Apparatus, systems and methods for erecting an offshore wind turbine assembly
OwnerWilliam Clyde Geigerinventor
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
An embodiment of an apparatus useful for up-righting a wind turbine pillar at an offshore installation location includes a barge having first and second towers and an open area therebetween and which extends downwardly to the offshore installation location. At least two pulling lines extend from the towers to the pillar and are useful to assist in moving the pillar into a generally up-right orientation between the towers and lowering the pillar downwardly through the open area to the offshore installation location.
Claims25
An apparatus useful for up-righting a wind turbine assembly at an offshore installation location, the apparatus comprising:
- a barge having first and second ends and being capable of carrying the wind turbine assembly;
- first and second towers disposed at said first end of said barge;
- an open area disposed between said first and second towers and extending downwardly to the offshore installation location;
- and
- at least two pulling lines each engageable between at least one of said first and second towers and at least part of the wind turbine assembly, said at least two pulling lines being useful to assist in moving at least part of the wind turbine assembly into a generally up-right orientation between said first and second towers and lowering the wind turbine assembly downwardly through the open area to the offshore installation location.
A system useful for assisting in up-righting an elongated wind turbine pillar on a floating vessel at an offshore location, the floating vessel having at least one tower, the system comprising:
- at least two pins, each said pin extending through and being rotatable within a different passageway in the turbine pillar;
- each said passageway being disposed in the pillar at a different height of the pillar;
- each said pin having a coupler at each end;
- and
- at least two pulling lines, each said pulling line being engageable between a different coupler of said pins and the at least one tower of the vessel, whereby said at least two pulling lines are useful to assist in moving the pillar into a generally up-right position at the offshore location.
A method for installing a wind turbine assembly at an offshore installation location from a barge, the wind turbine assembly including a turbine pillar, the method comprising:
- forming first and second towers at one end of the barge;
- forming an open area between the towers that extends downwardly to the offshore installation location;
- placing the wind turbine pillar on the barge in a non-upright position;
- engaging at least a first pulling line between the first tower and the turbine pillar;
- engaging at least a second pulling line between the second tower and the turbine pillar;
- pulling at least one pulling line to draw the turbine pillar into a generally up-right position between the towers and in or over the open area;
- and
- lowering the turbine pillar to the offshore installation location.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.