METHOD FOR SEPARATING A DRIED FIBER COMPOSITE FABRIC, USE OF A SEPARATING DEVICE FOR SEPARATING A DRIED FIBER COMPOSITE FABRIC, AND A WIND TURBINE

Abstract

A method for separating a dry fiber composite fabric, to a use of a separating device for separating a dry fiber composite fabric and to a wind power installation. A method for separating a dry fiber composite fabric with a multiplicity of fabric layers arranged one on top of the other, comprising providing the dry fiber composite fabric and a separating device, separating the dry fiber composite fabric with the separating device, which comprises a separating element with a toothing, wherein the toothing has a wave profile with a plurality of teeth, wherein the separating is performed by a substantially translational movement of the toothing on and/or in the dry fiber composite fabric with a stroke that is greater than a tooth tip spacing of two adjacent teeth of the toothing.

Claims

1. A method for separating a dry fiber composite fabric with a plurality of fabric layers arranged one on top of the other, the method comprising: separating the dry fiber composite fabric using a separating device that comprises a separating element with a toothing, wherein the toothing has a wave profile with a plurality of teeth, wherein the separating comprises a substantially translational movement of the toothing on and/or in the dry fiber composite fabric with a stroke that is greater than a tooth tip spacing of two adjacent teeth of the toothing.

2. The method as claimed in claim 1, comprising: prior to separating, winding the dry fiber composite fabric, and wherein separating comprises separating the dry fiber composite fabric at at least one separating location in such a way that at least one fiber composite fabric part that is not rotationally symmetrical is created.

3. The method as claimed in claim 1, wherein the separating element is a saw blade.

4. The method as claimed in claim 1, wherein the stroke is of a size equivalent to 1.5 to 20 times the tooth tip spacing.

5. The method as claimed in claim 1, wherein the separating device has an electrical, pneumatic, or hydraulic drive.

6. The method as claimed in claim 1, wherein the separating device is a straight knife cutting machine.

7. The method as claimed in claim 1, wherein using the separating device comprises using a holding-down device to hold the dry fiber composite fabric.

8. The method as claimed in claim 1, wherein the separating element comprises a separating element guide configured to guide the separating element in the substantially translational movement.

9. The method as claimed in claim 1, wherein the fiber composite fabric includes glass fibers.

10. The method as claimed in claim 1, wherein the fiber composite fabric has a height in a direction of the stroke, wherein the height is 30 mm or greater.

11. The method as claimed in claim 1, wherein the toothing has a constant tooth tip spacing.

12. The method as claimed in claim 1, wherein the toothing has a varying or an alternating tooth tip spacing.

13. The method as claimed in claim 1, wherein the separating begins at an edge of the fiber composite fabric, and/or from a hole in the fiber composite fabric.

14. A separating device for separating a dry fiber composite fabric with a multiplicity of fabric layers arranged one on top of the other, the separating device comprising: a separating element with a toothing, wherein the toothing has a wave profile with a plurality of teeth, wherein the separating element is moved in a translational manner with a stroke, and wherein the stroke is greater than a tooth tip spacing of two adjacent teeth of the toothing.

15. A wind power installation with at least one rotor blade, wherein the rotor blade comprises a fiber composite fabric that has been separated by the method as claimed in claim 1.

16. The method as claimed in claim 4, wherein the stroke is of a size equivalent to 2 to 5 times the tooth tip spacing or a size equivalent to 15 to 20 times the tooth tip spacing.

17. The method as claimed in claim 11, wherein the tooth tip spacing is between 0.5 mm and 2.5 mm.

18. The method as claimed in claim 17, wherein the tooth tip spacing is between 1 mm and 1.5 mm.

19. The method as claimed in claim 1, wherein the separating element guide comprises a fluid feeding device.

Description

[0060] Preferred embodiments of the invention are explained by way of example on the basis of the accompanying figures, in which:

[0061] FIG. 1: shows a schematic view of an embodiment given by way of example of a wind power installation;

[0062] FIG. 2: shows an embodiment given by way of example of the method according to the invention as a schematic flow diagram;

[0063] FIG. 3: shows a side view of an embodiment given by way of example of a separating device;

[0064] FIG. 4: shows a separating device according to FIG. 3 with an embodiment given by way of example of a fiber composite fabric;

[0065] FIG. 5a: shows a side view of a schematic embodiment given by way of example of a separating element;

[0066] FIG. 5b: shows a view of a detail of the separating element according to FIG. 5a;

[0067] FIG. 5c: shows a view of a detail of a schematic embodiment given by way of example of a toothing;

[0068] FIG. 6: shows a side view of a further schematic embodiment given by way of example of a separating element;

[0069] FIG. 7: shows a three-dimensional view of an embodiment given by way of example of a rotor blade; and

[0070] FIG. 8: shows a schematic view of an embodiment given by way of example of a preform winding.

