Method and device for mounting a rotor of a wind energy plant

Abstract

The invention relates to a lifting beam for lifting and handling a rotor blade of a wind energy plant, comprising a fastening means for fastening the lifting beam to a crane, at least one fastening means for fastening the lifting beam to the rotor blade a longitudinal pivoting means for pivoting the rotor blade which is supported by the lifting beam about a longitudinal axis of the rotor blade, and/or a transverse pivoting means for pivoting the rotor blade which is supported by the lifting beam about a transverse axis perpendicular to the longitudinal axis. The invention further relates to a method for mounting rotor blades of a wind energy plant using a lifting beam according to the invention.

Claims

1. A lifting beam for lifting a rotor blade of a wind power installation, the lifting beam comprising: a crane fixing means for fixing the lifting beam to a crane; three blade fixing means for fixing the lifting beam to the rotor blade, each blade fixing means having a respective carrier loop for releasable fixing to the rotor blade; a longitudinal pivoting means for pivoting the rotor blade carried by the lifting beam about a longitudinal axis of the rotor blade, wherein the longitudinal pivoting means has a linear actuator that includes a hydraulic cylinder for raising and lowering at least a portion of the blade fixing means, wherein the linear actuator is arranged between one of the carrier loops of one of the blade fixing means and the lower carrier frame portion; and a transverse pivoting means for pivoting the rotor blade carried by the lifting beam about a transverse axis that is transverse relative to the longitudinal axis.

2. The lifting beam according to claim 1 wherein: the transverse pivoting means is adapted for passive pivoting and has a brake means and a securing means for securing the lifting beam in at least two mutually different pivotal positions.

3. The lifting beam according to claim 1 further comprising: an upper carrier frame portion configured to be connected to the crane; and a lower carrier frame portion to be connected to the rotor blade, wherein the transverse pivoting means is adapted to perform a pivotal movement of the lower carrier frame portion relative to the upper carrier frame portion.

4. The lifting beam according to claim 1 wherein the crane fixing means has at least one suspension portion that includes at least one of a ring, an eye or a shackle for suspending the lifting beam from the crane.

5. A handling arrangement for handling a rotor blade of a wind power installation, the handling arrangement comprising: a lifting beam according to claim 1; and a release device for releasing the fixing between the rotor blade and the lifting beam.

6. The handling arrangement according to claim 5 wherein the rotor blade has an aerodynamic blade surface and an internal space, wherein the blade surface has three openings, each for passing therethrough a respective one of three blade fixing means of the lifting beam, and wherein the internal space is provided with fixing portions for fixing the three blade fixing means of the lifting beam.

7. The handling arrangement according to claim 5 wherein the carrier loops are configured to connect with bolts coupled to the rotor blade, wherein the release device has a pull means for pulling the bolts out of the carrier loops to release connections therebetween.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWINGS

(1) The invention will now be described in detail hereinafter by means of embodiments by way of example with reference to the accompanying Figures.

(2) FIG. 1 shows a horizontal-axis wind power installation having three installed rotor blades,

(3) FIG. 2 shows a diagrammatic perspective view of a rotor blade lifted by a lifting beam,

(4) FIG. 3 shows the lifting beam with rotor blade of FIG. 2 with the rotor blade in a position rotated about its rotor axis,

(5) FIG. 4 shows a perspective view of a lifting beam fixed on a transport frame, and

(6) FIG. 5 shows a perspective view of a portion of an internal space in a rotor blade with fixing portions.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

(7) FIG. 1 shows a wind power installation 100 comprising a pylon 102 and a pod 104. Arranged on the pod 104 is a rotor 106 with three rotor blades 108 and a spinner 110. In operation the rotor 106 is caused to rotate by the wind and thereby drives a generator in the pod 104.

(8) FIG. 2 shows a lifting crossbeam 1 at which a rotor blade 2 is arranged and is lifted and held by the lifting beam 1. The view is a perspective one and the rotor blade 2 is disposed in a substantially horizontal orientation in relation to the rotor blade longitudinal axis. The lifting beam 1 has an upper carrier frame portion 4 for fixing to a crane. In the view shown in FIG. 2 and also FIG. 3 the lifting beam is disposed fixed to a crane which however is not shown in FIGS. 2 and 3 for the sake of simplicity. Fixing eyes 6 which can also be referred to as pick-up points are provided for fixing to the crane.

(9) Provided beneath the upper carrier frame portion 4 and approximately transversely thereto is a lower carrier frame portion 8. The lower carrier frame portion 8 can be pivoted in relation to the upper carrier frame portion 4, more specifically about an axis extending substantially transversely to the rotor blade longitudinal axis. In that way the rotor blade longitudinal axis and therewith accordingly the rotor blade 2 can be tilted. For guiding such a tilting or pivotal movement the arrangement has a brake device 10 which can also be referred to as a securing device.

(10) For fixing the lifting beam 1 to the rotor blade 2 there are provided three blade fixing means 12 which for the sake of simplicity are denoted by the same reference and which have elongate cables with round loops or slings. Those elongate cables are passed through openings 14 in the rotor blade surface 16 and have loops for fixing purposes, in the interior of the rotor blade 2. One of the rotor blade fixing means 12 has a hydraulic cylinder 18 as an actuator to be able to actively alter the length of the blade fixing means 12 in question. The rotor blade 2 can be pivoted about its rotor blade axis by virtue of such a change in length.

