Polygonal maintenance platform, hub arrangement and wind turbine generator system

Abstract

The application discloses a polygonal maintenance platform, a hub device and a wind turbine generator set. The polygonal maintenance platform is arranged at a front hole of a hub. The polygonal maintenance platform comprises a fence assembly. The fence assembly comprises three channel fences, three support fences and three triangular steps. The channel fences and the support fences are alternately arranged in a circumferential direction and are sequentially connected to form a hexagonal cylindrical structure. The outer side of each support fence is connected with a triangular step. The triangular step has a connecting surface and two stepping surfaces. The triangular step is fixed to the outer side of the support fence through the connecting surface. One end of the hexagonal cylindrical structure is used for connecting the outer wall of the hub, and the front hole is located inside the hexagonal cylindrical structure. When the hub rotates to any maintenance position, the channel fence located at the upper end of the hexagonal cylindrical structure in a horizontal state and the stepping surfaces of the two triangular steps adjacent to the channel fence jointly form a maintenance support surface.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This invention relates to a polygonal maintenance platform, a hub device, and a wind turbine generator set. Background Technology

[0002] In the field of wind turbine technology, with the continuous increase in unit power, major components are becoming increasingly larger, especially the main shaft of the wind turbine and the hub connected to it, whose size and weight have increased significantly. As a key component that mounts the blades and transmits rotational driving force, the hub typically requires maintenance personnel to enter specific areas inside or outside it when a malfunction occurs. These maintenance tasks, such as blade bearing connections, hub self-inspection, or replacement of bearing external seals, often need to be completed within the confined space between the hub and the fairing. However, due to the increasingly larger dimensions of the hub, maintenance personnel find it difficult to safely and conveniently reach these work areas. In the prior art, patent CN 109488540 B discloses a hub and fairing structure for a wind turbine, which uses a triangular platform as a maintenance passage. However, this triangular maintenance platform structure is large in volume, occupies too much space around the hub, which is not only unfavorable for lifting and installation but also significantly increases construction and maintenance costs, resulting in poor economic efficiency. Summary of the Invention

[0003] The technical problem to be solved by the present invention is to overcome the shortcomings of existing platform maintenance structures, such as large structural volume, large space occupation, difficult lifting and installation, and high cost, which make it difficult to meet the requirements of safe operating space and convenient installation when repairing large wheel hubs. The present invention provides a polygonal maintenance platform, a wheel hub device and a wind turbine generator set.

[0004] The present invention solves the above-mentioned technical problems through the following technical solution:

[0005] A polygonal maintenance platform is disposed at the front manhole of a wheel hub. The polygonal maintenance platform includes a panel assembly, which includes three channel panels, three support panels, and three triangular pedals. The channel panels and the support panels are arranged alternately along the circumference and connected sequentially to form a hexagonal cylindrical structure. Each support panel has a triangular pedal connected to its outer side. The triangular pedal has a connecting surface and two stepping surfaces and is fixed to the outside of the support panel through the connecting surface. One end of the hexagonal cylindrical structure is used to connect to the outer wall of the wheel hub, and the front manhole is located inside it.

[0006] When the wheel hub is rotated to any maintenance position, the passageway panel located at the upper end of the hexagonal cylindrical structure and in a horizontal state, together with the tread surfaces of the triangular pedals on its adjacent sides, form a maintenance support surface.

[0007] In this design, the polygonal maintenance platform achieves precise enclosure and compact layout of the manhole in front of the wheel hub by designing the enclosure panel components as a hexagonal cylindrical structure. The access panel features a maintenance passageway, facilitating movement of maintenance personnel from the manhole through the cylindrical structure to the maintenance support surface. The support panel, together with the access panel, forms a stable support structure and, in conjunction with triangular stepping stones, effectively expands the maintenance support area. The access panel and support panel are arranged alternately along the circumference, with triangular stepping stones only on the outer side of the support panel. This not only creates clear functional zoning but also significantly reduces the overall volume, lowering the difficulty of lifting and installation and reducing manufacturing costs. The hexagonal cylindrical structure formed by the alternating connection of three passageway panels and three support panels, combined with the unique arrangement of triangular pedals, ensures that no matter which maintenance position the wheel hub rotates to, there is always one passageway panel in a horizontal position at the top, which naturally connects with the foot surfaces of the adjacent triangular pedals to form a stable and continuous maintenance support surface. This effectively solves the problem of maintenance personnel being unable to safely reach the work area due to the large size of the wheel hub, while achieving a compact structure, small external space occupation, easy installation and disassembly, and significantly reduced construction and maintenance costs. It has superior economy and practicality compared to existing triangular platforms.

[0008] Preferably, the passageway enclosure is provided with a maintenance passage, and the polygonal maintenance platform further includes an inner ladder. Each passageway enclosure and each support enclosure is provided with an installation interface on its inner side, so that the inner ladder can be detachably installed on any one of the passageway enclosures and the opposite support enclosure through the installation interface, and the inner ladder corresponds to the maintenance passage.

[0009] In this solution, by setting installation interfaces on the inner side of each passage enclosure and each support enclosure, the inner ladder can be flexibly and detachably installed on any passage enclosure and its opposite support enclosure according to actual maintenance needs, and accurately correspond to the maintenance passage on the passage enclosure, making it convenient for maintenance personnel to reach the position support surface through the inner ladder.

[0010] Preferably, the passageway enclosure is provided with a maintenance passage, and the polygonal maintenance platform further includes an enclosure door, which is installed on the passageway enclosure and used to open or close the maintenance passage.

[0011] In this design, the enclosure door is installed on the passageway enclosure and matches the maintenance passageway, enabling the passageway to be reliably opened or closed.

[0012] Preferably, one side of the enclosure door is hinged to the passage enclosure, and the other side of the enclosure door is equipped with a locking shaft and an elastic element. The locking shaft is used to insert into a lock hole on the passage enclosure. The locking shaft can slide along its own axial direction to switch between a locked position and an unlocked position. The elastic element applies a force to keep the locking shaft in the locked position.

