Method and apparatus for transporting wind turbine blades
First Claim
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1. A system for transporting a set of one or more wind turbine blades, comprising:
- a frame assembly that forms an interior area that in turn retains the set of one or more wind turbine blades therein, the frame, having;
a top rack having side members integral with a bottom member and configured to form a U-shaped structure; and
a bottom rack having side members integral with a bottom member and configured to form a U-shaped structure;
wherein the side members of the top rack are releasably attached to the side members of the bottom rack via a plurality of connectors positioned at a plurality of ends of the side members of the bottom rack and the side members of the top rack;
wherein, when assembled, the top rack and the bottom rack form a rigid enclosed structure for carrying the set of one or more turbine blades within the interior area;
a support bracket secured to the bottom rack;
a mechanical fastener removably secured to the support bracket and configured to directly attach an end of one of the one or more turbine blades to the support bracket;
a plurality of inflatable devices disposed within the interior area and coupled to the frame assembly, the plurality of inflatable devices being inflated to support a portion of the one or more wind turbine blades and the plurality of inflatable devices are pre-formed to the specific contouring of the one or more wind turbine blades when the plurality of inflatable devices are inflated; and
a flexible tension member positioned within the interior area and configured to support and retain the set of one or more wind turbine blades;
wherein the combination of the plurality of inflatable devices and flexible tension member support and retain the set of one of more wind turbine blades in a relatively fixed position during transport.
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Abstract
A system for transporting wind turbine blades includes a frame assembly for retaining a set one or more wind turbine blades and a plurality of inflatable devices coupled to the frame assembly.
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Citations
10 Claims
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1. A system for transporting a set of one or more wind turbine blades, comprising:
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a frame assembly that forms an interior area that in turn retains the set of one or more wind turbine blades therein, the frame, having; a top rack having side members integral with a bottom member and configured to form a U-shaped structure; and a bottom rack having side members integral with a bottom member and configured to form a U-shaped structure; wherein the side members of the top rack are releasably attached to the side members of the bottom rack via a plurality of connectors positioned at a plurality of ends of the side members of the bottom rack and the side members of the top rack; wherein, when assembled, the top rack and the bottom rack form a rigid enclosed structure for carrying the set of one or more turbine blades within the interior area; a support bracket secured to the bottom rack; a mechanical fastener removably secured to the support bracket and configured to directly attach an end of one of the one or more turbine blades to the support bracket; a plurality of inflatable devices disposed within the interior area and coupled to the frame assembly, the plurality of inflatable devices being inflated to support a portion of the one or more wind turbine blades and the plurality of inflatable devices are pre-formed to the specific contouring of the one or more wind turbine blades when the plurality of inflatable devices are inflated; and a flexible tension member positioned within the interior area and configured to support and retain the set of one or more wind turbine blades; wherein the combination of the plurality of inflatable devices and flexible tension member support and retain the set of one of more wind turbine blades in a relatively fixed position during transport. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10)
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Specification