Device For Treating A Mold Surface, Use Of The Device, And Method For Treating A Mold Surface

Abstract

The invention relates to a device for treating a mold surface (12) limiting a mold cavity of a mold or being an outer surface of a mold core for producing a mold, the device comprising: a treating carriage (22) having at least one treating drum (32A, 32B) and/or at least one liquid application and/or release means; a guiding arrangement (24, 52) connected to the treating carriage (22) and serving to displace the treating carriage (22) on the mold surface (12); and a control unit (80) connected to the treating carriage (22) and the guiding arrangement (24, 52).

Claims

1. A device for treating a mold surface limiting a mold cavity of a mold or being a surface of a mold core for producing a mold, the device comprising: a treating carriage having at least one treating drum and/or at least one liquid application and/or release means; a guiding arrangement connected to the treating carriage and serving to displace the treating carriage on the mold surface; and a control unit connected to the treating carriage and the guiding arrangement.

2. The device according to claim 1, wherein the treating drum is realized as a sanding drum whose effective outer surface is defined at least partly by abrasive flaps.

3. The device according to claim 1, wherein the treating carriage comprises at least two treating drums, the treating carriage comprising a support on which the treating drums are mounted to rotate.

4. The device according to claim 3, characterized in that wherein the support comprises a joint allowing the two treating drums to be pivoted relative to each other.

5. The device according to claim 1, wherein a drive motor is assigned to each treating drum.

6. The device according to claim 1, wherein the treating carriage comprises a means for shifting its center of gravity, the means for shifting the center of gravity being connected to the control unit and comprising a shiftable weight, the shiftable weight being disposed on a pivotable pole.

7. The device according to claim 1, wherein the guiding arrangement comprises a cable system attached to the treating carriage, the cable system comprising two cables which are each attached via an attachment element on opposite sides of the treating carriage and which can each be wound up on a winch, the attachment elements being height-adjustable on the treating carriage.

8. The device according to claim 1, wherein the guiding arrangement comprises a portal configured to straddle the mold.

9. The device according to claim 1, wherein the guiding arrangement comprises an actuator which can be placed on a guiding surface of the mold and displaced thereon.

10. The device according to claim 1, wherein the guiding arrangement comprises a rail system.

11. The device according to claim 1, wherein the control unit comprises a user interface that is a graphical user interface.

12. The device according to claim 1, wherein the control unit is configured to automatically control the treating carriage and/or the guiding arrangement based on preset mold parameters, so that the treating carriage is moved on the mold surface according to a defined treatment pattern.

13. The device according to claim 1, wherein the liquid application and/or release means comprises at least one nozzle and/or at least one hose for applying liquid to the mold surface or for supplying liquid to a liquid distribution means of the treating carriage, the liquid being a release agent, a sealing agent and/or a cleaning agent.

14. The device according to claim 1, further comprising a sensor system for determining the quality of the mold surface before and/or after treatment.

15. A use of the device according to claim 1 for treating a mold surface limiting a mold cavity of a mold for producing a wind blade of a wind turbine or being an outer surface of a mold core for forming a mold cavity of a mold.

16. A method for treating a mold surface of a mold WO for producing a wind blade of a wind turbine or for treating a mold surface of a mold core for producing a mold, the method comprising the following steps: disposing at least one treating carriage on the mold surface; activating the treating carriage; moving the treating carriage on the mold surface in the transverse direction of the mold; and displacing the treating carriage on the mold surface in the longitudinal direction of the mold, such that the mold surface is treated by the at least one treating carriage according to a treatment pattern.

17. The method according to claim 16, wherein the treatment pattern on the mold surface comprises treatment lanes, in particular parallel treatment lanes, along which the treating carriage is moved on the mold surface.

18. The method according to claim 16, wherein the treatment pattern is set on the basis of mold parameters.

19. The method according to claim 16, wherein the mold surface is sanded by the treating carriage and/or a liquid is applied to the mold surface by the treating carriage the liquid being a release agent supporting demolding, a sealing agent and/or a cleaning agent.

20. The method according to claim 16, wherein the treating carriage is displaced in the transverse direction of the mold and in the longitudinal direction of the mold by a guiding arrangement, the guiding arrangement being moved in the longitudinal direction of the mold.

21. The method according to claim 16, wherein the center of gravity of the treating carriage is changed as a function of the position of the treating carriage on the mold surface.

22. A method for treating a wind blade of a wind turbine, the method comprising the method according to claim 16.

Description

[0044] Examples of embodiments of the subject matter of the invention are illustrated in the drawing in a schematically simplified manner and will be explained in more detail in the following description.

