IP Library Granted Patent US 11,828,270
Granted Patent B2
US 11,828,270 · App. 17/601,565 · Granted Nov 28, 2023

Nacelle of a wind turbine

Inventor: Joël Saraiva Nunes (Åbyhøj, DK)
Assignee: Vestas Wind Systems A/S
F03D80/80E04C3/09F03D13/10E04C2003/0491E04C2003/0495F05B2220/30F05B2230/60F05B2240/14
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 11,828,270
App. No.
17/601,565
Granted
Nov 28, 2023
Kind
B2
Abstract

A nacelle of a wind turbine is disclosed. The nacelle comprises a rear frame structure ( 1 ) comprising a plurality of truss assemblies ( 2 ) being connected to each other at connecting regions ( 3 ). At least one of the truss assemblies ( 2 ) comprises at least one beam structure ( 4 ), the beam structure ( 4 ) comprising at 5 least a first beam member ( 5 ) and a second beam member ( 6 ) being arranged substantially in parallel to each other, thereby defining a longitudinal direction of the beam structure ( 4 ). The first ( 5 ) and the second ( 6 ) beam members are retained to each other by a retaining means ( 12 ). The retaining means ( 12 ) is configured to enable the first beam member ( 5 ) to slide relative to the second 10 beam member ( 6 ) along the longitudinal direction, e.g. by means of oblong slits ( 11 ) formed in the first beam members ( 5 ) and bolts ( 12 ) extending through the oblong slits ( 11 ) and being attached to the second beam members ( 6 ).

Claims (26)

1. A nacelle of a wind turbine comprising:

a rear frame structure including a plurality of truss assemblies being connected to each other at connecting regions,

wherein at least one of the truss assemblies comprises at least one beam structure, the at least one beam structure comprising at least a first beam member and a second beam member being arranged substantially in parallel to each other, thereby defining a longitudinal direction of the at least one beam structure, the first and the second beam members being retained to each other by a retaining means,

wherein the first beam member and the second beam member each have a first end and a second end and wherein the first end of the first beam member and the first end of the second beam member are removably coupled to a same one of the connecting regions, and

wherein the retaining means is configured to enable the first beam member to slide relative to the second beam member along the longitudinal direction.

2. The nacelle according to claim 1 , wherein at least the first beam member comprises an oblong slit formed therein, the retaining means extending through the oblong slit and being connected to the second beam member at a fixed position relative to the second beam member, wherein the first beam member slides relative to the second beam member by performing a relative movement between the oblong slit of the first beam member and the retaining means.

3. The nacelle according to claim 1 , wherein the retaining means comprises a bolt.

4. The nacelle according to claim 1 , wherein at least one of the truss assemblies comprises four beam structures, and a centre connecting piece, wherein the four beam structures are each connected at one end to the centre connecting piece, the beam structures and the centre connecting piece thereby forming a cross, and wherein the retaining means enable the first beam member of each beam structure to slide relative to the respective second beam member along the longitudinal direction and towards and away from the centre connecting piece.

5. The nacelle according to claim 4 , wherein the centre connecting piece is positioned relative to the beam structures in such a manner that a portion of the first beam member of each beam structure is arranged at a first side of the centre connecting piece, and a portion of the second beam member of each beam structure is arranged at a second side of the centre connecting piece, opposite the first side, as seen in a direction being perpendicular to the longitudinal direction of the beam structure.

6. The nacelle according to claim 1 , wherein the rear frame structure defines at least a bottom part and a top part, and wherein at least one of the truss assemblies forms part of the bottom part or the top part of the rear frame structure.

7. The nacelle according to claim 1 , wherein the first beam member and/or the second beam member is/are formed from bended sheet metal.

8. The nacelle according to claim 1 , wherein the first beam member and the second beam member have U-shaped cross-sections.

9. A wind turbine comprising a nacelle according to claim 1 .

10. A method for handling a truss assembly of a nacelle of a wind turbine, the nacelle comprising:

a rear frame structure including a plurality of truss assemblies being connected to each other at connecting regions,

wherein at least one of the truss assemblies comprises at least one beam structure, the at least one beam structure comprising at least a first beam member and a second beam member being arranged substantially in parallel to each other, thereby defining a longitudinal direction of the at least one beam structure, the first and the second beam members being retained to each other by a retaining means,

wherein the first beam member and the second beam member each have a first end and a second end and wherein the first end of the first beam member and first end of the second beam member are removably coupled to a same one of the connecting regions, and

wherein the retaining means is configured to enable the first beam member to slide relative to the second beam member along the longitudinal direction,

the method comprising:

releasing the truss assembly from the connecting regions to which the truss assembly is connected to other truss assemblies of the rear frame structure of the nacelle,

sliding at least a part of the first beam member of at least one beam structure relative to the respective second beam member along the longitudinal direction and away from the connecting region, and

removing the truss assembly from the nacelle.

11. The method according to claim 10 , wherein the step of sliding at least a part of the first beam member comprises moving the first beam member to a position where there is no overlap between the first beam member and the connecting regions.

12. The method according to claim 10 , wherein at least the first beam member comprises an oblong slit formed therein, the retaining means extending through the oblong slit and being connected to the second beam member at a fixed position relative to the second beam member, and wherein the step of sliding at least a part of a first beam member is performed by performing a relative movement between the first beam member and the retaining means, along the oblong slit.

13. The method according to claim 10 , wherein the truss assembly comprises four beam structures, and a centre connecting piece, wherein the four beam structures are each connected at one end to the centre connecting piece, the beam structures and the centre connecting piece thereby forming a cross, and wherein the step of sliding at least part of a first beam member comprises sliding the first beam member of each beam structure relative to the respective second beam member along a direction towards the centre connecting piece.

14. The method according to claim 10 , further comprising the step of attaching a wind turbine component to the truss assembly, and wherein the step of removing the truss assembly comprises removing the wind turbine component from the nacelle along with the truss assembly.

Assignments (1)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Nov 19, 2021
From: NUNES, JOËL SARAIVA
To: VESTAS WIND SYSTEMS A/S
Reel/Frame 058160/0426 →
Priority Claims (1)
DK PA 2019 70255 · Apr 25, 2019 · national
Continuity (1)
Related Publication 20220205429A1 · Jun 30, 2022