Wind turbine generator blade stopping device and method

Abstract

The invention discloses a wind turbine generator blade stopping device and method, the device comprises a stopping seat, a ball stud and a jacking block, and the stopping seat is provided with a locking hole matched with a blade root bolt and a threaded hole suitable for being connected with a threaded section of the ball stud; one side of the jacking block is matched with the outline of the side edge of an auxiliary hole of the hub web in a shape-following mode, and a ball socket matched with the ball end of the ball stud is arranged at the other end of the jacking block. According to the scheme, a reserved installation connector does not need to be arranged in the hub, installation is convenient, and the locking reliability is high; the device is light in overall weight, small in size and convenient to carry.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This invention relates to the field of wind power generation technology, and more specifically to a wind turbine blade stopping device and method. Background Technology

[0002] The pitch system of a wind turbine generator is a crucial component for power regulation and safe operation. Braking of the pitch system is typically achieved through the locking function of the pitch drive system. The pitch drive motor is usually equipped with an electromagnetic brake. When the motor stops operating, the brake locks the output shaft and locks the pitch bearing via gear transmission, thus preventing blade rotation. However, when the pitch drive motor needs to be disassembled for maintenance, wind turbine generators without reliable blade braking devices face serious safety risks: the blades may rotate unexpectedly under the influence of wind force, their own weight, and other factors. This rotation can cause structural damage to the blades themselves, as well as components such as the hub and tower, and can also endanger the lives of maintenance personnel working inside the hub.

[0003] Currently, some blade locking devices use a method of inserting a cylindrical pin from inside the hub into the pitch gear, relying on mechanical friction to stop the blade. This method lacks reliability, and the plastic deformation of the cylindrical pin will lead to disassembly difficulties. Some locking fixtures use gear meshing to lock the pitch bearing gear ring to achieve blade locking. For example, Chinese Patent No. CN220705836U discloses a wind turbine blade locking device, which uses a locking block sliding on the mounting plate to achieve locking between the locking teeth and the inner ring teeth of the pitch bearing. However, the mounting plate needs to be fixed with a pre-reserved installation interface on the hub, and the angle of the locking teeth of the locking block is fixed and cannot be adjusted. If the pitch drive motor is damaged and the position of the pitch bearing gear ring cannot be guaranteed, installation difficulties will arise. Summary of the Invention

[0004] The purpose of this invention is to provide a wind turbine blade stopping device and method to solve the problems existing in the prior art.

[0005] To achieve the above objectives, the first aspect of the present invention provides a wind turbine blade stopping device, comprising a stopping seat, a ball stud, and a top pressure block. The stopping seat is provided with a locking hole that mates with a blade root bolt and a threaded hole suitable for connecting with the threaded section of the ball stud. One side of the top pressure block conforms to the contour of the process hole side of the hub web, and the other end is provided with a ball socket that matches the ball end of the ball stud.

[0006] Furthermore, the wind turbine blade stopping device also includes an adjusting shim arranged between the stopping seat and the blade root bolt, used to adjust the position of the stopping seat along the axial direction of the blade root bolt, so that the central axis of the ball head stud is located at the center of the process hole flat section of the hub web.

[0007] Furthermore, the wind turbine blade stop device also includes a back nut for locking the ball stud to the stop seat.

[0008] Furthermore, the stop seat includes a first component and a second component, the locking hole is disposed in the first component, and the threaded hole is disposed in the second component.

[0009] Furthermore, the first component includes an outer portion connected to the leaf root bolt and an inner portion connected to the second component, the inner portion being configured as a ring structure such that the second component is embedded and connected to the inner portion of the first component.

[0010] Furthermore, the threaded hole penetrates the two opposite end faces of the second component, so that the two ball studs are connected to the threaded hole from both sides of the second component, respectively, to press the two top pressing blocks against the two opposite sides of the process hole of the wheel hub web.

