US 6,888,264 B1 · Method and means for mounting a wind turbine on a tower

Abstract

An apparatus for mounting a wind turbine on the upper end of a wind turbine tower is disclosed as well as the method of erecting the same. The tower is provided with a pair of spaced-apart guide rails positioned at one side thereof which extend from the lower end to the upper end of the tower. A carriage is movably mounted on the guide rails and has a platform pivotally mounted thereon adapted to support the wind turbine thereon. The carriage positions the wind turbine so that the spinner/hub and rotor blades may be secured thereto while the wind turbine is at the lower end of the tower and provides a means for slidably moving the wind turbine from the carriage to the upper end of the tower when the carriage has been winched to the upper end of the tower.

Claims2

Dependent claims

In combination:

a vertically disposed wind turbine tower extending upwardly from the ground and having upper and lower ends;
said tower being comprised of a tubular member;
at least a first ground engaging battered leg having upper and lower ends;
at least a second ground engaging battered leg having upper and lower ends;
said upper ends of said first and second battered legs being secured to said tower between the upper and lower ends of said tower;
said first and second battered legs extending downwardly and outwardly from said tower in a diverging relationship with respect to each other for anchored ground engagement;
and a plurality of horizontally disposed braces secured to and extending between said first and second battered legs.

4 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Facts

Application

10/151,263Filed 20 May 2002 · continuation

Priority

2 May 2000

Granted

3 May 2005

Term ends

Not estimatedThe source records don’t support an estimate.

Classification12 codes

F03D 13/20
Assembly, mounting or commissioning of wind motors; Arrangements specially adapted for transporting wind motor components: arrangements for…
F03D 13/10
Assembly, mounting or commissioning of wind motors; Arrangements specially adapted for transporting wind motor components: assembly of wind…
F05B 2230/60
Manufacture: assembly methods
F05B 2230/61
Assembly methods: using auxiliary equipment for lifting or holding

Family

Application09/563,612Parent of this division · filed 2 May 2000

Application09/829,362Parent of this continuation · filed 9 Apr 2001

US 6,278,198 B1Parent of this division · filed 21 Aug 2001

Application09/829,362Parent of this division

US 2001/0038207 A1Published application

US 6,888,264 B1This patent

From the US filing history. Foreign family members aren’t listed.

Method and means for mounting a wind turbine on a tower

Life of this patent

Method and means for mounting a wind turbine on a tower

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims2