Connection between members
AssigneeVestas Wind Systems A/S
InventorsAnton Bech, Frank A. Hoelgaard Hahn
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A method for preparing a more reliable connection between two members is provided. The method involves the use of a gas-removal layer which allows for gas transport in a number of overall directions in a plane of the gas-removal layer. The gas-removal layer comprises a resin and during consolidation the gas-removal layer is deformed to form a collection substantially free from entrapped gas voids. In addition, a gas-removal layer is provided as well as a mould for casting of gas-removal layers and a method for preparing such a mould. The method and the gas-removal layer provided are particularly useful for manufacturing of wind turbine blades and spars for such blades.
Claims30
A method for functionally connecting a first member, comprising first fibres and a first resin, and a second member, comprising second fibres and a second resin, said method comprising the steps of:
- providing said first member;
- providing said second member adjacent to said first member;
- providing a gas-removal layer in at least a part of an interface between said first member and said second member, said gas-removal layer allowing for gas transport in all overall directions in a plane of said gas-removal layer, said gas-removal layer comprising a third resin, and a gas transportation network is mainly formed by the space between independent three-dimensional volumes of said third resin wherein the gas-removal layer comprises discrete volumes of the third resin, the volumes of the third resin having at least one dimension in the plane of the gas removal layer which is smaller than distances between respective volumes of resin;
- removing gas from said interface between said first member and said second member via said gas-removal layer;
- deforming said gas-removal layer;
- consolidating and/or curing said interface;
- and
- optionally co-consolidating and/or co-curing said first member and/or said second member.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.