IP Library Granted Patent US 10,883,472
Granted Patent B2
US 10,883,472 · App. 16/372,157 · Granted Jan 5, 2021

Bushing for a wind turbine rotor blade, flange insert, wind turbine rotor blade and wind turbine

Inventors: Markus Werner (Felde, DE); Tim Berend Block (Henstedt-Ulzburg, DE)
Assignee: NORDEX ENERGY GMBH
F03D1/0658F05B2240/221F05B2250/60
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 10,883,472
App. No.
16/372,157
Granted
Jan 5, 2021
Kind
B2
Abstract

A bushing ( 116 ) for a wind turbine rotor blade ( 104 ) is provided, the bushing ( 116 ) comprising a first bushing end ( 117 ) and an opposite second bushing end ( 118 ) and a bushing bore ( 119 ) which extends in a region between the first bushing end ( 117 ) and the second bushing end ( 118 ) and comprises a bore longitudinal axis ( 120 ); wherein, along the bore longitudinal axis ( 120 ) in the direction of the second bushing end ( 118 ), the bushing bore ( 119 ) comprises a threaded portion ( 127 ), and wherein the bushing ( 116 ) comprises a bushing runout ( 128 ) that follows the threaded portion ( 127 ), the bushing runout comprising a widening portion ( 131 ) of the bushing bore ( 119 ), in which a diameter ( 132 ) of the bushing bore ( 119 ) enlarges at least monotonically while an increase in diameter decreases at least monotonically.

Claims (19)

1. A bushing ( 116 ) for a wind turbine rotor blade ( 104 ), the bushing ( 116 ) comprising:

a first bushing end ( 117 ) and an opposite second bushing end ( 118 ); and

a bushing bore ( 119 ) which extends in a region between the first bushing end ( 117 ) and the second bushing end ( 118 ) and comprises a bore longitudinal axis ( 120 );

wherein, along the bore longitudinal axis ( 120 ) in the direction of the second bushing end ( 118 ),

the bushing bore ( 119 ) comprises a threaded portion ( 127 ), and

the bushing ( 116 ) comprises a bushing runout ( 128 ) that follows the threaded portion ( 127 ), said bushing runout comprising a widening portion ( 131 ) of the bushing bore ( 119 ), wherein the widening portion ( 131 ) forms at least 50% of the bushing runout ( 128 ), and wherein in the widening portion ( 131 ) a diameter ( 132 ) of the bushing bore ( 119 ) enlarges monotonically while an increase in diameter decreases monotonically in such a manner that the bushing runout ( 128 ) comprises an arc-shaped course along the entire length of the widening portion ( 131 ).

2. The bushing ( 116 ) according to claim 1 , wherein the bushing ( 116 ) comprises, in the region of the widening portion ( 131 ), a constant outside diameter ( 121 ).

3. The bushing ( 116 ) according to claim 1 , wherein the diameter ( 132 ) in the widening portion ( 131 ) enlarges in such a manner that a wall thickness ( 124 ) of the bushing ( 116 ) decreases constantly on a percentage basis along the widening portion ( 131 ) in the direction of the second bushing end ( 118 ).

4. The bushing ( 116 ) according to claim 1 , wherein the diameter ( 132 ) in the widening portion ( 131 ) enlarges in such a manner that a cross-sectional area of the bushing ( 116 ) decreases constantly on a percentage basis along the widening portion ( 131 ) in the direction of the second bushing end ( 118 ).

5. The bushing ( 116 ) according to claim 1 , wherein the widening portion ( 131 ) forms one of at least 60%, at least 70%, at least 80%, or at least 90%, of the bushing runout ( 128 ).

6. The bushing ( 116 ) according to claim 1 , wherein a wall thickness ( 124 ) of the bushing ( 116 ) increases at least partially between the first bushing end ( 117 ) and the threaded portion ( 127 ).

7. The bushing ( 116 ) according to claim 1 , wherein a circumferential chamfer ( 137 ) or a circumferential radius is configured on the second bushing end ( 118 ).

8. The bushing ( 116 ) according to claim 1 , wherein the bushing ( 116 ) is produced in one piece.

9. The bushing ( 116 ) according to claim 1 , wherein the bushing bore ( 119 ) extends continuously from the first bushing end ( 117 ) to the second bushing end ( 118 ).

10. A flange insert for a wind turbine rotor blade ( 104 ), comprising multiple bushings ( 116 ) arranged next to one another according to claim 1 , wherein the bushings ( 116 ) are embedded in one or more laminate layers.

11. A wind turbine rotor blade ( 104 ), comprising a rotor blade attachment ( 112 ) having multiple bushings ( 116 ) arranged in a circle according to claim 1 .

12. A wind turbine rotor blade ( 104 ), comprising a rotor blade segment having a connecting flange comprising multiple bushings ( 116 ) arranged next to one another according to claim 1 .

13. A wind turbine ( 100 ), comprising a rotor ( 103 ) having one or more rotor blades ( 104 ) according to claim 1 .

14. The bushing ( 116 ) according to claim 1 , wherein the bushing ( 116 ) comprises, in the region of the bushing runout ( 128 ), a constant outside diameter ( 121 ).

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 Jun 14, 2019
From: WERNER, MARKUS; BLOCK, TIM BEREND
To: NORDEX ENERGY GMBH
Reel/Frame 049479/0111 →
Priority Claims (1)
EP 18167560 · Apr 16, 2018 · regional
Continuity (1)
Related Publication 20190316564A1 · Oct 17, 2019