Follow-up clamping and positioning device special for forcible entry of retired wind power blade

Abstract

The invention relates to the field of wind power blade recovery, and particularly discloses a follow-up clamping and positioning device special for decommissioned wind power blade forcible entry. Comprising a transverse driving unit and a bearing frame, the transverse driving unit comprises a ground rail and a driving part, a middle follow-up unit and a lateral follow-up unit are arranged on the bearing frame, the middle follow-up unit comprises a first roller, and the first roller can rotate relative to the bearing frame; the lateral follow-up unit comprises a lateral follow-up assembly, the lateral follow-up assembly comprises a second roller, a second spring and a connecting block, the second roller is obliquely arranged, the included angle between the second roller and the first roller is smaller than 180 degrees, the end, close to the first roller, of the second roller is hinged to the bearing frame, and the end, away from the first roller, of the second roller is hinged to the connecting block; the second spring is arranged between the connecting block and the bearing frame. According to the follow-up clamping and positioning device special for decommissioning the wind power blade, a good supporting effect can be kept in the continuous moving process of the wind power blade.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This invention relates to the field of wind turbine blade recycling, specifically to a dedicated follow-up clamping and positioning device for dismantling retired wind turbine blades. Background Technology

[0002] Wind turbine blades, as the core component of wind turbine generators, are mainly made of glass fiber reinforced epoxy resin (GFRP) or carbon fiber composite materials. They possess characteristics such as lightweight, high strength, and corrosion resistance. Currently, wind turbine blades need to be retired earlier due to reaching their 20-25 year service life or the need to replace them with blades of higher power. Due to their material composition, wind turbine blades also have the problem of being difficult to degrade naturally after retirement. With the first batch of commercial wind turbine generators entering their retirement period, the global annual amount of retired blades has reached tens of thousands of tons. Wind turbine blades are large in size; for example, a single blade of a 2.5MW wind turbine can exceed 60 meters in length and weigh several tons. They are massive and structurally complex (including internal web reinforcement structures). Since wind turbine generators are usually installed far from cities and transportation is inconvenient, due to the high transportation costs, retired wind turbine blades can only be disassembled into smaller parts and then transported to places where they can be further processed to reduce transportation costs. Traditional cutting methods using saw blades, wire saws, etc., are inefficient due to the high strength of wind turbine blades. Furthermore, the resulting fiberglass fragments cause serious pollution to the surrounding environment and irritate and damage the respiratory tract, skin, eyes, and lungs of workers around the demolition equipment, posing a significant threat to their health.

[0003] Currently, although a wind turbine blade lifting and support structure exists, as shown in application number CN202510431668.X, it comprises a first base plate and a second base plate respectively disposed on both sides of the blade; at least two clamps located between the blade and the two base plates; a locking mechanism disposed on the two base plates and acting on the clamps; a driving mechanism disposed on the first base plate and the second base plate for driving the first base plate and the second base plate to move relative to each other with the clamps; and a moving mechanism disposed on the driving mechanism so that the driving mechanism moves the blade with the clamps on the two base plates. Through the action of the clamps, the locking mechanism, the driving mechanism, and the moving mechanism, the entire device lifts and supports the blade during transportation, achieving precise docking and stable fixation of the blade, so that the blade is evenly stressed and facilitates transportation.

[0004] The surface of a wind turbine blade is arc-shaped. Although the first and second base plates in the aforementioned support structure have arc-shaped surfaces, the curvature of these surfaces is fixed. When the aforementioned support structure is used to dismantle a wind turbine blade, the blade is in a state of continuous movement as the dismantling process proceeds. Therefore, different parts of the wind turbine blade will pass through the first and second base plates in sequence during the entire dismantling process. Since the curvature of different parts of the wind turbine blade is different, the contact area between the arc-shaped surfaces of the first and second base plates and the wind turbine blade is still relatively small, resulting in a weak support effect on the wind turbine blade.