[0045] FIGS. 1a to f show steps for producing a wind blade of a wind turbine using a mold;

[0046] FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a mold half of the mold during its surface treatment;

[0047] FIG. 3 is an enlarged illustration of area III in FIG. 2;

[0048] FIGS. 4a to c each show a section through the mold half of FIG. 2 during surface treatment by means of a treating carriage;

[0049] FIG. 5 shows a mold half of the kind illustrated in FIG. 2 with an alternative device for treating a mold surface;

[0050] FIG. 6 is an enlarged illustration of area VI in FIG. 5;

[0051] FIG. 7 also shows a mold half of the kind illustrated in FIG. 2, but with another alternative embodiment of a device for treating a mold surface;

[0052] FIG. 8 is an enlarged illustration of area VIII in FIG. 7;

[0053] FIG. 9 is a perspective top view of a treating carriage of the device illustrated in FIGS. 2 to 8 for treating a mold surface;

[0054] FIG. 10 is a perspective bottom view of the treating carriage of FIG. 9;

[0055] FIG. 11 is a top view of the treating carriage;

[0056] FIG. 12 is a bottom view of the treating carriage;

[0057] FIG. 13 is a side view of the treating carriage;

[0058] FIG. 14 is a front view of the treating carriage;

[0059] FIG. 15 is a schematic illustration of a support of the treating carriage oriented straight; and

[0060] FIG. 16 is a view of the support of the treating carriage corresponding to FIG. 15, but with two support units in a pivoted position.

[0061] The production of a wind blade 18 of a wind turbine is illustrated in general terms by FIGS. 1a to 1f. For this purpose, mold cores (not shown) are used to first produce a mold 10 (FIG. 1a). The mold cores have a shape that corresponds to the shape of the wind blade to be produced and define the geometry of mold surfaces 12 limiting a mold cavity 14 in which the wind blade is molded. Mold surfaces 12 are molded in mold halves 16A and 16B which, as shown in FIG. 1c, are joined in order to form wind blade 18.

[0062] During production of mold halves 16A and 16B, mold surfaces 12 are subjected to post-treatment by sanding after the mold cores have been demolded. Thereby, the surface quality of mold surfaces 12 is optimized, which results in an optimized surface quality of wind blade 18 to be produced.

[0063] Once mold halves 16A and 16B are prepared for the molding process, films, mats, stiffening elements and the like are placed in mold halves 16A and 16B. Additionally, a vacuum film is placed thereon, allowing the placed materials for forming wind blade 18 to be subjected to a vacuum molding process (FIG. 1b).

[0064] Subsequently, as FIG. 1c shows, mold halves 16A and 16B are joined in order to carry out the vacuum molding process and connect the wind blade halves disposed in mold halves 16A and 16B.

[0065] Subsequently, after curing and cooldown, mold halves 16A and 16B can be separated again (FIG. 1d), allowing molded wind blade 18 to be demolded, as shown in FIG. 1e. Subsequently, wind blade 18 can be subjected to post-treatment (FIG. 1f). This includes the removal of material projections having formed in the area of the separating plane between mold halves 16A and 16B during molding using a suitable cutting tool.

[0066] The treatment of mold surfaces 12 of mold halves 16A and 16B prior to the placement of the materials forming wind blade 18 is carried out by means of a treating device 20, which is schematically illustrated in connection with mold half 16A in FIGS. 2 to 4 and which is a sanding machine.

[0067] Treating device 20 comprises a treating carriage 22, which is illustrated in detail in FIGS. 9 to 16, and a guiding arrangement 24 comprising a cable system having two cables 26A and 26B which are attached to opposite sides of treating carriage 22 and whose ends facing away from treating carriage 22 are connected to winches (not shown) mounted on respective actuators 28A and 28B. Actuators 28A and 28B are disposed on respective guiding surfaces 30A and 30B of mold half 16A of mold 10. Guiding surfaces 30A and 30B limit mold surface 12 of mold half 16A at the sides and extend in the longitudinal direction Y of mold 10. Actuators 28A and 28B are movable on guiding surfaces 30A and 30B in the longitudinal direction Y of mold 10. For this purpose, a rail arrangement or the like can be provided or a sensor arrangement can be provided that allows actuators 28A and 28B to be guided on guiding surfaces 30A and 30B freely, but in a guided manner.

[0068] Mold surface 12 of mold half 16A is sanded by means of treating carriage 22, which comprises two treating drums 32A and 32B in the form of sanding drums. Treating carriage 22 is moved on mold surface 12 in the transverse direction X of mold 10 in parallel treatment strips or lanes by means of guiding arrangement 24 and by corresponding operation of the winches of cables 26A and 26B in order to be able to sand almost the entire mold surface 12 by means of treating carriage 22. Once a treatment lane has been completely sanded by means of treating carriage 22, guiding arrangement 24 is displaced in the longitudinal direction Y of mold 10 by means of actuators 28A and 28B, whereupon a next treatment lane can be sanded by moving treating carriage 22 in the transverse direction X of mold 10. In this way, at least almost all of mold surface 12 of mold half 16A can be successively sanded in an automated manner by means of treating device 20.

