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Universal Root End Support Fixture for Wind Turbine Blade

a technology for supporting fixtures and wind turbine blades, which is applied in the direction of transportation and packaging, mechanical equipment, machines/engines, etc., can solve the problems of on-going fixture development and deployment process, which is a substantial cost in the logistics of wind turbine blade storage and transportation

Active Publication Date: 2021-05-06
BNSF LOGISTICS
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  • Summary
  • Abstract
  • Description
  • Claims
  • Application Information

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

[0018]In a specific embodiment, the foregoing fixture further includes a blade strap connected to the blade cradle and wrapped about the elongated blade to thereby retain the wind turbine blade in position upon the blade cradle.
[0022]In a specific embodiment of the foregoing fixture, the stand pivot assembly further includes plural side bearings plates disposed between a lower surface of the root stand and and an upper surface of the frame arm, and disposed about the second vertical axis, to thereby stabilize the root stand.

Problems solved by technology

This has presented a number of challenges in the field of logistics for transporting wind turbine components from the points of manufacturer to the points of utilization.
Such ongoing fixture development and deployment processes represent a substantial cost in the logistics of wind turbine blade storage and transport.

Method used

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  • Universal Root End Support Fixture for Wind Turbine Blade
  • Universal Root End Support Fixture for Wind Turbine Blade
  • Universal Root End Support Fixture for Wind Turbine Blade

Examples

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Embodiment Construction

[0052]Illustrative embodiments and exemplary applications will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings to disclose the advantageous teachings of the present invention.

[0053]While the present invention is described herein with reference to illustrative embodiments for particular applications, it should be understood that the invention is not limited thereto. Those having ordinary skill in the art and access to the teachings provided herein will recognize additional modifications, applications, and embodiments within the scope hereof and additional fields in which the present invention would be of significant utility.

[0054]In considering the detailed embodiments of the present invention, it will be observed that the present invention resides primarily in combinations of steps to accomplish various methods or components to form various apparatus and systems. Accordingly, the apparatus and system components, and method steps, have been represented where appropriate ...

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PUM

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Abstract

A support fixture for a wind turbine blades transported by rail. A main frame pivots about a first vertical axis and a first lateral axis, and has a frame arm extending from it. The main frame supports the wind turbine blade on a blade cradle. A root end stand is pivotally supported from the frame arm about a second vertical axis. A mounting flange adapter, coupled to the wind turbine blade, pivots about a second lateral axis and a longitudinal axis, and is supported by the root end stand. Fixture has universal adaptability by virtue of the plural axes of pivot.

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTIONRelated Applications[0001]None.Field of the Invention[0002]The present invention relates to support fixtures for the transportation of wind turbine blades. More particularly, the present invention relates to universally adaptable wind turbine blade blade root end support fixtures having multiple axes of pivotal rotation and compatibility with intermodal transport fixture systems.Description of the Related Art[0003]The continued growth of wind power utilization has led to increasingly larger wind turbine structures. This has presented a number of challenges in the field of logistics for transporting wind turbine components from the points of manufacturer to the points of utilization. Since the distances involved are of a global scale, various modes of transportation are routinely employed, including ocean vessels, barges, railroads and trucks. In the particular case of wind turbine blades, which are very long and relatively fragile, various support fixtures...

Claims

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Application Information

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Patent Type & Authority Applications(United States)
IPC IPC(8): F03D13/40
CPCF03D13/40F05B2260/02B61D3/166Y02E10/72
Inventor SULLIVAN, ANDREW J.JONES, III, JAMES H.GOODWIN, BILLY R.
Owner BNSF LOGISTICS