Wind turbine blade shear web connection assembly

• US 8,393,871 B2
• Filed: 07/19/2011
• Issued: 03/12/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 07/19/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: GE Infrastructure Technology, LLC (General Electric Company)
• Original Assignee: General Electric Company
• Inventors: Yarbrough, Aaron
• Primary Examiner(s): VERDIER, CHRISTOPHER M
• Application Number:
  US13/185,670
• Publication Number:
  US 20120027612A1
• Time in Patent Office: 602 Days
• Field of Search: 416/224, 416/226, 416/232, 416/233, 416/229.R, 416/230, 416/241.A, 244/123.1, 244/123.2, 244/123.7, 244/123.8, 244/123.13, 244/123.5, 244/123.6
• US Class Current: 416/226
• CPC Class Codes: F03D 1/065 characterised by their construction elements F03D13/10 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: F03D 1/0675 of the blades
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 10/72 Wind turbines with rotation axis in wind direction

Abstract

A wind turbine blade has upper and lower shell members with a respective spar cap configured on an internal face of the shell members. A shear web extends between the spar caps along a longitudinal length of the blade. A connection assembly is configured between the transverse ends of the shear web and the spar caps. The connection assembly includes a spacer member configured on the spar cap. A male/female engagement interface is defined between transverse end of the shear web and the spacer member, and includes an axial extension length to accommodate for variances in shear web length.

Claims

1. A wind turbine blade, comprising:

an upper shell member having a spar cap configured on an internal face thereof;

a lower shell member having a spar cap configured on an internal face thereof;

a shear web extending between said spar caps along a longitudinal length of said blade, said shear web having opposite transverse ends;

a connection assembly between at least one of said transverse ends of said shear web and a respective said spar cap, said connection assembly further comprising;

a spacer member configured on said spar cap, said spacer member having a transverse engagement face; and

a male/female engagement interface between said transverse end of said shear web and said spacer member defined by a male member within a female recess;

wherein said male/female engagement interface comprises an axial extension length to accommodate for shear web length variances; and

a transverse width engagement section between said transverse end of said shear web and said transverse engagement face of said spacer member on each opposite side of said male/female engagement interface.

2. The wind turbine blade of claim 1, further comprising bond paste in said male/female engagement interface between said transverse end of said spar cap and said spacer member.

3. The wind turbine blade of claim 2, wherein said bond paste extends axially along said male member in said female recess.

4. The wind turbine blade of claim 3, wherein said male member is encased in said bond paste within said female recess.

5. The wind turbine blade of claim 3, wherein said female recess is defined in said spacer member, and said male member is defined on said transverse end of said shear web.

6. The wind turbine blade of claim 1, wherein said spacer member has a width at said transverse engagement face that is greater than a width of said transverse end of said shear web at said engagement interface.

7. The wind turbine blade of claim 1, wherein said spacer member is separately formed and bonded to said spar cap.

8. The wind turbine blade of claim 1, wherein said spacer member is an integrally formed component of said spar cap.

9. A wind turbine blade, comprising:

an upper shell member having a spar cap configured on an internal face thereof;

a lower shell member having a spar cap configured on an internal face thereof;

a shear web extending between said spar caps along a longitudinal length of said blade, said shear web having opposite transverse ends;

a connection assembly between at least one of said transverse ends of said shear web and a respective said spar cap, said connection assembly further comprising;

a spacer member configured on said spar cap;

a male/female engagement interface between said transverse end of said shear web and said spacer member defined by a male member within a female recess;

wherein said male/female engagement interface comprises an axial extension length to accommodate for shear web length variances;

wherein said spacer member has a transverse engagement face with a transverse width; and

wherein said male member is defined on said engagement face of said spacer member and has a transverse width that is less than said transverse width of said engagement face, and said female recess is defined in said transverse end of said shear web.