LIFTING APPARATUS FOR A LIFTING CRANE

Abstract

Lifting apparatus for a lifting crane (1), adapted to carry an elongated component, especially a rotor blade (8) of a wind turbine (12), comprising a frame (6) with at least two support arms (7) for carrying the component, wherein at least one flap-like interaction means (17) for interacting with blowing wind is provided at the frame (6) or a support arm (7), which flap-like interaction means (17) is movable from a non-working position in a working position, in which it is set against the wind.

Claims

1. A lifting apparatus for a lifting crane, configured to carry an elongated component, the lifting apparatus comprising: a frame with at least two support arms for carrying the elongated component; at least one flap-like interaction means for interacting with blowing wind is-provided at the frame or a support arm, the at least one flap-like interaction means being movable from a non-working position to a working position, in which the at least one flap-like interaction means is set against the wind.

2. The lifting apparatus according to claim 1, wherein several flap-like interaction means are arranged at different positions at the frame and/or at the least one support arm.

3. The lifting apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the at least one or the several flap-like interaction means are arranged close to or at an end of the frame or at a top or a bottom or a side of the support arm.

4. The lifting apparatus according to claim 3, wherein the several flap-like interaction means are arranged close to or at both ends of the frame or at the top or the bottom or the side of both support arms.

5. The lifting apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the or at least one of the several flap-like interaction means is mounted pivotally at the frame or the support arm.

6. The lifting apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the or at least one of the several flap-like interaction means is movably by shifting at the frame or the support arm.

7. The lifting apparatus according to claim 6, wherein the at least one flap-like interaction means is linearly movable, or in a combined linear and curved movement.

8. The lifting apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the at least one or each flap-like interaction means is shiftable along the frame or the support arm to change a frame or arm position.

9. The lifting apparatus according to claim 1, wherein at least one controllable actuator is arranged for moving a flap-like interaction means from the non-working position to the working position and/or for changing a position at the frame or the support arm.

10. The lifting apparatus according to claim 9, wherein the at least one controllable actuator is a hydraulic or pneumatic or electric cylinder or an electric motor.

11. The lifting apparatus according to claim 1, wherein at least one control device is provided for controlling a movement of the at least one flap-like interaction means, by controlling the at least one controllable actuator.

12. The lifting apparatus according to claim 11, wherein at least one sensor means for sensing a given or upcoming vertical tilting of the lifting apparatus or of the frame or of at least one support arm is provided, whereby the at least one control device is configured to control the movement of the at least one or of the several flap-like interaction means depending on the at least one sensor means information.

13. A crane comprising a lifting means with a lifting apparatus according to claim 1.

14. The crane according to claim 13, wherein the lifting means comprises one or more lifting cables, to which a connection device is attached.

15. The crane according to claim 13, wherein one or more taglines are attached to the lifting apparatus.

16. A method for lifting a component using a crane according to claim 13, wherein during the lifting process, when a vertical tilting movement of the lifting apparatus or at least a possibility of the vertical tilting movement is detected, the at least one flap-like interaction means or one or more of the several flap-like interaction means are moved from the non-working position to the working position for counteracting the vertical tilting movement.

17. The method according to claim 16, wherein, during the lifting process, an orientation of the lifting apparatus is constantly sensed by at least one sensor means of the lifting apparatus, whereby the one or more flap-like interaction means are controlled by a control device based on the provided sensor means information.

18. The method according to claim 17, wherein the control device controls a movement of the flap-like interaction means from the non-working position to the working position as well as a movement for changing a position of the respective flap-like interaction means at the frame or the support arm.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION

[0024] Some of the embodiments will be described in detail, with reference to the following figures, wherein like designations denote like members, wherein:

[0025] FIG. 1 shows a principle sketch of a part of an inventive crane comprising an inventive lifting apparatus holding a rotor blade to be attached to a wind turbine;

[0026] FIG. 2 shows a side view of the lifting apparatus of FIG. 1, seen from the side of the root of the turbine blade; and

[0027] FIG. 3 shows another side view, in a 90°-direction compared to FIG. 2, of the lifting apparatus.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0028] FIG. 1 shows a part of an inventive lifting crane 1 comprising a lifting device 2 with several cables 3, to which a connection device 4 is attached, as commonly known.

[0029] To the connection device 4 an inventive lifting apparatus 5, often also called yoke, is attached. The lifting apparatus 5 comprises, see also FIGS. 2 and 3, a frame 6 with two end-standing support arms 7, which here have a C-form.

[0030] A component, here a rotor blade 8, is carried by the lifting apparatus 6. The C-shaped support arms 7 are equipped with respective holding means 9 for holding or gripping the rotor blade 8.

