TRANSPORT ASSEMBLY

Abstract

Provided is a transport assembly for use in the transport of a large heavy load, including a frame unit realized to lie on a load platform of a transport vehicle; a number of first load-positioning beams, wherein a first load-positioning beam is realized to span a single frame unit; and/or a number of second load-positioning beams, wherein a second load-positioning beam is realized to span a pair of adjacent frame units; and a part adapter realized to engage with a load-positioning beam and to engage with the load. The embodiments further describe a method of securing a large heavy load on a load platform during a transport maneuver.

Claims

1. A transport assembly for securing a load to a load platform during a transport maneuver, comprising: at least one frame unit configured to lie on a load platform of a transport vehicle, wherein the at least one frame unit comprises at least one transverse beam arranged to extend across a width of the load platform and held in place by a pair of lateral beams arranged to extend lengthways along sides of the load platform; at least one load-positioning beam, wherein the at least one load-positioning beam is selected from: a) a first load-positioning beam, wherein the first load-positioning beam is configured to span a width of a single frame unit of the at least one frame unit; and b) a second load-positioning beam, wherein the second load-positioning beam is configured to span a width of a pair of adjacent frame units of the at least one frame unit; and a part adapter configured to engage with the at least one load-positioning beam and to engage with the load.

2. The transport assembly according to claim 1, wherein the at least one transverse beam is arranged to rest on an upper surface of the load platform.

3. The transport assembly according to claim 1, wherein the first load-positioning beam is configured to engage with the part adapter when the part adapter is positioned centrally over the at least one frame unit, and wherein the second load-positioning beam is configured to engage with a part adapter when the part adapter is positioned centrally over the pair of adjacent frame units of the at least one frame unit.

4. The transport assembly according to claim 1, comprising an arrangement of bars mounted to the part adapter and a complementary arrangement of fins mounted to the at least one load-positioning beam, wherein the bars and fins comprise matching through-holes for receiving fasteners to form a connection between the part adapter and the at least one load-positioning beam.

5. The transport assembly according to claim 1, comprising a number of holders arranged to hold the at least one load-positioning beam in place on the at least one frame unit.

6. The transport assembly according to claim 5, wherein at least one holder of the number of holders is arranged to extend upward from a respective lateral beam of the at least one frame unit to engage from below with the at least one load-positioning beam.

7. The transport assembly according to claim 5, wherein at least one holder of the number of holders is arranged to extend downward from the at least one load-positioning beam to engage from above with a respective lateral beam of the at least one frame unit.

8. The transport assembly according to claim 5, wherein at least one holder of the number of holders is constructed as a plate comprising a rectangular cut-out to fit about the at least one load-positioning beam.

9. The transport assembly according to claim 8, comprising a matching arrangement of through-holes in the plate and in a complementary arrangement of fins mounted to the at least one load-positioning beam, for receiving fasteners to secure the at least one load-positioning beam to the at least one frame unit.

10. The transport assembly according to claim 1, configured to transport a wind turbine nacelle unit with a weight of at least 200 metric tons.

11. The transport assembly according to claim 1, wherein the part adapter is configured to connect to a wind turbine tower head interface with a diameter of at least 4 m.

12. A method of securing a load on a load platform during a transport maneuver, comprising: providing at least one frame unit configured to lie on a load platform of a transport vehicle; providing at least one load-positioning beam, wherein the at least one load-positioning beam is selected from a) a first load-positioning beam, wherein the first load-positioning beam is configured to span a width of a single frame unit of the at least one frame unit, and b) a second load-positioning beam, wherein the second load-positioning beam is configured to span a width of a pair of adjacent frame units of the at least one frame unit; arranging either a) the single frame unit over the load platform and arranging the first load-positioning beam across the single frame unit, or b) the pair of adjacent frame units over the load platform and arranging the second load-positioning beam across the pair of adjacent frame units; and subsequently engaging a part adapter with the at least one load-positioning beam; and engaging the load with the part adapter.

