IP Library Granted Patent US 8,133,029
Granted Patent B2
US 8,133,029 · App. 12/299,055 · Granted Mar 13, 2012

Rotor blade attachment

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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 8,133,029
App. No.
12/299,055
Granted
Mar 13, 2012
Kind
B2
Abstract

The invention relates to a rotor blade attachment ( 17 ), in particular of a wind power plant ( 1 ), for the connection of a rotor blade ( 5 ) with an attachment device ( 4 ), including a transverse pin ( 20, 20 ′) and a connecting device ( 13, 21 ), which can be brought together to establish an operative connection, wherein the connecting device ( 13, 21 ) defines a longitudinal axis. The rotor blade attachment ( 17 ) is characterized in that the transverse pin ( 20, 21 ′) in the direction of the longitudinal axis of the connecting device has a higher bending stiffness than transversally to the longitudinal axis ( 18 ). An alternative rotor blade attachment ( 17 ) is characterized in that the transverse pins ( 20, 20 ′) are arranged in at least two rows ( 33, 34 ), wherein at least a first row ( 33 ) is arranged closer to the blade-root-side end ( 19 ) of the rotor blade ( 5 ) than at least a second row ( 34 ). Another rotor blade attachment ( 17 ) is characterized in that the transverse pin ( 20, 20 ′) is completely encapsulated by the rotor blade ( 5 ).

Claims (46)

1. Rotor blade attachment ( 17 ), of a wind power plant ( 1 ), for the connection of a rotor blade ( 5 ) with an attachment device ( 14 ), comprising:

a transverse pin ( 20 , 20 ′), and

a connecting device ( 13 , 21 ), which can be brought together with the transverse pin to establish an operative connection,

wherein the connecting device ( 13 , 21 ) defines a longitudinal axis ( 18 ),

and wherein in the direction of the longitudinal axis ( 18 ) of the connecting device ( 13 , 21 ), the transverse pin ( 20 , 20 ′) has a higher bending stiffness than transversally to the longitudinal axis ( 18 ).

2. Rotor blade attachment ( 17 ) according to claim 1 , wherein the transverse pin ( 20 , 20 ′), in the direction of the longitudinal axis ( 18 ) of the connecting device ( 13 , 21 ), has a greater elongation than transversally to the direction of the longitudinal axis ( 18 ) of the connecting device ( 13 , 21 ).

3. Rotor blade attachment ( 17 ) according to claim 2 , wherein the transverse pin ( 20 , 20 ′) is designed with a rectangular cross-section with rounded edges.

4. Rotor blade attachment ( 17 ) according to claim 2 , wherein the transverse pin ( 20 , 20 ′) is designed with an elliptical or oval cross-section.

5. Rotor blade attachment ( 17 ) according to claim 2 , wherein the transverse pin ( 20 , 20 ′) is designed with a double-T-shaped cross-section with rounded edges.

6. Rotor blade attachment ( 17 ), according to claim 1 , further comprising:

additional transverse pins ( 20 , 20 ′), each of which can be brought together to establish an operative connection with an additional connecting device ( 13 , 21 ),

wherein the plurality of transverse pins ( 20 , 20 ′) are arranged in at least two rows ( 33 , 34 ), and

wherein at least a first row ( 33 ) is arranged closer to the blade-root-side end ( 19 ) of the rotor blade ( 5 ) than at least one second row ( 34 ).

7. Rotor blade attachment ( 17 ) according to claim 6 , wherein the rows ( 33 , 34 ) are arranged ( 5 ) around the perimeter of the blade root ( 6 ).

8. Rotor blade attachment ( 17 ) according to claim 6 , wherein the operative connection of the connecting devices ( 13 , 21 ) with the transverse pins ( 20 ′), which are arranged in the second row ( 34 ), is made softer compared to the operative connection of the connecting devices ( 13 , 21 ) with the transverse pins ( 20 ), which are arranged in the first row ( 33 ) by one or more of the following conditions:

the connecting devices ( 13 , 21 ), which are assigned to the first row ( 33 ) of transverse pins ( 20 ), are thicker than the connecting devices ( 13 , 21 ), which are assigned to the second row ( 34 ) of transverse pins ( 20 ′), or

the connecting devices ( 13 , 21 ), which are assigned to the first row ( 33 ), are shorter than the connecting devices ( 13 , 21 ), which are assigned to the second row ( 34 ), or

wherein the connecting devices ( 13 , 21 ), which are assigned to the first row ( 33 ), are made from a different material than the connecting devices ( 13 , 21 ), which are assigned to the second row ( 341 .

9. Rotor blade attachment ( 17 ) according to claim 8 , wherein the connecting devices ( 13 , 21 ), which are assigned to the first row ( 33 ), are shorter than the connecting devices ( 13 , 21 ), which are assigned to the second row ( 34 ).

10. Rotor blade attachment ( 17 ) according to claim 6 , wherein the connecting devices ( 13 , 21 ) are different in length.

11. Rotor blade attachment ( 17 ) according to claim 6 , wherein the connecting devices ( 13 , 21 ) are at cat partially different in thickness.

12. Rotor blade attachment ( 17 ) according to claim 11 , wherein the connecting devices ( 13 , 21 ), which are assigned to the first row ( 33 ) of transverse pins ( 20 ), are thicker than the connecting devices ( 13 , 21 ), which are assigned to the second row ( 34 ) of transverse pins ( 20 ′).

13. Rotor blade attachment ( 17 ), according to claim 1 , wherein the transverse pin ( 20 , 20 ′) is completely encapsulated by the rotor blade ( 5 ).