[0005] Secondly, existing clamping mechanisms suffer from dynamic instability under vibration conditions: the high-frequency vibration during dismantling induces a microscopic slippage accumulation effect at the interface between the clamp and the wind turbine blade, which manifests as circumferential displacement and axial movement of the wind turbine blade at the macroscopic level. This causes the cutting trajectory to deviate continuously beyond the process tolerance. These deviations lead to a systematic positional deviation between the actual cutting path and the preset trajectory, resulting in layered peeling and fiber fluffing defects at the cut edge, which seriously hinders subsequent recycling.

[0006] Furthermore, due to the large size of wind turbine blades, they need to be dismantled in sections during recovery. After the blades are cut in sections, the remaining parts experience abrupt changes in mass distribution and center of gravity shift. Existing clamps are integral and cannot detect the area of ​​clamping force attenuation in real time. Traditional hydraulic locking mechanisms can only maintain the initial set pressure, creating a clamping force dead zone when faced with structural deformation, leading to partial loosening of the workpiece. Moreover, no posture coupling control model has been established between the clamp and the positioner, so it is impossible to compensate for workpiece posture drift through multi-degree-of-freedom linkage during center of gravity shift. The structural vibration caused by the dismantling reaction force further amplifies the low-frequency resonance of the clamp-workpiece system, forcing the operation to be interrupted for manual reinforcement. Summary of the Invention

[0007] The present invention aims to provide a special follow-up clamping and positioning device for dismantling decommissioned wind turbine blades, so as to maintain a good support effect during the continuous movement of wind turbine blades.

[0008] To achieve the above objectives, the present invention adopts the following technical solution: a special follow-up clamping and positioning device for dismantling decommissioned wind turbine blades, comprising a lateral drive unit and a bearing frame. The lateral drive unit includes a ground rail and a drive component. The bearing frame slides with the ground rail. The drive component is used to drive the bearing frame to slide. The bearing frame is provided with a central follow-up unit and a lateral follow-up unit. The central follow-up unit includes multiple first rollers, which are distributed sequentially along the sliding direction of the wind turbine blade, and the first rollers can rotate relative to the bearing frame. The lateral follow-up unit is located above or below the central follow-up unit. The lateral follow-up unit includes multiple lateral follow-up components, which are also distributed sequentially along the sliding direction of the wind turbine blade. The lateral follow-up components include a second roller, a second spring, and a connecting block. The second roller is inclined, and the angle between the second roller and the first roller is less than 180°. The end of the second roller closer to the first roller is hinged to the bearing frame, and the end farther from the first roller is hinged to the connecting block. The second spring is located between the connecting block and the bearing frame.

[0009] The beneficial effects of this plan are: 1. In this design, the central follower unit is opposite to the center of the wind turbine blade, and the lateral follower component is opposite to the lower or upper part of the wind turbine blade, which can limit the movement of the wind turbine blade. Compared with the existing support structure with an arc surface, the first and second rollers in this design also have an included angle. Furthermore, the second roller in this design is hinged to the bearing frame and the connecting block. Therefore, the second roller in this design can rotate relative to the bearing frame. Under the action of the second spring, the second roller can change its tilt angle. Thus, when the wind turbine blade moves relative to the bearing frame, causing different parts of the wind turbine blade with different arc surfaces to contact the lateral follower component, the rotation of the second roller can keep the second roller in contact with the surface of the wind turbine blade, thereby achieving "followering" and providing better support and clamping effect for the wind turbine blade.

[0010] 2. In this scheme, the first and second rollers are evenly distributed along the length of the wind turbine blade. When positioning the wind turbine blade, the contact positions with the wind turbine blade are distributed on the left and right sides of the wind turbine blade along a certain length. The resulting three-dimensional contact surface can evenly distribute the clamping force on the blade surface, thereby avoiding local stress concentration that could lead to wind turbine blade deformation.