[0069] The sanding quality can be controlled via the rotational speed of the two sanding drums of treating carriage 22. The speed of movement on mold surface 12, which is predetermined by guiding arrangement 24, also influences the sanding quality. Additionally, the sanding quality can be influenced by the type of abrasive provided on treating drums 32A and 32B.

[0070] Optionally, the pressure can be set by changing the height of the sanding drums relative to wheels 66 of treating carriage 22.

[0071] The sanding pressure can be changed as a function of the desired sanding result. In principle, however, the sanding pressure should be at a constant value throughout the entire sanding process.

[0072] In order to be able to set the sanding pressure, treating carriage 22 additionally has a means 34 for shifting its center of gravity, said means 34 being shifted as a function of the position of treating carriage 22 on mold surface 12. This can take place in an automated manner according to the principle illustrated in FIGS. 4a to 4c, in which means 34, which comprises a pole 36 having a weight 38, is tilted on treating carriage 22 in such a manner that pole 36 is always oriented vertically or, in vertical sections of mold surface 12, almost vertically. Moreover, the center of gravity of treating carriage 22 can be set by changing the attachment points of cables 26A and 26B on treating carriage 22. Other means for shifting the center of gravity of treating carriage 22 are conceivable, such as additional shiftable weights integrated in the superstructure of treating carriage 22.

[0073] Treating carriage 22 and guiding arrangement 24 are connected to a control unit 80 provided with a graphical user interface 82. Control unit 80 operates on the basis of parameters provided at user interface 82 and can control the operation of the treating carriage 22, i.e., of sanding drums 32A and 32B, and the adjustment of the center of gravity by tilting pole 36, shifting weight 38 and/or shifting the attachment points of cables 26A and 26B. Furthermore, control unit 80 controls actuators 28A and 28B and the winches of cables 26A and 26B of guiding arrangement 24.

[0074] FIGS. 5 and 6 show an alternative embodiment of a device 40 for treating mold surfaces 12 of mold halves 16A and 16B of mold 10. Device 40 differs from the device illustrated in FIGS. 2 to 4 in that it comprises a portal 42 straddling mold half 16A or 16B and being provided with rollers 44, allowing it to be moved in the longitudinal direction Y of mold half 16A or 16B. Cables 26A and 26B are attached to portal 42. Winches by means of which the movement of treating carriage 22 in the transverse direction X of mold 10 on mold surface 12 can be controlled via cables 26A and 26B are disposed either directly on treating carriage 22 or on portal 42.

[0075] Mold surface 12 is sanded in parallel strips or lanes in the transverse direction X of mold 10 by means of treating device 40 illustrated in FIGS. 5 and 6, as well, for which purpose treating carriage 22 is moved in the transverse direction X of mold 10 on mold surface 12 by means of cables 26A and 26B and, once treatment of a lane is complete, portal 42 is displaced in the longitudinal direction Y of mold 10, whereupon a next treatment lane of mold surface 12 can be sanded by means of treating carriage 22, all under the control of control unit 80.

[0076] For the rest, device 40 corresponds to the device shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, which is why reference is made to the related description.

[0077] FIGS. 7 and 8 illustrate a device 50, which is another embodiment of a device for treating a mold surface 12 of a mold half 16A or 16B of a mold 10 for producing a wind blade 18 of a wind turbine. Device 50 also comprises a treating carriage 22 of the kind described with reference to FIGS. 2 to 6. However, treating carriage 22 is coupled with a guiding arrangement 52 which comprises a rail system 54 instead of a cable system, rail system 54 being disposed directly on mold surface 12 of mold half 16A or 16B. By means of rail system 54, treating carriage 22 can be moved both in the transverse direction X of mold 10 and in the longitudinal direction Y of mold 10. Rail system 54 can be attached by means of a vacuum system comprising suction cups or the like. In order for the rail system or the vacuum system to not leave prints on mold surface 12 after the sanding process carried out by means of treating carriage 22, rail system 54 is removed from mold surface 12 step by step during the process, all under the control of control unit 80.

