Articulating joint for wind turbine
AssigneeInventus Holdings, LLC
InventorsGary Michael Garcia, Robert W. Gallaher, Michael C. Wertz
Life of this patent
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Abstract
An articulating joint for a wind turbine having a tower defining a shaft and a deck provided in the shaft includes a bracket extending from a first end having a fixed connection with the deck to a second end including an opening. A fastener includes a head pivotably connected to the tower and a shaft extending through the opening. A washer connected to the bracket is aligned with the opening for receiving the shaft such that the fastener is pivotable with the washer relative to the opening to allow for relative movement between the tower and the deck.
Claims19
An articulating joint for a wind turbine having a tower defining a shaft and a deck provided in the shaft, comprising:
- a bracket extending from a first end having a fixed connection with the deck to a second end including an opening;
- a fastener including a head pivotably connected to the tower and a shaft extending through the opening;
- and
- a washer connected to the bracket and aligned with the opening for receiving the shaft such that the fastener is pivotable with the washer relative to the opening to allow for relative movement between the tower and the deck.
An articulating joint for a wind turbine having a tower defining a shaft and a deck provided in the shaft, comprising:
- a bracket extending from a first end having a fixed connection with the deck and including a first opening to a second end including an elongated second opening, the bracket being positioned on a first side of the deck;
- a cap plate positioned on a second side of the deck and including an opening aligned with the first opening in the bracket;
- a bolt having a head and a shaft, the shaft including a splined portion having a press-fit connection with the first opening in the bracket and a threaded portion extending through the deck for securing the bracket to the deck;
- a heim joint including a head pivotably connected to the tower and a shaft extending through the elongated second opening in the bracket;
- a washer connected to the bracket and aligned with the elongated second opening for receiving the shaft such that the heim joint is pivotable with the washer relative to the elongated second opening to allow for relative movement between the tower and the deck;
- and
- a damper through which the shaft of the heim joint extends for damping relative movement between the tower and the deck.
A method for connecting a deck inside a shaft of a wind turbine to a wall of the wind turbine, comprising the steps of:
- providing a bracket extending from a first end to a second end including an opening;
- securing the first end of the bracket to the deck;
- pivotably connecting a head of a fastener to the wall of the shaft of the wind turbine such that a shaft of the fastener extends through the opening in the bracket;
- and
- inserting the shaft through a washer connected to the bracket and aligned with the opening such that the fastener is pivotable with the washer relative to the opening to allow for relative movement between the tower and the deck.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.