# US 2014/0193259 A1 · Offshore wind turbine generator connection arrangement and tower system > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 2014/0193259 A1 - Document ID: US20140193259A1 - Status: Published application - Kind: A1 - Application number: 13/983,461 - Filed: 2012-02-03 - Published: 2014-07-10 - Earliest claimed: 2011-02-03 - Assignees: Sway AS - Inventors: Eystein Borgen - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20140193259A1 ## CPC - F03D 13/10: Assembly of wind motors; Arrangements for erecting wind motors - B63B 21/502: {by means of tension legs} - B63B 35/4406: {Articulated towers, i.e. substantially floating structures comprising a slender tower-like hull anchored relative to the marine bed by means of a single articulation, e.g. using an articulated bearing} - F03D 13/22: {Foundations specially adapted for wind motors} - F03D 13/25: specially adapted for offshore installation - B63B 21/27: by suction - B63B 2035/446: {for converting wind energy into electric energy} - F05B 2240/93: on a structure floating on a liquid surface - F05B 2240/95: offshore - Y02E 10/72: Wind turbines with rotation axis in wind direction - Y02E 10/727: Offshore wind turbines - Y10T 29/49631: Columnar member - F03D: WIND MOTORS - B63B: SHIPS OR OTHER WATERBORNE VESSELS; EQUIPMENT FOR SHIPPING (arrangements of vessel ventilation, heating, cooling, or air-conditioning B63J2/00; floating substructures as supports of dredgers or soil-shifting machines E02F9/06) - 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 - Y10T: TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER US CLASSIFICATION ## Abstract An offshore wind turbine generator comprises an elongated, buoyant tower, having an internal service tube, the service tube extending from the lower end of the tower to above the waterline when in use, a connection arrangement comprising an upper connection assembly, and a lower connection assembly. An intermediate tension/torsion leg is arranged between the upper and lower connection assemblies. The connection assembly is adapted for lowering and raising within the service tube. ## Claims ### Claim 1 An offshore wind turbine generator comprising: an elongated, buoyant tower having an internal service tube, the internal service tube extending from the lower end of the elongated, buoyant tower to above a waterline when in use; a connection arrangement comprising an upper connection assembly and a lower connection assembly; an intermediate tension/torsion leg being arranged between the upper and lower connection assemblies, wherein the connection assembly is adapted for lowering and raising within the internal service tube. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The offshore wind turbine generator according to claim 1, wherein a winch is positioned in the elongated, buoyant tower for the lowering and raising of the connection assembly. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The offshore wind turbine generator according to claim 1, wherein the elongated, buoyant tower is substantially cylindrical. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The offshore wind turbine generator according to claim 1, where the lower connection assembly comprises a universal joint and an anchor connector. ### Claim 5 (depends on 4) The offshore wind turbine generator according to claim 4, further comprising an anchor having a coupling for receiving the anchor connector. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The offshore wind turbine generator according to claim 1, wherein the upper connection assembly comprises a yaw-arrangement. ### Claim 7 (depends on 6) The offshore wind turbine generator according to claim 6, wherein the upper connection assembly further comprises a universal joint. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The offshore wind turbine generator according to claim 1, wherein the connection arrangement has sufficient buoyancy to almost neutralize the weight in water of the connection arrangement so that only a small winch will be required during installation and maintenance. ### Claim 9 (depends on 5) The offshore wind turbine generator according to claim 5, the anchor is connected to the connection assembly during transport and installation of the wind turbine generator. ### Claim 10 (depends on 9) The offshore wind turbine generator according to claim 9, wherein the anchor is attached to the lower end of the elongated, buoyant tower by locking pins. ### Claim 11 (depends on 1) The offshore wind turbine generator according to claim 1, wherein the intermediate tension/torsion leg has an elongated portion of greater diameter in the form of an air, foam, or gas filled bouyancy chamber. ### Claim 12 (depends on 6) The offshore wind turbine generator according to claim 6, where the yaw