IP Library Granted Patent US 9,790,918
Granted Patent B2
US 9,790,918 · App. 14/233,139 · Granted Oct 17, 2017

Wind turbine blade connector assembly

Inventor: Luca Feigl (Barcelona, ES)
Assignee: ALSTOM Renewable Technologies
F03D1/0658F03D1/0675F05B2250/13F05B2260/301Y02E10/721
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 9,790,918
App. No.
14/233,139
Granted
Oct 17, 2017
Kind
B2
Abstract

It comprises bushings in at least a first circumferential row in a blade portion and suitable for receiving studs in a hub portion. Bushings comprise an elongated body with lateral faces, lateral faces inclined to each other and major and minor faces into which the lateral faces converge. The connector assembly allows an efficient releasable connection of blade root and hub in a wind turbine rotor.

Claims (23)

1. A wind turbine blade connector assembly for connecting a blade portion to a hub portion in a wind turbine rotor, the connector assembly comprising:

a plurality of bushings arranged in a first row and in a second row along a circumference of one of the blade portion or the hub portion and suitable for receiving corresponding studs,

wherein the bushings comprise an elongated body having major and minor faces and two lateral faces, the lateral faces extending at least partially into one of the blade portion or the hub portion, and the lateral faces being inclined to each other and converging into the respective major and minor faces,

the bushings in the first row arranged upside-down relative to the bushings in the second row and between the bushings in the second row such that the major faces of the bushings in the first row alternate with the minor faces of the bushings in the second row;

the body of each bushing configured for receipt of a triangular pattern of three studs, wherein a first stud is adjacent the minor face and second and third studs are spaced apart and adjacent the major face; and

wherein the plurality of bushings thereby provide an outer ring of the studs and a concentric inner ring of the studs interspaced between the outer ring of studs.

2. The connector assembly of claim 1 , wherein the body of at least some of the bushings has a substantially trapezoidal shaped cross-section.

3. The connector assembly of claim 1 , wherein the body of at least some of the bushings has rounded edges.

4. The connector assembly of claim 3 , wherein the body of at least some of the bushings is bell shaped.

5. The connector assembly of claim 1 , wherein a cross-section of the body of at least some of the bushings is symmetrical about an axis passing through a centre of the blade portion corresponding to the plane containing the cross-section.

6. The connector assembly of claim 1 , wherein at least one of the major and minor faces of the body of at least some of the bushings tapers towards one end of the bushing.

7. The connector assembly of claim 1 , wherein the body of the bushings are configured for threadably receiving the studs.

8. A wind turbine comprising a rotor including a blade and a hub, the blade and the hub being connected to each other by means of the blade connector assembly of claim 1 .

9. A method for connecting a blade portion to a hub portion in a wind turbine rotor, the method comprising at least the following steps:

providing a first layer of fibre materials in a mould;

providing a first row of bushings on the first layer of fibre materials along a circumference, the bushings comprising an elongated body having major and minor faces and two lateral faces and configured for receipt of three studs in a triangular pattern wherein a first stud is adjacent the minor face and second and third studs are spaced apart and adjacent the major face, the lateral faces inclined to each other and converging into the respective major and minor faces;

providing a second layer of fibre materials over the first row of bushings;

providing a second row of the bushings on the second layer of fibre materials arranged upside-down relative to and between the first row of bushings row such that the major faces of the bushings in the first row alternate with the minor faces of the bushings in the second row;

providing a third layer of fibre materials over the second row of bushings;

heating the mould during a given period of time;

cooling the mould during a given period of time; and

wherein the plurality of bushings thereby provide an outer ring of the studs and a concentric inner ring of the studs interspaced between the outer ring of studs.

10. The method of claim 9 , wherein the fibre materials are pre-impregnated fibre materials.

Assignments (4)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Oct 4, 2017
From: GE RENEWABLE TECHNOLOGIES
To: GE RENEWABLE TECHNOLOGIES WIND B.V.
Reel/Frame 044117/0056 →
CHANGE OF NAME Recorded Sep 2, 2017
From: ALSTOM RENEWABLE TECHNOLOGIES
To: GE RENEWABLE TECHNOLOGIES
Reel/Frame 043749/0761 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Mar 28, 2017
From: ALSTOM RENOVABLES ESPAÑA, S.L.U.
To: ALSTOM RENEWABLE TECHNOLOGIES
Reel/Frame 041770/0772 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Jan 24, 2014
From: FEIGL, LUCA
To: ALSTOM RENOVABLES ESPAÑA, S.L.
Reel/Frame 032036/0934 →
Priority Claims (1)
EP 11382258 · Jul 27, 2011 · regional
Continuity (2)
Provisional Application 61539739 · Sep 27, 2011
Related Publication 20140140853A1 · May 22, 2014