Modular surface foundation for wind turbine space frame towers
AssigneeGeneral Electric Wind Energy & Energy Services
InventorsLawrence WILLEY, Danian Zheng
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A modular surface foundation for wind turbine space frame towers, an apparatus to form panels of housing members of modular surface foundation, and method of forming the modular surface foundation for wind turbine space frame towers is provided. The modular surface foundation comprises a plurality of footing members, and a housing member disposed on each of the footing members, the housing members extending from the footing members and attaching to one or more structural members forming a portion of a wind turbine tower, wherein the housing member provides support and increased height for the space frame tower and includes an interior space.
Claims20
A modular surface foundation for wind turbine space frame towers comprising,
- a plurality of footing members;
- and
- a housing member disposed on each of the footing members, the housing member extending from the footing member and attaching to one or more structural members forming a portion of a wind turbine tower, wherein the housing member provides support and increased height for the space frame tower and includes an interior space.
A method of forming a modular surface foundation for wind turbine space frame towers comprising,
- (a) fabricating a plurality of housing members having a series of post-tensioning cables;
- (b) forming a plurality of shallow trenches to hold footing members;
- (c) placing the footing members in the shallow trenches;
- (d) applying the plurality of housing members to the plurality of footing members and securing the housing members to the footing members;
- (e) applying tension to housing members using the post-tensioning cables, wherein the housing member provides support and increased height for the space frame tower and includes an interior space;
- and
- (f) attaching structural members of wind turbine space frame tower to housing members.
An apparatus having a body closable to form a plurality of panels of a housing member of a modular surface foundation, wherein the body further comprises a top portion containing an aperture for receiving concrete and a bottom portion containing tubes running horizontally and vertically throughout, wherein the formed panels are joined together to form the housing member, wherein the housing member is disposed on a footing member and attached to one or more structural members forming a portion of a wind turbine tower, and wherein the housing member provides support and increased height for a space frame tower and includes an interior space.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.