Back to results
US 8,910,446 B2Granted
Structural shape for wind tower members
AssigneeGe Wind Energy GmbH
InventorsDavid Oliphant, Todd Andersen
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
One of the major structural components in a space frame tower is the tower leg. A novel and nonobvious tower leg structure is provided which provides significant advantages and benefits over previously available structures.
Claims49
A wind tower comprising:
- a plurality of legs, each of said plurality of legs comprising a structural member, said structural member having an open cross section defining a substantially unobstructed inner surface facing toward a midpoint of the tower, said open cross section comprising:
- two flange portions for attaching said structural member into said wind tower,
- a framed portion connecting said flange portions so as to define an outermost cavity of said structural member, wherein said cavity extends radially outward from the midpoint of the tower, and
- wherein said flange portions and said framed portion are extended substantially normal to the open cross section thereby forming said structural member.
1 more element
A space frame wind tower comprising:
- a plurality of legs, each of said plurality of legs comprising a structural member, said structural member having an open cross section defining a substantially unobstructed inner surface facing toward a midpoint of the tower, said open cross section comprising:
- two flange portions for attaching said structural member into said wind tower,
- a framed portion connecting said flange portions so as to define an outermost cavity of said structural member, wherein said cavity extends radially outward from midpoint of the tower, and
- wherein said flange portions and said framed portion are extended substantially normal to the open cross section thereby forming said structural member.
1 more element
A wind tower comprising:
- a structural member for use in constructing a wind tower comprising, wherein said structural member comprises an open cross section defining a substantially unobstructed inner surface facing toward a midpoint of the tower, wherein said structural member forms a framed portion and flange portions, wherein the framed portion defines an outermost cavity of said structural member, wherein said cavity extends radially outward from a midpoint of the tower, wherein the framed portion and flange portions are extended substantially normal to a cross section of said structural member:
- means for attaching other structures to said structural member for constructing a lattice thereby forming said wind tower;
- means for resisting compressive loading for preserving the structural integrity of said wind tower;
- and
- means for resisting torsional loading for preserving the structural integrity of said wind tower.
2 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.