# US 12,000,371 B2 · Method of manufacturing a wind turbine blade

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- Number: US 12,000,371 B2
- Document ID: US12000371B2
- Status: Granted
- Kind: B2
- Application number: 18/001,281
- Filed: 2021-06-10
- Published: 2023-07-27
- Granted: 2024-06-04
- Earliest claimed: 2020-06-11
- Assignees: Vestas Wind Systems A/S
- Applicants: Vestas Wind Systems A/S
- Inventors: Christian David Robson; John Morgan; Kieron Lavers
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US12000371B2

## CPC

- F03D 1/0675: {of the blades}
- B29C 70/543: {Fixing the position or configuration of fibrous reinforcements before or during moulding (for non-woven fabrics D04H3/08)}
- B29C 70/682: {Preformed parts characterised by their structure, e.g. form}
- B29C 70/865: {completely encapsulated}
- B29D 99/0028: {hollow blades}
- B29L 2031/085: {Wind turbine blades}
- F05B 2230/60: Assembly methods
- F05B 2260/30: Retaining components in desired mutual position
- Y02E 10/72: Wind turbines with rotation axis in wind direction
- Y02P 70/50: Manufacturing or production processes characterised by the final manufactured product
- F03D: WIND MOTORS
- B29C: SHAPING OR JOINING OF PLASTICS; SHAPING OF MATERIAL IN A PLASTIC STATE, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR; AFTER-TREATMENT OF THE SHAPED PRODUCTS, e.g. REPAIRING (making preforms B29B11/00; making laminated products by combining previously unconnected layers which become one product whose layers will remain together B32B37/00 - B32B41/00)
- B29D: PRODUCING PARTICULAR ARTICLES FROM PLASTICS OR FROM SUBSTANCES IN A PLASTIC STATE (making granules B29B9/00; making preforms B29B11/00)
- B29L: INDEXING SCHEME ASSOCIATED WITH SUBCLASS B29C, RELATING TO PARTICULAR ARTICLES
- 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

In a first aspect of the invention there is provided a method of making a wind turbine blade. The method comprises providing a blade shell mould, providing a plurality of 5 substantially planar strips of reinforcing material, and arranging the plurality of strips in the mould in a first stack to form at least part of a first spar cap. The method further comprises providing a retaining clip having a substantially planar body and upper and lower flanges projecting transversely to the planar body, wherein the flanges and the body together define a first receiving region on a first side of the retaining clip, and the 10 method further comprises arranging the retaining clip on a side of the first stack such that the strips in the first stack are received in the first receiving region.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A method of making a wind turbine blade, the method comprising
providing a blade shell mould;
providing a plurality of substantially planar strips of reinforcing material;
arranging the plurality of strips in the mould in a first stack to form at least part of a first spar cap;
providing a retaining clip having a substantially planar body and upper and lower flanges projecting transversely to the planar body, the flanges and the body together defining a first receiving region on a first side of the retaining clip, wherein the first receiving region is open on the first side of retaining clip in a direction of the upper and lower flanges; and
arranging the retaining clip on a side of the first stack such that the strips in the first stack are received in the first receiving region.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1, wherein the step of arranging the plurality of strips in the mould comprises arranging the strips in first and second side-by-side stacks to form at least part of the first spar cap, and wherein the retaining clip is arranged such that its planar body is between the first and second stacks and maintains a predetermined spacing between the stacks.

### Claim 3 (depends on 2)

The method of claim 2, wherein the flanges and the body of the retaining clip together define a second receiving region on a second side of the retaining clip, and the method further comprises arranging the retaining clip on a side of the second stack such that the strips of the second stack are received in the second receiving region.

### Claim 4

A wind turbine blade comprising:
a spar cap comprising a plurality of substantially planar strips of reinforcing material arranged in at least a first stack; and
a retaining clip having a substantially planar body and upper and lower flanges projecting transversely to the planar body, the flanges and the body together defining a first receiving region on a first side of the retaining clip, wherein the first receiving region is open on the first side of retaining clip in a direction of the upper and lower flanges;
wherein the retaining clip is arranged on a side of the first stack such that the strips in the first stack are received in the first receiving region.

### Claim 5 (depends on 4)

The wind turbine blade of claim 4, wherein the spar cap comprises first and second side-by-side stacks, and wherein the planar body of the retaining clip is arranged between the first and second stacks and sets a predetermined spacing between the stacks.

### Claim 6 (depends on 5)

The wind turbine blade of claim 5, wherein the flanges and the body of the retaining clip together define a second receiving region on a second side of the retaining clip, and the retaining clip is arranged on a side of the second stack such that the strips of the second stack are received in the second receiving region.

### Claim 7 (depends on 5)

The wind turbine blade of claim 5, wherein a plurality of retaining clips are arranged between first and second stacks at spaced-apart intervals along the lengths of the stacks, and wherein the planar bodies of the retaining clips each have substantially the same thickness, such that a substantially constant spacing is maintained between the first and second stacks along their entire lengths.

### Claim 8 (depends on 7)

The wind turbine blade of claim 7, wherein the first and second stacks vary in height moving from a root end towards a tip end, and wherein a distance between the upper and lower flanges of each retaining clip substantially corresponds to the height of the stacks at the location of the respective clip.

### Claim 9 (depends on 4)

The wind turbine blade of claim 4, wherein the retaining clip is substantially H-shaped in cross-section.

### Claim 10 (depends on 4)

The wind turbine blade of claim 4, wherein the retaining clip has a length of between 20 mm and 50 mm.

### Claim 11 (depends on 4)

The wind turbine blade of claim 4, wherein the upper and/or lower flange tapers in thickness towards its edge(s).

### Claim 12 (depends on 4)

The wind turbine blade of claim 4, wherein the upper and/or lower flange has a cross-sectional profile that is substantially triangular or shaped as a segment of a circle.

### Claim 13 (depends on 4)

The wind turbine blade of claim 4, wherein the retaining clip is formed of a polymer material.

### Claim 14 (depends on 4)

The wind turbine blade of claim 4, wherein the retaining clip is an injection-moulded part.

### Claim 15 (depends on 4)

The wind turbine blade of claim 4, wherein the retaining clip is substantially C-shaped in cross-section.