[0013] In this solution, a hinge is installed on one side to enable the hatch to rotate and open, while an axially sliding locking shaft is installed on the other side. With the help of an elastic element, the locking shaft is always inclined to be inserted into the lock hole on the passage panel, thus maintaining the locked position when no manual operation is performed. This effectively prevents the hatch from being accidentally opened due to vibration, wind or accidental contact, and eliminates the safety hazards caused by abnormal opening of the maintenance passage.

[0014] Preferably, the polygonal maintenance platform further includes an outer ladder, one end of which is connected to the enclosure assembly, and the other end of which is used to connect to the hub and extend along the outer surface of the hub to a distal end.

[0015] In this design, one end of the outer ladder is fixed to the enclosure assembly, and the other end extends along the outer surface of the hub to the far end, thus providing maintenance personnel with a continuous and safe climbing path from the outside of the hexagonal cylindrical structure directly to the hub away from the manhole area.

[0016] Preferably, three outer ladders are provided, and are respectively arranged in the area between every two adjacent blade flanges of the three blade flanges of the hub. By rotating the hub,

[0017] In this design, three blade flanges are circumferentially distributed on the hub, with the areas between adjacent flanges corresponding to critical maintenance points such as blade root connections and bearing seals. Three outer ladders extend independently from the polygonal maintenance platform to their respective areas. Maintenance personnel simply rotate the hub so that the outer ladder corresponding to the desired work area faces upwards, allowing them to directly climb to the maintenance point without needing to move laterally across the hub surface or repeatedly detour, significantly improving the convenience and efficiency of the work path.

[0018] A hub assembly includes a hub, a fairing, and a polygonal maintenance platform as described above. The hub is located inside the fairing, and the polygonal maintenance platform is installed between the hub and the fairing. The two ends of the polygonal maintenance platform are respectively connected to the outer surface of the hub and the inner surface of the fairing.

[0019] In this design, the polygonal maintenance platform is installed in the annular space between the hub and the fairing, with its two ends firmly connected to the outer surface of the hub and the inner surface of the fairing, respectively. This provides auxiliary support and positioning for the fairing and enhances the structural rigidity of the entire nose cone.

[0020] Preferably, the wheel hub has a rear manhole, and the wheel hub assembly further includes a rear manhole hatch assembly, the rear manhole hatch assembly including a rear manhole hatch, the rear manhole hatch being detachably connected to the wheel hub for opening or closing the rear manhole.

[0021] In this design, the rear manhole of the wheel hub typically faces the engine compartment, serving as another important passage for maintenance personnel to access the interior of the wheel hub. By incorporating a detachable rear manhole hatch, operators can flexibly open or close the manhole as needed.

[0022] Preferably, the rear manhole hatch assembly further includes a U-shaped pedal, which is mounted on the outer wall of the wheel hub and located below the rear manhole, with the opening of the U-shaped pedal facing upward.

[0023] In this design, the U-shaped footboard is installed directly below the rear manhole. Its upward-facing design makes it convenient for people to stand and provides a non-slip stepping area with lateral restraint, effectively reducing the risk of falling due to slipping or missing a step.

[0024] Preferably, the U-shaped pedal includes a connecting plate, a foot pedal, and a foot pedal plate. The connecting plate is connected to the outer wall of the wheel hub, and the upper surfaces of the foot pedal and the foot pedal plate are provided with anti-slip structures.

[0025] In this design, the connecting plate is securely fixed to the outer wall of the wheel hub, providing a reliable load-bearing foundation for the entire pedal. The foot pedal and the foot pedal plate together form a step with a front-to-back drop, naturally creating front and rear support points when stepping on it, preventing the foot from slipping outward. The anti-slip structure on the upper surface (such as raised texture, grooves, or anti-slip coating) can maintain sufficient friction even in wet and slippery conditions such as rain, condensation, or oil stains, effectively reducing the risk of falling from a height due to missteps or slipping.

[0026] Preferably, the U-shaped pedal further includes a reinforcing rib, one side of which is connected to the connecting plate, the pedal, and the foot pedal plate.

[0027] In this design, one side of the reinforcing rib is reliably connected to the connecting plate, the foot pedal, and the foot pedal plate, so that the three components form a whole that works together to bear the load. This effectively disperses the concentrated load generated when maintenance personnel step on the pedal, and prevents structural failures such as bending or breakage of the foot pedal or foot pedal plate under long-term use or accidental impact.

[0028] Preferably, the hub also has a blade-side maintenance channel, and the hub assembly further includes a blade-side hatch assembly. The blade-side hatch assembly includes at least two flexible crossbeams, a sealing plate, and a blade-side hatch. The at least two flexible crossbeams are spaced apart within the blade-side maintenance channel and are connected to the hub at both ends. The blade-side hatch is detachably connected to the at least two flexible crossbeams and has the sealing plate installed on both sides to close the channels on both sides of the blade-side hatch.

[0029] In this solution, by setting up a blade-side hatch assembly, reliable sealing and convenient opening of the hub blade-side maintenance passage are achieved. At the same time, the collaborative design of the flexible crossbeam and sealing plate significantly improves the passage's sealing performance, vibration resistance, and installation adaptability.

[0030] Preferably, the flexible beam includes a rod portion and a U-shaped bend portion, wherein the U-shaped bend portion is located in the middle of the rod portion;

[0031] The number of U-shaped bends is multiple, and the multiple U-shaped bends are spaced apart along the length direction of the rod.

[0032] In this design, each U-shaped bend is equivalent to introducing a local flexible area into the rod. Multiple U-shaped bends are distributed sequentially, so that when the entire beam is subjected to hub vibration, alternating loads transmitted by the blades, and deformation caused by thermal expansion and contraction, the stress can be evenly absorbed and released through the elastic bending and recovery of the U-shaped bends, avoiding stress concentration at a fixed point, thereby effectively reducing the risk of fatigue damage at the rod and hub connection.

[0033] Preferably, the blade-side hatch assembly further includes a platform plate, which is mounted on the flexible crossbeam and has a channel hole in its center. The blade-side hatch covers the channel hole and has multiple mounting holes around its perimeter. The platform plate has pins that correspond one-to-one with the mounting holes. The pins are inserted into the mounting holes and pass through the locking holes on the pins to fix the blade-side hatch to the platform plate.

