Arrangement to align a part of a wind turbine

Abstract

An arrangement and a method to align a part of a wind turbine to a counterpart is provided. The part of the wind turbine and its counterpart are approached in a main direction of approach, to be connected. The arrangement includes a first and a second alignment tool, whereby the alignment tools include a first area to be connected to the part of the wind turbine, and a second area that protrudes over the physical dimensions of the part of the wind turbine mainly in the main direction of approach. The second area is arranged and prepared in a way to abut on the counterpart, in a direction perpendicular to the main direction of approach, as an arrester to stop and/or hinder a movement of the part of the wind turbine in respect to the counterpart during the alignment.

Claims

1. An arrangement to align a part of a wind turbine to a counterpart, whereby the part of the wind turbine and the counterpart are approached in a main direction of approach, to be connected, the arrangement comprising: a first alignment tool and a second alignment tool, each of the first alignment tool and the second alignment tool including a first area to be connected to the part of the wind, and a second area that protrudes over the physical dimensions of the part of the wind turbine mainly in the main direction of approach, wherein the second area is arranged and prepared in a way to abut on the counterpart, in a direction perpendicular to the main direction of approach, as an arrester to stop and/or hinder a movement of the part of the wind turbine with respect to the counterpart during the alignment; wherein the first alignment tool stops and/or hinders a movement in a first direction, so that a position of the part of the wind turbine with respect to the counterpart is fixed in a first direction; wherein the second alignment tool stops and/or hinders a movement in a second direction, so that the position of the part of the wind turbine with respect to the counterpart is fixed in a second direction; wherein the arrangement comprises at least one guide pin unit, that interacts with a hole in the counterpart, to arrest a rotational position of the part of the wind turbine with respect to the counterpart, after the rotational position of the part of the wind turbine was aligned to the counterpart; wherein the first alignment tool and the second alignment tool each are connected to the part of the wind turbine by a pin that is introduced in a hole of the part of the wind turbine.

2. The arrangement according to claim 1, wherein the second area of the first alignment tool and the second alignment tool comprises an elastic part to avoid a damage of the counterpart when the second area abuts on the counterpart.

3. The arrangement according to claim 1, wherein the first alignment tool and second alignment tool each comprises a base and an arm, and that the base comprises the first area and the arm comprises the second area.

4. The arrangement according to claim 3, wherein the arm is connected to the base by a connection that withstands forces that act on the arm up to a certain predetermined value, and allows the arm to yield, when the predetermined force is exceeded.

5. The arrangement according to claim 1, wherein the second area of the alignment tool comprises a section that is inclined with respect to the main direction of approach to facilitate the alignment of the part of the wind turbine with respect to the counterpart.

6. The arrangement according to claim 5, wherein at least one of the first alignment tool and the second alignment tool and/or the at least one guide pin unit is detachably attached to the part of the wind turbine.

7. The arrangement according to claim 1, wherein the first alignment tool projects further over the physical dimensions of the part of the wind turbine than the second alignment tool, so that the first alignment tool abuts on the counterpart before the second alignment tool, when the part of the wind turbine is approached to the counterpart.

8. The arrangement according to claim 1, wherein the at least one guide pin unit comprises a guide pin, and the guide pin comprises a longitudinal axis that is mainly parallel to the main direction of approach, and that the guide pin yields in the direction of the longitudinal axis, and is rigid in a direction perpendicular to the longitudinal axis.

9. The arrangement according to claim 1, wherein the first alignment tool and the second alignment tool each are connected to a flange of the part of the wind turbine by the pin that is introduced in the hole of the flange and a clamp acting on the part of the wind turbine.

10. The arrangement according to claim 1, wherein the second area of the first alignment tool and second alignment tool comprises a spherical element that abuts on the counterpart so that the second area of the first alignment tool and second alignment tool rolls along the surface of the counterpart during a movement of the part of the wind turbine with respect to the counterpart to facilitate the movement and avoid a damage at the counterpart.

11. The arrangement according to claim 1, wherein a sensor unit is arranged at the counterpart to detect a presence of a guide pin of the at least one guide pin unit in a hole of the counterpart.

12. The arrangement according to claim 1, wherein an optical sensor is arranged at the counterpart to trace the rotational position of the part of the wind turbine with respect to the counterpart.

13. The arrangement according to claim 12, wherein the optical sensor comprises an optical transmitter and an optical receiver to send and receive optical information.

14. The arrangement according to claim 12, wherein a reflective element is attached to the part of the wind turbine to interact with the optical sensor that is attached to the counterpart, and to facilitate the tracing of the rotational position of the part of the wind turbine.

