Wind blade component bonding fixture
The disclosed subject matter provides a system and method for facilitating bonding of various turbine blade components, including trailing edge inserts, or flatbacks, to the trailing edge of a wind turbine blade. The system disclosed herein ensures a consistent force is applied from root to top thereby preventing defects, e.g. paste voids, from forming. Additionally, a consistent bonding gap can be achieved due to the consistent application of force from the root to tip of the blade.
1. An apparatus for assembling wind turbine blade components comprising:
a main body portion, the main body portion including a plurality of interconnected struts;
at least one arm, the at least one arm including a plurality of interconnected struts, the at least one arm configured to engage a leading edge of a mold;
at least one leg, the at least one leg including a plurality of interconnected struts, the at least one leg configured to engage a trailing edge of the mold;
a template, the template configured to hold a blade component;
an actuator, the actuator configured to apply a force to the blade component.
2. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the blade component is a flatback insert.
3. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the force applied by the actuator is directed towards the trailing edge of the blade component.
4. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the at least one arm can rotate with respect to the main body portion.
5. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the at least one arm includes two arms, the first arm disposed at a first end of the main body portion, the second arm spaced from the first arm and having a greater length than the first arm.
6. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the at least one leg is longitudinally spaced from the at least one arm.
7. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the at least one leg is removably attached to the main body portion.
8. The apparatus of claim 1 , further comprising shackles on a top surface of the main body portion, the shackles configured to engage a vertical hoist mechanism.
9. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the main body portion has a first side and a second side, both the first and second sides disposed interior of the leading and trailing edges of the mold.
10. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the at least one actuator is connected to a bottom surface of the main body portion.
11. The apparatus of claim 10 , wherein the at least one actuator is connected to the template.
12. The apparatus of claim 10 , wherein the at least one actuator includes a plurality of actuators each disposed equidistantly from adjacent actuators.
13. The apparatus of claim 10 , wherein the at least one actuator is a pneumatic piston.
14. The apparatus of claim 10 , wherein the at least one actuator is disposed between the leading edge and trailing edge.
15. The apparatus of claim 10 , wherein the at least one actuator is adjustable in distance relative to the main body portion.
16. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the template engages the blade component along a top edge thereof.
17. The apparatus of claim 1 , further comprising a blade component holder, the blade component holder connected to a bottom of the main body portion.
18. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the at least one leg extends laterally from the main body portion.
19. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the at least one arm extends laterally from the main body portion.
20. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the main body portion, the at least one arm and the at least one leg are discrete assemblies.