[0034] In this design, the platform plate is securely mounted on the flexible crossbeam. The central access hole corresponds to the maintenance access on the blade side, ensuring unimpeded personnel access while providing a flat and reliable mounting surface for the blade-side hatch. This avoids potential localized deformation or uneven stress that might occur if the hatch directly contacts the flexible crossbeam. Multiple mounting holes around the blade-side hatch correspond one-to-one with pins on the platform plate. Installation is simple: insert the pin into the mounting hole and pass the pin through the locking hole at the end of the pin to secure it. No complex tools are required, enabling quick and reliable locking. Disassembly is straightforward: simply pull out the pin and lift the hatch, resulting in high operational efficiency.

[0035] A wind turbine generator set, the wind turbine generator set including the hub assembly as described above.

[0036] Based on common knowledge in the field, the above-mentioned preferred conditions can be combined arbitrarily to obtain various preferred embodiments of the present invention.

[0037] The significant advantages of this invention are as follows: The polygonal maintenance platform achieves precise enclosure and compact layout of the manhole in front of the wheel hub by designing the enclosure assembly as a hexagonal cylindrical structure. The access enclosure features a maintenance passage, facilitating movement of maintenance personnel from the manhole through the cylindrical structure to the maintenance support surface. The support enclosure, together with the access enclosure, forms a stable support structure and, in conjunction with triangular stepping stones, effectively expands the maintenance support area. The access enclosure and support enclosure are arranged alternately along the circumference, with triangular stepping stones only on the outer side of the support enclosure. This not only creates clear functional zoning but also significantly reduces the overall volume, lowering the difficulty of lifting and installation and reducing manufacturing costs. The hexagonal cylindrical structure formed by the alternating connection of three passageway panels and three support panels, combined with the unique arrangement of triangular pedals, ensures that no matter which maintenance position the wheel hub rotates to, there is always one passageway panel in a horizontal position at the top, which naturally connects with the foot surfaces of the adjacent triangular pedals to form a stable and continuous maintenance support surface. This effectively solves the problem of maintenance personnel being unable to safely reach the work area due to the large size of the wheel hub, while achieving a compact structure, small external space occupation, easy installation and disassembly, and significantly reduced construction and maintenance costs. It has superior economy and practicality compared to existing triangular platforms. Attached Figure Description

[0038] Figure 1 This is a schematic diagram of the polygonal maintenance platform and wheel hub according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention. Figure 1 .

[0039] Figure 2 This is a schematic diagram of the structure of the support plate and the triangular pedal in a preferred embodiment of the present invention.

[0040] Figure 3 This is a partial structural diagram of a polygonal maintenance platform and wheel hub according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention. Figure 1 .

[0041] Figure 4 This is a schematic diagram of the structure of the enclosure door according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention.

[0042] Figure 5 This is a partial structural diagram of a polygonal maintenance platform and wheel hub according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention. Figure 2 .

[0043] Figure 6 This is a schematic diagram of the polygonal maintenance platform and wheel hub according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention. Figure 2 .

[0044] Figure 7 This is a structural schematic diagram of the rear manhole position of the wheel hub according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention.

[0045] Figure 8 This is a schematic diagram of the structure of a U-shaped pedal according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention.

[0046] Figure 9 This is a structural schematic diagram of the location of the maintenance channel on the blade side of the hub according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention.

[0047] Figure 10 This is a schematic diagram of the structure of a flexible beam according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention.

[0048] Figure 11 This is a schematic diagram of the platform mounting base according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention.

[0049] Explanation of reference numerals in the attached figures:

[0050] Hub 10, front manhole 101, rear manhole 102, blade side maintenance passage 103

[0051] Polygon Maintenance Platform 20

[0052] Access panel 1, maintenance access 11

[0053] Support panel 2

[0054] Triangular pedal 3, connecting surface 31, foot surface 32

[0055] Inner Ladder 4

[0056] 5. Coffered hatch 5, cut 51, limiting component 52

[0057] Platform mounting base 6

[0058] Outer Ladder 7

[0059] Wheel hub outer maintenance grab bar 8

[0060] Aft manhole hatch 9

[0061] Flange 201

[0062] U-shaped pedal 202, connecting upright plate 2021, foot pedal 2022, foot pedal upright plate 2023, reinforcing rib 2024

[0063] Flexible crossbeam 301, rod 3011, U-shaped bend 3012, sealing plate 302, blade side door 303, platform plate 304

[0064] Maintenance support surface 100 Detailed Implementation

[0065] The present invention will be further illustrated by way of embodiments below, but the present invention is not limited to the scope of the embodiments described herein.

[0066] like Figures 1-11 As shown, this embodiment discloses a polygonal maintenance platform 20, which is disposed at the front manhole 101 of the wheel hub 10. The polygonal maintenance platform 20 includes a surrounding plate assembly, which includes three channel surrounding plates 1, three support surrounding plates 2, and three triangular pedals 3. The channel surrounding plates 1 and the support surrounding plates 2 are arranged alternately along the circumference and connected in sequence to form a hexagonal cylindrical structure. Each support surrounding plate 2 has a triangular pedal 3 connected to its outer side. The triangular pedal 3 has a connecting surface 31 and two stepping surfaces 32, and is fixed to the outside of the support surrounding plate 2 through the connecting surface 31. One end of the hexagonal cylindrical structure is used to connect to the outer wall of the wheel hub 10, and the front manhole 101 is located inside it. When the wheel hub 10 is rotated to any maintenance position, the channel surrounding plate 1 located at the upper end of the hexagonal cylindrical structure and in a horizontal state and the stepping surfaces 32 of the triangular pedals 3 on its adjacent sides together form a maintenance support surface 100.