[0031] The rotor blade 8 is arranged in a horizontal direction and is lifted to be attached to a mounting interface 10 of a hub 11 of a wind turbine 12 shown in FIG. 1. It is therefore necessary to precisely position the blade root 13, which extends in the airfoil-shaped blade body 14, exactly relative to the mounting interface 10. This lifting and positioning is sometimes performed while wind blows and therefore interacts with the rotor blade 8 making the rotor blade 8 move.

[0032] The connection of the lifting apparatus 5 to the connection device 4 is not stiff. It is realized for example by a cable connection 15, which allows for the lifting apparatus 5 and therefore for the rotor blade 8 to rotate around a vertical axis. For stabilizing the lifting apparatus 5 respectively the blade 8 taglines 16 are attached to the lifting apparatus 5, by which a horizontal movement may be avoided or at least widely compensated.

[0033] The cable connection 15 does not only allow for a rotation around a vertical axis, but also for a tilting movement around a horizontal axis, which tilting movement is shown by the arrows P1. This tilting movement makes the lifting apparatus 5 tilt to the left or right side shown in FIG. 1, which tilting movement results in a respective movement of the rotor blade 8. Therefore, depending on the tilting to the left or to the right, the blade root 13 either performs a vertical movement upwards or downwards, as shown by the arrows P2 in FIG. 1. Therefore, its relative position to the mounting interface 10 may change due to such a vertical movement, which therefore needs to be counteracted.

[0034] For counteracting such a vertical movement, the lifting apparatus 5 comprises several flap-like interaction means 17. Each flap-like interaction means 17 comprises a flap element 18, which is movable between a non-working position, in which it does not change the aerodynamic shape of the lifting apparatus 5, and in which it is arranged horizontally, so that it is not set or deployed against the wind. From this position it may be moved to an angled position, e.g., 45°-60° measured to the horizontal plane, in which the respective flap elements 18 are shown in FIG. 2. The flap-like interaction means 17 respectively the flap elements 18 are pivotably mounted, so that they may be swiveled or pivoted from the non-working position to the shown working position, which movement is shown by the arrows P3. As FIG. 2 clearly shows, in this position the respective flap-like interaction means 17 respectively the flap elements 18 are orientated or deployed against the wind. They act like spoilers and interact with the wind, which presses against them providing a force in the vertical direction, which creates a respective vertical movement of the lifting apparatus.

[0035] As FIG. 2 clearly shows, the flap elements 18 in the working position severely change the aerodynamic shape of the lifting apparatus 5. When they interact with the wind, a force resulting from this interaction, in which the wind presses on the flap elements 18, is exerted on the lifting apparatus 5 causing a tilting moment making the lifting apparatus 5 and therefore the blade 8 tilts around the horizontal axis of the cable connection 15. This counteracting tilting moment or tilting movement is such that it is orientated in the other direction as the tilting moment resulting from the interaction of the wind with the blade 8. Therefore, by changing the aerodynamic shape of the lifting apparatus 5 by bringing the flap elements 18 in the working position, a counteracting tilting moment or tilting movement may be created. The movement of the flap elements 18 will add some drag resulting in the respective counter movement, which finally compensates the unwanted vertical movement resulting from the interaction of the wind with the blade 8 and keeps it stable.

[0036] For moving the flap elements 18 each interaction means 17 comprises an actuator 19, for example a hydraulic or pneumatic cylinder or an electric motor, which is configured to precisely move the flap element 18 from the non-working position to the working position, which working position may be any angular position between the horizontal non-working position and the maximum position, to which the flap element 18 may be pivoted. Any intermediate position is adjustable, which provides a great variety regarding the change of the overall aerodynamic shape of the lifting apparatus 5.

[0037] All actuators 19 are controlled by a common control device 20, which is here only shown in principle. The control device 20 comprises a respective programmable control element which is configured to control all actuators 19 separately. This is done in response to the information provided by one or several sensor means 21, which are arranged at the lifting apparatus 5 and which are e.g., configured to directly sense any vertical movement of the lifting apparatus 5, which is equivalent to a vertical movement of the blade root 13. So, the control device 20 may immediately respond to any relevant information from the constantly monitoring sensor means 21 in order to immediately control or provide a respective counteraction, when an unwanted vertical movement of the blade root 13 is to be expected or has already started.

[0038] The control device 20 controls the actuators 19 in such a way that the flap elements 18 are deployed against the wind only as much as necessary, in order to provide a counteracting tilt moment or tilt movement, which compensates the unwanted vertical movement as far as possible. Therefore, the flap elements 18 may be controlled to any intermediate position between the non-working position and the maximum pivotable working position.

[0039] As FIG. 2 shows, the several flap-like interaction means 17 are arranged at different positions along the frame 6 respectively the support arm 7. They may be arranged at the frame 6 itself, or at the top, the bottom or the side of the support arm 7. Depending on the place of arrangement, they are swiveled to different directions in order to be deployed against the wind, as clearly shown in FIG. 2.

