System and process for transporting wind turbines
AssigneeVestas-American Wind Technology
InventorsKarsten Andersen, Scott Landrum
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A system is used to transport wind turbines on railroad cars. The wind turbines are partially disassembled into four types of components—nacelles, blades, rotor hubs and tower sections. The blades are stored in cargo containers suitable for use in multi-mode transportation of freight by ship, rail and truck. The nacelles and rotor hubs are not stored in containers but are affixed to transport structures. Brackets are affixed to the tower sections. Then the components are mounted on railroad cars.
Claims26
A system for transporting a first wind turbine tower section having a first length and a second wind turbine section having a second length, the system comprising:
- a) a movable transportation device having a first end, a middle section, a second end, and a deck;
- b) first pedestal means affixed to the deck of the first end of said movable transportation device, said first pedestal means comprising a plurality of deck slot pedestals and a plurality of end stops;
- c) second pedestal means affixed to the deck of the middle section of said movable transportation device;
- d) third pedestal means affixed to the deck of the second end of said movable transportation device;
- e) first bracket means connected to each end of the first tower section;
- f) second bracket means connected to each end of the second tower section;
- and,
- g) locking means to releasably engage said bracket means, said first pedestal means and said second pedestal means.
A system for transporting wind turbine tower sections having flanges with holes to accommodate bolts, the system comprising:
- a) a movable transportation device having a first end and a second end;
- b) first deck slot pedestal means affixed to the floor of the first end of said movable transportation device;
- c) second deck slot pedestal means affixed to the floor of said movable transportation device and spaced apart from said first deck slot pedestal means;
- d) end stop means affixed to the floor of the first end of said movable transportation device;
- e) a first tower bracket connected to said first deck slot pedestal means, said first tower bracket being constrained from lateral motion by said end stop means, and said first tower bracket comprising a plurality of ports located to correspond to a plurality of holes in a flange of a tower section;
- and,
- f) a second tower bracket connected to said second deck slot pedestal means.
The process for transporting a wind turbine on a movable transportation device, the process comprising:
- a. partially disassembling the wind turbine into three types of components, nacelles, blades and tower sections;
- b. storing the blades in cargo containers suitable for use in multi-mode transportation;
- c. mounting the nacelles on transport structures;
- and,
- d. affixing brackets to the tower sections.
A system for temporarily connecting a flange of a wind turbine tower section to a movable transportation device, said system comprising:
- a) a bracket designed and constructed to be temporarily connected to the flange of the wind turbine tower section;
- b) at least two pedestals connected to the movable transportation device;
- and,
- c) at least two locking members constructed and arranged to temporarily lock said bracket to said at least two pedestals.
A transportation system for transporting a wind turbine tower section, the transportation system comprising:
- a) a movable transportation device having a deck;
- b) first type of mounting system affixed to the deck of said movable transportation device;
- and,
- c) second type of mounting system affixed to the deck of said movable transportation device and spaced apart from said first type of mounting system, said second type of mounting system comprising four pedestals;
- wherein said first type of mounting system comprises two pedestals and said first type of mounting system further comprises a bracket which can be temporarily connected to a flange located at the first end of the wind turbine tower section.
A transportation system for transporting a wind turbine tower section, the transportation system comprising:
- a) a movable transportation device having a deck;
- b) first type of mounting system affixed to the deck of said movable transportation device;
- and,
- c) second type of mounting system affixed to the deck of said movable transportation device and spaced apart from said first type of mounting system, said second type of mounting system comprising four pedestals;
- wherein:
- said first type of mounting system comprises two pedestals each having a slot having a first length;
- said second type of mounting system comprises four pedestals each having a slot having a second length, and
- said second length is longer than said first length.
A transportation system for transporting a wind turbine tower section, the transportation system comprising:
- a) a movable transportation device having a deck;
- b) first type of mounting system affixed to the deck of said movable transportation device;
- and,
- c) second type of mounting system affixed to the deck of said movable transportation device and spaced apart from said first type of mounting system, said second type of mounting system comprising four pedestals;
- wherein said first type of mounting system is spaced apart from said second type of mounting system at a distance so that a first wind turbine tower section having a first length can be temporarily connected between said first type of mounting system and a first set of pedestals of said second type of mounting system, and a second wind turbine tower section having a second length which is different from said first length can be temporarily connected between said first type of mounting system and a second set of pedestals of said second type of mounting system.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.