15. The arrangement according to claim 1, wherein the at least one guide pin is connected to the part of the wind turbine at a different location along a flange of the part of the wind turbine than the first alignment tool and the second alignment tool.

16. A method to align a part of a wind turbine to a counterpart by using an arrangement, the part of the wind turbine and the counterpart are approached in a main direction of approach, to be connected, the arrangement comprising a first alignment tool and a second alignment tool, the first alignment tool and the second alignment tool each comprise a first area to be connected to the part of the wind turbine, and a second area that protrudes over the physical dimensions of the part of the wind turbine mainly in the main direction of approach, wherein the second area is arranged and prepared in a way to abut on the counterpart, in a direction perpendicular to the main direction of approach, as an arrester to stop and/or hinder a movement of the part of the wind turbine with respect to the counterpart during the alignment, the first alignment tool stops and/or hinders a movement in a first direction so that the position of the part of the wind turbine with respect to the counterpart is fixed in a first direction, and the second alignment tool stops and/or hinders a movement in a second direction so that the position of the part of the wind turbine with respect to the counterpart is fixed in a second direction, further wherein the arrangement comprises at least one guide pin unit that interacts with a hole in the counterpart, to arrest the rotational position of the part of the wind turbine with respect to the counterpart, after the rotational position of the part of the wind turbine was aligned to the counterpart, wherein the first alignment tool and the second alignment tool each are connected to the part of the wind turbine by a pin that is introduced in a hole of the part of the wind turbine, the method comprising: abutting the first alignment tool to the counterpart by performing a lateral movement in a first direction; abutting the second alignment tool to the counterpart by performing a lateral movement in a second direction; rotating the part of the wind turbine with respect to the counterpart to reach a predetermined rotational position; and fixing the rotational position by introducing a guide pin in the hole of the counterpart.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION

(1) Some of the embodiments will be described in detail, with reference to the following figures, wherein like designations denote like members, wherein:

(2) FIG. 1 shows an embodiment of an alignment tool;

(3) FIG. 2 shows a second view of an embodiment of the alignment tool;

(4) FIG. 3 shows a cut through view of an embodiment of the alignment tool;

(5) FIG. 4 shows a second embodiment of an arm of the alignment tool;

(6) FIG. 5 shows another embodiment of the arm;

(7) FIG. 6 shows an embodiment of an alignment situation of the alignment tool;

(8) FIG. 7 shows an embodiment of a guide pin unit;

(9) FIG. 8 shows an embodiment of an installation situation of a guide pin unit;

(10) FIG. 9 shows an embodiment of a sensor unit;

(11) FIG. 10 shows an embodiment of a reflective plate;

(12) FIG. 11 shows an embodiment of an installation situation of the guide pin unit and a reflective plate; and

(13) FIG. 12 shows an embodiment of the alignment arrangement as arranged at the part of the wind turbine.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

(14) FIG. 1 shows an alignment tool 20 to align a part of a wind turbine to its counterpart.

(15) The alignment tool comprises a base 21 and an arm 22. The arm 22 is connected to the base 21 by a connection pin 32 and a shear pin 33. A connection pin 32 and a shear pin 33 are secured by a locking mechanism 23.

(16) An alignment plate 27 is attached to the arm 22. The position of the alignment plate 27 in respect to the arm 22 can be adjusted by adjustment screws 28.

(17) The base 21 of the alignment tool is connected to a part of a wind turbine by a flange pin 24.

(18) In addition, a wall clamp 25 and a flange clamp 26 are provided.

(19) The alignment tool 20 can be attached to a flange, for example, of a wind turbine tower. The flange pin 24 is then arranged in a hole of the flange of the wind turbine tower. In addition, the flange clamp 26 is adjusted to clamp the alignment tool 20 to the flange of the wind turbine tower.

(20) In addition, the wall clamp 25 is adjusted to act on the wall of the wind turbine tower.

(21) During the alignment of the part of the wind turbine with its counterpart the surface of the alignment plate 27 abuts on the counterpart of the part of the wind turbine. Thus, a force acts on the surface of the alignment plate 27.

(22) When the force acting on the surface of the alignment plate 27 exceeds a certain limit the shear pin 33 breaks. Thus, the arm of the alignment tool 22 can pivot around the connection pin 32 in respect to the base 21 of the alignment tool 20.

(23) FIG. 2 shows a second view of the alignment tool 20. The alignment tool 20 comprises a base 21 and an arm 22.

(24) The arm 22 of the alignment tool 20 is attached to the base 21 by a connection pin 32. In addition a shear pin 33 is used to connect the arm 22 of the alignment tool to the base 21.