[0011] 3. In this solution, the wind turbine blade deforms during the dismantling process. Because the weight distribution at the blade root and away from the root is not uniform, the blade's center of gravity shifts as dismantling progresses, causing vibration. This solution incorporates a second spring between the second roller and the supporting frame. When the blade vibrates, the second spring causes the second roller to swing relative to the blade, further preventing excessive stress on either the roller or the blade, which could lead to deformation. The second spring's adjustment range is reasonable and not excessive, allowing for timely pressure release while maintaining blade positioning. This ensures the cut portion of the blade remains aligned with the dismantling device, resulting in improved cutting accuracy.

[0012] Compared to existing clamping methods, the follow-up unit in this solution provides a flexible clamping mechanism. Because wind turbine blades are typically installed in mountainous areas, and due to transportation difficulties and costs, they are usually dismantled on-site after initial assembly. However, wind turbine blades are large, requiring movement relative to the clamping and positioning device during dismantling. During this movement, the blades vibrate due to uneven and tilted terrain. The flexible clamping mechanism in this solution better adapts to this vibration, allowing the blades to continue supporting themselves without needing to be completely released during movement. Furthermore, the clamping and positioning device, working in conjunction with the sled of the traction device, further prevents the blades from tipping over. Simultaneously, the flexible clamping mechanism prevents blade deformation due to excessive forces during vibration.

[0013] Secondly, the lateral drive unit in this solution can slide along the ground rail to support the frame, thereby adjusting the position of the follower unit. When the vibration amplitude of the wind turbine blade is too large or the width of the relative part between the wind turbine blade and the support frame increases as the demolition progresses, the lateral drive unit can adjust the position of the follower unit within a larger range, thereby providing rigid support for the follower unit and maintaining a good clamping and support effect.

[0014] Furthermore, there are two lateral follower units, which are respectively located on the upper and lower sides of the central follower unit and symmetrically arranged along the first roller.

[0015] The beneficial effects of this scheme are: the two lateral servo units and the central servo unit are distributed in a C-shape, and the wind turbine blades are limited from the upper and lower parts, resulting in better clamping and positioning.

[0016] Furthermore, the bearing unit includes a sliding part and a buffer part. The sliding part slides with the ground rail, the buffer part is disposed on the sliding part and slides with the sliding part, a first spring is provided between the buffer part and the sliding part, and the bearing unit is disposed on the buffer part.

[0017] The beneficial effects of this solution are as follows: when the wind turbine blade experiences significant vibration, the first spring can be compressed, thereby releasing pressure in a timely manner and preventing excessive force between the wind turbine blade and the positioning device from causing blade deformation or displacement of the positioning device. After the wind turbine blade resets, the buffer section also automatically resets under the action of the first spring, thus improving the positioning effect on the wind turbine blade.

[0018] Furthermore, a detector is installed on the buffer section.

[0019] The beneficial effects of this solution are as follows: The dismantling of the wind turbine blade begins at the blade tip, and the blade width gradually increases from the tip to the root. Therefore, as the dismantling progresses, the width of the portion of the wind turbine blade located between the clamping and positioning devices gradually increases. In this solution, when the width of the portion of the wind turbine blade relative to the clamping and positioning devices increases, the force between the wind turbine blade and the first and second rollers increases, causing the buffer section to slide too far away from the wind turbine blade. The detector in this solution can detect the movement of the buffer section, allowing the operator to promptly drive the sliding section away from the wind turbine blade via the drive mechanism to release pressure in real time. This maintains the clamping effect on the wider portion while further preventing excessive force on the wind turbine blade and deformation, as well as excessive force on the first and second rollers, leading to deformation and damage.

[0020] Furthermore, the detector is a limit switch.

[0021] Furthermore, the number of detectors is greater than or equal to two.

[0022] The beneficial effects of this solution are: the detector in this solution can more accurately detect the sliding of the buffer section, and the design of multiple detectors ensures that even if one detector fails, it will not cause operator error.

[0023] Furthermore, there are two load-bearing frames, which are symmetrically arranged, and each load-bearing frame is equipped with a central follower unit and a lateral follower unit.

