Access panel for a wind turbine tower and method for securing same
AssigneeVestas Wind Systems A/S
InventorBørge Øllgaard
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A wind turbine tower access panel is disclosed and is removably fixable at a service aperture in a tower wall to thereby close the aperture. The access panel is generally planar and extends radially about an axis normal thereto. Additionally, the access panel includes a set of two or more fixing elements configured to securely fix the access panel in place at the aperture. Each fixing element includes an axial clamp, the clamp including an anchor fixed to the access panel, a clamping force adjuster and a clamp head having a clamping surface. The clamp head includes a relatively deformable resilient material which deforms under an applied clamping load of the clamp thereby applying a clamping force to the tower wall.
Claims20
Wind turbine tower access panel, which panel is removably fixable at a service aperture in a tower wall to thereby close said aperture;
- said access panel being generally planar and extending radially about an axis normal thereto,
- said access panel comprising a set of two or more fixing elements configured to securely fix said access panel in place at a said aperture;
- wherein each said fixing element comprises an axial clamp, said clamp comprising an anchor fixed to said access panel, a clamping force adjuster and a clamp head having a clamping surface;
- said clamp head comprising a relatively deformable resilient material which deforms under an applied clamping load of said clamp thereby applying a clamping force to said tower wall, wherein said clamp head includes an axial bore and wherein said clamping force adjuster passes through said axial bore and completely through said clamp head.
Wind turbine tower access panel, which panel is removably fixable at a service aperture in a tower wall to thereby close said aperture;
- said access panel being generally planar and extending radially about an axis normal thereto,
- said access panel comprising a set of two or more fixing elements configured to securely fix said access panel in place at a said aperture;
- wherein each said fixing element comprises an axial clamp, said clamp comprising an anchor fixed to said access panel, a clamping force adjuster and a clamp head having a clamping surface;
- said clamp head comprising a relatively deformable resilient material which deforms under an applied clamping load of said clamp thereby applying a clamping force to said tower wall, wherein said clamping force adjuster defines a clamping axis, and wherein the clamping axis does not intersect said clamping surface of said clamp head.
Wind turbine tower access panel, which panel is removably fixable at a service aperture in a tower wall to thereby close said aperture;
- said access panel being generally planar and extending radially about an axis normal thereto,
- said access panel comprising a set of two or more fixing elements configured to securely fix said access panel in place at a said aperture;
- wherein each said fixing element comprises an axial clamp, said clamp comprising an anchor fixed to said access panel, a clamping force adjuster and a clamp head having a clamping surface;
- said clamp head comprising a relatively deformable resilient material which deforms under an applied clamping load of said clamp thereby applying a clamping force to said tower wall,
- wherein said clamp head exhibits a distal, enlarged, flanged claw portion and a proximal, reduced, waist portion, wherein said claw portion is distal relative to said anchor and wherein said waist portion is proximal relative to said anchor.
Wind turbine tower access panel, which panel is removably fixable at a service aperture in a tower wall to thereby close said aperture;
- said access panel being generally planar and extending radially about an axis normal thereto,
- said access panel comprising a set of two or more fixing elements configured to securely fix said access panel in place at a said aperture;
- wherein each said fixing element comprises an axial clamp, said clamp comprising an anchor fixed to said access panel, a clamping force adjuster and a clamp head having a clamping surface;
- said clamp head comprising a relatively deformable resilient material which deforms under an applied clamping load of said clamp thereby applying a clamping force to said tower wall,
- wherein said clamp force adjuster comprises a shank having an effective length between said clamping head and an anvil of said axial clamp and wherein said clamping force adjuster further comprises an actuator capable of varying the effective length of said shank, wherein said anvil opposes said clamping surface of said clamp head, and wherein the effective length of said shank extends from said clamping head to said anvil.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.