13. The method according to claim 12, comprising a preliminary step of determining an optimal position for the at least one frame unit on the load platform on the basis of the weight of the load and/or the shape of the load.

14. The method according to claim 13, comprising a preliminary step of determining an optimal position of a transverse beam and/or the at least one load-positioning beam relative to a lateral beam of the frame unit on the basis of the weight of the load and/or the shape of the load.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION

[0020] Some of the embodiments will be described in detail, with references to the following Figures, wherein like designations denote like members, wherein:

[0021] FIG. 1 shows an exemplary embodiment of the inventive transport assembly

[0022] FIG. 2A shows a first embodiment of the inventive transport assembly during loading;

[0023] FIG. 2B shows a first embodiment of the inventive transport assembly after loading;

[0024] FIG. 3 shows the transport assembly of FIGS. 2A and 2B in use during the transport of a load;

[0025] FIG. 4 shows a first embodiment of the inventive transport assembly;

[0026] FIG. 5 shows the transport assembly of FIG. 4 in use during the transport of a load; and

[0027] FIG. 6 shows the transport assembly of FIGS. 2A and 2B in use during the transport of a load.

[0028] In the diagrams, like numbers refer to like objects throughout. Aspects in the diagrams are not necessarily drawn to scale.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0029] FIG. 1 shows an exemplary embodiment of the inventive transport assembly 1, with a frame unit 10 constructed to rest on the load platform 3 of a transport vehicle (not shown), two different kinds of load-positioning beam 131, 132, and a part adapter 14.

[0030] The frame 10 essentially comprises a pair of parallel lateral beams 12 that will lie on either long side of the load platform 3, and several transverse or cross-connector beams 11 held in place by the lateral beams 12. A number of upright holding plates 16 are arranged on the inner and outer sides of each of the lateral beams 12. These holding plates 16 are shaped and arranged to accommodate a number of load-positioning beams 131, 132.

[0031] The diagram shows two load-positioning beams 131, 132 with different lengths. The short load-positioning beam 131 is for use with a single frame 10 arranged on a single load platform, while the long load-positioning beam 132 is for use with two frames 10 arranged side by side on two adjacent load platforms. Each load-positioning beam 131, 132 has a number of fins 133 extending along its vertical side faces. These fins 133 will be used to secure the load-positioning beam 131, 132 to the frame 10, and to secure a part adapter 14 to the load-positioning beam 131, 132, as will be explained below.

[0032] The part adapter 14 in this exemplary embodiment will be used to support a nacelle unit of a wind turbine during a transport maneuver. The part adapter 14 or “tower barrel” is constructed to have the same dimensions as the uppermost region of the tower of that wind turbine, so that the tower head interface or yaw ring of that nacelle unit will fit onto or into the part adapter 14.

[0033] FIGS. 2A and 2B show a first arrangement of the inventive transport assembly 1, using the short load-positioning beam 131, frame 10 and adapter 14 of FIG. 1. In this setup, a relatively small nacelle is to be transported, i.e. the weight and dimensions of the nacelle allow it to be borne on a single load platform of a transport vehicle. On the left-hand side of the diagram, two short load-positioning beams 131 are shown in place on the frame 10. Each load-positioning beam 131 spans the frame 10 and is held in place by holding element or holders 16. In this embodiment, the holding element or holders 16 are steel plates shaped in the manner of a claw, with a cut-out 160 that matches the shape of the load-positioning beam 131, so that the load-positioning beam 131 will rest on the load platform and the upper surface of the lateral beams. Inner holding plates 16′ have a simpler shape, as shown in FIG. 1, and serve to provide additional stability to the overall arrangement. FIG. 1 also indicates through-holes 164 in the holding plates 16 and matching through-holes 134 in fins 133 of the load-positioning beams 131. Returning to FIGS. 2A and 2B, the load-positioning beam 131 is secured to the frame 10 by inserting fasteners F through the aligned through-holes 134, 164 of the holding plates 16 and fins 133.