[0024] The beneficial effects of this scheme are that the central servo unit and the lateral servo unit on both sides can better position the wind turbine blades.

[0025] Furthermore, multiple first springs are provided and distributed on the upper and lower parts of the buffer section.

[0026] The beneficial effect of this design is that the first spring provides a better cushioning effect on the buffer section.

[0027] Furthermore, a blade root positioning component is also provided, which is detachably connected to the blade root of the wind turbine blade.

[0028] The beneficial effects of this solution are as follows: During the demolition process, the wind turbine blades will vibrate. The blade root positioning component in this solution can fix the wind turbine blades by connecting with them, thereby reducing the vibration of the wind turbine blades, eliminating the positional drift of the blade roots under the vibration of demolition, and improving the positioning effect of the wind turbine blades.

[0029] Furthermore, the detector is electrically connected to a controller, which is electrically connected to a drive unit.

[0030] The beneficial effects of this solution are as follows: The detector can detect the buffer section. When the buffer section slides a preset distance closer to the sliding section, it indicates that the larger diameter part of the wind turbine blade has moved to a position relative to the servo unit, or that the vibration amplitude of the wind turbine blade is large. At this time, the force between the wind turbine blade and the servo unit is large. After receiving the signal from the detector, the detector in this solution sends a signal to the drive component, controlling the drive component to slide the supporting frame away from the wind turbine blade, thereby increasing the distance between the servo unit and the wind turbine blade, reducing the pressure between the servo unit and the wind turbine blade, and preventing damage to the surface of the wind turbine blade due to excessive force. Attached Figure Description

[0031] Figure 1 This is a perspective view of Embodiment 1 of the present invention; Figure 2 for Figure 1 Left view of the left-side load-bearing unit; Figure 3 for Figure 2 An enlarged view of one of the lateral servo components; Figure 4 This is a perspective view of the sliding vehicle in Embodiment 1 of the present invention. Detailed Implementation

[0032] The following detailed description illustrates the specific implementation method: The reference numerals in the accompanying drawings include: ground rail 1, drive component 11, sliding part 2, buffer part 3, first roller 31, first spring 32, guide rod 33, second roller 4, connecting rod 41, second spring 42, connecting block 43, detector 5, and sled 6.

[0033] Example 1 Example 1 is basically as follows Figure 1 , Figure 2 , Figure 3 and Figure 4As shown, a dedicated follow-up clamping and positioning device for dismantling decommissioned wind turbine blades includes a blade root positioning component, two lateral drive units, and two support frames. The two lateral drive units are symmetrically arranged, each including a ground rail 1 and two drive components 11. The ground rail 1 extends along the width direction of the wind turbine blade. The two support frames are respectively mounted on the two ground rails 1 and are symmetrically arranged. Taking the left-side lateral drive unit and support frame as an example: the support frame includes a sliding part 2 and a buffer part 3. The sliding part 2 is mounted on the ground rail 1 and can slide along the ground rail 1. The two drive components 11 are respectively connected to the front and rear ends of the sliding part 2. In this embodiment, the drive component 11 is a servo motor. The drive component 11 is connected to the sliding part 2 through a ball screw structure and drives the sliding part 2 to slide along the ground rail 1. The ball screw structure, installation method, and working process are all existing technologies and will not be described in detail in this embodiment.

[0034] The sliding part 2 is L-shaped, and the buffer part 3 is opposite to the vertical part of the sliding part 2. Guide rods 33 are bolted to both the upper and lower parts of the buffer part 3. The guide rods 33 are horizontally arranged and pass through the sliding part 2, and can slide relative to the sliding part 2. Each guide rod 33 is fitted with a first spring 32, the two ends of which abut against the sliding part 2 and the buffer part 3 respectively. After the buffer part 3 slides to the left, it returns to its rightward position. Two detectors 5 are also installed on the sliding part 2. In this embodiment, the detectors 5 are limit switches, which are opposite to the buffer part 3 and used to detect the distance the buffer part 3 slides relative to the sliding part 2.

