Mobile service module, a method for servicing a large mechanical and/or electrical device and use of a mobile service module

Abstract

Disclosed is a mobile service module (1) for servicing a large mechanical and/or electrical device (2). The service module (1) comprises a first area (3) arranged to hold the large mechanical and/or electrical device (2), wherein the first area (3) is at least partly enclosed by a first roof part (4), a first left side part (5) and a first right side part (6). The service module (1) also comprises a second area (7) including servicing means (8) for servicing the large mechanical and/or electrical device (2) while located in the first area (3) and wherein the second area (7) is at least partly enclosed by a second roof part (9), a second left side part (10) and a second right side part (11). The service module (1) further comprises displacement means (13) for displacing the first roof part (4) and the first left side part (5) and/or the first right side part (6) into a position where the first roof part (4) and the first left side part (5) and/or the first right side part (6) substantially cover the second roof part (9), the second left side part (10) and/or the second right side part (11). A method for servicing a large mechanical and/or electrical device (2) having a normal place of operation above ground level and use of a mobile service module (1) is also disclosed.

Claims

1. A mobile service module for servicing a mechanical and/or electrical device, said service module comprises a first area arranged to hold said mechanical and/or electrical device, wherein said first area is at least partly enclosed by a first roof part, a first left side part and a first right side part, said service module comprising a second area including a servicing tool for servicing said mechanical and/or electrical device while located in said first area and wherein said second area is at least partly enclosed by a second roof part, a second left side part and a second right side part, and wherein said service module further comprises a displacement device to displace said first roof part and said first left side part and/or said first right side part into a position where said first roof part and said first left side part and/or said first right side part substantially covers said second roof part, said second left side part and/or said second right side part, and wherein said service module comprises a first compartment including said first area and a second compartment including said second area, and wherein said second compartment comprises accommodation facilities or common room facilities.

2. A mobile service module according to claim 1, wherein said mechanical and/or electrical device is a component lowered down to said first area from a normal place of operation above said service module.

3. A mobile service module according to claim 1, wherein said first area and said second area are arranged substantially end to end on a same foundation structure.

4. A mobile service module according to claim 1, wherein said displacement device comprises a guide for guiding said first roof part and said first left side part and/or said first right side part during said displacement.

5. A mobile service module according to claim 4, wherein said guide substantially extends the full length of said first area and said second area.

6. A mobile service module according to claim 4, wherein said guide are at least partly formed integrally with the first area and said second area.

7. A mobile service module according to claim 1, wherein said servicing tool is selected from a group consisting of: power tools, test equipment, measuring equipment, power generating equipment, lubrication equipment, troubleshooting equipment.

8. A mobile service module according to claim 1, wherein said service module substantially has an overall shape of a rectangular parallelepiped, wherein at least some of the eight corners of said parallelepiped are provided with a twistlock fitting for stacking, locking and/or craning said service module.

9. A mobile service module according to claim 1, wherein the outer contour of said service module is substantially formed as a forty foot ISO container having an external length, width and height of approximately 12.192, 2.438 and 2.896 meters or as a twenty foot ISO container having an external length, width and height of approximately 6.058, 2.438 and 2.896 meters.

10. A mobile service module according to claim 1, wherein said first area and said second area each constitutes approximately half of the total area of said service module.

11. A mobile service module according to claim 1, wherein said first roof part and said first left side part and/or said first right side part are rigidly connected.

12. A mobile service module according to claim 1, wherein said first roof part and/or said second roof part are formed with a sloping outer surface.

13. A mobile service module according to claim 1, wherein said service module further comprises a rear hatch.

14. A mobile service module according to claim 13, wherein said rear hatch is hinged along a rear bottom edge of said service module.

