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Method and system for coupling a stair platform to a tower of a wind energy turbine

a technology for wind energy turbines and stair platforms, applied in the field of towers, can solve the problems of time-consuming, expensive and/or dangerous tasks, and the assembly procedure and the assembly method still requires substantial attention and effor

Inactive Publication Date: 2010-06-03
GENERAL ELECTRIC CO
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  • Summary
  • Abstract
  • Description
  • Claims
  • Application Information

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

"The patent describes a system for attaching a stair platform to a wind energy turbine tower using a doorway and attachment slots. The technical effect is a safer and more efficient attachment of the stair platform to the tower, which reduces the risk of injury and increases the stability of the platform. Additionally, the patent describes a method for assembling the tower and a stair platform for use with the turbine tower."

Problems solved by technology

Assembling and mounting of such ladders or stairways may be a time-consuming, expensive and / or dangerous task.
However, this assembly procedure requires substantial attention and effort to attach the stairway to the tower and to prevent injuries to the technician.
Such assembly methods still require substantial attention and effort to enable the stairway to be coupled to the tower.
Moreover, such assembly methods may still be time-consuming due to difficulty in aligning the mechanical fasteners.

Method used

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  • Method and system for coupling a stair platform to a tower of a wind energy turbine
  • Method and system for coupling a stair platform to a tower of a wind energy turbine
  • Method and system for coupling a stair platform to a tower of a wind energy turbine

Examples

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Embodiment Construction

[0013]FIG. 1 illustrates an exemplary horizontal axis wind turbine generator 100 having a tower 102 extending from a supporting surface (not shown), a nacelle 104 mounted on the tower 102, and a rotor 106 coupled to the nacelle 104. The rotor 106 includes a plurality of rotor blades 108 mounted thereto. In the exemplary embodiment, the rotor 106 has three rotor blades 108, but it is understood that the rotor 106 may include more or less than three rotor blades 108. The tower 102, which in the exemplary embodiment is tubular encloses various structures and equipment therein. It is contemplated that other types of wind turbine generators (e.g., vertical axis wind turbine generators) can be used without departing from the scope of this invention.

[0014]The rotor blades 108 are spaced about the rotor 106 to facilitate rotating the rotor 106 to transfer kinetic energy from the wind into usable mechanical energy, and subsequently, electrical energy. More specifically, as the wind strikes t...

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PUM

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Abstract

A method and system for coupling a stair platform to a tower of a wind energy turbine that includes a stair platform comprising at least one side member and a doorway formed in a portion of the tower. The doorway further includes a casing that defines an outer perimeter of the doorway. At least one connection member extends outward from the casing. At least one attachment slot is defined in at least one side member of the stair platform. The attachment slot is configured to receive a portion of the at least one connection member therein to couple the stair platform to the doorway.

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION[0001]The field of the present invention relates generally to towers used with wind turbines, and more specifically to a method and system for attaching a stair platform to wind turbine towers.[0002]Modern high performance wind energy turbines often include a tubular tower that includes diverse operating components that are located within of the tower and / or at the bottom thereof. Such components or units may include a frequency converter, a transformer and / or a control system necessary to transmit electrical energy from the wind turbine to a power distribution grid. In at least some known towers, access to the components and units is possible via a tower door located in a wall of the tower. Entry through the tower door frequently requires the use of a ladder or stairway since the tower door is commonly located at a substantial height above the ground. As a result, in many turbines the ladder or stairway is commonly coupled to the surrounding tower structu...

Claims

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Application Information

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Patent Type & Authority Applications(United States)
IPC IPC(8): E04F11/022
CPCE04F11/025Y02E10/721E04F11/112Y02E10/72E04F11/022E04F11/02
Inventor GURK, MATHIASLUEHN, HOLGERFAUST, WOLFGANG
Owner GENERAL ELECTRIC CO