[0067] like Figure 1 and Figure 2 As shown, in this embodiment, the polygonal maintenance platform 20 achieves precise enclosure and compact layout of the manhole 101 in front of the wheel hub 10 by designing the enclosure assembly as a hexagonal cylindrical structure. Wherein, as... Figure 5 As shown, a maintenance passage 11 is provided on the passageway enclosure 1, facilitating maintenance personnel to move from the manhole 101 through the cylindrical structure to the maintenance support surface 100. The support enclosure 2, together with the passageway enclosure 1, forms a stable support structure and, in conjunction with the triangular footplate 3, effectively expands the maintenance support area. The passageway enclosure 1 and the support enclosure 2 are arranged alternately along the circumference, with the triangular footplate 3 only located on the outer side of the support enclosure 2. This not only creates clear functional zoning but also significantly reduces the overall volume, lowering the difficulty of lifting and installation and reducing manufacturing costs. Crucially, thanks to the synergistic cooperation of the hexagonal and triangular footplate 3, when the wheel hub 10 rotates to any maintenance position (… Figure 1When the three maintenance positions are shown, the horizontal passageway panel 1 can naturally connect with the stepping surfaces 32 of the adjacent triangular pedals 3 on both sides, forming a continuous and open maintenance support surface 100. This design significantly expands the effective standing space for maintenance personnel while ensuring sufficient support area, eliminating safety hazards caused by narrow stepping surfaces, and greatly improving the convenience and safety of high-altitude maintenance operations. Compared with existing triangular maintenance platforms, this design, by using the passageway panel 1 and the adjacent triangular pedals 3 to form the maintenance support surface 100, can make the size of each component smaller while maintaining or even optimizing the support area. This facilitates transportation, lifting, and installation, effectively balancing structural safety and operational economy, and solving the technical problem of coordinating safety and economy in the maintenance of large wheel hubs 10. Overall, the hexagonal cylindrical structure formed by the alternating connection of three passageway panels 1 and three support panels 2, combined with the unique arrangement of triangular pedals 3, ensures that no matter which of the three maintenance positions the wheel hub 10 rotates to, one passageway panel 1 will always be in a horizontal position at the top, naturally connecting with the foot surfaces 32 of the adjacent triangular pedals 3 to form a stable and continuous maintenance support surface 100. This effectively solves the problem of maintenance personnel being unable to safely reach the work area due to the large size of the wheel hub 10, while achieving a compact structure, small external space occupation, easy installation and disassembly, and significantly reduced construction and maintenance costs. It has superior economy and practicality compared to existing triangular platforms. When maintenance personnel need to perform maintenance work on the outside of the wheel hub 10, they first reach the interior of the polygonal maintenance platform through the manhole 101, and then move to the maintenance support surface 100. A convenient way to do this is through the passageway panels 1, or other paths can also be used.

[0068] In a preferred embodiment, an anti-slip structure is provided on the maintenance support surface 100 to improve safety.

[0069] In a preferred embodiment, the hexagonal cylindrical structure is a regular hexagonal deformed structure, and the triangular pedal 3 is an equilateral triangle structure. This geometrically optimized design brings significant technical benefits. First, the regular hexagonal structure has high central symmetry and isotropy. When the hub 10 rotates to any maintenance position, the postures of each channel enclosure 1 and the support enclosure 2 are completely consistent, making the stress state of the enclosure assembly uniform and without eccentric loading, avoiding local stress concentration caused by irregular shape, thereby improving the load-bearing capacity and fatigue resistance of the overall structure. Second, the two tread surfaces 32 of the equilateral triangle pedal 3 are completely identical, which not only achieves complete interchangeability of pedal components, facilitating mass production and on-site replacement, but also highly matches the outer shape of the support enclosure 2 in the regular hexagonal cylindrical structure, eliminating the need to distinguish the orientation during installation and reducing assembly difficulty. More importantly, the angles of the regular hexagon and the equilateral triangle naturally match—the interior angle of the regular hexagon is 120°, and the interior angle of the equilateral triangle is 60°. This allows for a smooth and continuous transition between the foot surfaces 32 of the adjacent equilateral triangular pedals 3 and the horizontal passageway enclosure 1, ensuring the flatness and openness of the maintenance support surface 100 and maximizing the effective standing space for maintenance personnel. Furthermore, the regular polygonal structure has the optimal area-to-volume ratio for the same circumscribed circle diameter, making the maintenance platform more compact and occupying less space around the hub 10, which is beneficial for lifting and installation.

[0070] In a preferred embodiment, such as Figure 1 As shown, when the hub 10 rotates to the maintenance position, the maintenance support surface 100 of the passageway panel 1, located at the upper end of the regular hexagonal cylindrical structure and in a horizontal position, is higher than the stepping surface 32 of the adjacent triangular pedals 3. This height difference design, combined with the spherical outer surface of the hub 10, produces multiple synergistic technical effects. First, the lower triangular pedals 3 extend naturally outward and downward with the curve of the spherical surface of the hub 10, effectively extending the maintenance support surface 100 to the far-end areas such as the blade flange root and bearing seals, significantly expanding the working range of maintenance personnel. Meanwhile, the higher passageway panel 1 maintains the stability of the main connection, and the two form a stepped layout with a clear height difference. This stepped structure provides maintenance personnel with a wider operating field of vision and a greater working radius, making it easier to bend over or turn sideways to reach parts that are difficult to reach with traditional platforms.

[0071] In a preferred embodiment, such as Figure 1 and Figures 3-5As shown, a maintenance passage 11 is provided on the passage enclosure 1, and the polygonal maintenance platform 20 also includes an inner ladder 4. Each passage enclosure 1 and each supporting enclosure 2 has an installation interface on its inner side, allowing the inner ladder 4 to be detachably installed on any passage enclosure 1 and its opposite supporting enclosure 2, thus aligning the inner ladder 4 with the maintenance passage 11. By providing installation interfaces on the inner side of each passage enclosure 1 and each supporting enclosure 2, the inner ladder 4 can be flexibly and detachably installed on any passage enclosure 1 and its opposite supporting enclosure 2 according to actual maintenance needs, accurately corresponding to the maintenance passage 11 on that passage enclosure 1. This design ensures that maintenance personnel can safely and conveniently climb up to the maintenance support surface 100 via the inner ladder 4 after entering the hexagonal cylindrical structure through the front manhole 101 of the hub 10. It also allows for on-demand adjustment of the ladder position. When the hub 10 rotates to different work positions, maintenance personnel can choose the most convenient combination of the passageway 1 and support 2 to install the ladder, avoiding inconvenience caused by a fixed structure.

