# US 12,000,377 B2 · Method for erecting a wind turbine tower using stud bolts > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 12,000,377 B2 - Document ID: US12000377B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 17/611,939 - Filed: 2020-05-19 - Published: 2022-07-21 - Granted: 2024-06-04 - Earliest claimed: 2019-05-21 - Assignees: Vestas Wind Systems A/S - Applicants: Vestas Wind Systems A/S - Inventors: Jakob Anders Sørensen; Christine Broe; Rasmus Sanderhoff Johansen - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US12000377B2 ## CPC - F03D 13/10: Assembly of wind motors; Arrangements for erecting wind motors - F03D 13/20: Arrangements for mounting or supporting wind motors; Masts or towers for wind motors - B23P 19/067: {Bolt tensioners (for hand tools B25B29/02)} - E04H 12/085: {Details of flanges for tubular masts} - E04H 12/342: {Arrangements for stacking tower sections on top of each other (E04H12/344 takes precedence)} - F05B 2230/604: using positioning or alignment devices for aligning or centering, e.g. pins - F05B 2260/301: Retaining bolts or nuts - Y02E 10/72: Wind turbines with rotation axis in wind direction - F03D: WIND MOTORS - B23P: METAL-WORKING NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR; COMBINED OPERATIONS; UNIVERSAL MACHINE TOOLS (arrangements for copying or controlling B23Q) - E04H: BUILDINGS OR LIKE STRUCTURES FOR PARTICULAR PURPOSES; SWIMMING OR SPLASH BATHS OR POOLS; MASTS; FENCING; TENTS OR CANOPIES, IN GENERAL (foundations E02D) - 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 ## Abstract A method for erecting a wind turbine tower is disclosed. A tower section (8) comprising a lower flange (9) and an upper flange (10), and a plurality of stud bolts (6) and nuts (7) are provided. The tower section (8) is oriented in an upright position with the lower flange (9) below the upper flange (10), and stud bolts (6) are positioned in bolt holes (12) in the lower flange (9) with nuts (7) arranged on an upper side of the lower flange (9). The tower section (8) is lifted to a mounting position on top of another tower section (13), and a flange combination is formed by aligning the bolt holes (12) formed in the lower flange (9) of the tower section (8) with bolt holes (15) formed in an upper flange (14) of the other tower section (13), while advancing the stud bolts (6) through the bolt holes (12, 15). The invention further provides a socket tool (16) for screwing nuts (7) onto stud bolts (6) in a manner which positions the stud bolts (6) correctly with respect to a flange (9). ## Claims ### Claim 1 A method for erecting a wind turbine tower, the method comprising the steps of: providing a tower section comprising a lower flange and an upper flange, each flange being provided with a plurality of through-going bolt holes, providing a plurality of stud bolts and a pair of nuts for each stud bolt of the plurality of stud bolts, mounting a nut of the pair of nuts to one end of each stud bolt, orienting the tower section in an upright position with the lower flange below the upper flange, positioning the plurality of stud bolts in the plurality of bolt holes in the lower flange with the nut of each stud bolt arranged on an upper side of the lower flange, lifting the tower section to a mounting position on top of another tower section, forming a flange combination by aligning the plurality of through-going bolt holes formed in the lower flange of the tower section with a plurality of through-going bolt holes formed in an upper flange of the another tower section, while advancing the plurality of stud bolts through the bolt holes of the tower section and the another tower section, mounting an other nut of the pair of nuts on a lower part of each of the stud bolts, mounting a socket tool on an end part of one of the stud bolts of the plurality of stud bolts, adjusting a position of the stud bolt relative to the flange combination, using the socket tool, such that a predetermined portion of the stud bolt is positioned above the lower flange, moving the other nut into abutment with the upper flange of the other tower section, and tensioning the stud bolts, thereby securing the tower section to the other tower section. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The method according to claim 1, wherein the socket tool comprises a bolt engaging part comprising a body having an inner cavity arranged to receive an end part of a stud bolt, a stud bolt engaging arrangement configured for positively engaging the stud bolt and transferring movements of a tool to the stud bolt, and a length adjuster configured for adjusting a free length of the end part of the stud bolt, and wherein the step of adjusting a position of the stud bolt is performed by operating the length adjuster. ### Claim 3 (depends on 2) The method according to claim 2, wherein the inner cavity of the body of the socket tool is provided with an inner thread corresponding to a threaded portion of the stud bolt and with an end portion at an open end of the inner cavity, wherein the length adjuster of the socket tool comprises an inner part arranged in a portion of the inner cavity and being provided with an outer thread being arranged in threaded engagement with the inner thread of the inner cavity, the inner part being provided with an end portion, and wherein the step of adjusting a position of the stud bolt comprises operating the length adjuster until the end portion of the body abuts a nut arranged on the upper part of the stud bolt and the end portion of the inner part abuts an upper end of the stud bolt. ### Claim 4 (depends on 3) The method according to claim 3, wherein the stud bolt engaging arrangement of the socket tool comprises a tool engaging part, and wherein the step of operating the length adjuster comprises operating a driving tool engaging the tool engaging part. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The method according to claim 1, further comprising the step of removing the socket tool from the end part of the stud bolt. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The method according to claim 1, wherein the step of positioning the plurality of stud bolts in the plurality of bolt holes in the lower flange is performed using a bolt gripping tool. ### Claim 7 (depends on 6) The method according to claim 6, wherein the bolt gripping tool comprises a gripping portion arranged to grip a stud bolt and a moving portion arranged to move the gripping portion, and wherein the step of positioning the plurality of stud bolts in the plurality of bolt holes comprises the steps of: moving the gripping portion to a position of a stud bolt by means of the moving portion, gripping the stud bolt by means of the gripping portion, moving the gripping portion and the stud bolt to a bolt hole by means of the moving portion, positioning the stud bolt in the bolt hole, and releasing the stud bolt from the gripping portion. ### Claim 8 (depends on 7) The method according to claim 7, wherein the step of gripping the stud bolt by means of the gripping portion is performed by means of a magnet forming part of the gripping portion. ### Claim 9 (depends on 7) The method according to claim 7, wherein the steps of moving the gripping portion comprise lifting and/or swinging the gripping portion. ### Claim 10 (depends on 1) The method according to claim 1, wherein the step of orienting the tower section in an upright position comprises positioning the tower section on at least two tower supports, thereby arranging the lower flange at a level about the ground. ### Claim 11 (depends on 1) The method according to claim 1, wherein the step of tensioning the stud bolts is performed using a hydraulic tensioning tool. ### Claim 12 (depends on 1) The method according to claim 1, wherein the step of tensioning the stud bolts includes tensioning the stud bolts from above the lower flange of the tower section.