Wind turbine blade connector assembly
AssigneeALSTOM Renewable Technologies
InventorLuca Feigl
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
It comprises bushings in at least a first circumferential row in a blade portion and suitable for receiving studs in a hub portion. Bushings comprise an elongated body with lateral faces, lateral faces inclined to each other and major and minor faces into which the lateral faces converge. The connector assembly allows an efficient releasable connection of blade root and hub in a wind turbine rotor.
Claims10
A wind turbine blade connector assembly for connecting a blade portion to a hub portion in a wind turbine rotor, the connector assembly comprising:
- a plurality of bushings arranged in a first row and in a second row along a circumference of one of the blade portion or the hub portion and suitable for receiving corresponding studs,
- wherein the bushings comprise an elongated body having major and minor faces and two lateral faces, the lateral faces extending at least partially into one of the blade portion or the hub portion, and the lateral faces being inclined to each other and converging into the respective major and minor faces,
- the bushings in the first row arranged upside-down relative to the bushings in the second row and between the bushings in the second row such that the major faces of the bushings in the first row alternate with the minor faces of the bushings in the second row;
- the body of each bushing configured for receipt of a triangular pattern of three studs, wherein a first stud is adjacent the minor face and second and third studs are spaced apart and adjacent the major face;
- and
- wherein the plurality of bushings thereby provide an outer ring of the studs and a concentric inner ring of the studs interspaced between the outer ring of studs.
A method for connecting a blade portion to a hub portion in a wind turbine rotor, the method comprising at least the following steps:
- providing a first layer of fibre materials in a mould;
- providing a first row of bushings on the first layer of fibre materials along a circumference, the bushings comprising an elongated body having major and minor faces and two lateral faces and configured for receipt of three studs in a triangular pattern wherein a first stud is adjacent the minor face and second and third studs are spaced apart and adjacent the major face, the lateral faces inclined to each other and converging into the respective major and minor faces;
- providing a second layer of fibre materials over the first row of bushings;
- providing a second row of the bushings on the second layer of fibre materials arranged upside-down relative to and between the first row of bushings row such that the major faces of the bushings in the first row alternate with the minor faces of the bushings in the second row;
- providing a third layer of fibre materials over the second row of bushings;
- heating the mould during a given period of time;
- cooling the mould during a given period of time;
- and
- wherein the plurality of bushings thereby provide an outer ring of the studs and a concentric inner ring of the studs interspaced between the outer ring of studs.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.