Wind turbine tower evacuation method and tool
AssigneeVestas Wind Systems A/S
InventorsJonas Lerche Schomacker, Torben Ladegaard Baun, Niels Vinther Voigt
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Abstract
A wind turbine tower evacuation tool (10) is provided comprising an object end (20) for attachment to an object (500) or a person (555) and a roller end (30, 301, 302, 303) configured for connection to a surface of a wind turbine tower (110) by magnetic attraction. The roller end (30, 301, 302, 303) comprises at least one magnet body (33) arranged for rotation around a rotational axis of the roller end (30, 301, 302, 303). The wind turbine tower evacuation tool (10) further comprises a rope element (11) connecting the object end (20) to the roller end (30, 301, 302, 303).
Claims43
A wind turbine tower evacuation tool comprising an object end for attachment to an object or a person and a roller end configured for connection to a surface of a wind turbine tower by magnetic attraction, the roller end comprising at least one magnet body arranged for rotation around a rotational axis of the roller end, the wind turbine tower evacuation tool further comprising a rope element connecting the object end to the roller end.
A method of evacuating a person from an upper level of a wind turbine comprising a steel tower making use of a wind turbine tower evacuation tool comprising an object end, a roller end and a rope element connected therebetween, the method comprising:
- connecting the person to an evacuation line and to the object end,
- the person leaving the upper level and using the evacuation line for a controlled descent along a surface of a tower of the wind turbine,
- the person throwing or otherwise bringing the roller end in close proximity to the surface of the tower,
- the roller end connecting to the surface of the tower by magnetic attraction, and
- the roller end rolling over the surface of the tower during a remaining portion of the controlled descent.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.