EXTERNAL LADDER ASSEMBLY FOR WIND TURBINE NACELLE

• US 20190136626A1
• Filed: 11/07/2017
• Published: 05/09/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 11/07/2017
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: GE Infrastructure Technology, LLC (General Electric Company)
• Original Assignee: General Electric Company
• Inventors: Manikas, Brian William, Thomas, Gregory Clarence, Davidson, Paul Howard
• Granted Patent: US 10,641,042 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• CPC Class Codes: E04G 3/20 supported by walls E04G3/28 takes precedence; wall-anchors for supporting scaffolds E04G5/04; consoles E04G5/06
• CPC Class Codes: E04G 3/243 following the outside contour of a building E04G3/26 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: E04G 5/14 Railings
• CPC Class Codes: E06C 7/18 Devices for preventing persons from falling life-saving belts A62B1/16 ; safety devices for window-cleaners A47L3/00
• CPC Class Codes: E06C 7/181 Additional gripping devices, e.g. handrails
• CPC Class Codes: E06C 7/182 situated at the top of the ladder
• CPC Class Codes: E06C 7/423 Ladder stabilising struts
• CPC Class Codes: E06C 7/48 Ladder heads; Supports for heads of ladders for resting against objects ladders attachable to structures such as poles E06C1/34
• CPC Class Codes: E06C 9/02 rigidly mounted
• CPC Class Codes: E06C 9/08 with rigid longitudinal members
• CPC Class Codes: F03D 13/10 Assembly of wind motors; Arrangements for erecting wind motors
• CPC Class Codes: F03D 80/00 Details, components or accessories not provided for in groups F03D1/00 - F03D17/00
• CPC Class Codes: F03D 80/50 Maintenance or repair
• CPC Class Codes: F05B 2240/14 Casings, housings, nacelles, gondels or the like, protecting or supporting assemblies there within
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 10/72 Wind turbines with rotation axis in wind direction

Abstract

An external ladder assembly for a nacelle of a wind turbine includes at least one ladder having parallel side legs and a plurality of rungs arranged between the parallel side legs. The ladder assembly also includes a ladder platform arranged with the ladder and configured for placement atop the nacelle. Further, the ladder assembly includes a mounting assembly for affixing the ladder platform atop the nacelle. More specifically, the mounting assembly is adjustable between multiple positions so as to level the ladder platform atop the nacelle. Thus, the ladder assembly provides access to one or more uptower, external features of the wind turbine.

Claims

1. An external ladder assembly for a nacelle of a wind turbine, the ladder assembly comprising:

at least one ladder comprising parallel side legs and a plurality of rungs arranged between the parallel side legs;

a ladder platform arranged with the ladder and configured for placement atop the nacelle; and

,

a mounting assembly for affixing the ladder platform atop the nacelle, the mounting assembly being adjustable between multiple positions so as to level the ladder platform atop the nacelle,

wherein the at least one ladder and the ladder platform provide access to one or more uptower, external features of the wind turbine.

2. The ladder assembly of claim 1, wherein the mounting assembly comprises a mounting frame with at least one adjustable frame member, the mounting frame mountable atop the nacelle, the at least one adjustable frame member configured to lift or lower the ladder platform so as to provide a level surface atop the nacelle.

3. The ladder assembly of claim 2, wherein the mounting assembly further comprises at least two adjustable frame members that are configured to lift or lower the ladder platform so as to provide a level surface atop the nacelle.

4. The ladder assembly of claim 2, wherein the at least one adjustable frame member comprises a first end and second end, the first end mounted to the mounting frame via at least one fastener at a rotatable hinge point, the second end rotatable about the hinge point via at least one jacking component.

5. The ladder assembly of claim 2, wherein the at least one adjustable frame member is securable in place to maintain a position of the ladder platform after the ladder platform is level.

6. The ladder assembly of claim 1, wherein the mounting frame comprises one or more locating features for aligning the ladder platform thereon.

7. The ladder assembly of claim 6, wherein the one or more locating features comprises at least one of front locating features, rear locating features, side locating features, or combinations thereof.

8. The ladder assembly of claim 1, wherein the ladder is configured for placement adjacent to an exterior side of the nacelle.

9. The ladder assembly of claim 1, wherein the one or more uptower, external features comprise at least one of a platform, a pitch bearing, a rotor, a hub, a rotor blade, or an access door.

10. The ladder assembly of claim 1, further comprising a tie off location for personnel.

11. The ladder assembly of claim 1, wherein at least one of the at least one ladder or the ladder platform further comprises one or more handrails for personnel.

17. The method of claim 11, further comprising positioning the ladder adjacent to an exterior side of the nacelle.

18. The method of claim 11, wherein the one or more uptower, external features comprise at least one of a platform, a pitch bearing, a rotor, a hub, a rotor blade, or an access door.

20. The nacelle assembly of claim 11, further comprising an externally-mounted working platform secured to one of the side walls of the nacelle, wherein the at least one ladder and the ladder platform provide access to the externally-mounting platform so as to assist in a wind turbine repair procedure.

12. A method for providing access to one or more uptower, external features of a wind turbine without the use of a crane, the method comprising:

mounting a mounting assembly to a top wall of a nacelle of the wind turbine;

securing a ladder platform atop the mounting assembly;

adjusting the ladder platform via the mounting assembly until the ladder platform is level on the top wall; and

,

securing a ladder to the ladder platform so as to provide access to the one or more uptower, external features of the wind turbine.

13. The method of claim 12, wherein mounting the mounting assembly to the top wall of the nacelle further comprises mounting a mounting frame of the mounting assembly having at least one adjustable frame member to the top wall of the nacelle.

14. The method of claim 13, wherein adjusting the ladder platform via the mounting assembly until the ladder platform is level on the top wall further comprises adjusting the ladder platform by lifting or lowering the at least one adjustable frame member via at least one jacking component.

15. The method of claim 13, further comprising securing the at least one adjustable frame member in place after adjusting so as to maintain a position of the ladder platform after the ladder platform is level.

16. The method of claim 13, further comprising positioning the ladder platform atop the mounting frame via one or more locating features configured thereon.

19. A nacelle assembly of a wind turbine mounted atop a tower, the nacelle assembly comprising:

a nacelle defining, at least, a plurality of side walls and a top wall;

an external ladder assembly, comprising;

at least one ladder arranged adjacent to one of the plurality of side walls of the nacelle;

a ladder platform arranged on the top wall of the nacelle with the at least one ladder; and

,

a mounting assembly affixing the ladder platform to the top wall, the mounting assembly being adjustable between multiple positions so as to level the ladder platform on the top wall.