15. A mobile service module according to claim 13, wherein said service module further comprise crane means.

16. A method for servicing a mechanical and/or electrical device having a normal place of operation above ground level, where the servicing is performed by means of a mobile service module according to claim 1, said method comprising the steps of: transporting the mobile service module to the place of normal operation of said mechanical and/or electrical device, displacing the first roof part and the first left side part and/or the first right side part from a position in which said first roof part and said first left side part and/or said first right side part at least partly cover the first area of said service module to a position where said first roof part and said first left side part and/or said first right side part at least partly cover the second roof part, the second left side part and/or the second right side part of the second area of said service module, lowering said mechanical and/or electrical device down into said first area, and servicing said mechanical and/or electrical device by means of the servicing tool normally arranged in said second area.

17. A method according to claim 16, wherein said method further comprises the step of displacing said first roof part and said first left side part and/or said first right side part back into position above said first area before or at least while said mechanical and/or electrical device is being serviced.

18. A method according to claim 16, wherein said first roof part and said first left side part and/or said first right side part are displaced manually.

19. Use of a mobile service module according to claim 1 for onsite service of wind turbine components, such as a wind turbine generator, a wind turbine transformer or a wind turbine gearbox.

Description

FIGURES

(1) The invention will be described in the following with reference to the figures in which

(2) FIG. 1 illustrates a mobile service module in a closed state, as seen from the side,

(3) FIG. 2 illustrates a mobile service module in an open state, as seen from the side,

(4) FIG. 3 illustrates a mobile service module, as seen from the rear,

(5) FIG. 4 illustrates a cross section through the middle of a mobile service module in closed state, as seen from the side,

(6) FIG. 5 illustrates a mobile service module in a closed state, as seen in perspective, and

(7) FIG. 6 illustrates a mobile service module in an open state, as seen in perspective.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

(8) FIG. 1 illustrates a mobile service module in a closed state, as seen from the side and FIG. 2 illustrates a mobile service module 1 in an open state, as seen from the side.

(9) In this embodiment and in the embodiment disclosed in all the other figures the service module 1 is placed on a trailer 25 enabling that the module 1 easily can be moved by means of a truck (not shown). However, in another embodiment the service module 1 could be placed directly on the ground, the service module 1 could be placed on some other vehicle enabling a high degree of mobility or the service module itself could comprise some kind of mobility means (not shown) enabling that the service module 1 could be easily movedsuch as wheelsor even propelling means (not shown) enabling that the service module 1 could be self-propelled. I.e. in another embodiment the service module 1 could be formed more or less integrally with the trailer 25.

(10) FIG. 3 illustrates a mobile service module 1, as seen from the rear and FIG. 4 illustrates a cross section through the middle of a mobile service module 1 in closed state, as seen from the side.

(11) In this embodiment of the invention the first area 3 forms part of a first compartment 20 in which the large mechanical and/or electrical device 2 is serviced and in this embodiment the second area 7 includes a second compartment 21 which in this embodiment is formed as common room facilities 22. In this embodiment the second area also comprises a room in which servicing means 8 in the form of power generating equipment 17 is placed. The power generating equipment 17 generates power to the common room facilities 22 and power to the first area 3particularly power tools, troubleshooting equipment, lubrication equipment and other equipment used for servicing the large mechanical and/or electrical device 2 in the first area 3. The power generating equipment 17 can also be used for supplying electrical power externallye.g. during repair or maintenance of a wind turbinewhere the wind turbine is off-gridthe power generating equipment 17 can be used for powering internal components of the wind turbine, such as an elevator, heating means, service cranes and other.

(12) However, in another embodiment the mobile service module 1 would be provided with means for being supplied with electrical power from an external power source.

(13) Also, in another embodiment at least some of the servicing means 8 could be located in the first area 3, in the foundation structure 12 or elsewhere in or on the service module 1.

(14) Also, in another embodiment particularly the second area 7 could be arranged differentlyi.e. the second area 7 could comprise other functionalities such as sleeping facilities, toilet facilities, storeroom facilities (e.g. for spare parts) or other facilities or the second area 7 could comprise different equipment such as beds, toilets, compressors, test stations, refrigerators, freezers or other.