[0011] Furthermore, the ball-end stud includes an external hexagonal segment located between the ball end and the threaded segment.

[0012] Furthermore, the wind turbine blade stop device also includes a mounting plate with an L-shaped plate structure, the mounting plate including a first connecting plate connected to the top pressure block by screws and a second connecting plate abutting against the hub web.

[0013] A second aspect of the present invention provides a method for stopping the movement of wind turbine blades, implemented using the aforementioned wind turbine blade stopping device, comprising the following steps:

[0014] S1: Place the assembled stop seat and ball stud into the process hole of the hub web, align the locking hole of the stop seat with the blade root bolt on the pitch bearing and fit it in until it abuts against the locking nut of the blade root bolt.

[0015] S2: Confirm that the centerline of the ball stud is located at the center of the process hole flat section of the wheel hub web;

[0016] S3: Pre-assemble the top pressure block and the mounting plate and place them into the process hole, so that one side of the top pressure block abuts against the process hole of the wheel hub web, and the ball socket on the other side aligns with the ball end of the ball stud.

[0017] S4: Adjust the connection position between the mounting plate and the top pressure block so that the mounting plate fits against the wheel hub web and the top pressure block remains in the position described in step S3;

[0018] S5: With the help of the mounting plate, keep the top pressure block stationary, adjust the length of the ball stud extending from the stop seat, so that the top pressure block is pressed against the process hole of the wheel hub web.

[0019] Furthermore, in step S2, by adding one or more adjusting shims between the stop seat and the leaf root bolt, the central axis of the ball head stud is located at the center of the process hole flat end of the hub web.

[0020] This invention utilizes the existing structure at the connection between the wind turbine hub and the blade root, as well as the transmission method of blade torque, to design a blade stopping device using the existing process holes in the hub web. This eliminates the need for a pre-reserved installation interface inside the hub, simplifying the manufacturing process. By adjusting the length of the ball-end stud extending from the stopping seat, it can accommodate changes in the relative position of the blade root bolt and the process hole in the hub web, resulting in high installation adaptability. One side of the pressure block engages with the ball end of the ball-end stud via a ball socket, while the other side conforms to the shape of the process hole in the hub web. This maintains a tight seal with the process hole while reducing stress concentration, ensuring high stopping reliability. The device is lightweight, compact, portable, and easy to install. Attached Figure Description

[0021] The following figures are included as part of this invention for understanding its principles. The figures illustrate embodiments of the invention and their descriptions, serving to explain the apparatus and principles of the invention. In the figures,

[0022] Figure 1 This is a top view schematic diagram of the installation of the blade stop device according to an embodiment of the present invention;

[0023] Figure 2 This is a bottom view schematic diagram of the installation of the blade stop device according to an embodiment of the present invention;

[0024] Figure 3 This is a schematic diagram of the blade stop device according to an embodiment of the present invention;

[0025] Figure 4 This is a schematic diagram of the installation of the blade stop device according to an embodiment of the present invention (the pitch bearing is not shown). Detailed Implementation

[0026] The present application will now be described in more detail with reference to the accompanying drawings. The following embodiments are only used to illustrate the technical solutions of the present application more clearly and are not intended to limit the scope of protection of the present application.

[0027] This invention provides a wind turbine blade stopping device, such as... Figure 1-4The device includes a stop seat 1, a ball stud 2, a pressing block 3, and a mounting plate 4. The stop seat 1 has a locking hole 111 that mates with the blade root bolt 9 and a threaded hole 121 suitable for connecting with the threaded section 23 of the ball stud 2. One side of the pressing block 3 conforms to the contour of the process hole side of the hub web 7, and the other end has a ball socket that matches the ball end 21 of the ball stud 2. The mounting plate 4 is connected to the pressing block 3. This device is installed using the process holes on the hub web for the blade root bolt tightening operation, eliminating the need for a pre-reserved installation interface on the hub.

