System and method to facilitate maintenance on a wind turbine
AssigneeGeneral Electric Company
InventorThomas Niehues
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A system to facilitate maintenance on a wind turbine including a control assembly positioned within a tower defining an access opening. The system includes at least one rail comprising a first rail portion and a second rail portion coupled to the first rail portion. The second rail portion extends outwardly through the access opening when coupled to the first rail portion. At least one wheel is coupled to the control assembly. The wheel is configured to engage the rail and enable movement of the control assembly along the rail to facilitate movement of the control assembly between an interior and an exterior of the tower.
Claims20
A system to facilitate maintenance on a wind turbine including a control assembly positioned within a tower defining an access opening, said system comprising:
- at least one rail comprising a first rail portion and a second rail portion coupled to said first rail portion, said second rail portion extending outwardly through the access opening when coupled to said first rail portion;
- and,
- at least one wheel coupled to the control assembly, said wheel configured to engage said rail and enable movement of the control assembly along said rail to facilitate movement of the control assembly between an interior and an exterior of the tower.
A wind turbine, comprising:
- a tower defining an access opening;
- a control assembly positioned within said tower;
- and,
- a rail assembly comprising:
- at least one rail comprising a first rail portion and a second rail portion coupled to said first rail portion, said second rail portion extending outwardly through the access opening when coupled to said first rail portion;
- and,
- at least one wheel coupled to said control assembly, said wheel configured to engage said rail and enable movement of said control assembly along said rail to facilitate movement of said control assembly between an interior and an exterior of said tower.
A method of performing maintenance on a wind turbine, the wind turbine including a tower defining an access opening, said method comprising:
- fixedly coupling a first rail portion within the tower;
- coupling a second rail portion to the first rail portion to form a rail, the second rail portion extending outwardly through the access opening when coupled to the first rail portion;
- and,
- coupling at least one wheel to the control assembly, the wheel configured to engage the rail and enable movement of the control assembly along the rail to facilitate movement of the control assembly between an interior and an exterior of the tower.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.