[0035] The buffer section 3 is provided with a central follower unit and two lateral follower units. The central follower unit includes multiple first rollers 31, which are distributed sequentially along the length of the wind turbine blade. The first rollers 31 are arranged vertically, and each of the first rollers 31 has a rotating shaft at both ends. The rotating shafts pass through the buffer section 3 and are in close contact with the buffer section 3 with a small gap, so that the first rollers 31 can rotate relative to the buffer section 3.

[0036] Two lateral follower units are respectively located on the upper and lower sides of the middle follower unit and are symmetrically arranged along the middle follower unit. Taking the upper lateral follower unit as an example: the lateral follower unit includes multiple lateral follower components, which are also distributed sequentially along the length of the wind turbine blade. The lateral follower components include a second roller 4, a second spring 42, and a connecting block 43. The top and bottom of the second roller 4 are fixed with rotating shafts, and the rotating shaft located below the second roller 4 is hinged to the buffer part 3. The upper part of the second roller 4 is tilted to the right, so that the angle between the second roller 4 and the first roller 31 is an obtuse angle. The rotation shaft of the upper grid of the second roller 4 is hinged to the connecting block 43. A connecting rod 41 is welded on the connecting block 43. The left end of the connecting rod 41 is tilted upward and passes through the sliding part 2. In this embodiment, the connecting rod 41 can slide axially relative to the sliding part 2. The second spring 42 is sleeved on the connecting rod 41, and the two ends of the second spring 42 abut against the connecting block 43 and the sliding part 2 respectively. When the buffer part 3 slides to the left relative to the sliding part 2, the second roller 4 rotates clockwise, which increases the clamping and positioning effect on the wind turbine blade.

[0037] It is also equipped with a blade root positioning component, which is located on the front side of the bearing frame and its rearward projection is located between the two bearing frames. Specifically, in this embodiment, the blade root positioning component adopts an existing flange that can be detachably connected to the blade root of the wind turbine blade, and the blade root positioning component is installed on the sled 6 of the traction feeding device by bolts. The wind turbine blade is connected to the traction feeding device through the blade root positioning component, which facilitates stable feeding during the dismantling process.

[0038] The specific implementation process is as follows: When using the clamping and positioning device in this embodiment, the wind turbine blade is first passed between the two supporting frames, then the drive unit 11 is activated to slide the sliding seat toward each other until the first roller 31 and the second roller 4 abut against the side wall of the wind turbine blade to clamp and position the wind turbine blade, and then the drive unit 11 is turned off.

[0039] During dismantling, the wind turbine blade slides relative to the supporting frame. At this time, the first roller 31 and the second roller 4 rotate to ensure continuous feeding of the wind turbine blade. As dismantling progresses, when different width sections of the wind turbine blade move between the two supporting frames, the buffer section 3 moves closer to the sliding section 2 under the pressure of the wind turbine blade. The detector 5 detects an increase in the sliding distance of the buffer section 3. At this point, the driving component 11 slides the sliding section 2 away from each other, increasing the distance between the two supporting frames to accommodate different width sections of the wind turbine blade. During this process, the second roller 4 can swing under the action of the second spring 42, ensuring that the second roller 4 remains in contact with the surface of the wind turbine blade.

[0040] When the wind turbine blade vibrates, the blade root positioning component initially fixes the blade, reducing the transmission of vibration. At this time, the second roller 4 also swings to maintain the clamping and positioning effect on the wind turbine blade. In actual implementation, the detector 5 can also be electrically connected to the controller, and the controller can be connected to the drive component 11. A reference value is set so that when the sliding distance of the buffer part 3 detected by the detector 5 is greater than the reference value, the controller sends an electrical signal to the drive component 11, causing the drive component 11 to control the sliding seat to slide in a direction away from each other, so as to adjust the distance between the two bearing frames in real time and release stress in real time.