[0028] The ball stud 2 and the pressure block 3 are arranged in two groups on both sides of the stop seat 1 to accommodate the rotation of the blade in different directions. The process hole of the hub web 7 abuts against the two pressure blocks 3 at two opposite sides along the circumference of the hub web / pitch bearing, to ensure that the force on the blade in its own rotation direction can be transmitted to the process hole of the hub web 7 through the pressure block 3. When the blade is to rotate, the external force is transmitted to the stop seat 1 through the blade root bolt 9, and then from the stop seat 1 to the ball stud 2 and the pressure block 3, finally acting on the side of the process hole of the hub web 7 to stop the blade. When the blade is in a non-feathered position (the relative position of the blade root bolt and the process hole in the hub web may change) and needs to be stopped, and the position of the inner ring of the pitch bearing 8 (fixed to the blade) is uncertain, the pressure block 3 can be tightened by adjusting the screwing depth of the two ball end studs 2 into the threaded holes 121 of the stop seat 1 (the lengths of the two ball end studs 2 extending out of the stop seat 1 can be different), thus locking the blade. The ball end stud 2 has an external hexagonal section 22 for a wrench between its ball end 21 and the threaded section 23, and is equipped with a back nut 5 that matches the threaded end 23. After the ball end stud 2 is screwed onto the pressure block 3, the back nut 5 is tightened to prevent the ball end stud 2 from loosening between the stop seat 1 and the stop head 2. In addition, to achieve the locking effect, the stop seat 1 is provided with two locking holes 111, which are respectively fitted with two adjacent blade root bolts 9.

[0029] To ensure a tight fit between the top pressure block 3 and the process hole of the wheel hub web 7, the conformal surface of the top pressure block 3 needs to contact the flat section on the side of the process hole of the wheel hub web 7 (the flat section has rounded corners on both sides). Therefore, this device also includes an adjusting shim 6 arranged between the stop seat 1 and the blade root bolt 9, used to adjust the position of the stop seat 1 along the axis of the process hole of the wheel hub web 7 (the axis of the blade root bolt), so that the central axis of the ball head stud 2 is located at the center of the flat section of the process hole of the wheel hub web 7. During device installation, after the positions of the stop seat 1 and the ball head stud 2 are fixed, the pre-assembled top pressure block 3 and mounting plate 4 are placed into the process hole. The top pressure block 3 maintains its conformal surface against the inner wall of the process hole and its position is adjusted as needed, so that its ball socket aligns with the ball head end 21 of the ball head stud 2. The mounting plate 4 holds the top pressure block 3 in place before it is tightened by the ball head stud 2. Mounting plate 4 can adopt an L-shaped plate structure, including a first connecting plate connected to the top pressure block 3 by screws and a second connecting plate abutting against the hub web 7. Preferably, mounting plate 4 is provided with elongated holes for screw connection to adjust the installation position as needed. After the top pressure block 3 is positioned, the position of mounting plate 4 can be adjusted using the elongated holes so that its second connecting plate fits against the hub web 7, and the top pressure block 3 is connected to mounting plate 4 by screws. The top pressure block 3 adopts a conformal design to the process hole, which allows it to have a certain amount of room to move when installed on the inner wall of the process hole, thereby improving the stress state of the ball studs 2 on both sides when the blade is locked at different angles and improving the reliability of the stopping device.

[0030] According to an embodiment of the present invention, the stop seat 1 is composed of a first component 11 and a second component 12. The first component 11 includes an outer portion near the blade root connecting flange and an inner portion near the center of the process hole of the hub web 7. The outer portion is provided with a locking hole 111 for connection with the impeller bolt 9. The inner portion is constructed as an annular structure, so that the second component 12 is embedded and connected to the inner portion of the first component 11. The second component 12 has a generally cuboid structure, and a threaded hole 121 penetrates the two opposite end faces of the second component 12, so that two ball studs 2 are respectively connected from both sides of the second component 12 to the threaded hole 121, so as to press the two top pressing blocks 3 against the two opposite sides of the process hole of the hub web 7.

