IP Library Granted Patent US 9,765,646
Granted Patent B2
US 9,765,646 · App. 14/477,204 · Granted Sep 19, 2017

Wind turbine rotor blade for a rotor with a spinner

Inventor: Thomas Lipka (Rostock, DE)
Assignee: Nordex Energy GmbH
F01D25/24B23Q3/00F03D1/0658F03D1/0675F03D13/10F03D80/00F05B2240/57F05B2260/301Y02E10/721Y10T29/49321Y10T29/53961
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 9,765,646
App. No.
14/477,204
Granted
Sep 19, 2017
Kind
B2
Abstract

A wind turbine rotor blade is for mounting on a rotor hub covered by a spinner having a rotor blade opening and includes a wind turbine rotor blade body having a fastening section and a longitudinal section. The fastening section is configured for fastening the rotor blade body on the rotor hub. The longitudinal section is arranged inside the rotor blade opening when the wind turbine rotor blade is mounted on the rotor hub. The longitudinal section and the rotor blade opening conjointly define an annular gap therebetween when the wind turbine rotor blade is mounted on the rotor hub. A cover profile is fastened on the wind turbine rotor blade and covers the annular gap. The cover profile has a circular ring-shaped outer edge and a circular ring-shaped inner edge. The inner edge is disposed at a radial distance from the wind turbine rotor blade. An annular-shaped cover element is fastened on the wind turbine rotor blade and bridges the radial distance.

Claims (31)

1. A wind turbine rotor blade for mounting on a rotor hub which is covered by a spinner having a rotor blade opening, the wind turbine rotor blade comprising:

a wind turbine rotor blade body having a fastening section and a longitudinal section;

said fastening section being configured for fastening said rotor blade body on the rotor hub;

said longitudinal section being configured to be arranged inside said rotor blade opening when said wind turbine rotor blade is mounted on said rotor hub;

said longitudinal section and the rotor blade opening conjointly defining an annular gap therebetween when said wind turbine rotor blade is mounted on said rotor hub;

a cover profile fastened on said wind turbine rotor blade and configured to cover said annular gap;

said cover profile having a circular ring-shaped outer edge and a circular ring-shaped inner edge;

said circular ring-shaped inner edge being disposed at a radial distance from said wind turbine rotor blade; and,

an annular-shaped cover element fastened on said wind turbine rotor blade and configured to bridge said radial distance.

2. The wind turbine rotor blade of claim 1 , wherein:

said circular ring-shaped inner edge defines a circumferential direction; and,

said radial distance varies in said circumferential direction.

3. The wind turbine rotor blade of claim 1 , wherein said cover profile further has a retaining section extending from said inner edge in the direction of said fastening section.

4. The wind turbine rotor blade of claim 1 further comprising:

a multiplicity of adjustable fastening elements adaptable to said radial distance between said cover profile and said rotor blade body; and,

said cover profile being fastened on said wind turbine rotor blade body via said multiplicity of adjustable fastening elements.

5. The wind turbine rotor blade of claim 4 , wherein said fastening elements each have a threaded pin and an adjustable stop.

6. The wind turbine of claim 1 , wherein said cover element butts against said cover profile.

7. A method for making a wind turbine rotor blade comprising the steps of:

providing a wind turbine rotor blade configured to be mounted on a rotor hub which is covered by a spinner having a rotor blade opening, the wind turbine rotor blade having a fastening section for fastening the wind turbine rotor blade on the rotor hub and a longitudinal section which is to be arranged inside the rotor blade opening;

providing a cover profile configured to cover an annular gap between the longitudinal section and the rotor blade opening, the cover profile having a circular-shaped outer edge and a circular-shaped inner edge;

arranging and fastening the cover profile on the wind turbine rotor blade in such a manner that the inner edge of the cover profile is at a radial distance from the wind turbine rotor blade; and,

arranging and fastening a cover element on the wind turbine rotor blade in such a manner that the cover element bridges the radial distance.

8. The method of claim 7 further comprising the steps of:

attaching a multiplicity of fastening elements having adjustable spacers on the wind turbine rotor blade; and,

adapting the spacers to the radial distance between the cover profile and the wind turbine rotor blade.

9. The method of claim 8 , wherein a positioning tool is at least one of aligned on the fastening section and fastened on the fastening section.

10. The method of claim 9 further comprising the step of positioning the fastening elements on the wind turbine rotor blade via the positioning tool.

11. The method of claim 9 , wherein at least one of the spacers is adapted to the radial distance between the cover profile and the wind turbine rotor blade via the positioning tool.

12. The method of claim 9 , wherein the positioning tool has a socket, the method further comprising the step of inserting the fastening element into the socket of the positioning tool after the positioning tool is oriented or fastened to the fastening section.

13. The method of claim 7 , wherein the cover element is fastened to the wind turbine rotor blade before the wind turbine rotor blade is transported to an erection site; and, the cover profile is fastened to the wind turbine rotor blade after the wind turbine rotor blade has been transported to the erection site.

Assignments (3)
CORRECTIVE ASSIGNMENT TO CORRECT THE CHANGE OF NAME TO REMOVE PATENT NUMBER 10771765 AND ADD PATENT NUMBER 10711765 PREVIOUSLY RECORDED AT REEL: 055259 FRAME: 0008. ASSIGNOR(S) HEREBY CONFIRMS THE CHANGE OF NAME. Recorded Nov 12, 2021
From: NORDEX ENERGY GMBH
To: NORDEX ENERGY SE & CO. KG
Reel/Frame 058222/0542 →
CHANGE OF NAME Recorded Feb 8, 2021
From: NORDEX ENERGY GMBH
To: NORDEX ENERGY SE & CO. KG
Reel/Frame 055259/0008 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Oct 28, 2014
From: LIPKA, THOMAS
To: NORDEX ENERGY GMBH
Reel/Frame 034054/0367 →
Priority Claims (1)
EP 13194734 · Nov 27, 2013 · regional
Continuity (1)
Related Publication 20150147187A1 · May 28, 2015