A drilling machine is disclosed. The drilling machine may include a mast and a machine frame. The mast may include a mast frame, a movable drill head assembly, a first pivot aperture, and a plurality of first lock apertures each corresponding to a different drilling position of the mast. The machine frame may include an engine, a ground engaging assembly having an axle, and a mast coupling assembly having at least a pair of opposed legs, each leg including at least one plate. The at least one plate of each leg may include a second pivot aperture positioned to align with the first pivot aperture to pivotably couple the mast to each leg. The at least one plate may also include a second lock aperture positioned to align with each of the first lock apertures and receive a lock pin for locking the mast in a drilling position.

A system and method are used for transporting a plurality of tower sections of a wind turbine on beds of transport devices, such as flat railcars. Supports affix at support locations on beds to accommodate at least one of the tower sections on each of the transport devices. The supports can include bed supports, such as tabs, extending from the beds, and can include cradle supports with slots that engage on the tabs. A circumferential dimension of a cradle is adjusted on each of the supports against which the tower section rests. Each of the tower sections is then supported with at least two of the supports by loading the tower sections on the transport devices. An end of each of the tower sections is then affixed to a flange on at least one of the supports on each of the transport devices.

An adapter device for the horizontal preassembly of a wind turbine rotor includes a connection piece on the underside of the adapter device for fastening the adapter device to a tower system of a tower crane, and a rotor flange on the top side of the adapter device for fastening the rotor hub of the wind turbine rotor to be assembled.

An adapter device for the horizontal preassembly of a wind turbine rotor includes a connection piece on the underside of the adapter device for fastening the adapter device to a tower system of a tower crane, and a rotor flange on the top side of the adapter device for fastening the rotor hub of the wind turbine rotor to be assembled.

A tower segment for at least a section of a tower includes a tower segment defining an interior, a longitudinal axis, and a wall, and a supply structural segment preassembled in the interior of the tower segment extending along a the longitudinal axis of the tower segment. The supply structural segment is movable relative to the tower segment and connected to the wall of the tower segment so that the supply structural segment can be moved at least from an assembly position to a connecting position. Other tower, tower segment, support structure, support structural segment, and methods of erection of same use at least a tower segment of a tower.

Provided is a method for building a metallic tower for a wind turbine, including the steps of: at a manufacturing site, manufacturing hollow cylindric metallic tower sections, wherein the tower sections can be stacked in a longitudinal direction to form the tower, cutting, at least for tower sections whose diameter exceeds a predefined maximum diameter, the tower sections longitudinally into a first number at least two section segments, transporting the section segments to a building site where the tower is to be erected, joining section segments by welding to reconstruct the cut tower sections, and stacking the tower sections to build the tower.

A device that includes pier caps. Each pier cap is configured to couple to a pole that is at least partially embedded below a surface of a ground. The device further includes threaded rods coupled with the pier caps. The device further includes an assembly frame that includes a base plate and coupling arms. The base plate includes a first plurality of openings that are configured to interface with a structure that is installed onto the base plate. The first plurality of openings are configured to allow a position of the structure to be adjusted radially about the base plate. Each coupling arm includes a second plurality of openings that are configured to allow a position of the assembly frame to be adjusted along a horizontal plane. Each coupling arm is coupled to a threaded rod and a position for each coupling arm is adjustable vertically along the threaded rod.

A drilling rig system includes a drilling rig that includes a mast, a pair of hydraulic pistons coupled to a pair of front legs of the mast and configured to apply a first force to the mast, the first force acting in a direction opposing a force generated by a weight of the mast, a plurality of raising lines coupled to a crown block of the mast and to a pair of rear legs of the mast opposite the front legs and configured to apply a second force to the mast, the second force acting in a direction opposing the force generated by the weight of the mast, and a drawworks assembly coupled to the plurality of raising lines and configured to apply a force acting away from the crown block of the mast to at least one of the plurality of raising lines to generate the second force.

Construction equipment is provided that can include: a transport assembly operably supporting a platform, the platform having a leading edge opposing a rearward edge, the leading edge associated with a first direction of the transport assembly, and the rearward edge associated with a second direction of the transportation assembly; an operator cab above the platform and aligned closer to the leading edge than the rearward edge; an engine above the platform and aligned closer to the rearward edge than the leading edge; and a boom pivotably attached above the platform closer to the rearward edge than the leading edge, the boom being movable between a first position fully extended and a second position fully raised. Utility line pole placement and/or removal construction methods are provided that can include extending an extension assembly having a banana boom from a transport assembly to couple with a utility line pole.

A method for creating a tapered spiral welded conical structure where the overall shape of the cone is first graphically slit axially and unwrapped, and then a series of construction arcs and lines are created to form the edge lines of a strip that can then be wrapped (rolled) to form a tapered conical structure. The edges of the spirally wound strip can be welded together, and a very large conical structure can thus be achieved. Various construction options are presented from a constant width strip to strip made from straight segments. Equations are given for the formation of the strips to enable those skilled in the art of spiral welded tubing to practice the invention.