Tool for handling a long and heavy object

Abstract

A tool for handling a long and heavy object, in particular a wind turbine rotor blade, includes a clamping unit which can be fixed to the rotor blade. The clamping unit has a first clamp and a second clamp spaced from the first clamp with respect to a longitudinal direction of the object. A first rod unit is rotatably coupled to the first clamp of the clamping unit at a first coupling site is also and coupled to a traverse. A second rod unit is rotatably coupled to the second clamp of the clamping unit at a second coupling site and is also coupled to the traverse via by a rope. A length of a rope section between the second rod unit and the traverse is adjustable by a winch.

Claims

1. A tool for handling a wind turbine rotor blade, the tool comprising: a winch; a single rope; a clamping unit which can be fixed to a rotor blade, the clamping unit having a first clamp and a second clamp spaced from the first clamp with respect to a longitudinal direction of the wind turbine rotor blade; a first rod unit rotatably coupled to the first clamp of the clamping unit at a first coupling site and coupled to a traverse; and a second rod unit rotatably coupled to the second clamp of the clamping unit at a second coupling site and coupled to the traverse via the single rope, a length of a rope section of the single rope between the second rod unit and the traverse being adjustable by the winch.

2. The tool according to claim 1, wherein the first and second clamps are interconnected by at least one strut.

3. The tool according to claim 2, wherein the strut has a predetermined length adapted to a distance between two given grabbing zones of a specific model of a wind turbine rotor blade.

4. The tool according to claim 1, wherein the first and second clamps include profiled shells adapted to a contour of the wind turbine rotor blade.

5. The tool according to claim 1, wherein a distance between the first coupling site and the traverse is smaller than a distance between the second coupling site and the traverse.

6. The tool according to claim 1, wherein the rods of the first and second rod units are coupled to the first and second clamps, respectively, by pivot bearings which protrude outwardly in opposite directions, respectively.

7. The tool according to claim 1, wherein the first rod unit includes a pair of rods, a lateral clearance between the pair of rods being greater than a largest diameter of a portion of the wind turbine rotor blade extending from the first coupling site in a direction away from the second coupling site.

8. The tool according to claim 7, wherein a length of the rods of the first rod unit is greater than a portion of the wind turbine rotor blade extending from the first coupling site in a direction away from the second coupling site.

9. The tool according to claim 7, wherein the lateral clearance between the rods of the first rod unit increases from the first coupling site towards the traverse.

10. The tool according to claim 1, wherein the second rod unit includes a pair of rods converging at a connection point where one end of the rope is attached.

11. The tool according to claim 1, wherein the winch is mounted on the traverse.

12. The tool according to claim 1, wherein the traverse is adapted to be coupled to a crane hook.

13. A method of manufacturing a wind power plant comprising the steps of: using a tool for handling a wind turbine rotor blade, the tool comprising: a winch; a single rope; a clamping unit which can be fixed to a rotor blade, the clamping unit having a first clamp and a second clamp spaced from the first clamp with respect to a longitudinal direction of the wind turbine rotor blade; a first rod unit rotatably coupled to the first clamp of the clamping unit at a first coupling site and coupled to a traverse; and a second rod unit rotatably coupled to the second clamp of the clamping unit at a second coupling site and coupled to the traverse via the single rope, a length of a rope section of the single rope between the second rod unit and the traverse being adjustable by the winch.

14. A tool for handling a wind turbine rotor blade, the tool comprising: a winch; a rope; a clamping unit which can be fixed to a rotor blade, the clamping unit having a first clamp and a second clamp spaced from the first clamp with respect to a longitudinal direction of the wind turbine rotor blade; a first rod unit rotatably coupled to the first clamp of the clamping unit at a first coupling site and coupled to a traverse, wherein the first rod unit includes at least one first rod having a first end directly coupled to the first clamp and a second end directly coupled to the traverse; and a second rod unit rotatably coupled to the second clamp of the clamping unit at a second coupling site and coupled to the traverse via the rope, wherein the second rod unit includes at least one second rod having a first end directly coupled to the second clamp and a second end coupled to the rope, and wherein a length of a rope section of the rope between the second rod and the traverse is adjustable by the winch.

15. The tool according to claim 14, wherein the rope comprises a single rope.

16. The tool according to claim 14, wherein the second end of the first rod is rotatably coupled to the traverse.

17. The tool according to claim 14, wherein the second end of the second rod is directly connected to one end of the rope and wherein an opposite end of the rope is directly connected to the traverse.

