Tower section production process
AssigneeVestas Wind Systems A/S
InventorBo Michel
Life of this patent
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Abstract
The application relates to wind turbine tower section production methods and in particular to methods of manufacturing a plurality of elongate tower segments for forming a wind turbine tower section, the tower section constructed from a plurality of elongate tower segments connected along their respective longitudinal edges. The tower section is formed from a plurality of cans connected end to end and is divided into elongate segments by cutting along two or more cut lines extending along the length of the tower. A method of providing a horizontal flange at the end of a wind turbine tower is also discussed, as is a vertical flange preassembly including a pair of vertical flanges for connecting the longitudinal edges of adjacent first and second tower segments.
Claims11
A method of manufacturing a wind turbine tower section, comprising:
- forming a plurality of elongate tower segments, the tower section being constructed by connecting the plurality of tower segments along their respective longitudinal edges, wherein the step of forming a plurality of elongate tower segments further comprises:
- forming each of a plurality of cans by rolling a metal sheet into a tube having a longitudinal seam formed by welding first and second opposed edges of the rolled sheet, wherein at least some of the welded seams comprise tack welds;
- connecting the plurality of cans end to end;
- and
- cutting along two or more cut lines extending along a length of the connected plurality of cans to divide the connected plurality of cans into the plurality of elongate tower segments, wherein the step of cutting along two or more cut lines comprises cutting along the longitudinal seams through the tack welds.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.