(11) FIG. 3 shows such a position of the rotor blade 2, in which it is pivoted about the rotor blade longitudinal axis. In FIG. 3 the hydraulic cylinder 18 is retracted in relation to the FIG. 2 position whereby the corresponding blade fixing means 12 has been reduced in length, whereby the pivoted or rotated position in FIG. 3 was attained.

(12) Thus the rotor blade 2 can be lifted by means of a fitment crane and the lifting beam 2. In that case the loop of the blade fixing means 12 are connected to the rotor blade 2 by locking bolts. The rotor blade 2 is rotated about the blade axis by means of the hydraulic cylinder 18 in order to afford a surface which is as small as possible for the wind to act thereon.

(13) In FIG. 4 the lifting beam 1 is prepared in a condition of being ready for transport on a transport frame 20 for transport on a vehicle. FIG. 4 shows further details like the fixing eyes 6 in the form of shackles for fixing the lifting beam 1 to a crane. The lower carrier frame portion 8 is pivotable by way of a pivot joint 22 relative to the upper carrier frame portion 4. For controlling such a pivotal movement the brake device 10 has a brake disc 24 and a brake means 26, such as caliper brakes, which engages the brake disc 24 and can thereby control the pivotal movement. The lower carrier frame portion 8 has two blade fixing eyes 28 of which one can be seen and a further one is arranged behind the transport box 30. Both blade fixing eyes 28 are arranged on a longitudinal bearer 32 which substantially forms the lower carrier frame portion 8.

(14) The third blade fixing means 12 is fixed directly to the upper carrier frame portion 4, namely directly below the transverse bearer 34 which forms a substantial component of the upper carrier frame portion 4. That blade fixing means 12 which is fixed to the transverse bearer 34 has the hydraulic cylinder 18 which here is arranged in a transport position. In operation of the lifting beam, when it has been removed from the transport frame 20 and used, the blade fixing means 12 additionally have cables with round slings. Those cables are shown in FIGS. 2 and 3 but in transportation can be transported separately on the transport frame 20 and disposed for example in the transport box 30.

(15) FIG. 5 shows three fixing portions 50 which for the sake of simplicity are denoted by the same references although there are some differences in particular in dimensions. The fixing portions 50 are fixed to inner structures of the rotor blade, such as by stiffening ribs 52. The fixing portions each include two holding walls 54 which each have two mutually aligned bores 56. A further pair of bores 56 can be provided in order for example to modify the fixing position. Such a further pair of bores of each fixing portion 50 is however not absolutely necessary.

(16) Provided in the region of the two bores 56 is a bolt device 58 having a respective prestressed bolt or pin 60. A pulling device like a cable can be arranged at the prestressed bolt 60 to pull the bolt in the opening direction 62 to release a loop. FIG. 5 shows the opened condition. In that condition a loop can be arranged between two bores 56 and thus between two holding walls 54. For fixing purposes the prestressed bolt 60 is then pushed through the respective corresponding two bores 56 in order thereby to receive the loop arranged there. For release purposes it is only necessary for the bolt 60 to be pulled in the opening direction 62 and a corresponding loop would then be released again.

(17) There is thus proposed a solution which addresses problems of limited lifting capacities in particular of cranes and which affords a possible way of subsequently fitting the rotor blades after mounting of the rotor hub has been effected, or installing same thereafter. In that respect it is also proposed that a connection between the rotor blade and the lifting beam can be released automatically or semi-automatically without the direct involvement of personnel at the receiving location.

(18) For that purpose the lifting beam is suspended from the crane hook of the fitting crane. The lifting beam is connected to the rotor blade by means of round loops or slings and the rotor blade is lifted by means of the lifting beam. In that case guide cables can be fixed to the lifting beam. After fitment of the rotor blade corresponding locking pins or bolts at the pick-up points are released, in particular by way of remote actuation. The lifting beam is then further lifted so that the round loops are pulled out of the rotor blade. The proposed solution also affords the option of lowering or lifting the rotor blade through a given angle by means of the lifting beam. After the rotor blade is lowered the rotatably or pivotably mounted carrier of the lifting beam is held in its position by a brake device. Thereafter the pick-up points are unlocked and the beam is released from the rotor blade.

(19) A reduction in the item weights for the fitting crane can be achieved by the proposed solution, as advantages. In addition mounting of the wind power installation can be achieved at higher wind speeds than when other solutions are adopted. Furthermore it is possible to avoid the use of crane baskets and when lifting the rotor blades the orientation thereof can be manipulated, in which case at the same time only one crane hook is necessary.

(20) The various embodiments described above can be combined to provide further embodiments. All of the U.S. patents, U.S. patent application publications, U.S. patent application, foreign patents, foreign patent application and non-patent publications referred to in this specification and/or listed in the Application Data Sheet are incorporated herein by reference, in their entirety. Aspects of the embodiments can be modified, if necessary to employ concepts of the various patents, application and publications to provide yet further embodiments.

(21) These and other changes can be made to the embodiments in light of the above-detailed description. In general, in the following claims, the terms used should not be construed to limit the claims to the specific embodiments disclosed in the specification and the claims, but should be construed to include all possible embodiments along with the full scope of equivalents to which such claims are entitled. Accordingly, the claims are not limited by the disclosure.