[0034] The frame 10 and load-positioning beams 131 are now ready to receive the part adapter 14, which can be lowered into place as shown. To this end, a suitable hoisting or lifting apparatus can be used. The diagram shows a row of downward-pointing bars 143 mounted to the part adapter 14. Each bar 143 has a number of through-holes 144, so that the part adapter 14 can be secured to a load-positioning beam 131 by inserting fasteners F through the aligned through-holes 134, 144 of the bars 143 and load-positioning beam fins 133, as shown on the right-hand side of the diagram.

[0035] FIG. 3 shows the inventive transport assembly 1 of FIG. 2A and FIG. 2B in use during the transport of a nacelle unit 2. The frame 10 has been placed in a predetermined position on the load platform 3 of a transport vehicle (not shown). The frame position can have been determined by consideration of the combined weight of the nacelle unit 2 and all the parts already installed in or on the nacelle unit 2, as indicated in the diagram. The position of the frame 10 is determined in advance to ensure that the center of gravity of the nacelle unit 2 will be centrally positioned over the load platform 3. The tower head interface 20 of the nacelle unit 2 engages with the part adapter 14. The entire assembly can now be safely transported over any distance, and the balanced load distribution ensures that stress damage to the nacelle unit 2 and the transport equipment 1, 3 is avoided.

[0036] FIG. 4 shows a second arrangement of the inventive transport assembly 1, using the long load-positioning beam 132, frame unit 10 and adapter 14 of FIG. 1. In this setup, a relatively large nacelle unit is to be transported, i.e. the weight and dimensions of the nacelle require the use of two load platforms. On the left-hand side of the diagram, two long load-positioning beams 132 are shown in place, spanning two frames units 10. Each load-positioning beam 132 spans the two frames units 10 and is held in place by holding plates 16 and fasteners F as described above.

[0037] The frames units 10 and load-positioning beams 132 are now ready to receive the part adapter 14 of a large nacelle unit, which can be lowered into place as shown. As described above, the part adapter 14 is secured to the load-positioning beams 132 by inserting fasteners F through aligned through-holes 134, 144 of the bars 143 and load-positioning beam fins 133 as shown in the enlarged detail view on the right-hand side of the diagram.

[0038] FIG. 5 shows the inventive transport assembly 1 of FIG. 4 in use during the transport of a large nacelle unit 2. In this case, the nacelle unit 2 also comprises an entire nacelle with hub and spinner in place at the front of the nacelle, and a cooling arrangement and landing platform in place on top of the nacelle. The combined weight of such a nacelle unit 2 can lie in the region of 300-800 metric tons or even more. The frame units 10 have been placed in predetermined positions on adjacent load platforms 3 of a transport vehicle (not shown). The load platforms 3 in this case will be jointly pulled by a single transport vehicle. The load platforms 3 are effectively held in position by the arrangement of frame units 10 and load-positioning beams 132 of the inventive transport assembly 1. As described above, the frame positions can have been determined by consideration of the combined weight of the nacelle unit 2, to ensure that the center of gravity of the nacelle unit 2 will be centrally positioned over the load-carrying area defined by the adjacent load platforms 3 and the load-positioning beams 132. The tower head interface of the nacelle unit 2 is secured to the part adapter 14. In this case also, the entire assembly can now be safely transported over any distance, and the balanced load distribution ensures that stress damage to the nacelle unit 2 and the transport equipment 1, 3 is avoided.

[0039] FIG. 6 shows the inventive transport assembly 1 of FIGS. 2A and 2B in use during the transport of load 2, in this case a tower head unit. The diagram shows the tower head unit in place over a part adapter 14. The tower head unit can safely be transported from one location to another during the manufacture of a nacelle unit, for example.

[0040] Although the invention has been illustrated and described in greater detail with reference to the preferred exemplary embodiment, the invention is not limited to the examples disclosed, and further variations can be inferred by a person skilled in the art, without departing from the scope of protection of the invention.

[0041] 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.