US 11,807,153 B2Granted

Modular systems and methods for transporting tower assembly of wind turbine

AssigneeBNSF Logistics, LLC

InventorsEvan Keller, Marco A. Poisler, Joseph M. Sindelar

Life of this patent

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Abstract

A system and method are used for transporting a plurality of tower sections of a wind turbine on beds of transport devices, such as flat railcars. Supports affix at support locations on beds to accommodate at least one of the tower sections on each of the transport devices. The supports can include bed supports, such as tabs, extending from the beds, and can include cradle supports with slots that engage on the tabs. A circumferential dimension of a cradle is adjusted on each of the supports against which the tower section rests. Each of the tower sections is then supported with at least two of the supports by loading the tower sections on the transport devices. An end of each of the tower sections is then affixed to a flange on at least one of the supports on each of the transport devices.

Claims33

Dependent claims

A method of transporting a tower section of a wind turbine, the tower section having a longitudinal length and a circumference, the method comprising:

positioning end supports at end locations on a bed of a transport device;
positioning at least one intermediate support at at least one intermediate location on the bed of the transport device;
adjusting at least one of the end supports as at least one adjustable end support in a longitudinal direction to accommodate the longitudinal length of the tower section;
loading the tower section on the transport device by supporting a circumference of the tower section on pivoting cradle surfaces pivotable about longitudinal pivots disposed on opposing cradle saddles;
accommodating differences in the circumference of the tower section along the longitudinal length of the tower section by:
adjusting a lateral separation between the longitudinal pivots disposed on the opposing cradle saddles, the opposing cradle saddles being moveable in a lateral direction on the at least one intermediate support against which the tower section rests and the opposing cradle saddles attaching to a base component of the at least one intermediate support;
and
allowing the pivoting cradle surfaces to pivot in a radial direction about the longitudinal pivots, wherein the longitudinal pivots are attached to the opposing cradle saddles without attaching to the base component of the at least one intermediate support;
and
affixing the tower section to the end supports.

7 more elements

A method of transporting a tower section of a wind turbine on a bed of a transport device, the tower section having a longitudinal length, a circumference, and ends, the method comprising:

positioning at least two supports of a transport system on the bed of the transport device;
arranging at least one of the at least two supports at one of a plurality of support locations of the transport system in a lateral direction on the bed to accommodate the longitudinal length of the tower section;
affixing a flange of at least one of the at least two supports to one of the ends of the tower section;
accommodating differences in the circumference of the tower section along the longitudinal length of the tower section by:
adjusting a lateral separation between longitudinal pivots disposed on opposing cradle saddles, the opposing cradle saddles being movable in a lateral direction on at least one of the at least two supports relative to the circumference of a portion of the tower section, the opposing cradle saddles having pivoting cradle surfaces being pivotable about the longitudinal pivots and being configured to support the circumference of the portion of the tower section thereon, wherein the opposing cradle saddles are attached to a base component of the at least one of the at least two supports;
and
allowing the pivoting cradle surfaces to pivot in a radial direction about the longitudinal pivots, wherein the longitudinal pivots are attached to the opposing cradle saddles without attaching to the base component of the at least one of the at least two supports.

4 more elements

A method of transporting a tower section of a wind turbine on a bed of a transport device, the tower section having a longitudinal length, a circumference, and ends, the method comprising:

positioning a plurality of supports of a transport system on the bed of the transport device;
arranging at least one of the supports at one of a plurality of support locations of the transport system on the bed to accommodate the longitudinal length of the tower section;
affixing at least one the supports to one of the ends of the tower section;
accommodating differences in the circumference of the tower section along the longitudinal length of the tower section by:
adjusting a lateral separation between longitudinal pivots disposed on opposing cradle saddles, the opposing cradle saddles being movable in a lateral direction on at least one of the supports relative to the circumference of a portion of the tower section, the opposing cradle saddles having pivoting cradle surfaces being pivotable about the longitudinal pivots and being configured to support the circumference of the portion of the tower section thereon, wherein the opposing cradle saddles are attached to a base component of the at least one of the supports;
and
allowing the pivoting cradle surfaces to pivot in a radial direction about the longitudinal pivots, wherein the longitudinal pivots are attached to the opposing cradle saddles without attaching to the base component of the at least one of the supports.

4 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Facts

Application: 16/934,517Filed 21 Jul 2020 · continuation
Priority: 30 Nov 2015
Published: US 2021/0170936 A110 Jun 2021
Granted: 7 Nov 2023
Term ends: Not estimatedThe source records don’t support an estimate.

Classification16 codes

B60P 3/40
Vehicles adapted to transport, to carry or to comprise special loads or objects: for carrying long loads, e.g. with separate wheeled load…
B61D 3/166
Adapted for carrying special loads: for carrying very heavy loads
B61D 45/003
Devices for fixing to walls or floors: fixing of logs, beams, barrels, pipes, or the like
E04H 12/00
Towers

Family

Application62/261,183Us provisional application · filed 30 Nov 2015
Application15/057,765Parent of this continuation-in-part · filed 1 Mar 2016
Application15/603,172Parent of this continuation · filed 23 May 2017
US 9,683,546 B1Parent of this continuation-in-part · filed 20 Jun 2017
US 2021/0170936 A1Pre-grant publication · published 10 Jun 2021
US 10,752,154 B2Parent of this continuation
Application15/603,172Parent of this continuation-in-part
US 2017/0152833 A1Published application
US 2017/0253169 A1Published application
US 11,807,153 B2This patent

From the US filing history. Foreign family members aren’t listed.