(25) The base 21 of the alignment tool 20 comprises a flange pin 24, a wall clamp 25 and a flange clamp 26 to attach the alignment tool 20 to a part of a wind turbine.

(26) To attach the alignment tool 20 to a part of the wind turbine the flange pin 24 is introduced into a hole at a flange of the part of the wind turbine, for example. In addition, the flange clamp 26 and the wall clamp 25 are tightened to act on the part of the wind turbine.

(27) The arm 22 of the alignment tool 20 comprises an alignment plate 27 that can be adjusted with adjustment screws 28.

(28) During the alignment of a part of the wind turbine to its counterpart the surface of the alignment plate 27 abuts on the counterpart of the part of the wind turbine. The surface of the alignment plate 27 that abuts on the counterpart faces in the direction of the flange pin 24.

(29) The surface of the alignment plate 27 can be equipped with a soft material to avoid damages at the counterpart of the part of the wind turbine during the alignment.

(30) The connection pin 32 and the shear pin 33 are fixed in their position by a locking mechanism 23.

(31) FIG. 3 shows a cut through the alignment tool 20. The alignment tool 20 comprises a base 21 and an arm 22. The base 21 comprises a flange pin 24, a wall clamp 25 and a flange clamp 26.

(32) When the alignment tool 20 is connected to a part of the wind turbine the flange pin 24 is introduced in the hole of a flange of the part of the wind turbine. A flange clamp 26 acts on the flange of the part of the wind turbine to secure the position of the alignment tool 20 in respect to the part of the wind turbine.

(33) In addition, the wall clamp 25 acts on the wall of the part of the wind turbine to secure the position of the alignment tool 20.

(34) The arm 22 of the alignment tool 20 comprises an alignment plate 27. A position of the alignment plate 27 in respect to the alignment tool 20 can be adjusted by adjustment screws 28.

(35) The alignment plate 27 is connected to the arm 22 by connection screws 31. The arm 22 of the alignment tool 20 is connected to the base 21 by a connection pin 32.

(36) FIG. 4 shows a second embodiment of an arm 22 of an alignment tool. The arm 22 of the alignment tool comprises an alignment plate 27 that can be adjusted in its position in respect to the arm 22 by adjustment screws 28.

(37) The adjustment screws 28 are connected to an adjustment plate and the alignment plate 27 is connected to the adjustment plate by connection screws 31.

(38) The surface of the alignment plate 27 that points away from the adjustment screws 28 is equipped with a soft surface.

(39) This area of the surface of the alignment plate 27 abuts on the counterpart of the part of the wind turbine during the alignment of the part of the wind turbine.

(40) In addition, the surface of the alignment plate 27 shows a tapered section to facilitate the alignment of the part of the wind turbine and its counterpart.

(41) FIG. 5 shows another embodiment of the arm 22 of the alignment tool. The arm 22 of the alignment tool comprises an alignment plate 27. The position of the alignment plate 27 in respect to the arm 22 can be adjusted by adjustment screws 28.

(42) The surface of the alignment plate 27, that points away from the adjustment screws 28, abuts on the counterpart of the part of the wind turbine during the alignment.

(43) This surface of the alignment plate 27 comprises ball elements 34 which also abut on the counterpart of the part of the wind turbine.

(44) While the arm 22 of the alignment tool abuts on the counterpart of the part of the wind turbine it acts as an arrester to stop and/or hinder a movement of the part of the wind turbine relative to the counterpart in one direction.

(45) Thus, it is still possible to adjust the position of the part of the wind turbine in respect to the counterpart in a direction perpendicular to the first direction.

(46) During this adjustment the ball element 34 rolls along the surface of the counterpart of the part of the wind turbine.

(47) Thus, the ball element 34 facilitates the adjustment process of the part of the wind turbine.

(48) FIG. 6 shows an alignment situation of the alignment tool 20 at a part of the wind turbine. The part of the wind turbine comprises a wall 29 and a flange 30. The flange 30 comprises a plurality of holes that are later used to connect the part of the wind turbine to its counterpart with bolts.

(49) The alignment tool 20 comprises a base 21 that is arranged at a flange 30 of the part of the wind turbine. The position of the base 21 of the alignment tool 20 at the flange 30 of the part of the wind turbine is secured by a flange clamp 26 and a wall clamp 25.

(50) The alignment tool 20 comprises an arm 22. The arm 22 comprises an alignment plate 27. The position of the alignment plate 27 in respect to the arm 22 can be adjusted by adjustment screws 28.