[0071] In the figures, elements that are the same or substantially functionally the same or similar are denoted by the same reference signs.

[0072] FIG. 1 shows a schematic view of an embodiment given by way of example of a wind power installation. FIG. 1 shows in particular a wind power installation 100 with a tower 102 and a nacelle 104. Arranged on the nacelle 104 is a rotor 106 with three rotor blades 108 and a spinner 110. During operation, the rotor 106 is set in a rotary motion by the wind, and thereby drives a generator in the nacelle 104.

[0073] FIG. 2 shows an embodiment given by way of example of the method according to the invention as a schematic flow diagram. In a method step A, a dry fiber composite fabric is provided. In particular, the fiber composite fabric is provided in such a way that after that it can be separated. Preferably, the fiber composite fabric is for example provided on a table or some other substantially horizontal surface that is designed and suitable for arranging a fiber composite fabric in such a way that it can be separated with a separating device.

[0074] In particular, the fiber composite fabric is preferably arranged with its two-dimensional extent substantially horizontal. In a method step B, a separating device that is designed and arranged to separate a fiber composite fabric is provided. The separating device may for example be a straight knife cutting machine. In method steps C and D, the fiber composite fabric provided is separated with the separating device provided. The separating join in the fiber composite fabric may have a straight and/or arcuate geometry. Furthermore, the separating is preferably performed in such a way that the fiber composite fabric is separated into two or more parts with respect to its two-dimensional extent. This separating is performed in particular by method step D, in which a translational movement of a toothing of the separating element is performed on and/or in the fiber composite fabric. This translational movement of the toothing on or in the fiber composite fabric is performed according to the invention in such a way that the translationally executed stroke of the separating element is of a greater size than a tooth tip spacing of the toothing. In addition, the toothing has a wave profile with a plurality of teeth.

[0075] FIG. 3 shows a side view of an embodiment given by way of example of a separating device. The separating device 10 comprises a drive region 11 and a separating device foot 13, between which a separating device stand 12 extends on one side. The drive region 11 and the separating device foot 13 therefore project from the separating device stand 12. In addition, the drive region 11 and the separating device foot 13 project on the same side of the separating device stand 12. The separating device foot 13 has furthermore a horizontal underside 131, with which the separating device 10 can be placed on a base under it. The horizontal underside 131 of the separating device foot 13 is arranged substantially orthogonal to a vertically guided separating element 200. The vertically guided separating element 200 is arranged with one end within the drive region 11, so that the separating element 200 is located between the drive region 11 and the separating device foot 13.

[0076] The separating element 200 has a two-dimensional extent between a distal end 204 and a proximal end (not represented), which is arranged opposite from the distal end 204 with respect to the longitudinal extent. On one edge of the separating element 200, a toothing 210 is additionally arranged. The toothing 210 is arranged on the edge of the separating element 200 that is facing away from the separating device stand 12. The toothing 210 has a wave profile which has a number of teeth that have a constant tooth tip spacing Z1 in relation to their adjacent teeth. The proximal end of the separating device 10 is arranged in the drive region 11 of the separating device. This arrangement is performed in particular such that the separating device 10 with the drive region is designed to move the separating element 200 vertically in a translational manner, wherein this movement is performed in particular with a stroke H. Furthermore, this movement of the separating element 200 is performed such that the stroke H is greater than a tooth tip spacing Z1. The stroke H may extend as far as the horizontal underside 131 of the separating device foot 13. Alternatively, a lower reversal point of the stroke is at a distance from the horizontal underside 131 in the direction of the drive region 11. In FIG. 3, the separating element 200 is at an upper reversal point 250 of the stroke H. The lower reversal point 260 of the stroke is level with the horizontal underside 131 of the separating device foot 13.

