Jointed wind turbine rotor blade with chord-wise extending pin bushings designed to minimize chord-wise gap

A method for assembling a rotor blade, the method comprising:

• forming a first blade segment and a second blade segment via a molding process, each of the first and second blade segments having at least one shell member defining an airfoil surface and an internal support structure, the first blade segment having a beam structure extending lengthwise, the second blade segment having via a receiving section;
• determining a size of at least one chord-wise gap between an edge of the beam structure and an edge of the receiving section when the beam structure is received within the receiving section;
• providing a first pair of metal bushings in opposing ends of a first pin joint slot of the beam structure, each of the first pair of metal bushings comprising a flange;
• providing a second pair of metal bushings in opposing ends of a second pin joint slot of the receiving section, each of the second pair of metal bushings comprising a flange;
• positioning one of the flanges from the first pair of metal bushings with one of the flanges from the second pair of metal bushings such that the flanges abut against each other within the chord-wise gap so as to fill the chord-wise gap with a predetermined defined gap or interference;
• placing the first and second blade segments in opposite directions from a chord-wise joint;
• inserting the beam structure into the receiving section such that the first pin joint slot of the beam structure aligns with the second pin joint slot of the receiving section;
• and,
• inserting at least one chord-wise extending pin through the first and second pairs of bushings within the first and second pin joint slots so as to secure the first and second blade segments together.

A rotor blade for a wind turbine, comprising:

• a first blade segment and a second blade segment extending in opposite directions from a chord-wise joint, each of the first and second blade segments comprising at least one shell member defining an airfoil surface and an internal support structure, the first blade segment comprising a beam structure extending lengthwise that structurally connects with the second blade segment via a receiving section, wherein at least one chord-wise gap exists between an edge of the beam structure and an edge of the receiving section, the beam structure defining a first pin joint slot, the receiving section defining a second pin joint slot that aligns with the first pin joint slot;
• a first bushing arranged in a first end of the first pin joint slot, the first bushing comprising a flange extending within the chord-wise gap and surrounding the first end of the first pin joint slot;
• a second bushing arranged in a first end of the second pin joint slot, the second bushing comprising a flange extending within the chord-wise gap and surrounding the first end of the second pin joint slot;
• at least one spacer component adjacent to one or more of the flanges of the first and second pin joint slots within the chord-wise gap;
• and,
• at least one chord-wise extending pin positioned through the first and second bushings of the first and second pin joint slots so as to secure the first and second blade segments together.