14. Rotor blade attachment ( 17 ) according to claim 13 , wherein the encapsulation of the sides ( 37 , 37 ′) of the transverse pin ( 20 , 20 ′) facing the outside surface ( 36 ) and the inner surface ( 35 ) of the rotor blade ( 5 ) occurs through a material ( 27 , 27 ′) used in the rotor blade ( 5 ), through at least one laminate layer ( 27 , 27 ′).

15. Rotor blade attachment ( 17 ) according to claim 14 , wherein the at least one laminate layer ( 27 , 27 ′) is strengthened through one or more reinforcing metal layers ( 32 ).

16. Rotor blade attachment ( 17 ) according to claim 14 , wherein the sides ( 37 , 37 ′) of the transverse pin ( 20 , 20 ″) facing the outer surface ( 36 ) and the inner surface ( 35 ) of the rotor blade ( 5 ) are encapsulated with a material thickness of 5 mm to 20 mm, in the case of a 35 m to 55 m long rotor blade ( 5 ).

17. Rotor blade attachment ( 17 ) according to claim 13 , wherein the encapsulating material ( 27 , 27 ′) reaches more than one diameter of the transverse pin beyond the area of the transverse pin ( 20 , 20 ′) inserted in the rotor blade ( 5 ).

18. Rotor blade attachment ( 17 ) according to claim 13 , wherein the transverse pin ( 20 , 20 ′) on at least one side ( 37 , 37 ′), which faces the inner surface ( 35 ) and/or the outer surface ( 36 ) of the rotor blade ( 5 ), has an opening ( 28 ) with a shape, in which a tool of a corresponding shape can be inserted at least indirectly in a form- and/or friction-fit manner.

19. Rotor blade attachment ( 17 ) according to claim 18 , wherein the opening ( 28 ) is a blind hole, in which a thread ( 24 ′) is provided.

20. Rotor blade attachment ( 17 ), according to claim 1 :

wherein at least the connecting device ( 13 , 21 ) is pretensioned, and

wherein the material ( 30 - 32 ) of the rotor blade ( 5 ) comprises at least in the area of the transverse pin ( 20 , 20 ′) a structure made of fiber reinforced plastic layers ( 31 ) and layers made of a metal containing reinforcing material ( 32 ).

21. Rotor blade attachment ( 17 ) according to claim 20 , wherein the area of the transverse pin extends to the area, in which a force affects the material ( 30 - 32 ) of the rotor blade ( 5 ) due to the pretensioning.

22. Rotor blade attachment ( 17 ) according to claim 20 , wherein the area extends to the area of the rotor blade root ( 6 ).

23. Rotor blade attachment ( 17 ) according to claim 20 , wherein in a transition area ( 40 ) for the adjustment of the structure of the rotor blade root ( 6 ) to the structure of the rotor blade ( 5 , 29 ) a constant, from layer to layer, elongation of the layers ( 32 ) of the reinforcing material ( 32 ) towards the rotor blade tip ( 41 ) is provided.

24. Rotor blade attachment ( 17 ) according to claim 20 , wherein the reinforcing material ( 32 ) is metal.

25. Rotor blade attachment ( 17 ) according to claim 24 , wherein the metal is present as a film ( 32 ) or grating.

26. Rotor blade attachment ( 17 ) according to claim 25 , wherein the thickness of the film ( 32 ) is between 0.1 mm to 0.8 mm.

27. Rotor blade attachment ( 17 ) according to claim 20 , wherein the thickness of the fiber reinforced plastic layers ( 31 ) is between 0.2 mm and 1 mm.

28. Rotor blade attachment ( 17 ) according to claim 20 , wherein at least one part of the fiber reinforced plastic layers ( 31 ) has unidirectionally aligned fibers, which are aligned in the longitudinal axial direction of the rotor blade ( 5 ).

29. Rotor blade attachment ( 17 ) according to claim 1 , wherein the longitudinal axis ( 18 ) of the connecting device ( 13 , 21 ) mainly aligns with the middle axis ( 18 ) of the rotor blade walls ( 5 ), and lies in the same plane as it.

30. Rotor blade attachment ( 17 ) according to claim 1 , wherein the connecting device ( 13 , 21 ) comprises an antifatigue-shaft screw ( 21 ).

31. Rotor blade attachment ( 17 ) according to claim 1 , wherein several connecting devices ( 13 , 21 ) are provided, each of which are in operative connection with at least one transverse pin ( 20 , 20 ′).

32. Rotor blade attachment ( 17 ) according to claim 1 , wherein the operative connection creates a pretension.

33. Rotor ( 4 , 5 ) of a wind power plant ( 1 ) with at least one rotor blade ( 5 ), one rotor hub ( 4 ) and at least one rotor blade attachment ( 17 ) according to claim 1 .

34. A wind power plant ( 1 ) with a rotor blade attachment ( 17 ) according to claim 1 .

Assignments (3)
CHANGE OF NAME Recorded Jan 23, 2015
From: REPOWER SYSTEMS SE
To: SENVION SE
Reel/Frame 034806/0074 →
CHANGE OF NAME Recorded Jan 21, 2015
From: REPOWER SYSTEMS AG
To: REPOWER SYSTEMS SE
Reel/Frame 034786/0585 →
CHANGE OF NAME Recorded Feb 28, 2013
From: REPOWER SYSTEMS AG
To: REPOWER SYSTEMS SE
Reel/Frame 029893/0250 →