a tower foundation, and at least two tower sections connected by numerous sets of connecting means positioned in close proximity of each other. The connecting means comprising at least one nut with at least one assembly opening for interacting with an assembly tool.

The invention also relates to a method for assembling a wind turbine tower and a method for manufacturing a nut of connection means for fixating a wind turbine tower including at least two tower sections.

Claims

1. A wind turbine tower comprising:

a tower foundation, and

at least two tower sections connected by a plurality of connector sets,

wherein each of said plurality of connector sets comprises a bolt and at least one nut, the nut comprising a threaded part configured to receive the bolt and more than one assembly opening configured to interact with a single assembly tool for rotating the nut about the bolt, the threaded part extending through the nut for a length that is less than the total length of the nut.

2. The wind turbine tower according to claim 1, wherein the threaded part is positioned in a lower part of the nut and comprises an opening with an internal thread corresponding to the thread of the bolt in the set.

3. The wind turbine tower according to claim 2, wherein the size of the opening of the threaded part of the nut is larger than the size of the more than one assembly opening.

4. The wind turbine tower according to claim 1, wherein said more than one assembly opening are positioned in the upper part of the nut and are shaped as a slot, square, penta, hex, cross, or Torx for interacting with the assembly tool.

5. The wind turbine tower according to claim 1, wherein said more than one opening are positioned in the upper part of the nut and are circular shaped sockets for interacting with the assembly tool.

6. The wind turbine tower according to claim 1, wherein said tower sections are connected in a flanged joint with one or more arrays of said connector sets.

7. The wind turbine tower according to claim 6, wherein a length of a shaft of said bolt is prechosen to correspond substantially to the sum of a size of said flanged joint and the length of the internal threaded part of said nut.

8. The wind turbine tower according to claim 1, wherein the nuts of said connector sets are tightened by said assembly tool.

9. The wind turbine tower according to claim 1, wherein said bolts of said connector sets comprise means for interacting with a holding tool.

10. The wind turbine tower according to claim 9, wherein said bolts comprise at least one of a bolt head and an internal opening for interacting with said holding tool.

11. The wind turbine tower according to claim 1, wherein the length of the threaded part is similar to the length of the more than one assembly opening.

12. The wind turbine tower of claim 1, wherein the threaded part extends from a first surface of the nut toward a second surface of the nut, and the more than one assembly opening extends from the second surface of the nut toward the first surface of the nut.

13. The wind turbine tower of claim 1, wherein the more than one assembly opening extends through the nut for a length that is less than the total length of the nut.

14. The wind turbine tower of claim 13, wherein the sum of the length of the threaded part and the length of the more than one assembly opening is less than or equal to the total length of the nut.

15. The wind turbine tower of claim 1, wherein the threaded part and the more than one assembly opening are axially aligned.

16. The wind turbine tower of claim 15, wherein the threaded part and the more than one assembly opening are open to each other.

17. The wind turbine tower of claim 15, wherein the threaded part is separated from the more than one assembly opening by a wall.

18. A connector set for assembling a wind turbine tower, said connector set comprising:

a bolt with a threaded part, and

a nut with an internal threaded part corresponding to the thread of said bolt,

said nut further comprising more than one assembly opening for interacting with a single assembly tool to rotate the nut about the bolt.

19. The connector set according to claim 18, wherein said more than one assembly opening are positioned in an upper part of the nut in relation to a lower part comprising the internal threaded part such that the total length of the nut is greater than or equal to the sum of the lengths of the more than one assembly opening and internal threaded part.

20. The connector set according to claim 18, wherein said bolt comprises at least one of a bolt head and an internal opening for interacting with a holding tool.

21. The connector set according to claim 18, wherein said more than one assembly opening are positioned in the upper part of the nut and are shaped as a slot, square, penta, hex, cross, or Torx for interacting with the assembly tool to rotate the nut about the bolt.

22. A method for assembling a wind turbine tower comprising at least two tower sections at a wind turbine site, the method comprising the steps of:

establishing a foundation,

positioning a first tower section on the foundation and fixating the first tower section to the foundation by a plurality of connector sets,

positioning a further tower section on the first tower section and fixating the tower sections by a plurality of connector sets, and so on until the tower is established,

wherein each of the plurality of connector sets comprises a bolt and at least one nut, and

wherein the fixating is initiated by a single assembly tool tightening the connector set by engaging the assembly tool with more than one assembly opening in the nut of the connector set to rotate the nut about the bolt.

23. The method for assembling according to claim 22, wherein the nut of the connector set is tightened by the assembly tool.

24. The method for assembling according to claim 22, wherein the bolt of the connector set is at least held in place by a holding tool.