18. The tool according to claim 14, wherein the at least one first rod comprises a pair of first rods each having the first end directly coupled to the first clamp and the second end directly coupled to the traverse, and wherein the at least one second rod comprises a pair of second rods each having the first end directly coupled to the second clamp and the second end coupled to the rope.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

(1) Further features and advantages of the invention will become apparent from the following description and from the accompanying drawings to which reference is made. In the drawings:

(2) FIG. 1 shows typical single blade installation positions of a wind turbine having three rotor blades;

(3) FIG. 2 shows a lateral view of a tool according to the invention with a long and heavy object in a horizontal position;

(4) FIG. 3 shows a detailed cross-sectional view of a clamp of the tool holding the object;

(5) FIG. 4 shows a lateral view the tool and the object of FIG. 2 in an inclined position; and

(6) FIGS. 5a and 5b show front views of the tool and the object of FIG. 2 in a further inclined position.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

(7) As already mentioned, FIG. 1 shows three typical positions in which a rotor blade can be mounted to the hub of a wind turbine. The respective angles of the installation positions refer to the axis of rotation of the hub, starting with 0 at the 12 o'clock position.

(8) In FIG. 2, a tool 10 for handling a long and heavy object 12 is schematically shown. The tool 10 features a clamping unit with first and second clamps 14, 16 being spaced apart from each other. The two clamps 14, 16, which are interconnected by one or more strut(s) 18 to form a rigid frame structure, may be designed as profiled shells adapted to the contour of the object 12 to be handled. Although for the sake of simplicity an object 12 having a rectangular cross section is shown, the tool 10, in particular the clamps 14, 16 of the clamp unit, may be especially adapted to a wind turbine rotor blade having a round or curved cross-section, tapering towards one of its ends.

(9) The clamps 14, 16 can be fixed around the object 12 and locked, such that the object 12 is firmly held by the clamps 14, 16. For this purpose, one or both of the clamps 14, 16 may be provided with a belt 17 or the like in order to close the opening of the respective clamp, as shown in FIG. 3.

(10) In case that the object 12 to be handled is a rotor blade, the rotor blade would be placed in the clamp unit such that the first clamp 14 is closer to the root of the rotor blade while the second clamp 16 is closer to the tip of the rotor blade.

(11) First and second rod units 20, 22 are rotatably coupled to the first and second clamps 14, 16 of the clamping unit, respectively, thereby defining first and second coupling sites. In particular, the first rod unit 20 includes a pair of rods (only one rod can be seen in FIGS. 2 and 4 due to the perspective), one rod being coupled with a first end 24 to one side of the first clamp 14, the other rod being coupled with a first end 24 to the opposite side of the first clamp 14. The pivot bearings coupling the first rod ends 24 to the first clamp 14 protrude outwardly in opposite directions (FIG. 5a). Accordingly, a distance 15 between the first rod ends 24 is slightly greater than a local diameter 13 of the clamped object 12 as shown in FIG. 5a. Towards their opposite second ends 26, the distance 15 between the rods further increases to an extent greater than the diameter of the hub to which the rotor blade is to be mounted.

(12) The second rod unit 22 basically has a similar structure, i. e. the second rod unit 22 includes a pair of rods (only one rod can be seen in FIGS. 2 and 4 due to the perspective), one rod being coupled with a first end 28 to one side of the second clamp 16, the other rod being coupled with a first end 28 to the opposite side of the second clamp 16. The pivot bearings coupling the first rod ends 28 to the second clamp 16 protrude outwardly in opposite directions. Accordingly, the distance between the first rod ends 28 is slightly greater than the local diameter of the clamped object 12.

(13) FIG. 5b shows a variant in which the bearings coupling the first rod ends 24 and 28 to the clamps 14 and 16, respectively, are not located at opposite lateral sides of the clamps 14, 16 but on one top side of the clamps 14, 16.

(14) While the second ends 26 of the rods of the first rod unit 20 are rotatably coupled to a traverse 32, the second ends 30 of the rods of the second rod unit 22 are directly or indirectly connected to a rope 34. The rope 34 extends to a winch 36 which is mounted on the traverse 32. By actuating the winch 36, a length of a rope section between the second rod unit 22 and the traverse 32 can be varied.

(15) As can be seen in FIGS. 2 and 4, the distance between the first coupling site (the site where the first rod unit 20 is connected to the first clamp 14) and the traverse 32 is always smaller than the distance between the second coupling site (the site where the second rod unit 22 is connected to the second clamp 16) and the traverse 32, no matter how long or short the rope section between the second rod unit 22 and the traverse 32 is set. Further, the length of the rods of the first rod unit 20 is greater than that portion 12a of the object 12 which protrudes from the first coupling site in a direction away from the second coupling site.

