Folding wind power maintenance platform with anti-falling locking mechanism

Abstract

The present disclosure relates to the technical field of wind power maintenance platform, and an embodiment of the present disclosure provides a folding wind power maintenance platform with anti-falling locking mechanism, which comprises a stand and a platform, the platform is arranged at the bottom of the stand, a folding locking assembly is arranged between the stand and the platform, a protection connecting assembly is arranged on the stand, the folding locking assembly comprises a horizontal shaft, the horizontal shaft is horizontally rotationally connected at the bottom of the stand, the platform is fixed on the horizontal shaft, the horizontal shaft is provided with a worm gear at both ends, drive motors are installed on both sides of the stand, the output ends of the drive motors are provided with worm gears, and the worm gears are engaged with the worm gears. Through the above technical scheme, the technical problem that the existing wind power maintenance platform generally adopts a fixed structure design, does not have a folding function and has poor anti-falling safety effect is solved.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The embodiments disclosed herein relate to the technical field of wind power maintenance platforms, specifically to a foldable wind power maintenance platform with a fall arrest locking mechanism. Background Technology

[0002] In wind power equipment operation and maintenance, the maintenance platform is a core tool for ensuring the safety of workers performing high-altitude operations and for inspecting components such as blades and towers. It must balance flexibility and adaptability with reliability and safety to meet the maintenance needs of wind power equipment at different heights and in different locations. As the wind power industry develops towards higher capacity and higher altitudes, the shortcomings of traditional maintenance platforms are becoming increasingly apparent: existing wind power maintenance platforms generally adopt a fixed structure design, lacking folding capabilities and exhibiting poor fall protection, severely restricting operation and maintenance efficiency and personnel safety.

[0003] Traditional fixed-structure maintenance platforms are large and heavy, requiring disassembly into multiple components for transport. This makes them extremely difficult to move in remote wind farm sites (such as mountainous or offshore areas). Installation also requires multiple pieces of equipment for coordinated hoisting, which is time-consuming and labor-intensive. Furthermore, the fixed structure cannot be folded, occupying significant space when not in use and making it difficult to flexibly adjust the platform's position and shape according to the maintenance location (such as the middle section of the tower or the blade root). This necessitates the construction of temporary auxiliary facilities in some areas, significantly extending the maintenance cycle. More importantly, most traditional platforms lack reliable fall arrest mechanisms, relying only on simple railings or ropes for protection. During high-altitude operations, if the platform sways due to wind or loosens in the support components, causing an unexpected downward trend, existing protection systems cannot quickly lock the platform's position, easily leading to falls and seriously threatening the lives of maintenance personnel.

[0004] Therefore, developing a wind power maintenance platform with folding function, flexible adaptability, and reliable anti-fall locking mechanism has become an urgent need to improve the efficiency of wind power operation and maintenance and ensure the safety of high-altitude operations. Utility Model Content

[0005] To overcome the above-mentioned defects, the embodiments of this disclosure provide a foldable wind power maintenance platform with a fall protection locking mechanism, which solves the technical problem that existing wind power maintenance platforms generally adopt a fixed structure design, which not only lacks folding function but also has poor fall protection safety effect.

[0006] According to one aspect, at least one embodiment of this disclosure provides a foldable wind power maintenance platform with a fall arrestor locking mechanism, comprising: The frame and the platform, wherein the platform is located at the bottom of the frame; A folding locking assembly is disposed between the upright and the platform; A protective connection assembly is disposed on the upright; The folding locking assembly includes a horizontal shaft, which is rotatably connected to the bottom of the upright frame. The platform is fixed on the horizontal shaft. Worm gears are provided at both ends of the horizontal shaft. Drive motors are installed on both sides of the upright frame. A worm is provided at the output end of the drive motor, and the worm meshes with the worm gear.

[0007] As a further technical solution, the platform side end face is provided with an anti-slip support frame, the surface of the anti-slip support frame is provided with a pair of notches, and the side end face of the anti-slip support frame is provided with a transverse tooth groove.

[0008] According to another aspect, in at least one embodiment of the present invention, the protective connection assembly includes a pair of steel cable sleeves, the outer end face of the steel cable sleeves is fixedly connected to a clamping frame by bolts, and side grooves are provided at both ends of the surface of the upright frame.

[0009] As a further technical solution, a guardrail is vertically rotatably connected in the side groove, and top grooves are opened at both ends of the top of the upright. A limit frame is rotatably connected in the top groove through a pin, and one end of the limit frame is fitted onto the top of the guardrail.

[0010] As a further technical solution, the platform surface is provided with a boss, and the surface of the boss is an inclined structural surface.

[0011] As a further technical solution, the platform can rotate upwards by 90° via the horizontal axis.

