IP Library Granted Patent US 10,100,525
Granted Patent B2
US 10,100,525 · App. 14/969,132 · Granted Oct 16, 2018

Wind turbine with a concrete tower and method for the assembly thereof

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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 10,100,525
App. No.
14/969,132
Granted
Oct 16, 2018
Kind
B2
Abstract

The present invention relates to a wind turbine with a concrete tower wherein the tower comprises a plurality of sections formed by segments a platform system comprising a plurality of platforms, wherein the platform system is configured to allow access to junction areas between sections wherefrom optionally, the execution of joints between adjacent sections may be carried out, the platforms situated inside the tower once erected being detachable, stackable and transportable.

Claims (27)

1. A wind turbine comprising an erected concrete tower,

wherein the concrete tower comprises a plurality of sections formed by segments and a platform system comprising a plurality of platforms, wherein the platform system is configured to allow access to junction areas between adjacent sections of the concrete tower and to be at least partially anchored in a detachable manner to a wall of a section of the concrete tower, the wall being situated inside the concrete tower once erected;

wherein the sections of the concrete tower comprise at least one first anchoring element attached to the wall of the section of the concrete tower situated inside the concrete tower once erected, wherein the platform system is configured to be at least partially anchored in a detachable manner to the at least one first anchoring element attached to the wall of the section of the concrete tower situated inside the concrete tower once erected;

wherein the platforms of the platform system comprise at least one second anchoring element which assists the at least one first anchoring element to achieve the detachable anchoring of the platform system to the wall of the section of the concrete tower situated inside the concrete tower once erected;

wherein the at least one first anchoring element and the at least one second anchoring element which implement the detachable anchoring of the platform system to the wall of the section of the concrete tower situated inside the concrete tower once erected, form a joint with one degree of freedom, wherein the degree of freedom allows the disassembly of the platform system, and the platforms of the platform system comprise at least one support element between the platforms and the wall of the section of the concrete tower situated inside the concrete tower once erected; and

wherein the first anchoring element comprises a rod insertable into the wall of the segment situated inside the tower once erected and a head protruding from said rod, wherein the rod is disposed inside the section once lifted and stacked, while the second anchoring element comprises a pivoting fitting comprising a shaft slidable along a slot that allows the folding of the platform with respect to the wall situated inside the tower, and a longitudinal groove so that the pivoting fitting is supportable on the rod of the first anchoring element.

2. The wind turbine of claim 1 wherein the platforms of the platform system comprise a set of modules configured to be taken down through the interior of the concrete tower of the wind turbine and extracted through a door of the concrete tower.

3. The wind turbine of claim 2 wherein the platforms of the platform system comprise at least one module per segment.

4. The wind turbine of claim 3 further comprising an elevator and/or stairs arranged inside the concrete tower and wherein the modules form a continuous platform for each section of the concrete tower except in a space configured for the passage of the elevator and/or stairs.

5. The wind turbine of claim 4 wherein the modules of each section of the concrete tower which are adjacent to the elevator and/or stairs are not detachably anchored to the section of the concrete tower.

6. The wind turbine of claim 2 wherein the modules comprise a base and a safety rail.

7. The wind turbine of claim 6 wherein the base is foldable and the safety rail is adjustable in height.

8. The wind turbine of claim 1 wherein the disassembly of the platform system is carried out applying a vertical upward force in the joint with one degree of freedom which allows the disassembly of the platform system.

9. Method for the assembly of a wind turbine comprising a concrete tower which in turn comprises a plurality of sections formed by segments and a platform system comprising a plurality of platforms, wherein the platform system is configured to allow access to junction areas between adjacent sections of the concrete tower, and wherein the method comprises the following steps:

a step of connecting the platform system comprising a plurality of platforms to a wall of a plurality of segments , the wall being situated inside the concrete tower once erected, wherein the segments form the sections of the concrete tower;

a step of pre-assembly of the sections of the concrete tower wherein for each section a plurality of segments are joined together;

a step of lifting and stacking of the plurality of sections of the concrete tower;

a step of execution of joints between adjacent sections;

a step of at least partially detaching the platform system from the segments forming the sections of the concrete tower;

wherein the step of connecting the platform system comprising a plurality of platforms to a wall of a plurality of segments and the step of at least partially detaching the platform system from the segments forming the sections of the concrete tower are carried out by means of a joint with one degree of freedom, wherein the degree of freedom allows the disassembly of the platform system and wherein the joint with the degree of freedom comprises a rod insertable into the wall of the segment situated inside the tower once erected and a head protruding from said rod, wherein the rod is disposed inside the section once lifted and stacked, a pivoting fitting comprising a shaft slidable along a slot that allows the folding of the platform with respect to the wall situated inside the tower, and a longitudinal groove so that the pivoting fitting is supportable on the rod.

10. The method of claim 9 wherein the step of connecting the platform system comprises connecting at least one platform module per segment prior to the step of pre-assembly of the sections of the concrete tower.

11. The method of claim 9 further comprising a step of disassembly of at least one platform from the platform system after the step of at least partially detaching the platform system from the segments forming the sections of the concrete tower.

12. The method of claim 11 wherein the step of disassembly of at least one platform from the platform system comprises the disassembly of a plurality of the platforms, preferably of all the platforms except at least one top platform.

13. The method of claim 11 wherein the step of disassembly of at least one platform from the platform system is accomplished by firstly disassembling a platform arranged in the lower part of the concrete tower, and secondly, proceeding upwards, disassembling remaining platforms.

14. The method of claim 9 wherein the step of pre-assembly of the sections of the concrete tower comprises carrying out a placement of the segments adjacently and an execution of joints between the segments, the joints between the segments being temporary or permanent, prior to the step of lifting and stacking of the plurality of sections of the concrete tower.

15. The method of claim 10 further comprising a step of disassembly of at least one platform from the platform system after the step of at least partially detaching the platform system from the segments forming the sections of the concrete tower.

16. The method of claim 12 wherein the step of disassembly of at least one platform from the platform system is accomplished by firstly disassembling a platform arranged in the lower part of the concrete tower, and secondly, proceeding upwards, disassembling remaining platforms.

Assignments (2)
CHANGE OF NAME Recorded Oct 9, 2020
From: ACCIONA WINDPOWER, S.A.
To: NORDEX ENERGY SPAIN, S.A.
Reel/Frame 054073/0853 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Feb 24, 2016
From: ARANZADI DE MIGUEL, PAULA; MARTIN DIEZ, JAVIER; GARCIA MAESTRE, IVAN; ETXANDI IRUNGARAI, INAKI; GOMEZ ANDUEZA, ASIER; ARLABAN GABEIRAS, TERESA; ARISTEGUI LANTERO, JOSE LUIS; SOROA SISAMON, ENRIQUE; GASTON LUJAMBIO, ANDER; GARCIA SAYES, JOSE MIGUEL; NUNEZ POLO, MIGUEL
To: ACCIONA WINDPOWER, S.A.
Reel/Frame 037811/0503 →