Apparatus for joining a modular blade

A wind turbine blade comprising:

• a first module;
• a second module;
• a first insert located in the first module, the first insert including a first threaded part;
• a second insert located in the second module, the second insert including a second threaded part;
• a bolt having a first threaded portion threaded with the first threaded part and a second threaded portion threaded with the second threaded part, the bolt having a longitudinal axis;
• a wedge assembly located at least in part in a gap between the first and second modules, the wedge assembly including an upper wedge and a lower wedge, the upper wedge having a first slanted side surface facing the first insert and a second slanted side surface facing the second insert, the lower wedge having a first slanted side surface facing the first insert and a second slanted side surface facing the second insert, the upper and lower wedges being urged toward one another by an applied force causing the first slanted side surface of each of the upper and lower wedges to press against a surface of the first insert to longitudinally stress the bolt in a first direction, and to cause the second slanted side surface of each of the upper and lower wedges to press against a surface of the second insert to longitudinally stress the bolt in a second direction opposite the first direction;
• the wind turbine blade comprising multiple pairs of first and second inserts, the wedge assembly including a plurality of pairs of upper and lower wedges, each of the pairs of upper and lower wedges corresponding to a pair of the first and second inserts, forces orthogonal to the longitudinal axis of the bolt being applied simultaneously to the upper and lower wedges by a first longitudinal mechanical element acting on the upper wedges and a second longitudinal mechanical element acting on the lower wedges.

A wind turbine blade comprising:

• a first module;
• a second module;
• a first insert located in the first module, the first insert including a first threaded part;
• a second insert located in the second module, the second insert including a second threaded part;
• a bolt having a first threaded portion threaded with the first threaded part and a second threaded portion threaded with the second threaded part, the bolt having a longitudinal axis;
• a wedge assembly located at least in part in a gap between the first and second modules, the wedge assembly including an upper wedge, a lower wedge, a first lateral cap located on a first side of the upper and lower wedges and a second lateral cap located on a second side of the upper and lower wedges, the second side being opposite the first side, the upper wedge having a first slanted side surface facing the first insert and a second slanted side surface facing the second insert, the lower wedge having a first slanted side surface facing the first insert and a second slanted side surface facing the second insert, the first lateral cap including a first face that abuts the first insert and a second face opposite the first face that abuts the first slanted side surfaces of the upper and lower wedges, the second lateral cap including a first face that abuts the second insert and a second face opposite the first face that abuts the second slanted side surfaces of the upper and lower wedges, the upper and lower wedges being urged toward one another by an applied force causing the first slanted side surface of each of the upper and lower wedges to press against the second face of the first lateral cap to impose a force on the first insert that longitudinally stresses the bolt in a first direction, and to cause the second slanted side surface of each of the upper and lower wedges to press against the second face of the second lateral cap to impose a force on the second insert that longitudinally stresses the bolt in a second direction opposite the first direction;
• the applied force to the upper and lower wedges being provided by one or more transverse bolts that join the upper and lower wedges, each of the one or more transverse bolts comprises a head and a threaded shank, the head residing inside an opening in the upper wedge, the threaded shank being in threaded engagement with a threaded aperture inside the lower wedge;
• the upper wedge including an exterior surface that faces in a first direction that is orthogonal to the longitudinal axis of the bolt and the lower wedge includes an exterior surface that faces in a second direction that is orthogonal to the longitudinal axis of the bolt, the second direction being opposite the first direction, no portion of the one or more transverse bolts protrudes from either of the exterior surfaces of the upper and lower wedges.