Wind turbine blade double pivot transportation system and method
AssigneeBNSF Logistics, LLC
InventorsScott C. Landrum, T. Christopher King
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A wind turbine blade rail fixture set employing a pair of support assemblies, each having a bolster, radius arm, and pivot disposed on a pair of railcars to minimize lateral overhang as the train traverses railroad curves, and having a slidable carriage disposed on one radius arm to accommodate changes in length between the bolsters.
Claims27
A system for transporting an elongated member having a root end and a support region located along its length, using a first railcar coupled to a second railcar, comprising:
- a first support assembly fixed to the root end by a root bolster that is fixed to a first radius arm extending below the elongated member to a first pivot coupled to the first railcar, to thereby enable the root end to laterally traverse the first railcar along an actuate path centered at said first pivot;
- a second support assembly, having a second bolster, for engaging the support region, coupled to a second radius arm extending below the elongated member to a second pivot coupled to the second railcar, to thereby enable the support region to laterally traverse the second railcar along an actuate path centered at said second pivot, and further having a slidable carriage disposed between said second radius arm and said second bolster, which slides parallel with said second radius arm, and wherein
- said first radius arm and said second radius arm are maintained in alignment as the first railcar and the second railcar traverse railroad curves, and thereby cause said root bolster and said second bolster to laterally traverse said first railcar and said second railcar, respectively, while said slidable carriage accommodates changes in distance between said root bolster and said second bolster.
The system of 1, and wherein:
- said root bolster is removably engaged with said first radius arm, and
- said second bolster is removably engaged with said second radius arm.
A method for transporting an elongated member having a root end and a support region located along its length, using a first railcar coupled to a second railcar, comprising the steps of:
- attaching a first radius arm to the first railcar using a first pivot, and fixing a root bolster between the root end and the first radius arm, thereby extending the first radius arm below the elongated member, and enabling the root end to laterally traverse the first railcar along an actuate path centered at the first pivot;
- attaching a second radius arm to the second railcar using a second pivot, and engaging a second bolster between the support region and a slidable carriage, which slides along the second radius arm, the second radius arm extending below the elongated member, thereby enabling the support region to laterally traverse the second railcar along an actuate path centered at the second pivot, and
- maintaining alignment of the first radius arm and the second radius arm as the first railcar and the second railcar traverse railroad curves, and thereby causing the root bolster and the second bolster to laterally traverse the first railcar and the second railcar, respectively, and, accommodating changes in distance between the root bolster and the second bolster by movement of the slidable carriage.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.