(51) The arm 22 of the alignment tool 20 is connected to the base 21 by a connection pin and a shear pin that are secured in their position by a locking mechanism 23.

(52) The alignment tool 20 is connected to the part of the wind turbine and projects or protrudes over the physical dimensions of the part of the wind turbine.

(53) During the installation of the part of the wind turbine the part of the wind turbine needs to be aligned to its counterpart.

(54) The part of the wind turbine is brought closer to the counterpart and the surface of the alignment plate 27 at the arm 22 of the alignment tool 20 abuts on the counterpart of the part of the wind turbine.

(55) Thus, a relative movement between the part of the wind turbine and its counterpart in one direction is hindered and/or stopped by the alignment tool 20.

(56) Thus, the alignment tool 20 acts as an arrestor or stopper to stop a movement in one lateral direction.

(57) FIG. 7 shows a guide pin unit 1. The guide pin unit 1 comprises a shaft 2, and the shaft 2 comprises the guide pin 3.

(58) The guide pin 3 comprises a longitudinal axis, and a position of the guide pin 3 in respect to the guide pin unit 1 can be adjusted along the longitudinal axis of the guide pin 3 within the shaft 2.

(59) A guide pin unit 1 comprises a magnet mounting 16 to attach the guide pin unit 1 to a part of a wind turbine. The magnet mounting 16 is activated by a handle 4.

(60) The part of the wind turbine can be a tower, for example, that comprises a flange. The flange comprises holes and the guide pin unit 1 is attached to the flange in a way that the guide pin 3 reaches through one of the holes in the flange.

(61) FIG. 8 shows an installation situation of a guide pin unit 1. The guide pin unit 1 comprises a shaft 2, and the shaft 2 comprises the guide pin 3.

(62) The guide pin unit 1 is attached to a flange 6 of a part of a wind turbine in a way that a guide pin 3 reaches through one of the holes of the flanges 6.

(63) The guide pin unit 1 is attached to the flange 6 by a magnet mounting 16. The magnet mounting 16 is activated by a handle 4.

(64) The position of the guide pin 3 in the shaft 2 can be adjusted in a way that the guide pin 3 reaches into the hole at the flange 6 or through the hole of the flange 6.

(65) In the installation situation in FIG. 8 the guide pin 3 reaches all the way to the hole of the flange 6 and protrudes over the physical dimensions of the part of the wind turbine.

(66) Thus, the guide pin 3 can interact with a hole of a flange of a counterpart of the part of the wind turbine to align the position of a hole in a flange of a counterpart to the part of the wind turbine.

(67) FIG. 9 shows a sensor unit 10 that is used to detect the position of a guide pin of a guide pin unit.

(68) The sensor unit 10 is connected to a counterpart of a part of a wind turbine. The sensor unit 10 comprises a mounting pin 15 that is arranged in the hole of a flange of a counterpart.

(69) The sensor unit 10 comprises assembly plates 13 that connect the sensors to the mounting pin 15.

(70) The sensor unit 10 comprises a hole sensor 14 to detect the presence of a hole of a flange of a part of a wind turbine over the hole sensor 14.

(71) The sensor unit 10 comprises a guide pin sensor 11. The guide pin sensor 11 is activated by a piston that is arranged in a shaft 12 and loaded with a spring.

(72) When the guide pin of the guide pin unit is introduced into a hole of the flange of the counterpart of the wind turbine the guide pin interacts with the piston in the shaft 12 of the sensor unit 10. The piston in the shaft 12 is pushed downwards and activates the guide pin sensor 11.

(73) Thus, the guide pin sensor 11 detects the presence of a guide pin in the hole of the counterpart of the wind turbine. The hole sensor 14 of the sensor unit 10 is in this embodiment an optical sensor that interacts with the reflective plate.

(74) The optical sensor sends a signal that is reflected by the reflective plate and is then detected by the optical sensor.

(75) FIG. 10 shows the reflective plate 8. The reflective plate 8 comprises a reflective area 9 to interact with the optical sensor of the sensor unit. The reflective plate 8 is attached to a hole of the flange of a part of the wind turbine.

(76) Thus the light of the optical sensor travels from the sensor through the hole in the flange of the counterpart, through the hole of the flange of the part of the wind turbine to the reflective plate. The optical signal is then reflected and travels back through the hole of the part of the wind turbine and the hole of the counterpart to be received by the optical sensor at the sensor unit.

(77) FIG. 11 shows an installation situation of the guide pin unit 1 in the reflective plate 8.

(78) The guide pin unit 1 comprises a shaft 2 and the shaft 2 comprises the guide pin. The guide pin unit 1 is attached to the flange 6 by a magnet mounting 16 that is activated by handle 4.