[0072] In a preferred embodiment, such as Figure 1 and Figures 3-5 As shown, a maintenance passage 11 is provided on the passage enclosure 1. The polygonal maintenance platform 20 also includes an enclosure door 5, which is installed on the passage enclosure 1 and used to open or close the maintenance passage 11. The enclosure door 5 is installed on the passage enclosure 1 and matches the maintenance passage 11, enabling reliable opening and closing of the passage. When maintenance work is required, the door is opened, allowing maintenance personnel to smoothly enter and exit the maintenance support surface 100 through the maintenance passage 11 via the manhole 101 in front of the hub 10 and the interior of the cylindrical structure. In non-operational states or during hub 10 rotation, the door is closed, effectively preventing foreign objects from entering the interior of the cylindrical structure and the manhole 101 in front of the hub 10, significantly improving safety during daily operation and temporary maintenance. Overall, the enclosure door 5 has a simple structure and is easy to operate. While ensuring the openness of the passage, it effectively isolates and protects the internal space, further enhancing the practicality and reliability of the polygonal maintenance platform 20.

[0073] In a preferred embodiment, one side of the enclosure door 5 is hinged to the passage enclosure 1, and the other side of the enclosure door 5 is equipped with a locking shaft (not shown in the figure) and an elastic element (not shown in the figure). The locking shaft is used to insert into a lock hole on the passage enclosure 1. The locking shaft can slide along its own axial direction to switch between a locked position and an unlocked position. The elastic element applies a force to keep the locking shaft in the locked position. By setting a hinge on one side to realize the rotational opening and closing of the door, and installing an axially sliding locking shaft on the other side, and cooperating with the elastic element to keep the locking shaft always inclined to insert into the lock hole on the passage enclosure 1, the locked position is maintained when no manual operation is performed. This effectively prevents the door from being accidentally opened due to vibration, wind, or accidental contact, eliminating the safety hazards caused by abnormal opening of the maintenance passage. When it is necessary to open the door, the maintenance personnel only need to overcome the force of the elastic element and slide the locking shaft axially to the unlocked position to easily open the door; when closing the door, the locking shaft automatically resets and locks under the drive of the elastic element, without the need for additional operation.

[0074] In a preferred embodiment, such as Figure 4 As shown, the cofferdam door 5 has a cutout 51 on the side near the locking shaft for hand gripping to open the maintenance passage 11. A limiter 52 is provided on the side of the cofferdam door 5 near the hinge to limit the opening angle of the cofferdam door 5. This limiter 52 prevents the door from rotating excessively due to wind force, inertia, or human error when opening, avoiding violent collisions between the door and the outer wall of the hub 10, the inner surface of the fairing, or other nearby components, thereby reducing the risk of damage to the door and surrounding structures.

[0075] In a preferred embodiment, such as Figure 1As shown, the polygonal maintenance platform 20 also includes an outer ladder 7. One end of the outer ladder 7 is connected to the enclosure assembly, and the other end is used to connect to the hub 10 and extends along the outer surface of the hub 10 to the distal end. This provides maintenance personnel with a continuous and safe climbing path directly from the outside of the hexagonal cylindrical structure to the area of ​​the hub 10 away from the manhole 101. In actual maintenance operations, after completing operations on the maintenance support surface 100, maintenance personnel can directly reach the distal part of the hub 10 via the outer ladder 7 without returning to the interior of the hub 10 or using other temporary climbing equipment to inspect or replace peripheral components such as blade connecting bolts and bearing seals. This not only significantly reduces the transfer paths and repeated climbing times for maintenance personnel in confined spaces, improving work efficiency, but also avoids the risk of falling from temporarily suspended ladders or unsafe attachments on the surface of the hub 10. Meanwhile, the outer ladder 7 forms multiple connections with the enclosure assembly and the hub 10, which enhances the stability of the overall structure and further improves the safety and accessibility of high-altitude maintenance operations, enabling the polygonal maintenance platform 20 to better adapt to the all-round, multi-position maintenance needs of the large wind turbine hub 10.

[0076] In a preferred embodiment, such as Figure 1 As shown, there are three outer ladders 7, which are respectively arranged in the area between every two adjacent blade flanges of the three blade flanges of the hub 10. The three blade flanges are evenly distributed circumferentially on the hub 10, and the areas between adjacent flanges correspond to key maintenance points such as blade root connections and bearing seals. Each of the three outer ladders 7 extends independently from the polygonal maintenance platform 20 to its corresponding area. Maintenance personnel only need to rotate the hub 10 so that the outer ladder 7 corresponding to the required work area faces upwards to directly climb to the maintenance point without having to move laterally on the surface of the hub 10 or repeatedly detour, which greatly improves the convenience and efficiency of the work path. At the same time, multiple ladders reasonably distribute the maintenance needs of different work positions, avoiding the trouble of repeatedly changing installation positions or personnel climbing long distances as with a single ladder layout, and also reducing the safety risks caused by walking across areas. In addition, the even distribution of the three ladders helps to maintain the force balance of the overall structure of the hub 10, reduces the additional impact of eccentric loads on the platform, and further enhances the overall safety and reliability of high-altitude maintenance operations.

[0077] In a preferred embodiment, such as Figure 1 and Figure 6As shown, the polygonal maintenance platform 20 also includes a hub outer maintenance handrail 8. The hub outer maintenance handrail 8 is connected to the hub 10 and extends from the distal end to the area where the outer ring bolt of the pitch bearing is located on the outer side of the hub 10. The hub outer maintenance handrail 8 provides a convenient grip for personnel walking on the upper surface of the hub 10. Preferably, hub outer maintenance handrails 8 are symmetrically arranged on the edges of two adjacent blade flanges. More preferably, the hub 10 is provided with suspension points near the hub outer maintenance handrail 8 for suspending safety ropes. There are multiple suspension points, which are spaced apart along the length of the hub outer maintenance handrail 8. When maintenance personnel walk on the upper end of the hub 10, they can grasp the hub outer maintenance handrail 8. During maintenance work, the safety rope on the maintenance personnel can be fixed to the suspension points to improve the safety of personnel during maintenance.