(15) In an embodiment the first area 3 an/or the second area 7 could comprise crane means (not shown) either arranged to move tools and/or the large mechanical and/or electrical device 2 around inside the module 1 or to aid in moving the large mechanical and/or electrical device 2 in and out of the module 1. I.e. in an embodiment the first area 3 could further comprise crane means in the form of a winch or a tackle e.g. connected to the foundation structure 12 to be used when hoisting e.g. a wind turbine generator down from a nacelle and onto the module 1. Or the module 1 could comprise crane means in the form of a loader crane e.g. arranged to lift a moto out of a boat and onto the first area 3.

(16) In this embodiment the roof and side parts 4, 5, 6, 9, 10, 11 overlap slightly when the first parts 4, 5, 6 are in closed position. However, since the second roof part 9, the second left side part 10 and the second right side part 11 is stationary the first area 3 is defined by the area not covered by the second roof part 9, the second left side part 10 and the second area 7 is defined as the area covered by second roof part 9, the second left side part 10given the fact that the size of the space available to position a large mechanical and/or electrical device 2 is limited by the second roof part 9, the second left side part 10 and the second right side part 11 no matter how far towards the second area 7 the first roof part 4, the first left side part 5 and the first right side part 6 is displaced.

(17) In this embodiment the large mechanical and/or electrical device 2 is a wind turbine generator 24 located in one end of the first area 3. In another embodiment the large mechanical and/or electrical device 2 could be another type of device, it could take up more space in the first area 3 and/or it could be positioned differently in the first area 3.

(18) In another embodiment the mobile service module 1 could be used in relation with other technical areas than wind turbinessuch as onsite repair or maintenance of ships, airplanes, building cranes or other.

(19) In this embodiment the first area 3 and the second area 7 share the same foundation structure 12 but in another embodiment the areas 3, 7 could be arranged on separate foundation structures 12.

(20) FIG. 5 illustrates a mobile service module 1 in a closed state, as seen in perspective and FIG. 6 illustrates a mobile service module 1 in an open state, as seen in perspective.

(21) In this embodiment of the invention the first area 3 is at least partly enclosed by a first roof part 4, a first left side part 5 and a first right side part 6 which are all displaceable so that they may be moved from the position shown in FIG. 5i.e. from the closed position in which they cover the first area 3to the open position shown in FIG. 6.

(22) In this embodiment the second area 7 is at least partly enclosed by a second roof part 9, a second left side part 10 and a second right side part 11, wherein all these parts 9, 10, 11 are stationary and wherein the term at least partly enclosed refers to the fact that the second roof part 9, the second left side part 10 and the second right side part 11 does not fully enclose the second area 7i.e. e.g. the front end 26 and at least part of the foundation structure 12 also at least partly encloses the second area 7.

(23) In this embodiment the service module 1 comprises displacement means 13 enabling that the first roof part 4, the first left side part 5 and the first right side part 6 may easily be displaced between an open and a closed position. In this embodiment the displacement means 13 comprises guide means 14 substantially extending the full length L of the service module 1 and being connected to either sides of the foundation structure 12 of the service module 1. In this embodiment the displacement means 13 also comprises wheel arrangements 27 connected to the first left side part 5 and the first right side part 6, respectively, and engaging the guide means 14 so that the first roof part 4, the first left side part 5 and the first right side part 6 may easily be displaced. However, it is obvious to the skilled person that in another embodiment the displacement means 13 could be formed in many other ways e.g. by providing the sides 5, 6 with wheels running directly on top of the foundation structure 12, by using no wheels but simply drag the first parts 4, 5, 6 back and forth or some other way.

(24) However, the present embodiment of the displacement means 13 enables that the first roof part 4, the first left side part 5 and the first right side part 6 is moved back and forth manually. In another embodiment the displacement means could comprise drive means for automatic displacement of the first parts 4, 5, 6. Such drive means could e.g. comprise a rack and pinion arrangement, a linear actuator arrangement, a motor drive or other.

(25) Also, in another embodiment the guide means 14 could extent less that substantially the full length L of service module 1 if the wheel arrangements 27 on the side parts 5, 6 was arranged differently, if a smaller first area 3 was sufficient or if the guide means 14 could extent longer that substantially the full length L of service module 1 e.g. if it was necessary that the first roof and side parts 4, 5, 6 was moved beyond the outer extend of the service module 1.

