# US 10,118,352 B2 · System and method for assisting in the manufacture of a wind turbine blade shell > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 10,118,352 B2 - Document ID: US10118352B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 14/893,221 - Filed: 2013-05-31 - Published: 2016-06-23 - Granted: 2018-11-06 - Earliest claimed: 2013-05-31 - Assignees: Lm Wp Patent Holdings A/S - Applicants: Lm Wp Patent Holding A/S - Inventors: Dennis Andre Borsting; Ivan Engmark Mortensen; Lars Fuglsang; Per Kjaer Christiansen - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US10118352B2 ## CPC - B29C 70/86: Incorporated in coherent impregnated reinforcing layers, {e.g. by winding} - B29C 33/12: with incorporated means for positioning inserts, e.g. labels {(positioning reinforcements B29C70/541)} - B29C 65/7802: {Positioning the parts to be joined, e.g. aligning, indexing or centring} - B29C 70/386: {Automated tape laying [ATL]} - B29C 70/388: {Tape placement heads, e.g. component parts, details or accessories} - B29C 70/543: {Fixing the position or configuration of fibrous reinforcements before or during moulding (for non-woven fabrics D04H3/08)} - B29C 70/545: {Perforating, cutting or machining during or after moulding} - B29D 99/0025: {Producing blades or the like, e.g. blades for turbines, propellers, or wings} - F03D 1/0658: {Arrangements for fixing wind-engaging parts to a hub} - B29C 70/56: Tensioning reinforcements before or during shaping - B29C 2793/0027: Cutting off - B29K 2105/0881: {unidirectional} - B29L 2031/085: {Wind turbine blades} - B32B 38/0004: {Cutting, tearing or severing, e.g. bursting; Cutter details (cutting in general B26D; laminating combined with punching or perforating B32B38/04; removing all or part of the layers B32B38/10; cutting in combination with laying up and registration B32B38/185 takes precedence)} - B32B 38/185: {combined with the cutting of one or more layers} - F05B 2230/00: Manufacture - F05B 2280/6003: Composites; e.g. fibre-reinforced - Y02E 10/72: Wind turbines with rotation axis in wind direction - Y02P 70/50: Manufacturing or production processes characterised by the final manufactured product - B29C: SHAPING OR JOINING OF PLASTICS; SHAPING OF MATERIAL IN A PLASTIC STATE, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR; AFTER-TREATMENT OF THE SHAPED PRODUCTS, e.g. REPAIRING (making preforms B29B11/00; making laminated products by combining previously unconnected layers which become one product whose layers will remain together B32B37/00 - B32B41/00) - B29D: PRODUCING PARTICULAR ARTICLES FROM PLASTICS OR FROM SUBSTANCES IN A PLASTIC STATE (making granules B29B9/00; making preforms B29B11/00) - F03D: WIND MOTORS - B29K: INDEXING SCHEME ASSOCIATED WITH SUBCLASSES B29B, B29C OR B29D, RELATING TO MOULDING MATERIALS OR TO MATERIALS FOR {MOULDS, } REINFORCEMENTS, FILLERS OR PREFORMED PARTS, e.g. INSERTS - B29L: INDEXING SCHEME ASSOCIATED WITH SUBCLASS B29C, RELATING TO PARTICULAR ARTICLES - B32B: LAYERED PRODUCTS, i.e. PRODUCTS BUILT-UP OF STRATA OF FLAT OR NON-FLAT, e.g. CELLULAR OR HONEYCOMB, FORM - F05B: INDEXING SCHEME RELATING TO WIND, SPRING, WEIGHT, INERTIA OR LIKE MOTORS, TO MACHINES OR ENGINES FOR LIQUIDS COVERED BY SUBCLASSES F03B, F03D AND F03G - Y02E: REDUCTION OF GREENHOUSE GAS [GHG] EMISSIONS, RELATED TO ENERGY GENERATION, TRANSMISSION OR DISTRIBUTION - Y02P: CLIMATE CHANGE MITIGATION TECHNOLOGIES IN THE PRODUCTION OR PROCESSING OF GOODS ## Abstract A method of manufacturing a wind turbine blade shell part is described. Fiber mats and a root end insert are laid up in a mould part in a layup procedure by use of an automated layup system. The fiber mats are laid up by use of a buffer so that the fiber mats may continuously be laid up on the mould surface, also during a cutting procedure. The root end insert is prepared in advance and mounted on a mounting plate. The root end insert is lowered onto the mould by use of the mounting plate and a lowering mechanism. After the wind turbine blade shell has been moulded, the mounting plate is removed. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A fibre mat layup system for laying up and cutting fibre mats in a mould for the manufacture of a fibre-reinforced composite part, wherein the fibre-reinforced composite part comprises a part for a wind turbine blade wherein the system is adapted to laying up the fibre mat as the system is moved in a longitudinal direction along the mould, and wherein the system comprises: a first drive roller for advancing the fibre mat, a cutting device for cutting the fibre mat, a first clamping device for clamping the fibre mat, while the fibre mat is being cut by the cutting device, a buffer roller providing a buffer length for the fibre mat and being arranged downstream of the first drive roller, the first clamping device and the cutting device, the buffer roller being movable so as to vary the buffer length of the fibre mat, and a second drive roller for advancing the fibre mat and being arranged downstream of the buffer roller. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The fibre mat layup system according to claim 1, wherein the fibre mat is supplied from a fibre mat roll. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The fibre mat layup system according to claim 1, wherein the system further comprises a draping device arranged downstream of the second drive roller. ### Claim 4 (depends on 3) The fibre mat layup system according to claim 3, wherein the draping device comprises one or more rollers. ### Claim 5 (depends on 3) The fibre mat layup system according to claim 3, wherein the draping device comprises a number of brushes. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The fibre mat layup system according to claim 1, wherein the cutting device is a sonic knife. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The fibre mat layup system according to claim 1, wherein the cutting device is a rotary cutter. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The fibre mat layup system according to claim 1, wherein the system is adapted to lay out fibre mats having a width of at least 20 cm. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) The fibre mat layup system according to claim 1, wherein the system is adapted to lay up fibre mats with a speed of between 25 m/minute and 100 m/minute. ### Claim 10 (depends on 1) The fibre mat layup system according to claim 1, wherein the system is adapted to slow down a movement speed thereof during the cutting of the fibre mat. ### Claim 11 (depends on 1) The fibre mat layup system according to claim 1, wherein the first drive roller is arranged substantially vertical above the second drive roller, and is further arranged substantially vertical above the first clamping device. ### Claim 12 (depends on 1) The fibre mat layup system according to claim 1, wherein the buffer roller is arranged so as to be movable in a substantially horizontal direction. ### Claim 13 (depends on 1) The fibre mat layup system according to claim 1, wherein the buffer roller is resiliently biased. ### Claim 14 (depends on 13) The fibre mat layup system according to claim 13, wherein the buffer roller is biased by use of gas pressure. ### Claim 15 (depends on 13) The fibre mat layup system according to claim 13, wherein the buffer roller is biased by use of a spring. ### Claim 16 (depends on 1) The fibre mat layup system according to claim 1, wherein the buffer roller may be locked in a disengaged position, where the buffer length is minimised. ### Claim 17 A method of manufacturing a composite part, in particular a part for a wind turbine blade, such as an aerodynamic shell part, wherein fibre mats are laid up in a mould part in a layup procedure by use of an automated fibre mat layup system, wherein the layup procedure comprises the steps of: a) delivering a supply of one or more fibre mats to the fibre mat layup system; b) laying up a first length of a fibre mat onto a surface of the mould along a first longitudinal part of the mould by moving the fibre mat layup system in a longitudinal direction of the mould; c) clamping a first part of the fibre mat with a first clamping device; d) cutting the fibre mat at a cutting position with a cutting device; e) laying up a second length of the fibre mat, while step d) is performed, by continuing to move the fibre mat layup system along the mould, while a buffer length arranged downstream of the first part of the fibre mat is being reduced, the buffer length for the fibre mat being provided by a buffer roller, the buffer roller being positioned downstream of a first drive roller, the first clamping device and the cutting device; and f) repeating steps a)-e) to define a plurality of laid out fibre mats defining the composite part. ### Claim 18 (depends on 17) The method according to claim 17, wherein the buffer length in step e) is reduced by varying the position of the buffer roller. ### Claim 19 (depends on 18) The method according to claim 18, wherein the delivery of the one or more fibre mats in step a) involves advancing the one or more fibre mats to a position, where the one or more fibre mats extend from a first drive roller to the buffer roller arranged downstream of the first drive roller and further onto a second drive roller arranged downstream of the buffer roller. ### Claim 20 (depends on 19) The method according to claim 19, wherein the delivery is carried out while the buffer roller is in a retracted position, and wherein the first drive roller advances the fibre mat until the fibre mat engages the second drive roller. ### Claim 21 (depends on 20) The method according to claim 20, wherein the buffer roller subsequently is moved to an engaged position. ### Claim 22 (depends on 20) The method according to claim 20, wherein the fibre mat layup system after step e) is moved to a new start position for laying up a fibre mat, while a subsequent delivery of a supply of one or more fibre mats to the fibre mat layup system fibre mat is carried out. ### Claim 23 (depends on 17) The method according to claim 17, wherein the fibre mat layup system during step b) is moved along the mould at a first speed, and wherein the fibre mat layup system in step e) is moved along the mould at a second speed being lower than the first speed.