IP Library Granted Patent US 8,191,253
Granted Patent B2
US 8,191,253 · App. 12/519,242 · Granted Jun 5, 2012

Method for fitting the rotor of a wind generator

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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 8,191,253
App. No.
12/519,242
Granted
Jun 5, 2012
Kind
B2
Abstract

Method of mounting the rotor of a wind turbine ( 11 ) comprising the following steps: lifting and mounting the rotor hub ( 15 ) on the nacelle ( 21 ); lifting and mounting the rotor blades ( 25, 27, 29 ) on the rotor hub ( 15 ) using a lifting device ( 17 ) cooperating with a winch ( 19 ) on ground, the mounting of each blade being made after rotating the rotor hub ( 15 ) for having the connecting part ( 25′, 27′, 29 ′) with each blade ( 25, 27, 29 ) in front of it when it is lifted, the lifting device ( 17 ) being installed in a fixed position in the rotor hub ( 15 ) and comprising, in a preferred embodiment, a bracket ( 31 ) mounted on the rotor hub front ( 16 ) and a hook block ( 33 ) mounted on said bracket ( 31 ) with a cable ( 35 ) connected to said winch ( 19 ). The invention also refers to a method of dismounting a rotor blade.

Claims (12)

1. A method of mounting a rotor of a wind turbine ( 11 ) supported in a tower ( 13 ), comprising the following steps:

a) lifting a rotor hub ( 15 ) and mounting the rotor hub ( 15 ) on a nacelle ( 21 ) of the wind turbine ( 11 );

b) lifting some rotor blades ( 25 , 27 , 29 ) and mounting the rotor blades ( 25 , 27 , 29 ) on the rotor hub ( 15 ) using a lifting device ( 17 ) cooperating with a winch ( 19 ) on ground keeping a distance with the tower ( 13 ), the mounting of each blade being made after rotating the rotor hub ( 15 ) for having a connecting part ( 25 ′, 27 ′, 29 ′) of the rotor hub ( 15 ) in front of each blade ( 25 , 27 , 29 ) when each blade is lifted, the lifting device ( 17 ) being installed in a fixed position in the rotor hub ( 15 ).

2. The method of mounting the rotor of a wind turbine ( 11 ) according to claim 1 , wherein said lifting device ( 17 ) comprises:

a bracket ( 31 ) mounted on the rotor hub front ( 16 ); and

a hook block ( 33 ) mounted on said bracket ( 31 ) with a cable ( 35 ) connected to said winch ( 19 ).

3. The method of mounting the rotor of a wind turbine ( 11 ) according to claim 2 , wherein in step b) the lifting of one blade ( 25 ) is made taking the blade ( 25 ) with a hook ( 37 ) of the hook block ( 33 ) through a gripping device ( 45 ) and some fittings joined to the blade, keeping a tilt angle of the blade ( 25 ) with respect to a vertical line comprised between 5° and 15°.

4. The method of mounting the rotor of a wind turbine ( 11 ) according to claim 3 , wherein the hook block ( 33 ) is mounted on said bracket ( 31 ) by a mounting arrangement ( 39 ), wherein said mounting arrangement ( 39 ) comprises conventional means which allow that the hook block ( 33 ) remains continuously in vertical position.

5. The method of mounting the rotor of a wind turbine ( 11 ) according to claim 3 , wherein the hook block ( 33 ) is affixed on said bracket ( 31 ) in at least two positions by a mounting arrangement ( 39 ) of said hook block ( 33 ) on said bracket ( 31 ).

6. The method of mounting the rotor of a wind turbine according to claim 3 , wherein a gripping device ( 45 ) comprises a hook connector ( 47 ) with fixation points for the two ends of a rope ( 49 ) passing by a hole in a fitting ( 51 ) attached, to the blade ( 25 ) outside its root and two holes ( 57 , 59 ) in fittings attached to a blade root ( 55 ).

7. The method of mounting the rotor of a wind turbine ( 11 ) according to claim 1 , wherein in step a) the rotor hub ( 15 ) is lifted using a crane ( 41 ) installed on the nacelle ( 21 ).

8. The method of mounting the rotor of a wind turbine ( 11 ) according to claim 1 , wherein the rotor hub ( 15 ) is connected to said lifting device ( 17 ) on the ground and is lifted in cooperation with the winch ( 19 ) to which is connected through the cable ( 35 ) keeping a distance with the tower ( 13 ).

Assignments (2)
CHANGE OF NAME Recorded Jan 17, 2020
From: GAMESA INNOVATION & TECHNOLOGY, S.L.
To: SIEMENS GAMESA RENEWABLE ENERGY INNOVATION & TECHNOLOGY, S.L.
Reel/Frame 051627/0814 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Jun 15, 2009
From: VANGSY, BENT
To: GAMESA INNOVATION & TECHNOLOGY, S.L.
Reel/Frame 022825/0944 →