# US 7,744,318 B2 · Transport vehicle for a rotor blade of a wind-energy turbine > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 7,744,318 B2 - Document ID: US7744318B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 11/509,951 - Filed: 2006-08-25 - Published: 2006-12-21 - Granted: 2010-06-29 - Earliest claimed: 2002-01-08 - Inventors: Aloys Wobben - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US7744318B2 ## CPC - B60P 3/41: for log transport - B60P 3/40: for carrying long loads, e.g. with separate wheeled load supporting elements ({E04G21/14 takes precedence}; signal devices to be attached to overhanging load B60Q7/02) - F03D 13/40: Arrangements or methods specially adapted for transporting wind motor components - Y02E 10/72: Wind turbines with rotation axis in wind direction - Y10S 416/06: Supports for natural fluid current motors - B60P: VEHICLES ADAPTED FOR LOAD TRANSPORTATION OR TO TRANSPORT, TO CARRY, OR TO COMPRISE SPECIAL LOADS OR OBJECTS (vehicles with special provisions for transporting patients or disabled persons, or their personal conveyances A61G3/00) - F03D: WIND MOTORS - Y02E: REDUCTION OF GREENHOUSE GAS [GHG] EMISSIONS, RELATED TO ENERGY GENERATION, TRANSMISSION OR DISTRIBUTION - Y10S: TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC CROSS-REFERENCE ART COLLECTIONS [XRACs] AND DIGESTS ## Abstract The invention is relative to a transport vehicle with a tractor and a trailer that are connected to one another during the transport of cargo by the cargo itself. The invention has the problem of making a transport vehicle available that also makes possible the transport on highways of very bulky material, especially such material that exceeds the usual profile height of underpasses and bridges (freeway bridges, etc.). A transport vehicle for a rotor blade of a wind power system with a tractor and a trailer that are connected to one another during the transport of the rotor blade by the rotor blade and that respectively comprise a holding device and/or receiving device for the rotor blade which holding device and/or receiving device is/are designed in such a manner that it/they permit(s) a rotation of the rotor blade about its longitudinal axis and that a drive for rotating the rotor blade is provided on the tractor and/or the trailer. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A transport vehicle, comprising: a rotor blade of a wind power system; traction means for propelling the transport vehicle and for supporting a first end of the rotor blade; supporting means for supporting a second end of the rotor blade, the traction means and the supporting means being coupled to each other by the rotor blade during transport of the rotor blade; holding means coupled to the traction means for holding the rotor blade; receiving means for receiving the rotor blade coupled to the supporting means and for permitting rotation of the rotor blade about a longitudinal axis of the rotor blade; driving means coupled to the rotor blade for rotating the rotor blade; and wherein the traction means includes a tractor and wherein the supporting means includes a trailer, the tractor and the trailer being coupled to one another by the rotor blade during the transport of the rotor blade and that respectively include: at least one of a holding device as part of the holding means and a receiving device as part of the receiving means for receiving the rotor blade, the at least one of the holding device and the receiving device being designed in such a manner that permits rotation of the rotor blade about the longitudinal axis of the rotor blade, wherein said driving means for rotating the rotor blade is provided on at least one of the tractor and the trailer. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The transport vehicle according to claim 1, further comprising intermediate connecting means coupled to the rotor blade and to the holding means for connecting the rotor blade to the traction means. ### Claim 3 (depends on 2) The transport vehicle according to claim 2 wherein the intermediate connecting means is provided with the driving means for rotating the rotor blade. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The transport vehicle according to claim 1 wherein the holding means and the receiving means are associated with the supporting means and include fixture means for at least partially enclosing the rotor blade, the fixture means being rotatably mounted for allowing a rotation around the longitudinal axis of the rotor blade. ### Claim 5 (depends on 4) The transport vehicle according to claim 4 wherein the fixture means comprises at least one rotor blade holding frame adapted to a profile of the rotor blade, the rotor blade holding frame being mounted on at least one radial frame resting on a plurality of rollers. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The transport vehicle according to claim 1 wherein at least one of the holding means and the receiving means is associated with the supporting means and includes locking means for locking the rotor blade, which locking means is coupled to the rotor blade. ### Claim 7 (depends on 6) The transport vehicle according to claim 6 wherein the locking means comprises at least one holding bolt extending through the rotor blade for preventing a displacement of the rotor blade along the longitudinal axis of the rotor blade. ### Claim 8 (depends on 6) The transport vehicle according to claim 6 wherein the rotor blade is provided with at least one rotor blade lug and the locking means includes at least one holding frame lug to mate with the rotor blade lug to prevent a displacement of the rotor blade along the longitudinal axis of the rotor blade. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) The transport vehicle according to claim 1 wherein at least one of the holding means and the receiving means is associated with the supporting means and is rotatably coupled to the supporting means for allowing a rotation thereof around a vertical axis. ### Claim 10 (depends on 1) The transport vehicle according to claim 1, further comprising at least one warning means for sensing a potential collision of the rotor blade and for reporting an appropriate warning of the collision. ### Claim 11 (depends on 10) The transport vehicle according to claim 10, further comprising control means for causing a rotation of the rotor blade upon the warning reported by the at least one warning means. ### Claim 12 (depends on 1) The transport vehicle according to claim 1 wherein a database is provided comprising data of a roadway passage profile, wherein the transport vehicle further comprises computation means for generating an actuation signal for actuating the driving means for rotation of the rotor blade upon approaching an obstacle. ### Claim 13 (depends on 12) The transport vehicle according to claim 12, further comprising actuation means for actuating the driving means automatically upon occurrence of the actuation signal. ### Claim 14 (depends on 1) The transport vehicle according to claim 1 wherein the at least one of the holding device and the receiving device receives an intermediate piece located between the rotor blade and the at least one of the holding device and the receiving device. ### Claim 15 (depends on 1) The transport vehicle according to claim 1 wherein the at least one of the holding device and the receiving device includes a rotatable holding fixture. ### Claim 16 (depends on 1) The transport vehicle according to claim 1 wherein the at least one of the holding device and the receiving device includes a rotor blade locking device coupled to the rotor blade. ### Claim 17 A transport vehicle, comprising: a rotor blade of a wind power system; traction means for propelling the transport vehicle and for supporting a first end of the rotor blade; supporting means for supporting a second end of the rotor blade, the traction means and the supporting means being coupled to each other by the rotor blade during transport of the rotor blade; holding means coupled to the traction means for holding the rotor blade; receiving means for receiving the rotor blade coupled to the supporting means and for permitting rotation of the rotor blade about a longitudinal axis of the rotor blade; driving means coupled to the rotor blade for rotating the rotor blade; and at least one warning means for sensing a potential collision of the rotor blade and for reporting an appropriate warning of the collision. ### Claim 18 (depends on 17) The transport vehicle according to claim 17, further comprising control means for causing a rotation of the rotor blade upon the warning reported by the at least one warning means.