(79) The pin of the guide pin unit reaches into a hole in the flange 6 of the part of the wind turbine.

(80) The reflective plate 8 is attached to the flange of the wind turbine right above a hole of the flange 6. The reflective area of the reflective plate is pointing downwards and is visible through the hole of the flange 6. The flange 6 of the part of the wind turbine comprises an assembly mark 7 for an visual control of the alignment situation of the part of the wind turbine in respect to the counterpart.

(81) The hole sensor of the sensor unit comprises an optical sensor that sends light through a hole of the flange of the counterpart, to detect the position of the reflective plate at the hole of the flange of the part of the wind turbine.

(82) When the hole of the part of the wind turbine that is equipped with the reflective plate 8, is aligned to the hole of the counterpart that is assigned to the optical sensor 14 the light that is sent out by the optical sensor of the sensor unit is reflected by the reflective area of the reflective plate and is detected again by the optical sensor of the sensor unit.

(83) Thus, it can be detected via the optical sensor that the two respective holes are aligned. And thus the part of the wind turbine is in the predetermined rotational position in respect to the counterpart.

(84) The part of the wind turbine can then be brought closer to its counterpart so that the guide pin of the guide pin unit is introduced into the hole of the counterpart of the part of the wind turbine.

(85) The presence of the pin in the hole of the counterpart is then detected by the guide pin sensor of the sensor unit.

(86) FIG. 12 shows the arrangement to align a part of a wind turbine to its counterpart.

(87) The arrangement comprises three alignment tools 20.

(88) In addition the arrangement comprises two guide pin units 1.

(89) The alignment tools 20 and the guide pin units 1 are arranged at a flange of a wall 29 of a part of a wind turbine.

(90) The flange that is connected to the wall of the part of the wind turbine is a circular flange. Two of the alignment tools 20 are spaced in an angle of around 45 degrees along the flange of the part of the wind turbine.

(91) The third alignment tool 20 is positioned on the opposite side of the flange, spaced in an angle of approximately 180 degree to the group of the first two alignment tools.

(92) The first guide pin unit is spaced in an angle of 45 to 90 degrees from the first alignment tools. The second guide pin unit 1 is spaced in an angle of mainly 90 degrees of the first guide pin unit 1.

(93) The alignment tools 20 and the guide pin units 1 are connected to and interact with holes in the flange of the part of the wind turbine.

(94) During the installation of a part of the wind turbine with its counterpart the part of the wind turbine needs to be aligned with the counterpart.

(95) The part of the wind turbine is brought close to the counterpart. The alignment tools 20 protrude over the physical dimensions of the part of the wind turbine. Thus, the alignment tools can abut on the counterpart of the part of the wind turbine before the part of the wind turbine comes in contact to the counterpart.

(96) The alignment tools 20 are of different length. Thus, the first two of the alignment tools 20 that are spaced in an angle of around 45 degrees apart from each other, have a longer arm and thus abut on the counterpart of the part of the wind turbine before the third alignment tool 20 that is spaced on the opposite side of the flange.

(97) Once the alignment tools 20 are in contact with the counterpart and thus abut on the wall of the counterpart, a rotational movement of the part of the wind turbine in respect to the counterpart is still possible.

(98) Thus, the part of the wind turbine can be rotated in respect to the counterpart until the optical sensor of the sensor unit detects that a respective hole of the part of the wind turbine is aligned with the hole of the counterpart of the wind turbine.

(99) The rotational movement of the part of the wind turbine is then stopped and the part of the wind turbine is lowered until the guide pin of the guide pin unit is introduced in its respective hole of the counterpart of the wind turbine. It is there detected by the guide pin sensor of the sensor unit of the counterpart.

(100) Thus, the alignment of the part of the wind turbine to its counterpart can be performed without workers acting on the part of the wind turbine. Also the presence of workers at the connection side to control the alignment visually is not necessary.

(101) The illustration in the drawings is in schematic form. It is noted that in different figures, similar or identical elements are provided with the same reference signs.

(102) Although embodiments of the present invention have been described in detail with reference to the preferred embodiment, it is to be understood that embodiments of the present invention is not limited by the disclosed examples, and that numerous additional modifications and variations could be made thereto by a person skilled in the art without departing from the scope of embodiments of the invention.

(103) It should be noted that the use of “a” or “an” throughout this application does not exclude a plurality, and “comprising” does not exclude other steps or elements. Also elements described in association with different embodiments may be combined. It should also be noted that reference signs in the claims should not be construed as limiting the scope of the claims.