[0040] As FIG. 3 shows, respective flap-like interaction means 17 are arranged on both ends of the lifting apparatus, respectively the yoke. This allows for providing a counteracting tilt moment or tilt movement either in an upward or in a downward direction relative to the counteracting movement of the blade root 13. It is clear that the counteracting tilt moment or tilt movement needs to be directed opposite to the unwanted wind induced tilt moment or tilt movement. As this unwanted tilt moment or tilt movement may be, due to the interaction of the wind with the blade 8, either causes an upward vertical movement or a downward vertical movement of the blade root 13, the counteracting tilt moment or tilt movement needs to be generated in the opposite direction. As the flap-like interaction means 17 are arranged on both sides of the instable cable connection 15, the control of either the flap elements 18 on the one side or of the flap elements 18 on the other side may generate a counteracting tilt moment or movement either in an upward or downward direction.

[0041] It is to be noted, that, if necessary, support arms or the like may be attached to the central or main part of the apparatus respectively the frame or the arms, which extend e.g., to the side and which provide additional positions to attach a flap-like interaction means to the apparatus at even farther positions.

[0042] As FIG. 3 furthermore shows, the respective flap-like interaction means 17 are not only changeable with their flap elements 18 between a non-working and a working position. They may also be changed in their position at the frame 6 or the respective support arm 7. This is shown in FIG. 3 by the respective arrows P4 respectively P5. The arrows P4 show the possibility to move at least some of the flap-like interaction means 17 linearly along the longitudinal axis of the lifting apparatus 5, allowing for positioning a flap-like interaction means 17 in a varying distance relative to the cable connection 15 for changing the lever between the point where the counter tilt moment is induced and the horizontal axis at the connection device respectively the cable connection 15.

[0043] The movability shown by the arrows P5 allows for a movement for example along a support arm 7. For example, the one or the several flap-like interaction means 17 arranged on top of the arm 7 may be moved along the arm, in FIG. 2 to the left or to the right. The same is true for the one or the several flap-like interaction means 17 arranged at the bottom of the arm 7. They may also be shifted to the left or to the right.

[0044] The one or the several flap-like interaction means 17 arranged at the side of the arm 7 may be moved upward or downward.

[0045] Any of these shifting movements is again performed by respective actuators 22, which are shown in principle in FIG. 2. These actuators 22, for example hydraulic or pneumatic cylinders or electromotors, push the respective flap-like interaction means along a linear guiding for changing its position. Also, this movement respectively the action of the actuators is controlled by the common control device 20, again in response to any information delivered by the sensor means 21.

[0046] The inventive flap-like or spoiler-like interaction means system allows for a very variably change of the aerodynamic shape or properties of the lifting apparatus 5 and therefore for a very variable, changeable interaction of the lifting apparatus 5 with the wind in order to produce a wanted counteracting tilt moment or tilt movement, which counteracts an unwanted tilt moment or tilt movement resulting from the interaction of the fast blowing wind with the airfoil-shaped rotor blade 8. The changeability of the flap-like interaction means in the various degrees of freedom, i.e., moving the flap elements 18 between a non-working position and a maximum working position and moving the flap-like interaction means 17 for changing their local position at the frame 6 or the support arm 7, allows for a very wide change of the aerodynamic shape and therefore, for a very exact generation of the counteracting tilt moment or tilt movement by changing the drag, the lifting apparatus deploys against the wind.

[0047] Each flap element 18 is a flat plate, which is sufficiently stable and sufficiently large, so that it provides a large interaction surface when it is pivoted to the working position, so that a strong interaction of the wind with the respective flap element 18 is given. The possibility to now compensate any unwanted vertical movement of the blade root 13 resulting from the interaction of the wind with the airfoil-shaped rotor blade 8 provides a number or advantages. The compensation or counteracting system now allows for installing such a rotor blade 8 also at weather conditions, which up to now did not allow such an installation due to a strongly blowing wind. Now the installation may also be done at wind speeds of 16 m/s and higher, as the system allows for an excellent compensation of any unwanted vertical movement. Therefore, the weather window, in which the installation may be done is significantly widened. Furthermore, the inventive stabilization or compensation allows for a faster installation, as no time is needed for a cumbersome positioning or orientation of the rotor blade root 13 relative to the mounting interface 10, as no unwanted vertical movement occurs and as the horizontal movement can be countered by the taglines.

[0048] Finally, the inventive lifting apparatus respectively the crane with the inventive compensation or counteracting arrow flap system allows for installing even larger blades, which interact even more with the wind causing the previously mentioned problems with an unwanted vertical movement, as this movement can be compensated.

[0049] Although the present invention has been disclosed in the form of embodiments and variations thereon, it will be understood that numerous additional modifications and variations could be made thereto without departing from the scope of the invention.

[0050] For the sake of clarity, it is to be understood that the use of “a” or “an” throughout this application does not exclude a plurality, and “comprising” does not exclude other steps or elements.