IP Library › Granted Patent US 12692841

Granted Patent B2

US 12692841 · App. 18/723,149 · Granted Jul 28, 2026

System for handling a nacelle of a wind turbine and related methods

Inventors: Luis Palacios Burgos (Navarra, ES); Unai Arraztoa Magaña (Navarra, ES); Idoia Aboitiz Garroguerricaechebarria (Bilbao, ES); Iñaki Gonzalez Lahera (Bilbao, ES)

Assignee: NORDEX ENERGY SPAIN, S.A.U.

F03D13/403 B60P1/02 F05B2260/02

View Patent ↗

Loading inventors, assignments & file history…

Monitor This Case

Get email alerts when status or documents change.

Order Certified Copies

Most orders are placed with the USPTO same day — all within 24 business hours.

Order via The Patent Place →

Pre-filled with this patent's details

Quick Facts

Patent No.: US 12692841
App. No.: 18/723,149
Granted: Jul 28, 2026
Kind: B2

External Links

USPTO Patent Center↗ Full Patent PDF↗

Abstract

A system for handling a nacelle of a wind turbine for instance for the purpose of transporting the nacelle to or from a site of installation of the wind turbine, reduces the loading and/or unloading time and provides a more flexible planning for the nacelle transportation, and also relates to a method for loading a nacelle of a wind turbine on a transportation base and a method for unloading a nacelle of a wind turbine from a transportation base.

Claims (122)

1 . A system for handling a nacelle of a wind turbine, the system comprising a longitudinal direction and a transversal direction;

wherein the nacelle comprises a nacelle frame being adapted to rest, by means of a first transport frame, on a transportation base;

wherein the nacelle frame comprises a first width defined in the transversal direction, a main support frame and a generator frame;

wherein the transportation base comprises a second width defined in the transversal direction and a loading platform; and

wherein the system comprises:

the first transport frame configured to be connected to the main support frame of the nacelle frame and configured to rest on the transportation base;

at least one first crossbeam disposed in the transversal direction of the system and comprising:

a first length defined in the transversal direction of the system;

an upper surface, wherein the first transport frame is configured to be supported on the upper surface of the at least one first crossbeam during at least a loading or unloading operation of the nacelle on the transportation base;

a first end and a second end, each one of the first end and the second end comprising a lower surface;

wherein the first length of the at least one first crossbeam is bigger than the second width of the transportation base; and

at least two first lateral supports configured to be disposed on a ground separated by a first distance defined in the transversal direction of the system, wherein the first distance is bigger than the second width of the transportation base and smaller than the first length of the at least one first crossbeam, the at least two first lateral supports also configured to support the at least one first crossbeam, the first transport frame and the nacelle, such that the lower surface of the first end and the second end of the at least one first crossbeam rests on the at least two first lateral supports during at least a loading or unloading operation of the nacelle on the transportation base.

2 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the first transport frame comprises at least two coupling openings disposed in opposite sides of the first transport frame in the transversal direction, and wherein the at least one first crossbeam is configured to be coupled to the first transport frame by means of using the at least two coupling openings.

3 . The system of claim 2 , wherein the first transport frame comprises a connection flange configured to be connected to the main support frame of the nacelle frame.

4 . The system of claim 1 comprising at least two first crossbeams, wherein the at least two first crossbeams are disposed in a symmetrical way with regard to an axis of symmetry which passes by a center of the first transport frame in the transversal direction.

5 . The system of claim 1 further comprising:

a second transport frame configured to be connected to the generator frame of the nacelle frame and configured to rest on the transportation base;

at least one second crossbeam disposed in the transversal direction and comprising:

a second length defined in the transversal direction of the system;

an upper surface, wherein the second transport frame is configured to be supported on the upper surface of the at least one second crossbeam during at least a loading or unloading operation of the nacelle on the transportation base;

a first end and a second end, each one of the first end and the second end comprising a lower surface;

wherein the second length of the at least one second crossbeam is bigger than the second width of the transportation base; and

at least two second lateral supports configured to be disposed on the ground separated by a second distance defined in the transversal direction of the system, wherein the second distance is bigger than the second width of the transportation base and smaller than the second length of the at least one second crossbeam, the at least two first lateral supports also configured to support the at least one second crossbeam, the second transport frame and the nacelle, such that the lower surface of the first end and the second end of the at least one second crossbeam rests on the at least two second lateral supports during at least a loading or unloading operation of the nacelle on the transportation base.

6 . The system of claim 5 , wherein the second transport frame comprises a through-hole disposed in the transversal direction and wherein the at least one second crossbeam is configured to be coupled to the second transport frame using the through-hole.

7 . The system of claim 5 , wherein the second transport frame comprises at least two support units configured to be connected to the generator frame of the nacelle frame.

8 . The system of claim 1 further comprising at least two third lateral supports configured to be disposed on the ground separated by a third distance defined in the transversal direction of the system, wherein the third distance is bigger than the second width of the transportation base and smaller than the first length of the at least one first crossbeam, the at least two third lateral supports also configured to support the first transport frame and the nacelle during at least a loading or unloading operation of the nacelle on the transportation base, such that the at least two third lateral supports comprise an upper surface disposed at a greater height than the upper surface of the at least one first crossbeam when the lower surface of the first end and the second end of the at least one first crossbeam rests on the at least two first lateral supports during at least a loading or unloading operation of the nacelle on the transportation base.

9 . A method for loading a nacelle of a wind turbine on a transportation base, the method carried out with a system comprising for handling a nacelle of a wind turbine, the system comprising a longitudinal direction and a transversal direction;

wherein the nacelle comprises a nacelle frame being adapted to rest, using a first transport frame, on a transportation base;

wherein the nacelle frame comprises a first width defined in the transversal direction, a main support frame and a generator frame;

wherein the transportation base comprises a second width defined in the transversal direction and a loading platform; and

wherein the system comprises:

the first transport frame configured to be connected to the main support frame of the nacelle frame and configured to rest on the transportation base;

at least one first crossbeam disposed in the transversal direction of the system and comprising:

a first length defined in the transversal direction of the system;

a first end and a second end, each one of the first end and the second end comprising a lower surface;

wherein the first length of the at least one first crossbeam is bigger than the second width of the transportation base; and

wherein the method comprises the following steps:

a step of positioning the loading platform of the transportation base under the first transport frame, the nacelle and optionally under the at least one first crossbeam, in between the at least two first lateral supports wherein the lower surfaces of the first end and the second end of the at least one first crossbeam are configured to rest; and

a step of raising the loading platform of the transportation base such that the at least one first crossbeam ceases to rest on the at least two first lateral supports, and the at least one first crossbeam, the first transport frame and the nacelle rest on the loading platform.

10 . The method of claim 9 further comprising:

a step of coupling the at least one first crossbeam to the first transport frame using the at least two coupling openings of the first transport frame before the step of positioning the loading platform of the transportation base under the first transport frame and the nacelle and optionally under the at least one first crossbeam, in between the at least two first lateral supports.

11 . The method of claim 9 further comprising:

a step of connecting the connection flange of the first transport frame to the main support frame of the nacelle frame.

12 . The method of claim 9 carried out with a system for handling a nacelle of a wind turbine, the system comprising a longitudinal direction and a transversal direction;