Telescopic vehicle and method for transporting a long object

• US 8,353,523 B2
• Filed: 09/23/2009
• Issued: 01/15/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 09/29/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Vestas Wind Systems A/S
• Original Assignee: Vestas Wind Systems A/S
• Inventors: Pedersen, Gunnar K. Storgaard
• Primary Examiner(s): Walters, John
• Assistant Examiner(s): SWENSON, BRIAN L
• Application Number:
  US13/120,209
• Publication Number:
  US 20110187083A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,210 Days
• Field of Search: 280/656, 280/786, 280/789, 280/765.1, 280/766.1, 280/404, 280/400, 280/401, 280/407.1, 280/107, 280/482, 280/491.1, 280/491.2
• US Class Current: 280/638
• CPC Class Codes: B60P 3/40 for carrying long loads, e.g. with separate wheeled load supporting elements E04G21/14 takes precedence; signal devices to be attached to overhanging load B60Q7/02
• CPC Class Codes: B62D 21/14 of adjustable length or width
• CPC Class Codes: B62D 53/067 Multi-purpose, convertible or extendable load surface semi-trailers for container transport B60P1/6418; convertible road transport vehicles in general B60P3/42

Abstract

A telescopic vehicle for road transport of at least one long object, comprising: a rear vehicle portion being supported by at least one pair of wheels, the rear vehicle portion having a rear support structure for supporting the long object; and a front vehicle portion being telescopically connected to the rear vehicle portion to enable adjustment of a total length of the vehicle, the front vehicle portion having a front support structure for supporting the long object. At least one of the rear support structure and the front support structure is configured to allow relative movement between the long object and the respective vehicle portion, when the total length of the vehicle is adjusted.

Claims

1. A telescopic vehicle for road transport of at least one long object, comprising:

a rear vehicle portion being supported by at least one pair of wheels, the rear vehicle portion having a rear support structure for supporting the long object; and

a front vehicle portion being telescopically connected to the rear vehicle portion to enable adjustment of a total length of the vehicle, the front vehicle portion having a front support structure for supporting the long object,

wherein at least one of the rear support structure and the front support structure is configured to allow relative movement in a longitudinal direction of the telescopic vehicle between the long object and the respective vehicle portion such that the long object extends in the longitudinal direction of the telescopic vehicle beyond the at least one of the rear support structure and the front support structure when the total length of the vehicle is adjusted.

2. The telescopic vehicle according to claim 1, wherein at least one of the rear support structure and the front support structure is movably arranged on its respective vehicle portion, to thereby enable maintaining a substantially constant distance between the front and rear support structures, while allowing the relative movement between the long object and the respective vehicle portion.

3. The telescopic vehicle according to claim 2, wherein the movable support structure is displaceably arranged on its vehicle portion.

4. The telescopic vehicle according to claim 3, further comprising a track extending along at least a portion of the vehicle portion, the moveable support structure being displaceably arranged on the track for defining the displacement of the support structure resulting from adjustment of the total length of the vehicle.

5. The telescopic vehicle according to claim 4, wherein the track is configured to limit sideways movement of the moveable support structure.

6. The telescopic vehicle according to claim 1, wherein at least one of the rear support structure and the front support structure is configured to allow the long object to be displaced relative thereto when the total length of the vehicle is adjusted.

7. The telescopic vehicle according to claim 1, being a telescopic trailer, the front vehicle portion being connectable to a tractor.

8. The telescopic vehicle according to claim 7, being configured to enable the long object to extend forward above the tractor when the telescopic vehicle is contracted.

9. The telescopic vehicle according to claim 1, wherein each of the front and rear support structures is moveably arranged on its respective vehicle portion.

10. The telescopic vehicle according to claim 1, configured to transport a rotor blade for a wind turbine, the rotor blade having a tip and a base.

11. The telescopic vehicle according to claim 10, wherein the rotor blade is more than 45 meters long.

12. The telescopic vehicle according to claim 10, configured to transport the rotor blade with the tip pointing in a direction of transportation of the vehicle.

13. The telescopic vehicle of claim 1, wherein the at least one of the rear support structure and the front support structure is configured to support the long object in a vertical direction while allowing relative movement between the long object and at least one of the rear support structure and the front support structure in the longitudinal direction.

14. A telescopic vehicle for road transport of at least one long object, comprising:

a rear vehicle portion being supported by at least one pair of wheels, the rear vehicle portion having a rear support structure for supporting the long object; and

a front vehicle portion being telescopically connected to the rear vehicle portion to enable adjustment of a total length of the vehicle, the front vehicle portion having a front support structure for supporting the long object,

wherein at least one of the rear support structure and the front support structure is configured to allow relative movement in a longitudinal direction of the telescopic vehicle between the long object and the respective vehicle portion when the total length of the vehicle is adjusted, and

wherein at least one of the rear support structure and the front support structure is configured to allow the long object to pivot in a vertical plane about a rotational axis defined by the support.

15. A method of transporting at least one long object, comprising:

providing a telescopic vehicle having the long object arranged thereon, the telescopic vehicle having a rear vehicle portion telescopically connected to a front vehicle portion to enable adjustment of a length of the vehicle; and

with the long object loaded on the vehicle, temporarily reducing the length of the telescopic vehicle while allowing relative movement in a longitudinal direction of the telescopic vehicle between the long object and at least one of the front and rear vehicle portions to enable the vehicle to pass an otherwise unpassable route portion.

16. The method according to claim 15, wherein the long object is a rotor blade for a wind turbine, the rotor blade having a tip and a base.

17. The method according to claim 16, wherein the rotor blade is arranged with its tip pointing in a direction of transportation of the vehicle.

18. The method according to claim 16, wherein the rotor blade is arranged with its tip pointing away from a direction of transportation of the vehicle.

19. A method of transporting a wind turbine blade, comprising:

transporting the wind turbine blade on a telescopic vehicle, the telescopic vehicle having a rear vehicle portion with a rear support structure for supporting the long object, and a front vehicle portion having a front support structure for supporting the long object and being telescopically connected to the rear vehicle portion to enable adjustment of a total length of the vehicle;

reducing the length of the telescopic vehicle with the wind turbine blade loaded on the vehicle; and

transporting the wind turbine blade on the telescopic vehicle through a turn or curve with the vehicle in a reduced length.

20. The method according to claim 19, further comprising:

increasing the length of the telescopic vehicle with the wind turbine blade loaded on the vehicle; and

continuing to transport the wind turbine blade on the telescopic vehicle.

21. The method according to claim 19, further comprising maintaining a substantially constant distance between the first and second support structures as the length of the telescopic vehicle is adjusted.

22. The method according to claim 19, further comprising allowing relative movement in a longitudinal direction of the telescopic vehicle between the long object and the respective vehicle portion.

23. The method according to claim 22, further comprising:

fixedly attaching at least one of the first and second support structures to the wind turbine blade; and

moving the at least one of the first and second support structures relative to its respective vehicle portion as the length of the telescopic vehicle is adjusted.

24. The method according to claim 22, further comprising:

fixedly attaching at least one of the first and second support structures to its respective vehicle portion; and

moving the wind turbine blade relative to the at least one of the first and second support structures as the length of the telescopic vehicle is adjusted.

25. The method according to claim 22, further comprising pivoting the wind turbine blade in a vertical plane as the length of the telescopic vehicle is adjusted.