[0078] This embodiment also discloses a hub device, which includes a hub 10, a fairing (not shown in the figure), and a polygonal maintenance platform 20 as described above. The hub 10 is located inside the fairing, and the polygonal maintenance platform 20 is installed between the hub 10 and the fairing. The two ends of the polygonal maintenance platform 20 are respectively connected to the outer surface of the hub 10 and the inner surface of the fairing. The polygonal maintenance platform 20 is installed in the annular space between the hub 10 and the fairing, and its two ends are firmly connected to the outer surface of the hub 10 and the inner surface of the fairing, providing auxiliary support and positioning for the fairing and enhancing the structural rigidity of the entire nose cone. Simultaneously, the multi-point connection between the polygonal maintenance platform 20 and the hub 10 and the fairing distributes the load, improving the overall resistance to wind vibration and fatigue. The polygonal maintenance platform 20 provides support for the top components of the fairing and provides a passage and foothold for maintenance personnel entering the outside of the hub, enabling convenient opening, quick passage, and avoiding the risk of secondary maintenance.

[0079] In a preferred embodiment, such as Figure 6 and Figure 7 As shown, the hub 10 has a rear manhole 102. The hub assembly also includes a rear manhole door assembly, which includes a rear manhole door 9. The rear manhole door 9 is detachably connected to the hub 10 and is used to open or close the rear manhole 102. The rear manhole 102 of the hub 10 typically faces the nacelle and is another important passage for maintenance personnel to enter and exit the interior of the hub 10. By providing the detachably connected rear manhole door 9, operators can flexibly open or close the rear manhole 102 according to actual needs. When replacing large components or carrying out comprehensive maintenance inside the hub 10, removing the rear manhole door 9 creates an unobstructed entrance, facilitating the entry and exit of personnel, tools, and materials from the nacelle side. The rear manhole 102 and the front manhole 101 form a passage, thereby enabling access to the polygonal maintenance platform 20 and improving work efficiency. During normal power generation operation or when the rear manhole 102 is not needed, the rear manhole door 9 is installed and closed.

[0080] In a preferred embodiment, such as Figure 7 As shown, the rear manhole hatch assembly also includes a flange 201, on which a rear manhole 102 channel is formed. The rear manhole hatch 9 covers the rear manhole 102 channel. The edge of the flange 201 is connected to the flange of the hub 10. The inner edge of the flange 201 has an annular groove. Multiple locking mechanisms are installed on the rear manhole hatch 9 at intervals along its circumference. The locking mechanisms are dual-control type with self-locking function. The rear manhole hatch 9 is detachably connected to the flange 201 by the locking tongues of each locking mechanism being embedded in the annular groove. The flange 201 provides a flat and rigid mounting reference surface for the hatch. The embedded connection of the annular groove and multiple locking tongues ensures that the hatch is evenly stressed along the circumference, avoiding local stress concentration that may occur with traditional bolt connections and improving locking capability. The locking mechanism adopts a dual-control design, allowing maintenance personnel to unlock it from both inside and outside the hub 10. This enables flexible opening and closing of the hatch in emergencies or different operational scenarios, significantly improving accessibility and emergency response efficiency. Simultaneously, the locking mechanism features a self-locking function, ensuring the latch is securely embedded in the annular groove without additional tools. This effectively prevents the hatch from loosening due to unit vibration or accidental contact, ensuring absolute closure and safety of the rear passage during non-maintenance periods. Furthermore, the combination of multiple circumferential latches and the annular groove allows for quick assembly and disassembly—operators only need to rotate or move the locking mechanism to lock or release it, eliminating the need to remove multiple bolts and significantly shortening maintenance preparation and completion time. This dual-control locking mechanism with a self-locking function is an existing locking mechanism; its specific structure will not be detailed here.

[0081] In a preferred embodiment, such as Figure 7 As shown, the rear manhole hatch assembly also includes a U-shaped step 202, which is installed on the outer wall of the wheel hub 10 and located below the rear manhole 102, with the opening of the U-shaped step 202 facing upwards. Since the outer wall of the wheel hub 10 is typically curved and lacks reliable footholds in high-altitude environments, maintenance personnel often find it difficult to stably step into or out of the wheel hub 10 after opening the rear manhole hatch 9. The U-shaped step 202, installed directly below the rear manhole 102, with its upward-facing opening, facilitates the natural insertion of the front of the shoe sole and provides a laterally restrained, anti-slip stepping area, effectively reducing the risk of falls due to slipping or misstepping. Additionally, a handrail is provided next to the rear manhole 102 for maintenance personnel to grip. When personnel need to enter the wheel hub 10 for maintenance, they should first pass through the engine compartment side window, then crouch on the U-shaped footplate 202, open the rear manhole door 9 and pass it into the engine compartment. Holding the handrail next to the rear manhole 102, they should then enter the wheel hub 10 sideways. After completing the maintenance work on the wheel hub 10, they should return and close the rear manhole door 9.

[0082] In a preferred embodiment, such as Figure 8 As shown, the U-shaped pedal 202 includes a connecting plate 2021, a foot pedal 2022, and a foot pedal plate 2023. The connecting plate 2021 is connected to the outer wall of the wheel hub 10. The upper surfaces of both the foot pedal 2022 and the foot pedal plate 2023 are equipped with anti-slip structures. The connecting plate 2021 is firmly fixed to the outer wall of the wheel hub 10, providing a reliable load-bearing foundation for the entire foot pedal 2022. The foot pedal 2022 and the foot pedal plate 2023 together form a step with a front-to-back drop, naturally creating front and rear support points when stepping on it, preventing the foot from slipping outwards. The anti-slip structure on the upper surface (such as raised textures, grooves, or an anti-slip coating) maintains sufficient friction even in wet and slippery conditions such as rain, condensation, or oil stains, effectively reducing the risk of falls from heights caused by missteps or slipping. Furthermore, the U-shaped pedal 202 has a compact structure, is easy to manufacture and install, does not occupy excessive space, and is easy to clean and maintain.

