Method of attaching a tip extension to a wind turbine blade
AssigneeVestas Wind Systems A/S
InventorsLeon Barton, Alan Bower
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A method of attaching a tip extension to a wind turbine blade is described. The method comprises: fitting the tip extension over a tip end of the blade such that an overlap region is defined between an outer surface of the blade and an inner surface of the tip extension; and supplying adhesive to the overlap region via one or more holes provided in the tip extension to bond the tip extension to the blade. In preferred embodiments, adhesive dams are provided in the overlap region to define bond cavities and constrain the adhesive within the bond cavities. An assembly comprising a wind turbine blade and a tip extension bonded thereto is also described.
Claims17
A method of attaching a tip extension to a wind turbine blade, the method comprising:
- providing the wind turbine blade having an outer surface and a tip end;
- providing the tip extension having an outer shell defining a substantially hollow interior for receiving the tip end of the blade;
- fitting the tip extension over the tip end of the blade such that an inboard portion of the tip extension overlaps the tip end of the blade and an overlap region is defined between the outer surface of the blade and an inner surface of the inboard portion of the tip extension;
- and
- supplying adhesive to the overlap region via one or more holes provided in the outer shell of the tip extension to bond the tip extension to the blade,
- wherein the outer shell of the tip extension is translucent and the method comprises visually monitoring the flow of adhesive in the overlap region through the translucent shell.
A wind turbine blade assembly, comprising:
- a wind turbine blade having a trailing edge and a tip end;
- a tip extension fitted to the tip end of the blade;
- an overlap region defined between an inboard portion of the tip extension and the tip end of the blade;
- and
- one or more adhesive dams in the overlap region at least partially defining one or more bond cavities;
- wherein the tip extension is bonded to the blade by adhesive in the bond cavities, and
- wherein the trailing edge of the blade projects into the one or more adhesive dams.
A method of attaching a tip extension to a wind turbine blade, the method comprising:
- providing the wind turbine blade having an outer surface and a tip end;
- providing the tip extension having an outer shell defining a substantially hollow interior for receiving the tip end of the blade, the tip extension further including an adhesive dam in a trailing edge region of the interior of the tip extension;
- fitting the tip extension over the tip end of the blade such that an inboard portion of the tip extension overlaps the tip end of the blade and an overlap region is defined between the outer surface of the blade and an inner surface of the inboard portion of the tip extension;
- sliding the tip extension onto the tip end of the wind turbine blade such that a trailing edge of the blade projects into the adhesive dam;
- and
- supplying adhesive to the overlap region via one or more holes provided in the outer shell of the tip extension to bond the tip extension to the blade.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.