Lifting device for rotor assembly and method thereof
AssigneeEnvision Energy (Denmark) ApS
InventorJan Westergaard
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A lifting device and method is provided for lifting and turning a rotor during the erection process of wind turbine structure. The lifting device comprises a base unit with a mounting adapted to be mounted to an outer surface of the hub. The lifting device is able to turn the rotor using a pivotal lifting arm arranged between two end plates or a moveable trolley assembly arranged on a track of the base unit. A power pack unit or another power unit is used to power the turning unit which turns the rotor around a turning point into an installation position. The lifting point is preferably aligned with the center of gravity of the rotor for providing a balanced lift.
Claims11
A lifting device for lifting a rotor of a wind turbine, where the lifting device comprises:
- at least one base unit having one or more mounting means configured for mounting to matching mounting means located on an outer surface of a hub of the rotor, the hub further having at least two mounting interfaces configured for mounting to at least two wind turbine blades;
- at least one turning unit comprising a trolley assembly configured to move along a track located on the base unit, wherein a gear coupling is arranged on the trolley assembly and configured to move the trolley assembly along the track so that the rotor is turned in an angle of substantially 90 degrees from a lifting position into an installation position;
- at least one lifting element located on the trolley assembly configured to be connected to an external lifting unit;
- a control unit configured to control the operation of the lifting device,
- a drive train comprising the gear coupling having a pinion gear engaging a matching gear rim located on the track wherein the pinion gear is connected to a motor driven by a power unit,
- wherein the turning unit comprises a braking mechanism configured to stop the rotor in any intermediate position between the lifting position and the installation position,
- wherein the braking mechanism is chosen between an electrical, hydraulic, pneumatic, or electromagnetic brake and said braking mechanism is arranged relative to the drive train for applying a braking force to the trolley assembly, wherein the braking mechanism locks the trolley assembly and thus the rotor in any position along the track when activated, and
- wherein said braking mechanism is released when the control unit is activated.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.