Mould assembly with hinge mechanism and method for closing a mould assembly

A mould assembly for manufacturing a wind turbine blade, comprising:

• two mould parts, a first mould part and a second mould part, for manufacturing a elongated closed profile member, including the wind turbine blade of fibre-reinforced polymer,
• said mould assembly further comprising a hinge mechanism, which is detachably connected to the two mould parts,
• the hinge mechanism further comprising at least a first hinge axis and a second hinge axis extending parallel to each other with a first mutual distance and parallel to the two mould parts in the longitudinal direction of the mould so that the mould parts are pivotable with respect to each other between
• a first, open position, where the two mould parts are located adjacent each other with a second mutual distance and with the openings of the two mould parts facing upwards, and
• a second position, where the first mould part is rotated around the first hinge axis by a first drive means so that the opening of said first mould part faces to the side and towards the second mould part, and
• a third position, where the first mould part is further rotated from the second position around the second hinge axis by a second drive means so that the opening of said first mould part faces downward towards the opening of the second mould part and is aligned therewith, thereby defining a mould cavity configured for the elongated closed profile member, wherein:
• the first mould part between the first and the second position describes a first circular arc,
• the first mould part between the second and the third position describes a second circular arc,
• the first mould part is rotated 180 degrees about the first and second hinge axes with respect to the second mould part,
• the first hinge axis is located along a side of the first mould part and the second hinge axis is located along a side of the second mould part,
• a workspace is created between the two mould parts in the first, open position of the mould assembly, and
• the first mould part and the second mould part in the first, open position rest on a floor or another surface,
• wherein the first hinge axis and the second hinge axis are connected by means of at least one connecting arm,
• wherein the at least one connecting arm includes a main plane that faces upward in the first and second positions, and faces towards the second mould part in the third position.