[0083] In a preferred embodiment, such as Figure 8 As shown, the U-shaped pedal 202 also includes a reinforcing rib 2024, one side of which is connected to the connecting plate 2021, the pedal 2022, and the foot pedal plate 2023. The reinforcing rib 2024 is reliably connected to the connecting plate 2021, the pedal 2022, and the foot pedal plate 2023, forming a cohesive whole that effectively distributes the concentrated load generated when maintenance personnel step on it, preventing structural failures such as bending or breakage of the pedal 2022 or foot pedal plate 2023 under long-term use or accidental impact. Furthermore, the inclusion of the reinforcing rib 2024 optimizes mechanical performance without significantly increasing the pedal's weight, maintaining structural compactness and lightweight design.

[0084] In a preferred embodiment, such as Figure 9 and Figure 10As shown, the hub 10 also has a blade-side maintenance passage 103. The hub assembly further includes a blade-side door assembly, which includes at least two flexible crossbeams 301, a sealing plate 302, and a blade-side door 303. The at least two flexible crossbeams 301 are spaced apart within the blade-side maintenance passage 103 and connected to the hub 10 at both ends. The blade-side door 303 is detachably connected to the at least two flexible crossbeams 301 and has sealing plates 302 installed on both sides to close the passage on both sides of the blade-side door 303. By setting the blade-side door assembly, reliable closure and convenient opening of the blade-side maintenance passage 103 of the hub 10 are achieved. At the same time, the synergistic design of the flexible crossbeams 301 and the sealing plate 302 significantly improves the sealing performance, vibration resistance, and installation adaptability of the passage. The at least two flexible crossbeams 301 are spaced apart within the blade-side maintenance passage 103 and firmly connected to the hub 10 at both ends, forming an elastic frame capable of supporting the blade-side door 303. Because the hub 10 of the wind turbine is subjected to complex alternating loads and vibrations during operation, rigid connections are prone to fatigue damage to the nacelle or hub 10 connection points. The flexible crossbeam 301 can absorb and buffer some of the vibration and deformation stress, reducing the impact on the nacelle structure, thereby extending its service life and reducing maintenance frequency. The blade-side nacelle 303 is detachably connected to the flexible crossbeam 301, which facilitates quick removal of the nacelle to create an unobstructed passage when it is necessary to enter the blade interior or maintain the blade bearings, and can also be reliably closed in non-maintenance situations to prevent foreign objects from entering or personnel from accidentally falling in. At the same time, the sealing plates 302 installed on both sides of the nacelle effectively seal the gap between the nacelle and the passage sidewall, preventing dust, moisture and airflow from entering from the side, improving the cleanliness and sealing of the internal environment of the hub 10.

[0085] In a preferred embodiment, such as Figure 10As shown, the flexible crossbeam 301 includes a rod portion 3011 and a U-shaped bend portion 3012. The U-shaped bend portion 3012 is located in the middle of the rod portion 3011, and there are multiple U-shaped bend portions 3012, which are spaced apart along the length of the rod portion 3011. Each U-shaped bend portion 3012 is equivalent to introducing a local flexible area into the rod portion 3011. The multiple U-shaped bend portions 3012 are distributed sequentially, so that when the entire crossbeam is subjected to the vibration of the hub 10, the alternating load transmitted by the blades, and the deformation caused by thermal expansion and contraction, the stress can be evenly absorbed and released through the elastic bending and recovery of the U-shaped bend portions 3012, avoiding stress concentration at a fixed point, thereby effectively reducing the risk of fatigue damage at the connection between the rod portion 3011 and the hub 10. Meanwhile, the multi-U-shaped bend 3012 structure provides greater compressibility and extension stroke. Even if the blade-side channel of the hub 10 undergoes slight deformation during operation, the flexible crossbeam 301 can still maintain a reliable connection between both ends and the hub 10, and maintain stable support for the blade-side hatch 303, ensuring the sealing and robustness of the hatch after it is closed. Furthermore, this design eliminates the need for additional springs or rubber pads and other easily aging components; the flexible function is achieved solely through the elastic geometry of the metal itself. It boasts advantages such as simple structure, durability, reliability, and maintenance-free operation, further enhancing the long-term operational reliability and maintenance convenience of the hub assembly in harsh wind farm environments. Of course, the flexible crossbeam 301 can also be made from any elastic material.

[0086] In a preferred embodiment, such as Figure 9 As shown, the blade-side hatch assembly also includes a platform plate 304. The platform plate 304 is mounted on the flexible crossbeam 301 and has a passage hole in its center. The blade-side hatch 303 covers the passage hole, and its surrounding edges have multiple mounting holes. The platform plate 304 has pins that correspond one-to-one with the mounting holes. The pins are inserted into the mounting holes and pass through the locking holes on the pins to fix the blade-side hatch 303 to the platform plate 304. The platform plate 304 is firmly mounted on the flexible crossbeam 301, and the passage hole in its center corresponds to the blade-side maintenance passage 103. This does not affect personnel access and provides a flat and reliable mounting reference surface for the blade-side hatch 303, avoiding local deformation or uneven stress that may occur if the hatch directly contacts the flexible crossbeam 301. Multiple mounting holes around the perimeter of the blade-side hatch 303 correspond one-to-one with the pins on the platform plate 304. During installation, simply insert the pin into the mounting hole and then pass the pin through the locking hole at the end of the pin to complete the fixation. No complex tools are required, achieving quick and reliable locking. Disassembly is simple: just pull out the pin and lift the hatch, resulting in high operational efficiency. Furthermore, the engagement between the pin and the locking hole has an anti-loosening function, maintaining a firm connection even under continuous unit vibration and wind load impact, effectively preventing the hatch from accidentally opening or falling.

[0087] In a preferred embodiment, such as Figure 11As shown, the enclosure assembly also includes a regular hexagonal platform mounting base 6. The regular hexagonal cylindrical structure can be connected to the wheel hub 10 through the platform mounting base 6. The platform mounting base 6 includes multiple connecting segments, which are spliced ​​or welded together end to end. The regular hexagonal platform mounting base 6 perfectly matches the bottom shape of the hexagonal cylindrical structure, enabling uniform force transmission and positioning, avoiding local stress concentration caused by shape deviations, and improving connection strength and fatigue resistance. The platform mounting base 6 is spliced ​​or welded from multiple connecting segments, and the length and angle of each segment can be flexibly adjusted according to the actual contour dimensions around the manhole 101 of the wheel hub 10, reducing the difficulty and cost of integral casting or one-piece machining, and is especially suitable for the irregular outer surface of large wheel hubs 10.