[0077] FIG. 4 shows a separating device according to FIG. 3 with an embodiment given by way of example of a dry fiber composite fabric. The fiber composite fabric 300 comprises fibers 310 and also a binder 320 arranged between the fibers 310. The arrangement one on top of the other, shown in particular in FIG. 3, of fibers 310 arranged substantially vertically one on top of the other produces a height 330 of the fiber composite fabric.

[0078] The separating device 10 is designed in particular such that it can sever the fiber composite fabric 300 from a first end 302 to a second end 304. This is performed by a substantially translational movement of the separating element 200 on and/or in the dry fiber composite fabric in a direction of movement R with a stroke that is greater than a tooth tip spacing of two adjacent teeth of the toothing. In addition, the separating element 200 is moved in a direction of movement R while the separating device 10 moves through the fiber composite fabric with the advancing direction V.

[0079] Alternatively, the advancing direction V may also be provided by the fiber composite fabric 300 being moved in a direction that is aligned oppositely to the depicted advancing direction V. The distal end 204 (see FIG. 3) of the separating element 200 is guided between an upper reversal point 250 and a lower reversal point 260 in the direction of the direction of movement R. At the reversal points 250, 260, the separating element has in each case a speed in its direction of movement R of zero. Between the upper reversal point 250 and the lower reversal point 260 there is a distance that corresponds to the stroke H. In FIG. 4 the stroke and the upper and lower reversal points 250, 260 are only represented schematically, in order to illustrate the form of movement of the separating element in or on the fiber composite fabric 300. Preferably, the stroke is smaller than a height of the fiber composite fabric 330. Alternatively, the stroke is preferably equal to the height or greater than the height of the fiber composite fabric 330.

[0080] FIG. 5a shows a side view of an embodiment given by way of example of a separating element. The separating element 200 extends from a proximal end 206 to a distal end 204. In a region adjoining the proximal end 206, the separating element 200 has a fastening portion 230. This fastening portion 230 is arranged and designed to be arranged on a separating device 10 in such a way that the separating element 200 can be moved with a translational movement in a direction of movement and with a stroke. For this, the fastening portion 230 is for example clamped in a receiving device designed for this of the drive region 11. In a region adjoining the distal end 204 of the separating element 200, the knife tip 240 is arranged. Between the knife tip 240 and the fastening portion 230 there is the shaft 202. The shaft 202 has a first side, on which a toothing 210 is arranged. On a side of the shaft 202 opposite from this, the shaft has a straight edge.

[0081] In the present case, the toothing 210 has a wave profile. The toothing 210 has a first tooth 211, a second tooth 212, a third tooth 213, a fourth tooth 214, a fifth tooth 215, a sixth tooth 216 and a seventh tooth 217. Each tooth has a tooth tip, the first tooth tip 211a, belonging to the first tooth 211, being shown by way of example. Between the teeth there are teeth interspaces, which in the present case are formed as a wave trough. In addition, a tooth tip spacing Z1 extends over the shortest path between two adjacent tooth tips. The separating element 200 given by way of example has here a constant tooth tip spacing Z1.

[0082] FIG. 5b shows a view of a detail of the separating element according to FIG. 5a. The location of a tooth that is at the greatest distance from the tooth root line 220 in the orthogonal direction is referred to as the tooth tip. The second tooth 212 has for example the tooth tip 212a. Between the tooth root line 220 and the tooth tip 212a there extends the tooth height 222. Over the shortest path between the tooth tips of two adjacent teeth there extends the tooth tip spacing Z1.

[0083] FIG. 5c shows a view of a detail of a schematic embodiment given by way of example of a toothing. Arranged on the shaft 202 is a toothing 210, which has a tooth root line 220. In this embodiment, the tooth root line 220 is not a straight line, but instead has a sinusoidal profile. The toothing 210 has a multiplicity of teeth, the tooth roots of which are arranged on the tooth root line 220. In addition, the tooth tips of the teeth are at a distance from one another that corresponds to the tooth tip spacing Z1.