[0031] The present invention also provides a method for stopping the blades of a wind turbine implemented by the above-mentioned device, comprising the following steps:

[0032] S1: Place the assembled stop seat 1 and ball head stud 2 into the process hole of the hub web 7, and align the locking hole 111 of the stop seat 1 with the blade root bolt 9 on the pitch bearing 8 and fit it in until it abuts against the locking nut 10 of the blade root bolt 9.

[0033] S2: Confirm that the central axis of the ball stud 2 is located at the center of the process hole flat section of the wheel hub web 7;

[0034] S3: Pre-assemble the top pressure block 3 and the mounting plate 4 and place them into the process hole, so that one side of the top pressure block 3 abuts against the process hole of the wheel hub web plate 7, and the ball socket on the other side aligns with the ball end 21 of the ball stud 2.

[0035] S4: Adjust the connection position between the mounting plate 4 and the top pressure block 3 so that the mounting plate 4 fits against the wheel hub web 7 and the top pressure block 3 remains in the position of step S3;

[0036] S5: With the help of the mounting plate 4, keep the top pressure block 3 stationary, adjust the length of the ball stud 2 extending from the stop seat 1, so that the top pressure block 3 presses against the process hole of the wheel hub web 7.

[0037] Preferably, in step S1, the back nut 5 is first connected to the ball stud 2, and then the ball stud 2 is assembled with the stop seat 1; after adjusting the position of the ball stud 2 in step S5, the back nut 5 is tightened. In step S2, by adding one or more adjusting shims 6 between the stop seat 1 and the leaf root bolt 9, the central axis of the ball stud 2 is positioned at the center of the flat end of the process hole of the hub web 7. In step S5, when only one worker is performing this operation, the mounting plate 4 can be pressed onto the web 7 by stepping on it or by using other reliable heavy objects, and subsequent operations can be performed.

[0038] It should be understood that, unless otherwise defined, the technical and scientific terms used herein have the same meaning as commonly understood by one of ordinary skill in the art. The terminology used herein is for the purpose of describing particular embodiments only and is not intended to limit the invention. Terms such as “part” and “component” appearing herein may refer to a single part or a combination of multiple parts. The singular forms “a,” “an,” and “the” are also intended to include the plural forms unless the context clearly indicates otherwise. Ordinal numbers such as “first” and “second” are merely identifiers and have no other meaning, such as a specific order. Moreover, for example, the term “first component” does not imply the existence of a “second component,” and the term “second component” does not imply the existence of a “first component.” When the terms “comprising” and / or “including” are used in this specification, they indicate the presence of the stated feature, integral, step, operation, element, and / or component, but do not exclude the presence or addition of one or more other features, integrals, steps, operations, elements, components, and / or combinations thereof. The terms “upper,” “lower,” “front,” “rear,” “left,” “right,” “inner,” “outer,” “center,” “vertical,” “horizontal,” and similar expressions are for illustrative purposes only and are not limiting. The terms "connection," "installation," "linking," and "setting" should be interpreted broadly. For example, they can refer to fixed connections, detachable connections, or integral connections; they can refer to mechanical connections or electrical connections; they can refer to direct connections or indirect connections through an intermediate medium; and they can refer to the internal communication between two components. Those skilled in the art will understand the specific meaning of these terms in this invention based on the specific circumstances. Features described in one embodiment may be applied alone or in combination with other features in another embodiment, unless that feature is not applicable in that other embodiment or is otherwise specified.

[0039] The present invention has been described through the above embodiments. However, it should be understood that the above embodiments are for illustrative purposes only and are not intended to limit the present invention to the described embodiments. Furthermore, those skilled in the art will understand that the present invention is not limited to the above embodiments, and many variations and modifications can be made based on the teachings of the present invention, all of which fall within the scope of protection claimed by the present invention. The scope of protection of the present invention is defined by the appended claims and their equivalents.

