# US 9,038,348 B1 · Lattice tower assembly for a wind turbine

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- Number: US 9,038,348 B1
- Document ID: US9038348B1
- Status: Granted
- Kind: B1
- Application number: 14/132,622
- Filed: 2013-12-18
- Published: 2015-06-18
- Granted: 2015-05-26
- Earliest claimed: 2013-12-18
- Assignees: General Electric Company
- Applicants: General Electric Company
- Inventors: Biao Fang; Robert Allan Phelps; David Drue Oliphant; William Clark Weber
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US9038348B1

## CPC

- E04H 12/10: Truss-like structures
- E04B 1/19: Three-dimensional [3D] framework structures
- F03D 13/20: Arrangements for mounting or supporting wind motors; Masts or towers for wind motors
- E04B 2001/199: {Details of roofs, floors or walls supported by the framework}
- F05B 2240/9121: on a lattice tower
- Y02E 10/72: Wind turbines with rotation axis in wind direction
- Y02E 10/728: Onshore wind turbines
- E04H: BUILDINGS OR LIKE STRUCTURES FOR PARTICULAR PURPOSES; SWIMMING OR SPLASH BATHS OR POOLS; MASTS; FENCING; TENTS OR CANOPIES, IN GENERAL (foundations E02D)
- E04B: GENERAL BUILDING CONSTRUCTIONS; WALLS, e.g. PARTITIONS; ROOFS; FLOORS; CEILINGS; INSULATION OR OTHER PROTECTION OF BUILDINGS (border constructions of opening in walls, floors or ceilings E06B1/00; {electromagnetic shielding H05K9/0001})
- F03D: WIND MOTORS
- F05B: INDEXING SCHEME RELATING TO WIND, SPRING, WEIGHT, INERTIA OR LIKE MOTORS, TO MACHINES OR ENGINES FOR LIQUIDS COVERED BY SUBCLASSES F03B, F03D AND F03G
- Y02E: REDUCTION OF GREENHOUSE GAS [GHG] EMISSIONS, RELATED TO ENERGY GENERATION, TRANSMISSION OR DISTRIBUTION

## Abstract

The present subject matter is directed to a lattice tower covering and/or assembly for a wind turbine. The lattice tower assembly includes a plurality of structural members connected together to define an open lattice tower. The structural members include a plurality of supports, a plurality of inner cross-support members, and a plurality of outer cross-support members. The inner and outer cross-support members are connected between the supports so as to define one or more openings. The lattice tower covering includes one or more panel elements. Each of the panel elements are retained in position between the supports and cover at least a portion of one or more of the openings. Further, the lattice tower covering has a surface area defined by the plurality of supports and the one or more panel elements.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A lattice tower assembly for a wind turbine, the lattice tower assembly comprising:
a plurality of structural members connected together to define an open lattice tower, the structural members comprising a plurality of supports, a plurality of inner cross-support members, and a plurality of outer cross-support members, the inner and outer cross-support members being connected between the supports so as to define one or more openings, wherein each of the inner cross-support members overlaps one of the outer cross-support members; and,
a lattice tower covering comprising one or more panel elements, each of the panel elements sandwiched between overlapping inner and outer cross-support members,
wherein the panel elements are configured to cover at least a portion of one or more of the openings, and wherein the lattice tower covering comprises a surface area defined by the plurality of supports and the one or more panel elements.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The lattice tower assembly of claim 1, wherein the plurality of supports are configured so as to define an internal volume between each of the supports, wherein the panel elements are connected between the supports within the internal volume.

### Claim 3 (depends on 2)

The lattice tower assembly of claim 2, wherein the internal volume is defined by a height of each of the supports, a distance between the supports, and a width of each of the supports.

### Claim 4 (depends on 1)

The lattice tower assembly of claim 1, wherein the one or more panel elements are coupled to one or more of the cross-support members.

### Claim 5 (depends on 1)

The lattice tower assembly of claim 1, wherein each of the one or more panel elements comprise one of a corrugated profile, a curved profile, or a flat profile.

### Claim 6 (depends on 1)

The lattice tower assembly of claim 1, wherein the one or more panel elements are constructed of one of or a combination of a thermoplastic polymer or a metal, wherein the thermoplastic polymer comprises a polycarbonate.

### Claim 7 (depends on 1)

The lattice tower assembly of claim 1, further comprising one or more joints configured to secure the panel elements to the lattice tower assembly.

### Claim 8 (depends on 7)

The lattice tower assembly of claim 7, wherein the one or more joints further comprise at least one of a flat plate joint, a panel-leg joint, a Z-joint, an H-joint, a bolted-joint, or a U-shaped joint.