[0084] FIG. 6 shows a side view of a further embodiment given by way of example of a separating element. The separating element 200 differs from the previously described separating element 200 in particular in that it has a different toothing 210. In particular, this toothing 210 is distinguished by the fact that it has a first tooth tip spacing Z1 and a second tooth tip spacing Z2. The separating element 200 comprises a first tooth 211, a second tooth 212, a fourth tooth 214, a sixth tooth 216 and a seventh tooth 217. Between the tooth tips of the first tooth 211 and of the second tooth 212 and also between the tooth tips of the sixth tooth 216 and of the seventh tooth 217 there extends the first tooth tip spacing Z1. The second tooth 212 and the fourth tooth 214 and also the fourth tooth 214 and the sixth tooth 216 are at a distance from one another equivalent to a tooth tip spacing Z2. In the present case, the second tooth tip spacing Z2 is approximately twice the size of the first tooth tip spacing Z1. The present toothing 210 therefore corresponds to an alternating toothing, since it makes the first tooth tip spacing Z1 follow successively more than once regularly in alternation.

[0085] FIG. 7 shows a three-dimensional view of an embodiment given by way of example of a rotor blade, which can be used in a wind power installation 100 as shown in FIG. 1. The rotor blade 108 extends from a root region 109 to a tip region 111. In the root region, a fiber composite fabric 300 has been laid, here as a preform, an infusion of this fiber composite fabric being performed after it has been laid in this way. By way of example, here the preform is therefore a laminate which, prior to infusion, has been placed into a shell in the root region. In order to provide suitable fiber composite fabrics 300 for rotor blades 108, in particular for their root region 109, fiber composite fabrics have to be separated, unless they are produced as half-shells. This separating may be performed by means of the method shown in FIG. 2 by steps A to D and also by means of the separating device 10 described in FIGS. 2 and 3. In particular, the separating of a fiber composite fabric 300 for a root region 109 of a rotor blade 108 of a wind energy installation is necessary if the semifinished product of the fiber composite fabric 300 is provided in a tubular form.

[0086] FIG. 8 shows a schematic view of an embodiment given by way of example of a preform winding. The fiber composite fabric production device 400 comprises a core 410, onto which a fabric 350 is wound from a semifinished fabric product 420. The core 410 moves for example in a core direction KR and the semifinished fabric product 420 moves in a semifinished product direction HZR. Consequently, a fiber composite fabric 300 is wound up on the core 410. In particular after the production of the fiber composite fabric 300, the core is removed. In order then to separate this tubular, dry fiber composite fabric 300 in such a way that it can for example be inserted into a rotor blade 108, in particular into its root region 109, this fiber composite fabric 300 must preferably be correspondingly cut to size. For this purpose, the tubular fiber composite fabric is preferably severed at two separating locations 430, 440, preferably lying substantially opposite one another. This cutting to size may be performed by the method according to the invention.

[0087] In particular, the method according to the invention allows a precise cutting to size of the fiber composite fabric to be performed, and in addition a good edge quality or cut-edge quality to be achieved. This good edge or cut-edge quality makes trimming of the fiber composite fabric easier, whereby in particular the costs and the necessary use of personnel are reduced and improved infusion is made possible. In addition, tubular semifinished products can be produced with a great height for fiber composite fabrics very quickly by the fiber composite fabric production device 400, and after that cut to size. Thus, the cut surfaces are in particular free from fraying, or at least less frayed, and the fibers adjacent to the cut surface are not fused, or at least to a reduced extent. Consequently, the costs for a rotor blade of a wind power installation can be reduced significantly.

TABLE-US-00001 Reference signs 10 separating device 11 drive region of the separating device 12 separating device stand 13 separating device foot 100 wind power installation 102 tower 104 nacelle 106 rotor 108, 108 rotor blades 109 root region 110 spinner 111 tip region 131 lower surface of the separating device foot 200, 200 separating element 202, 202, 202 shaft 204 proximal end 206 distal end 210, 210, 210 toothing 211 first tooth 211a first tooth tip 212 second tooth 213 third tooth 214 fourth tooth 215 fifth tooth 216 sixth tooth 217 seventh tooth 220, 220 tooth root line 230 fastening portion 240 knife tip 300, 300, 300 fiber composite fabric 302 first end of fiber composite fabric 304 second end of fiber composite fabric 310 fiber 320 binder 330 height of fiber composite fabric 350 fabric 400 fiber composite fabric production device 410 core 420 semifinished fabric product A method step B method step C method step D method step H stroke of the knife HZR semifinished product direction of rotation KR core direction of rotation R direction of movement of knife V advancing direction of separating device Z1, Z1 first tooth tip spacing Z2 second tooth tip spacing