[0088] This embodiment also discloses a wind turbine generator set, which includes the hub assembly described above. Because the hub assembly has a polygonal maintenance platform, inner ladder, outer ladder, and outer hub maintenance handrail, maintenance personnel can quickly reach all maintenance areas inside and outside the hub using this structure and the passageways on it, effectively improving maintenance efficiency and convenience.

[0089] While specific embodiments of the present invention have been described above, those skilled in the art should understand that these are merely illustrative examples, and the scope of protection of the present invention is defined by the appended claims. Those skilled in the art can make various changes or modifications to these embodiments without departing from the principles and essence of the present invention, but all such changes and modifications fall within the scope of protection of the present invention.

Claims

1. A polygon maintenance platform, characterized in that, The polygonal maintenance platform is located at the front manhole of the wheel hub. The polygonal maintenance platform includes a panel assembly, which includes three channel panels, three support panels, and three triangular pedals. The channel panels and the support panels are arranged alternately along the circumference and connected in sequence to form a hexagonal cylindrical structure. Each support panel has a triangular pedal connected to its outer side. The triangular pedal has a connecting surface and two stepping surfaces and is fixed to the outside of the support panel through the connecting surface. One end of the hexagonal cylindrical structure is used to connect to the outer wall of the wheel hub, and the front manhole is located inside it. When the wheel hub is rotated to any maintenance position, the passageway panel located at the upper end of the hexagonal cylindrical structure and in a horizontal state, together with the tread surfaces of the triangular pedals on its adjacent sides, form a maintenance support surface.

2. The polygon maintenance platform as described in claim 1, characterized in that, The passageway enclosure is provided with a maintenance passage, and the polygonal maintenance platform also includes an inner ladder. Each passageway enclosure and each support enclosure has an installation interface on its inner side, so that the inner ladder can be detachably installed on any one of the passageway enclosures and the opposite support enclosure through the installation interface, and the inner ladder corresponds to the maintenance passage.

3. The polygon maintenance platform as described in claim 1, characterized in that, The passageway enclosure is provided with a maintenance passage, and the polygonal maintenance platform also includes an enclosure door, which is installed on the passageway enclosure and used to open or close the maintenance passage.

4. The polygon maintenance platform as described in claim 3, characterized in that, One side of the enclosure door is hinged to the passage enclosure, and the other side of the enclosure door is equipped with a locking shaft and an elastic element. The locking shaft is used to insert into a lock hole on the passage enclosure. The locking shaft can slide along its own axial direction to switch between a locked position and an unlocked position. The elastic element applies a force to keep the locking shaft in the locked position.

5. The polygon maintenance platform as described in claim 1, characterized in that, The polygonal maintenance platform also includes an outer ladder, one end of which is connected to the enclosure assembly, and the other end of which is used to connect to the wheel hub and extend along the outer surface of the wheel hub to a distal end.

6. The polygon maintenance platform as described in claim 5, characterized in that, The outer ladder is provided in three parts, and is respectively arranged in the area between every two adjacent blade flanges of the three blade flanges of the hub.

7. A hub device, characterized in that, The hub assembly includes a hub, a fairing, and a polygonal maintenance platform as described in any one of claims 1-6. The hub is located inside the fairing, and the polygonal maintenance platform is installed between the hub and the fairing. The two ends of the polygonal maintenance platform are respectively connected to the outer surface of the hub and the inner surface of the fairing.

8. The hub device as described in claim 7, characterized in that, The wheel hub has a rear manhole, and the wheel hub assembly also includes a rear manhole hatch assembly, which includes a rear manhole hatch. The rear manhole hatch is detachably connected to the wheel hub and is used to open or close the rear manhole.

9. The hub device as described in claim 8, characterized in that, The rear manhole hatch assembly also includes a U-shaped pedal, which is mounted on the outer wall of the wheel hub and located below the rear manhole, with the opening of the U-shaped pedal facing upwards.

10. The hub device as claimed in claim 9, characterized in that, The U-shaped pedal includes a connecting plate, a foot pedal, and a foot pedal plate. The connecting plate is connected to the outer wall of the wheel hub, and the upper surfaces of the foot pedal and the foot pedal plate are provided with anti-slip structures.

11. The hub device as claimed in claim 10, characterized in that, The U-shaped pedal also includes a reinforcing rib, one side of which is connected to the connecting plate, the pedal, and the foot pedal plate.

12. The hub device as claimed in claim 7, characterized in that, The hub also has a blade-side maintenance channel, and the hub assembly further includes a blade-side hatch assembly. The blade-side hatch assembly includes at least two flexible crossbeams, a sealing plate, and a blade-side hatch. The at least two flexible crossbeams are spaced apart within the blade-side maintenance channel and are connected to the hub at both ends. The blade-side hatch is detachably connected to the at least two flexible crossbeams and has the sealing plate installed on both sides to close the channels on both sides of the blade-side hatch.

13. The hub device as described in claim 12, characterized in that, The flexible beam includes a rod portion and a U-shaped bend portion, wherein the U-shaped bend portion is located in the middle of the rod portion; The number of U-shaped bends is multiple, and the multiple U-shaped bends are spaced apart along the length direction of the rod.

14. The hub device according to claim 12, characterized in that, The blade-side hatch assembly also includes a platform plate, which is mounted on the flexible crossbeam and has a channel hole in its center. The blade-side hatch covers the channel hole and has multiple mounting holes around its perimeter. The platform plate has pins that correspond one-to-one with the mounting holes. The pins are inserted into the mounting holes and pass through the locking holes on the pins to fix the blade-side hatch to the platform plate.

15. A wind turbine generator set, characterized in that, The wind turbine generator set includes a hub assembly as described in any one of claims 7-14.

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