arrangement is mounted at the lower end of the elongated, buoyant tower or service pipe. ### Claim 13 (depends on 6) The offshore wind turbine generator according to claim 6, where the yaw arrangement is mounted at the upper end of a service pipe. ### Claim 14 An offshore wind turbine generator comprising: an elongated buoyant tower; and a connection assembly comprising a universal joint and yaw assembly, wherein the universal joint and yaw assembly comprises a rocker arm and a ring-shaped member connected to the rocker arm. ### Claim 15 (depends on 14) The offshore wind turbine generator according to claim 14, wherein the ring-shaped member comprises a slanting lower circumferential surface arranged to rotatably seat against a wedge-shaped plain bearing. ### Claim 16 (depends on 14) The offshore wind turbine generator according to claim 14, further comprising a service tube wherein a plain bearing is located at a lower end of the service tube. ### Claim 17 (depends on 14) The offshore wind turbine generator according to claim 14, wherein two opposing faces of a wedge-shaped bearing have different angles to a vertical plane, an inner-facing surface having a greater degree of slope from the vertical plane than the outer-facing surface. ### Claim 18 (depends on 14) The offshore wind turbine generator according to claim 14, wherein cable conduits are arranged in a space between the ring-shaped member and the universal joint. ### Claim 19 (depends on 1) The offshore wind turbine generator according to claim 1, wherein electrical cables are connected to a swivel and an electrical slip ring connection at the upper end of a service tube ### Claim 20 (depends on 1) The offshore wind turbine generator according to claim 1, further comprising solid ballast or a combination of solid and water ballast. ### Claim 21 (depends on 20) The offshore wind turbine generator according to claim 20, comprising a ballast chamber at the lower end of the elongated, buoyant tower. ### Claim 22 (depends on 21) The offshore wind turbine generator according to claim 21, wherein there is arranged a removable blockage blocking the lower end of the service tube above the ballast chamber, and wherein there is arranged one or more openings in a wall of the service tube above the removable blockage. ### Claim 23 (depends on 22) The offshore wind turbine generator according to claim 22, wherein the removable blockage has a sloping upper surface. ### Claim 24 (depends on 1) A method for mounting an offshore wind turbine generator according to claim 1, the method comprising: arranging solid ballast in the lower level of the tower; arranging water ballast at an upper level of the tower during horizontal towing of the tower; and righting the tower by shifting the water ballast to the lower level of the tower. ### Claim 25 (depends on 24) The method according to claim 24, wherein there is arranged a removable blockage blocking the lower part of the service tube above the ballast chamber, and wherein there is arranged one or more openings in the wall of the service tube above the blockage. ### Claim 26 (depends on 25) The method according to claim 25, wherein, after the solid ballast chamber is filled, the blockage is removed, so that any residue will fall through a bottom of the service tube. ### Claim 27 (depends on 24) The method according to one-of claim 24, wherein the solid ballast, such as sand or cement, is arranged in the tower while the tower is in a vertical orientation by pouring into a service tube, and allowed to fall toward a bottom of the tower. ### Claim 28 An offshore wind turbine generator comprising: an elongated, buoyant tower and a wind turbine mounted at a top of the tower, wherein a upper end of the tower, adjacent to an attachment point for the wind turbine, is offset at an angle from a vertical axis of the tower. ### Claim 29 (depends on 28) The offshore wind turbine generator according to claim 28, comprising: an internal service tube, the internal service tube extending from a lower end of the tower to above a waterline when in use; a connection arrangement movably arranged within the internal service tube, the connection arrangement comprising: an upper connection assembly, said upper connection assembly being arranged to rotatably seat in a lower end of the service tube, a lower connection assembly, an intermediate tension/torsion leg arranged between the upper and lower connection assemblies, and a winch positioned in the tower for lowering and raising the connection assembly within the service tube. ### Claim 30 An offshore wind turbine generator comprising an elongated, buoyant tower having a connection assembly comprising a universal joint and an anchor which is connected to the connection assembly during transport and installation of the wind turbine generator.