[0012] As a further technical solution, each pair of guardrails can only rotate inwards towards the frame.

[0013] As a further technical solution, the notch corresponds to the position of the steel cable sleeve, and the surfaces of both the steel cable sleeve and the clamping frame are toothed structures.

[0014] The beneficial effects of the embodiments disclosed herein are as follows: This disclosure solves the problems of traditional platforms lacking folding functionality and having poor fall protection by using a folding locking assembly. The drive motor drives a worm gear transmission to achieve electric folding of the platform. When folded, the platform fits snugly against the support frame, significantly reducing space occupation and making it suitable for transporting and storing wind power equipment in narrow passages. The reverse self-locking characteristic of the worm gear prevents the platform from rotating accidentally due to its own weight or external forces, and it will not fall even if the motor is powered off, thus building a solid first line of defense against falls from heights.

[0015] The anti-slip support frame features notches to avoid equipment protrusions, ensuring a snug fit. Horizontal grooves enhance friction with the equipment's inner wall, preventing horizontal slippage and further improving stability. A horizontal axis ensures smooth platform rotation, eliminating the need for laborious manual handling. This improves operational convenience while multiple locking mechanisms ensure maintenance safety, perfectly meeting the dual requirements of flexibility and safety for wind power aerial work. Attached Figure Description

[0016] To more clearly illustrate the technical solutions in the embodiments of this disclosure, the accompanying drawings used in the description of the embodiments of this disclosure will be briefly introduced below. Obviously, the drawings described below are merely some exemplary embodiments of this disclosure. For those skilled in the art, other drawings can be obtained based on the content of the exemplary embodiments of this disclosure and these drawings without any creative effort.

[0017] Figure 1 This is a schematic diagram of a structure in one embodiment of the present disclosure; Figure 2 This is an isometric drawing of the present disclosure; Figure 3 Appendix to this disclosure Figure 1 Enlarged view of part A in the middle; In the diagram: 1. Upright frame; 2. Platform; 3. Folding locking assembly; 3-1. Horizontal shaft; 3-2. Worm gear; 3-3. Drive motor; 3-4. Worm; 3-5. Anti-slip support frame; 3-6. Notch; 3-7. Horizontal tooth groove; 4. Protective connection assembly; 4-1. Steel cable sleeve; 4-2. Pressing frame; 4-3. Side groove; 4-4. Guardrail; 4-5. Top groove; 4-6. Limiting frame; 5. Boss. Detailed Implementation

[0018] The present disclosure will now be described in further detail with reference to the accompanying drawings and embodiments. It should be understood that the specific embodiments described herein are merely illustrative of the present disclosure and are not intended to limit the scope of the disclosure.

[0019] To keep the drawings concise, each drawing only schematically shows the parts relevant to the disclosure; these do not represent the actual structure of the product. Furthermore, for ease of understanding, in some drawings, only one of components with the same structure or function is schematically shown, or only one is labeled. In this document, "one" not only means "only one," but can also mean "more than one," and "several" includes "two" and "more than two."

[0020] In this document, it should be noted that, unless otherwise explicitly specified and limited, the terms "installation," "connection," and "linkage" 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 connection between two components. Those skilled in the art can understand the specific meaning of the above terms in this disclosure based on the specific circumstances.

[0021] In this disclosure, unless otherwise expressly specified and limited, "above" or "below" the second feature can include direct contact between the first and second features, or contact between the first and second features through another feature between them. Furthermore, "above," "over," and "on top" of the second feature includes the first feature directly above or diagonally above the second feature, or simply indicates that the first feature is at a higher horizontal level than the second feature. "Below," "below," and "under" the second feature includes the first feature directly below or diagonally below the second feature, or simply indicates that the first feature is at a lower horizontal level than the second feature.

[0022] In the description of this embodiment, terms such as "upper," "lower," "left," and "right" are based on the orientation or positional relationship shown in the accompanying drawings. They are used only for the convenience of description and simplification of operation, and are not intended to indicate or imply that the device or element referred to must have a specific orientation, or be constructed and operated in a specific orientation. Therefore, they should not be construed as limitations on this disclosure.

[0023] Furthermore, in the description of this application, the terms "first," "second," etc., are used only to distinguish descriptions and should not be construed as indicating or implying relative importance.