(16) In the following, the operation of the tool 10 is described using the example of a rotor blade which is to be mounted to a hub on a wind turbine tower in a 180 installation position.

(17) First, the rotor blade is placed in the clamp unit such that the root of the rotor blade is very close to the first clamp 14 while the tip of the rotor blade is closer to the second clamp 16. In particular, the rotor blade is inserted into the clamps 14, 16, starting with the leading edge 12b of the rotor blade (cf. FIG. 3).

(18) The clamps 14, 16, which are profiled to match the outer contour of the rotor blade, are tightened and locked so that the rotor blade is fixed in the clamp unit and cannot move therein, especially with respect to the longitudinal direction of the rotor blade. In addition or as an alternative, the open portion of the clamps 14, 16 at the trailing edge 12c of the rotor blade is closed by the belt 17 or the like.

(19) The clamp unit may have been fixed to the rotor blade even before the transport of the rotor blade to the wind turbine, i. e. the clamp unit, or the whole tool 10, may also serve as a transport unit.

(20) At the installation site, the traverse 32 is coupled to a hook 38 of a crane boom via a sling 40. The length of the rope section between the second rod unit 22 and the traverse 32 is adjusted such that when the hook 38 is lifted the rotatably coupled rod units 20, 22 take a position in which the clamp unit with the rotor blade remains in a horizontal orientation as shown in FIG. 2.

(21) If the rotor blade was to be installed in a 90 installation position, no tilting of the rotor blade would be necessary. However, in order to turn the rotor blade to the desired 180 installation position, the clamp unit holding the lifted rotor blade has to be rotated by an angle of 90 . This is achieved by increasing the length of the rope section between the second rod unit 22 and the traverse 32. The corresponding operation of the winch 36 can be performed by a remote control unit. The more of the rope 34 the winch 36 releases, the more the clamp unit with the rotor blade will incline (see FIG. 4) in clockwise direction. By operating the winch 36 in the opposite manner, i. e. by decreasing the length of the rope section between the second rod unit 22 and the traverse 32, the rotor blade would rotate in counter-clockwise direction.

(22) As can be seen in FIGS. 2 and 4, the axis of rotation A of the rotor blade is located vertically below the crane hook 38 and the traverse 32. It is advantageous to position the rotor blade in the clamp unit such that the axis of rotation A intersects or runs close by the center of gravity of the rotor blade.

(23) It is to be understood that the first rod unit 20, especially the lateral clearance between the rods, is configured such that the rotor blade is prevented from colliding with the rods. Likewise, due to the outwardly protruding bearings, the first end portions of the rods of the second rod unit 22 do not impede the rotation of the rotor blade.

(24) Since the root of the rotor blade can pass between the rods of the first rod unit 20, it is possible to rotate the rotor blade until the 180 position is reached and operation of the winch 36 can be stopped. This situation is shown in FIGS. 5a and 5b. In the 180 position the second ends 30 of the rods of the second rod unit 22 (or the respective coupling sites) as well as part of the rope 34 may loosely lie against the rotor blade.

(25) Moreover, since the lateral clearance between the rods of the first rod unit 20 at their second ends 26 is greater than the diameter of the hub of the wind turbine, the traverse 32 can be moved directly above the hub by the crane (see FIGS. 5a and 5b). In that position, the root of the rotor blade directly faces the lower side of the hub, and the rotor blade may then be mounted to the hub before the clamps 14, 16 are unlocked and the tool 10 is removed from the rotor blade.

(26) During the whole lifting and turning process, the crane hook 38 is always positioned above the traverse 32 and the axis of rotation (center of gravity) of the rotor blade.

(27) While the lifting and rotation of a rotor blade into a 180 installation position has been described, it is of course possible to rotate the rotor blade, or any other long and heavy object 12, into other positions with the tool 10.

LIST OF REFERENCE SIGNS

(28) 10 tool

(29) 12 object

(30) 12a portion of object 12

(31) 12b leading edge

(32) 12c trailing edge

(33) 14 first clamp

(34) 16 second clamp

(35) 17 belt

(36) 18 strut(s)

(37) 20 first rod unit

(38) 22 second rod unit

(39) 24 first rod end (first rod unit)

(40) 26 second rod end (first rod unit)

(41) 28 first rod end (second rod unit)

(42) 30 second rod end (second rod unit)

(43) 32 traverse

(44) 34 rope

(45) 36 winch

(46) 38 hook

(47) 40 sling