Claims

1. A wind turbine blade stop device, characterized in that, The device comprises a stop seat (1), a ball stud (2) and a pressing block (3), the stop seat (1) is provided with a locking hole (111) matched with a blade root bolt (9) and a threaded hole (121) adapted to be connected with a threaded segment (23) of the ball stud (2); the pressing block (3) is one side conformal to a side contour of a process hole of a hub web plate (7) and the other end is provided with a ball socket matched with a ball head end (21) of the ball stud (2).

2. The wind turbine blade restraint apparatus of claim 1, wherein, The wind turbine blade stop device further comprises an adjusting washer (6) arranged between the stop seat (1) and the blade root bolt (9) for adjusting the position of the stop seat (1) along the blade root bolt axis direction, so that the central axis of the ball stud (2) is located at the center position of the flat section of the process hole of the hub web plate (7).

3. The wind turbine blade restraint apparatus of claim 1, wherein, The wind turbine blade stop device further comprises a back nut (5) for locking the ball stud (2) to the stop seat (1).

4. The wind turbine blade restraint apparatus of claim 1, wherein, The stop seat (1) comprises a first component (11) and a second component (12), the locking hole (111) is arranged in the first component (11), and the threaded hole (121) is arranged in the second component (12).

5. The wind turbine blade restraint apparatus of claim 4, wherein, The first component (11) comprises an outer part connected with the blade root bolt (9) and an inner part connected with the second component (12), and the inner part is configured as an annular structure, so that the second component (12) is embedded and connected to the inner part of the first component (11).

6. The wind turbine blade restraint apparatus of claim 4, wherein, The threaded hole (121) penetrates through the two opposite end faces of the second component (12), so that the two ball studs (2) are respectively connected to the threaded hole (121) from the two sides of the second component (12), and the two pressing blocks (3) are respectively pressed on the two opposite sides of the process hole of the hub web plate (7).

7. The wind turbine blade restraint apparatus of claim 1, wherein, The ball stud (2) comprises an outer hexagonal segment (22) between the ball head end (21) and the threaded segment (23).

8. The wind turbine blade restraint apparatus of any of claims 1-7, wherein, The wind turbine blade stop device further comprises a mounting plate (4) configured as an L-shaped plate structure, the mounting plate (4) comprises a first connecting plate connected with the pressing block (3) through a screw and a second connecting plate abutting against the hub web plate (7).

9. A wind turbine blade stopping method, carried out by a wind turbine blade stopping device according to any of claims 1-8, characterized in that, The method comprises the following steps: S1: Put the assembled stop seat (1) and ball stud (2) into the process hole of the hub web plate (7), align the locking hole (111) of the stop seat (1) with the blade root bolt (9) on the pitch bearing (8) and put it into the locking nut (10) of the blade root bolt (9) until abutting against the locking nut (10); S2: Confirm that the central axis of the ball stud (2) is located at the center position of the flat section of the process hole of the hub web plate (7); S3: Pre-assemble the pressing block (3) and the mounting plate (4) and put them into the process hole, so that one side of the pressing block (3) abuts against the process hole of the hub web plate (7) and the ball socket on the other side aligns with the ball head end (21) of the ball stud (2); S4: Adjust the connection position of the mounting plate (4) and the pressing block (3), so that the mounting plate (4) is in close contact with the hub web plate (7) and the pressing block (3) remains in the position of the step S3. S5: With the help of the mounting plate (4) to keep the top pressing block (3) stationary, adjust the length of the ball stud (2) protruding from the stop seat (1) to make the top pressing block (3) tightly press the process hole of the hub web (7).

10. A wind turbine blade immobilization method according to claim 9, wherein, In step S2, by adding one or more adjusting shims (6) between the stop seat (1) and the blade root bolt (9), the central axis of the ball stud (2) is located at the center position of the flat end of the process hole of the hub web (7).

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