(26) Also, in another embodiment the service module 1 could be formed integrally with a trailer 25 (to be pulled by a truck) and in such an embodiment the guide means 14 could be formed integrally with the trailer 25e.g. by using the side member of the trailer 25 as rails.

(27) In this embodiment the first roof part 4, the first left side part 5 and the first right side part 6 are all rigidly connected so that when one of these parts 4, 5, 6 is moved, all of the parts 4, 5, 6 will move simultaneously.

(28) However, in another embodiment of the invention one of the first left side part 5 and the first right side part 6 would be stationary and only the first roof part 4 the other of the first left side part 5 and the first right side part 6 would be connected to the displacement means 13i.e. in such an embodiment only one of the sides 5, 6 of the first area 3 and the first roof part 4 would be displaceable.

(29) In an embodiment the rear hatch 28 can be opened by means of hydraulics. In the open state shown in FIG. 6 the rear hatch 28 could form part of the first area 3 particularly if the first roof and side parts 4, 5, 6 was formed so long that they were able to extend out over the rear hatch 28 when in open position.

(30) In this embodiment both the first roof part 4 and the second roof part 9 are flat but in another embodiment one or both could be formed with a gradient either in the form of the roof 4, 9 sloping to one side or the roof 4, 9 being highest at the middle and then sloping downwards towards to both sides.

(31) In the embodiment disclosed in FIG. 6 the first area 3 and the rear hatch 28 is further provided with rail posts 29 so that a rail may be formed around the first area 3 and the rear hatch 28 e.g. by suspending a rope, a wire or bars between the posts 29. The rail posts 29 are preferably removable so that the rail removed when the module is not in use. O the rail could be permanently installed or it could be made foldable so that it could be functional when the first roof part 4, the first left side part 5 and the first right side part 6 are displaced away from the first area 3 and/or the rear hatch 28.

(32) In this embodiment the service module 1 basically comprises a forty foot flat rack ISO container on which the first and the second areas 3, 7 and their appertaining roof and side parts 4, 5, 6, 9, 10, 11 has been arranged. However, in another embodiment the starting point could be another type of ISO container, another size of ISO container, a dedicated structure or framework, interconnected modules, the service module 1 could be formed by separate and/or common modules either interconnected or connected to a common framework or any combination thereof.

(33) No matter how the mobile service module 1 is formed it is advantageous if at least some of the corners are provided with a twistlock fitting 23 enabling that the service module 1 easily many be handled by standardised ISO container handling means during e.g. manufacturing, storage and transportation of the mobile service module 1. In an embodiment all eight corners would be provided with twistlock fittings 23 but in this embodiment only the bottom corners are provided with twistlock fittings 23. In this embodiment the twistlock fitting 23 are formed integrally with the foundation structure 12 i.e. in this embodiment the twistlock fitting 23 are merely standardised slits cut in the existing structure but in another embodiment the twistlock fitting 23 could be separate parts welded or bolted to the container structure.

(34) The invention has been exemplified above with reference to specific examples of designs and embodiments of service modules 1, mechanical and/or electrical devices 2, displacement means 13 etc. However, it should be understood that the invention is not limited to the particular examples described above but may be designed and altered in a multitude of varieties within the scope of the invention as specified in the claims.

LIST

(35) 1. Mobile service module 2. Large mechanical and/or electrical device 3. First area 4. First roof part 5. First left side part 6. First right side part 7. Second area 8. Servicing means 9. Second roof part 10. Second left side part 11. Second right side part 12. Foundation structure 13. Displacement means 14. Guide means 15. Test equipment 16. Measuring equipment 17. Power generating equipment 18. Lubrication equipment 19. Troubleshooting equipment 20. First compartment 21. Second compartment 22. Common room facilities 23. Twistlock fitting 24. Wind turbine generator 25. Trailer 26. Front end 27. Wheel arrangement 28. Rear hatch 29. Rail post EL. External length of container EW. External width of container EH. External height of container L. Length of first area and second area