[0078] Treating carriage 22, which is illustrated on its own in FIGS. 9 to 16, comprises a support 60 composed of two support units 64A and 64B connected to each other via a joint 62. Two wheels 66 via which treating carriage 22 rests on mold surface 12 and which roll on mold surface 12 when treating carriage 22 is moved are mounted to rotate on each of support units 64A and 64B. One of treating drums 32A and 32B is mounted between wheels 66 on each of support units 64A and 64B. Treating drums 32A and 32B each have a circumferential surface formed by abrasive flaps 68 extending parallel to the axis of rotation of respective wheels 66 and of respective treating drums 32A and 32B. Treating drums 32A and 32B are height-adjustable.

[0079] For operating treating drums 32A and 32B, treating carriage 22 has separate drive motors 70A and 70B for treating drums 32A and 32B, respectively, drive motors 70A and being realized as electric motors and driving respective treating drums 32A and 32B via belt drives 72A and 72B. Drive motors 70A and 70B are connected to control unit 80.

[0080] Attachment elements 74A and 74B to which respective cables 26A and 26B of the cable system can be attached are disposed on support units 64A and 64B, respectively, attachment elements 74A and 74B being height-adjustable perpendicular to the main plane of treating carriage 22 and being mounted in a displaceable manner on respective guide rods 76 for this purpose. Moreover, respective electric motors 78A and 78B are provided which can realize the height adjustment of respective attachment elements 74A and 74B on respective guide rods 76 via a spindle and which are connected to control unit 80.

[0081] For shifting the center of gravity, treating carriage 22 has means 34 comprising pole 36 which is mounted tiltable in the area of joint 62 between support units 64A and 64B and on which height-adjustable weight 38 is disposed. Means 34 are also connected to control unit 80 for shifting and adjusting the center of gravity of the treating carriage.

[0082] When treating carriage 22 is used to sand respective mold surfaces 12 of mold halves 16A and 16B by means of treating device 20 illustrated in FIGS. 2 to 4, treating carriage 22 is placed on mold surface 12 in question. Parameters defining the mold surface are input at user interface 82 of control unit 80. On the basis of these parameters, control unit 80 defines a treatment pattern according to which treating carriage 22 is to be moved on mold surface 12. Then, the treatment of mold surface 12 is started by control unit 80. For this, drive motors 70A and 70B are activated, causing treating drums 32A and 32B to rotate with a defined rotational speed and causing abrasive flaps 68 to treat mold surface 12. By correspondingly coordinated operation of guiding arrangement 24, i.e., the winches of cables 26A and 26B, by means of control unit 80, treating carriage 22 is moved on a treatment lane in the transverse direction X of mold 10 from one edge of mold surface 12, which is limited by guiding surface 30A, to the other edge of mold surface 12, which is limited by guiding surface 30B. Then, controlled by control unit 80, actuators 28A and 28B are displaced on guiding surfaces 30A and 30B so as to displace guiding arrangement 24 and treating carriage 22 in the longitudinal direction Y of mold 10, support units 64A and 64B being pivoted relative to each other about joint 62 (see FIGS. 15 and 16) in the process. Then, the next treatment lane of mold surface 12 adjacent to the first treatment lane can be sanded by means of treating drums 32A and 32B, treating carriage 22 again being displaced by corresponding control of the winches of cables 26A and 26B. Once the other edge of mold surface 12, which is limited by guiding surface 30A, is reached again, actuator 28Band thereby treating carriage 22is displaced in the longitudinal direction Y of mold 10 again, allowing the next treatment lane to be sanded by treating carriage 22 by corresponding control of cables 26A and 26B in the opposite direction. These treatment steps are repeated until mold surface 12 has been at least almost entirely sanded by means of treating carriage 22.

[0083] When treating carriage 22 is moved on the treatment lanes of mold surface 12, the center of gravity is shifted by tilting pole 36 of means 34, as schematically illustrated in FIGS. 4a, b and c.

[0084] At least almost the entire treating/sanding process is carried out with computer assistance using control unit 80.

REFERENCE SIGNS

[0085] 10 mold [0086] 12 mold surface [0087] 14 mold cavity [0088] 16A, B mold half [0089] 18 wind blade [0090] 20 device [0091] 22 treating carriage [0092] 24 guiding arrangement [0093] 26A, B cable [0094] 28A, B actuator [0095] 30A, B guiding surface [0096] 32A, B treating drum [0097] 34 means [0098] 36 pole [0099] 38 weight [0100] 40 device [0101] 42 portal [0102] 44 rollers [0103] 50 device [0104] 52 guiding arrangement [0105] 54 rail system [0106] 60 support [0107] 62 joint [0108] 64A, B support unit [0109] 66 wheels [0110] 68 abrasive flaps [0111] 70 A, B drive motor [0112] 72A, B belt drive [0113] 74A, B attachment element [0114] 76 guiding rod [0115] 78A, B electric motor [0116] 80 control unit [0117] 82 graphical user interface