Manufacture of a leading-edge protection element by trimming
The present invention provides a method for trimming a side portion of a pre-manufactured leading-edge protection element for a wind turbine blade. The element comprises a first side portion and a second side portion, the first side portion, when mounted to the wind turbine blade, extending from the leading edge and along a part of a pressure side of the wind turbine blade, and the second side portion, when mounted to the wind turbine blade, extending from the leading edge and along a part of a suction side of the wind turbine blade, or vice versa. The method comprises steps of: providing a support structure and a first cutting tool; arranging element on the support structure and fixating the element to the support structure, and cutting along a predetermined cutting path, whereby the leading-edge protection element is trimmed to a predetermined length. A corresponding system is also provided.
1 . A method for trimming a side portion of a pre-manufactured leading-edge protection element ( 401 ) for protecting a leading edge of a wind turbine blade, the leading-edge protection element extending in a longitudinal direction between a first longitudinal end and a second longitudinal end, the leading-edge protection element comprising a first side portion ( 311 ) and a second side portion ( 312 ), the first side portion, when mounted to the wind turbine blade, extending from the leading edge and along a part of a pressure side ( 52 ) of the wind turbine blade, and the second side portion, when mounted to the wind turbine blade, extending from the leading edge and along a part of a suction side ( 54 ) of the wind turbine blade, or vice versa, the method comprising the steps of:
providing a support structure ( 521 , 522 );
providing a first cutting tool ( 730 );
arranging the leading-edge protection element on the support structure;
fixating the leading-edge protection element to the support structure; and
cutting along a predetermined cutting path, whereby the leading-edge protection element is trimmed to a predetermined length.
2 . The method in accordance with claim 1 , wherein at least the first side portion is cut along the predetermined cutting path, such that the first side portion is trimmed to a first predetermined length (L 1 ).
3 . The method in accordance with claim 1 , wherein the second side portion is cut along a second predetermined cutting path using the first cutting tool or a second cutting tool, such that the second side portion is trimmed to a second predetermined length (L 2 ).
4 . The method in accordance with claim 1 , wherein the first predetermined length varies in the longitudinal direction of the leading-edge protection element.
5 . The method in accordance with claim 1 , wherein fixating the leading-edge protection element to the support structure comprises fixating at least the first side portion ( 311 ) of the leading-edge protection element or both the first side portion and the second side portion of the leading-edge protection element to the support structure.
6 . The method in accordance with claim 1 , wherein the leading-edge protection element is made of fibre-reinforced composite material or a polymer material, such as a polyurethane polymer material.
7 . The method in accordance with claim 1 , wherein the leading-edge protection element comprises a product portion ( 310 ) to be used and one or more sacrificial portions ( 901 , 902 ) connected to the product portion, and fixating the leading-edge protection element to the support structure comprises fixating a first sacrificial portion ( 901 ) of the one or more sacrificial portions to a support structure ( 521 , 522 ), and wherein cutting along the first predetermined cutting path at least partially separates ( 740 ) the first sacrificial portion from the product portion.
8 . The method in accordance with claim 1 , wherein the leading-edge protection element is a leading-edge cap ( 310 ) for protecting the leading edge of the wind turbine blade.
9 . The method in accordance with claim 1 , wherein the leading-edge protection element comprises a first flange ( 411 ), and fixating the leading-edge protection element comprises clamping the first flange to the support structure using clamping means ( 613 , 621 , 614 , 622 ).
10 . The method in accordance with claim 9 , wherein fixating the leading-edge protection element to the support structure includes arranging a board such as to distribute across the first flange a force provided by one or more of the clamps.
11 . The method in accordance with claim 1 , wherein the leading-edge protection element comprises a first flange ( 411 ), and wherein fixating the leading-edge protection element comprises arranging the first flange in contact with one or more suction supports ( 1112 ) on the support structure and providing suction ( 1111 , 1113 ) in the one or more suction supports ( 1112 ).
12 . The method in accordance with claim 1 , wherein a surface of the leading-edge protection element acts as a guiding fence for the first cutting tool during the cutting.
13 . The method in accordance with claim 1 , wherein the support structure comprises a support part that has a shape that conforms to an inner side of the leading edge protection element.
14 . The method in accordance with claim 1 , wherein the first cutting tool comprises a saw, such as a rotatable saw blade ( 732 ) attached to a cutting tool motor ( 731 ).
15 . A system for trimming a leading-edge protection element ( 401 ) for a wind turbine blade, the leading-edge protection element extending in a longitudinal direction between a first longitudinal end and a second longitudinal end and comprising a first side portion ( 311 ) and a second side portion ( 312 ), the first side portion, when mounted to the wind turbine blade, extending from the leading edge and along a part of a pressure side ( 52 ) of the wind turbine blade, and the second side portion, when mounted to the wind turbine blade, extending from the leading edge and along a part of a suction side ( 54 ) of the wind turbine blade, or vice versa, the system comprising:
a support structure ( 521 , 522 ) for supporting the leading-edge protection element;
fixating means ( 613 , 614 , 621 , 622 , 1111 , 1112 , 1113 ) for fixating the leading-edge protection element to the support structure; and
a first cutting tool ( 730 ) configured for cutting along a predetermined cutting path along the longitudinal direction of the leading-edge protection element, whereby the leading-edge protection element is trimmed to first predetermined lengths in the longitudinal direction of the leading-edge protection element.
16 . The method in accordance with claim 1 , wherein the first cutting tool ( 730 ) is connected to the support structure.
17 . A system for trimming a leading-edge protection element ( 401 ) for a wind turbine blade, the leading-edge protection element, wherein the leading-edge element is formed as an elongate structure having a convex side and a concave side and comprising a first side portion ( 311 ) and a second side portion ( 312 ), the first side portion, when mounted to the wind turbine blade, extending from the leading edge and along a part of a pressure side ( 52 ) of the wind turbine blade, and the second side portion, when mounted to the wind turbine blade, extending from the leading edge and along a part of a suction side ( 54 ) of the wind turbine blade, or vice versa, the system comprising:
a support structure ( 521 , 522 ) for supporting a part of the concave side of the leading-edge protection element, wherein the fixating means comprises clamping means and/or comprises one or more suction supports for fixating at least the first side portion by suction;
fixating means ( 613 , 614 , 621 , 622 , 1111 , 1112 , 1113 ) for fixating the leading-edge protection element to the support structure; and
a first cutting tool ( 730 ) for cutting along a predetermined cutting path, whereby the leading-edge protection element is trimmed to a first predetermined length.