Method of assembling a tubular building structure by using screw sockets

• US 9,175,494 B2
• Filed: 04/01/2015
• Issued: 11/03/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 07/13/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Andresen Towers A/S
• Original Assignee: Andresen Towers A/S
• Inventors: Andresen, Tom
• Primary Examiner(s): MINTZ, RODNEY K
• Application Number:
  US14/675,966
• Publication Number:
  US 20150204102A1
• Time in Patent Office: 216 Days
• Field of Search: 52/40, 526/510.1, 526/510.7, 527/451.7, 527/451.8
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: E04H 12/00 Towers; Masts or poles; Chimney stacks; Water-towers; Methods of erecting such structures cooling towers E04H5/12; derricks for oil drilling E21B15/00
• CPC Class Codes: E04H 12/08 of metal
• CPC Class Codes: E04H 12/34 Arrangements for erecting or lowering towers, masts, poles, chimney stacks, or the like
• CPC Class Codes: E04H 12/342 Arrangements for stacking tower sections on top of each other E04H12/344 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: F03D 13/20 Arrangements for mounting or supporting wind motors; Masts or towers for wind motors
• CPC Class Codes: F05B 2240/912 on a tower
• CPC Class Codes: Y02B 10/30 Wind power
• 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: Y02P 80/20 using renewable energy
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/49623 Static structure, e.g., a building component
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/49631 Columnar member

Abstract

A method of assembling a tubular building structure 1 comprising a circumferential wall structure formed from a plurality of wall elements 2,20. The method comprises mutually assembling at least some of the wall elements 2,20 by use of screw sockets 4 mounted in holes in the wall elements 2,20 and bolts. The wall elements may be superposed tube sections 2 arranged on top of each other, and these tube sections 2 may be formed by interconnecting axially extending tube segments 20. In some embodiments of the invention, the screw sockets 4 are mounted at the manufacturing site, and the wall elements 2,20 are subsequently transported to the erection site of the tubular building structure 1. Preferably the mutual assembly of the wall elements 2,20 is performable solely by people working inside the tubular building structure 1 fastening the bolts 5 to the pre-mounted screw sockets 4.

Claims

1. A method of assembling a tubular building structure of a wind turbine tower comprising a circumferential wall structure formed from a plurality of wall elements, the method comprising:

performing a first surface treatment of an exterior of the plurality of wall elements,

inserting screw sockets into holes in the plurality wall elements, and

performing a second surface treatment of the exterior of the plurality of wall elements with the screw sockets inserted therein,

the method further comprising mutually assembling two or more of the plurality of wall elements by use of the screw sockets fixedly mounted in the holes in the plurality of wall elements and bolts which are screwed into the screw sockets to perform the assembly of the tubular building structure.

2. The method according to claim 1, wherein the plurality of wall elements are made from plate material.

3. The method according to claim 1, wherein two or more of the plurality of wall elements are superposed tube sections, the method further comprising arranging the tube sections on top of each other.

4. The method according to claim 1, wherein the screw sockets are mounted in the plurality of wall elements at a manufacturing site, and wherein the plurality of wall elements are subsequently transported to an erection site of the tubular building structure.

5. The method according to claim 1, wherein the first surface treatment is selected from one or more of the following processes:

galvanizing, powder coating and wet paint system.

6. The method according to claim 1, wherein two or more of the screw sockets each comprises a serrated circumferential surface adapted to provide frictional resistance against rotation of the screw socket after mounting.

7. The method according to claim 1, wherein the screw sockets are mounted by one or more of press fit, magnets or adhesive.

8. The method according to claim 1, wherein the mutual assembly of the plurality of wall elements is performable solely from inside of the tubular building structure of the wind turbine tower by fastening the bolts to the mounted screw sockets.

9. The method according to claim 1, wherein the tubular building structure of the wind turbine tower comprises a bedframe, the method further comprising mounting the bedframe by use of the screw sockets and the bolts.

10. The method according to claim 1, wherein two or more of the plurality of all elements are axially extending tube segments.

11. The method according to claim 10, the method further comprising interconnecting the tube segments along opposite longitudinal sides by use of the screw sockets mounted in the holes in the tube segments and the bolts which are screwed into the screw sockets to perform the assembly.

12. The method according to claim 1, wherein the second surface treatment comprises application of a coating.

13. The method according to claim 12, wherein the coating is one or more of lacquer, powder coating, or wet paint system.

14. A wind turbine tower assembled by the method of claim 1.