[0041] Example 2 Based on Embodiment 1, this embodiment also includes a controller electrically connected to the detector 5 to receive electrical signals emitted by the detector 5. The controller is also electrically connected to the drive unit 11 and, upon receiving the electrical signals from the detector 5, sends a signal to the drive unit 11 to activate it, driving the sliding part 2 to slide away from the wind turbine blade until the detector 5 stops sending electrical signals to the controller. In actual implementation, the controller can be selected from existing PLC models according to actual needs.

[0042] The above descriptions are merely embodiments of the present invention, and common knowledge such as specific technical solutions and / or characteristics are not described in detail here. It should be noted that those skilled in the art can make various modifications and improvements without departing from the technical solutions of the present invention, and these should also be considered within the scope of protection of the present invention. These modifications and improvements will not affect the effectiveness of the implementation of the present invention or the practicality of the patent. The scope of protection claimed in this application should be determined by the content of its claims, and the specific embodiments described in the specification can be used to interpret the content of the claims.

Claims

1. A dedicated follow-up clamping and positioning device for dismantling decommissioned wind turbine blades, comprising a lateral drive unit and a support frame, wherein the lateral drive unit includes a ground rail and a drive component, the support frame slides with the ground rail, and the drive component drives the support frame to slide, characterized in that: The supporting frame is provided with a central follower unit and a lateral follower unit. The central follower unit includes multiple first rollers, which are distributed sequentially along the sliding direction of the wind turbine blades and can rotate relative to the supporting frame. The lateral follower unit is located above or below the central follower unit and includes multiple lateral follower components. The lateral follower units are also distributed sequentially along the sliding direction of the wind turbine blades. The lateral follower components include a second roller, a second spring, and a connecting block. The second roller is inclined and the angle between the second roller and the first roller is less than 180°. The end of the second roller closer to the first roller is hinged to the supporting frame, and the end farther from the first roller is hinged to the connecting block. The second spring is located between the connecting block and the supporting frame.

2. The dedicated follow-up clamping and positioning device for dismantling decommissioned wind turbine blades according to claim 1, characterized in that: There are two lateral follower units, which are respectively located on the upper and lower sides of the middle follower unit and symmetrically arranged along the first roller.

3. The dedicated follow-up clamping and positioning device for dismantling decommissioned wind turbine blades according to claim 1, characterized in that: The bearing unit includes a sliding part and a buffer part. The sliding part slides with the ground rail, and the buffer part is disposed on the sliding part and slides with the sliding part. A first spring is provided between the buffer part and the sliding part, and the bearing unit is disposed on the buffer part.

4. The dedicated follow-up clamping and positioning device for dismantling decommissioned wind turbine blades according to claim 3, characterized in that: The buffer section is equipped with a detector.

5. The dedicated follow-up clamping and positioning device for dismantling decommissioned wind turbine blades according to claim 4, characterized in that: The detector is a limit switch.

6. A special follow-up clamping and positioning device for dismantling decommissioned wind turbine blades according to claim 4 or 5, characterized in that: The number of detectors is greater than or equal to two.

7. The dedicated follow-up clamping and positioning device for dismantling decommissioned wind turbine blades according to claim 1, characterized in that: There are two load-bearing frames, which are symmetrically arranged, and each load-bearing frame is equipped with a central follower unit and a lateral follower unit.

8. The dedicated follow-up clamping and positioning device for dismantling decommissioned wind turbine blades according to claim 3, characterized in that: The first spring is provided in multiple parts and is distributed on the upper and lower parts of the buffer section.

9. A special follow-up clamping and positioning device for dismantling decommissioned wind turbine blades according to claim 1, characterized in that: It is also equipped with a blade root positioning component, which is detachably connected to the blade root of the wind turbine blade.

10. A special follow-up clamping and positioning device for dismantling decommissioned wind turbine blades according to claim 4, characterized in that: The detector is electrically connected to a controller, which is electrically connected to a drive unit.

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