# US 11,027,412 B2 · Self-aligned tilt and yaw system for wind turbine blade rotating device

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- Number: US 11,027,412 B2
- Document ID: US11027412B2
- Status: Granted
- Kind: B2
- Application number: 16/373,292
- Filed: 2019-04-02
- Published: 2019-10-03
- Granted: 2021-06-08
- Earliest claimed: 2018-04-02
- Assignees: TPI Composites, Inc.
- Applicants: TPI Composites, Inc.
- Inventors: Mehmet Üyünük; Furkan Ünal; Ata M. Alper
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US11027412B2

## CPC

- B25H 1/005: {attached to a workbench}
- B62B 5/0086: {arranged independently on either side of the transported load}
- B25B 1/205: {Vices of the chain or strip type}
- B60P 3/40: for carrying long loads, e.g. with separate wheeled load supporting elements ({E04G21/14 takes precedence}; signal devices to be attached to overhanging load B60Q7/02)
- F03D 13/40: Arrangements or methods specially adapted for transporting wind motor components
- F16M 11/10: around a horizontal axis {(F16M11/12 takes precedence)}
- F16M 11/18: with mechanism for moving the apparatus relatively to the stand
- F16M 11/38: by folding {, e.g. pivoting or scissors tong mechanisms}
- F16M 11/42: with arrangement for propelling the support {stands on wheels}
- B62B 5/003: {Combustion engines}
- B62B 5/0033: {Electric motors}
- B62B 2203/74: rolling means, e.g. rollers
- F05B 2240/941: which is a land vehicle
- F05B 2260/02: Transport, e.g. specific adaptations or devices for conveyance
- F05B 2260/30: Retaining components in desired mutual position
- F16M 2200/022: by friction
- F16M 2200/028: by positive interaction, e.g. male-female connections
- Y02E 10/72: Wind turbines with rotation axis in wind direction
- Y02P 70/50: Manufacturing or production processes characterised by the final manufactured product
- B25H: WORKSHOP EQUIPMENT, e.g. FOR MARKING-OUT WORK; STORAGE MEANS FOR WORKSHOPS (storing or packaging B65)
- B62B: HAND-PROPELLED VEHICLES, e.g. HAND CARTS OR PERAMBULATORS; SLEDGES (characterised by animal propulsion B62C; propulsion of sledges by driver or engine B62M)
- B25B: TOOLS OR BENCH DEVICES NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR, FOR FASTENING, CONNECTING, DISENGAGING, OR HOLDING
- B60P: VEHICLES ADAPTED FOR LOAD TRANSPORTATION OR TO TRANSPORT, TO CARRY, OR TO COMPRISE SPECIAL LOADS OR OBJECTS (vehicles with special provisions for transporting patients or disabled persons, or their personal conveyances A61G3/00)
- F03D: WIND MOTORS
- F16M: FRAMES, CASINGS OR BEDS OF ENGINES, MACHINES OR APPARATUS, NOT SPECIFIC TO ENGINES, MACHINES OR APPARATUS PROVIDED FOR ELSEWHERE; STANDS; SUPPORTS
- 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 wind turbine blade apparatus comprising a root device including: a base having an upper surface with a radius of curvature and configured to receive a root portion of a blade, with housings disposed on lateral sides of the base. The housings including a groove configured to receive a bearing and a shaft extending at least partially through the base and housing. A tip device is also provided which includes a base, a rotatable support frame having: a first support configured to receive a pressure side of a wind turbine blade, a second support configured to receive a suction side of a wind turbine blade, and an opening, the opening configured to receive a portion of a wind turbine blade.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A wind turbine blade apparatus comprising:
a root device, the root device including:
a base, the base having a root support member with an upper surface with a radius of curvature and configured to receive a portion of a wind turbine blade,
at least one housing disposed on a lateral side of the base, the housing including a groove configured to receive a bearing,
a shaft extending at least partially through the base and housing,
at least one bearing, the at least one bearing disposed at least partially within the housing, wherein the shaft can be displaced within the housing,
at least one roller at least partially disposed above an upper surface of the base,
wherein the housing is disposed below at least one roller; and
a tip device, the tip device including:
a base,
a template,
a rotatable support frame, the rotatable support frame having:
a first support configured to receive a first template side engaging a pressure side of a wind turbine blade,
a second support configured to receive the first template side engaging a suction side of a wind turbine blade, and
an opening, the opening configured to receive a portion of a wind turbine blade.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The wind turbine apparatus of claim 1, wherein the rotatable support frame of the tip device has an external radius of curvature.

### Claim 3 (depends on 1)

The wind turbine apparatus of claim 1, wherein base of the tip device includes a bottom surface and a top surface, the top surface having a curved geometry.

### Claim 4 (depends on 1)

The wind turbine apparatus of claim 1, wherein displacement of the shaft within the housing of the root device and movement of at least one dampener provides two degrees of freedom of the turbine blade.

### Claim 5 (depends on 1)

The wind turbine apparatus of claim 1, wherein displacement of at least one set of adjustable balancers provides two degrees of freedom of the turbine blade about the tilt and yaw axes of the turbine blade.

### Claim 6 (depends on 1)

The wind turbine apparatus of claim 1, wherein the root device and tip device are separate components.

### Claim 7 (depends on 1)

The wind turbine apparatus of claim 1, wherein at least one of the root device or tip device includes a plurality of casters.

### Claim 8 (depends on 1)

The wind turbine apparatus of claim 1, wherein at least one of the root device or tip device includes at least one balancer.

### Claim 9 (depends on 1)

The wind turbine apparatus of claim 1, wherein at least one of the root device or tip device includes a propulsion mechanism for rotating the wind turbine blade.

### Claim 10 (depends on 1)

The wind turbine apparatus of claim 1, wherein the root device and the tip device are aligned with a common longitudinal axis.

### Claim 11 (depends on 1)

The wind turbine apparatus of claim 1, wherein the root device includes at least one roller, the roller having a longitudinal axis parallel to the longitudinal axis of the blade.

### Claim 12 (depends on 11)

The wind turbine apparatus of claim 11, wherein at least one roller is at least partially disposed above the upper surface of the base of the root device.

### Claim 13 (depends on 1)

The wind turbine apparatus of claim 1, wherein the groove of the housing guides movement of the blade about an axis perpendicular to a longitudinal axis of the blade.

### Claim 14 (depends on 1)

The wind turbine apparatus of claim 1, wherein the upper surface of the root device has a radius of curvature generally equivalent to the outer surface of the blade.

### Claim 15 (depends on 1)

The wind turbine apparatus of claim 1, wherein the first and second supports of the tip device are selectively actuatable to engage with a surface of a wind turbine blade.

### Claim 16 (depends on 1)

The wind turbine apparatus of claim 1, wherein the rotatable support frame of the tip device is rotatable about a longitudinal axis of the blade.

### Claim 17 (depends on 1)

The wind turbine apparatus of claim 1, wherein the tip device includes a base having at least one roller.

### Claim 18 (depends on 1)

The wind turbine apparatus of claim 1, wherein the at least one roller of the tip device has a concave outer surface.

### Claim 19 (depends on 1)

The wind turbine apparatus of claim 1, wherein the tip device includes at least one ball transfer unit, the ball transfer unit configured to inhibit axial deflection of the support frame during rotation.