[0024] like Figures 1-3 As shown, a foldable wind power maintenance platform with a fall arrest locking mechanism is illustrated in one embodiment of this disclosure, comprising: The frame 1 and the platform 2 are located at the bottom of the frame 1; Folding locking assembly 3, wherein the folding locking assembly 3 is disposed between the upright 1 and the platform 2; Protective connection component 4 is disposed on the upright frame 1; The folding locking assembly 3 includes a horizontal shaft 3-1, which is horizontally rotatably connected to the bottom of the upright frame 1. The platform 2 is fixed on the horizontal shaft 3-1. Worm gears 3-2 are provided at both ends of the horizontal shaft 3-1. Drive motors 3-3 are installed on both sides of the upright frame 1. A worm gear 3-4 is provided at the output end of the drive motor 3-3. The worm gear 3-4 meshes with the worm gears 3-2. An anti-slip support frame 3-5 is provided on the side end face of the platform 2. A pair of notches 3-6 are opened on the surface of the anti-slip support frame 3-5. A transverse tooth groove 3-7 is provided on the side end face of the anti-slip support frame 3-5.

[0025] In some examples, in order to achieve smooth deployment and retrieval of platform 2 and prevent falls and slips during maintenance, ensuring the spatial adaptability of the maintenance platform within the wind power equipment and ensuring personnel safety through multiple locking mechanisms, a folding locking assembly 3 is designed. This assembly includes a horizontal shaft 3-1 that is horizontally rotatably connected to the bottom of the upright frame 1, providing a folding rotation reference for platform 2. Platform 2 is fixed on the horizontal shaft 3-1, and the rotation of the horizontal shaft 3-1 can directly drive platform 2 to rotate around the bottom of the upright frame 1. When folded up, platform 2 rotates upward with the horizontal shaft 3-1 to fit against the upright frame 1, reducing the space occupied by the platform and facilitating movement in narrow passages of the wind power equipment. When lowered, platform 2 rotates downward with the horizontal shaft 3-1 to a horizontal state, forming a maintenance work surface that meets the needs of personnel standing and tool placement. The worm gears 3-2 at both ends of the horizontal shaft 3-1 mesh with the worm gears 3-4 at the output ends of the drive motors 3-3 on both sides of the upright frame 1, forming the power transmission and anti-fall locking structure for the folding of the platform 2. When the drive motor 3-3 is running, it drives the worm gear 3-4 to rotate. The worm gear 3-4 drives the worm gear 3-2 and the horizontal shaft 3-1 to rotate through meshing transmission, realizing the electric retraction and extension of the platform 2 without the need for manual labor to flip it, thus improving the convenience of operation. More importantly, the worm gear 3-2 and worm gear 3-4 transmission has a reverse self-locking characteristic, that is, the worm gear 3-2 can only be driven to rotate by the worm gear 3-4, and the worm gear 3-2 cannot drive the worm gear 3-4 in the reverse direction. This means that after the platform 2 is lowered, even if the drive motor 3-3 is powered off or malfunctions, the worm gear 3-2 will not rotate in the reverse direction due to the weight of the platform 2 or the pressure of personnel, completely avoiding the risk of falling caused by the accidental retraction of the platform 2, and building a solid first line of defense against falls. The anti-slip support frame 3-5 installed on the side end face of platform 2 is the core component to ensure the stability of platform 2. The pair of notches 3-6 on its surface can avoid the protruding structures (such as brackets and pipelines) on the inner wall of the wind power equipment, ensuring that the support frame can fit tightly against the inner wall of the equipment and avoid instability due to structural interference.

[0026] The transverse toothed groove 3-7 on the side end face of the support frame can greatly increase the friction with the inner wall of the equipment. When the platform 2 is lowered, the anti-slip support frame 3-5 contacts the inner wall of the equipment, and the transverse toothed groove 3-7 is embedded in the inner wall surface (or engages with the anti-slip structure of the inner wall) to prevent the platform 2 from sliding horizontally due to equipment vibration or personnel movement, and further enhance the locking effect.

[0027] The connection between the anti-slip support frame 3-5 and platform 2 must have sufficient strength (such as welding or high-strength bolt fixing) to withstand the total weight of personnel and tools, preventing breakage or deformation during support. Simultaneously, the support frame can be folded synchronously with platform 2, without increasing the platform's volume when folded, thus balancing practicality and space adaptability. like Figures 1-3As shown in the figure, the protective connection assembly 4 in this embodiment includes a pair of steel cable sleeves 4-1. The outer end face of the steel cable sleeves 4-1 is fixedly connected to a clamping frame 4-2 by bolts. Both ends of the surface of the upright frame 1 are provided with side grooves 4-3. A protective railing 4-4 ​​is vertically rotatably connected in the side grooves 4-3. Both ends of the top of the upright frame 1 are provided with top grooves 4-5. A limit frame 4-6 is rotatably connected in the top grooves 4-5 by a pin. One end of the limit frame 4-6 is fitted onto the top of the protective railing 4-4.

[0028] In some examples, to achieve safe lifting and lateral protection for personnel on the maintenance platform, ensuring a reliable connection between the platform and the lifting cable during lifting and preventing accidental falls during maintenance, a protective connection component 4 is designed. This component includes a pair of cable sleeves 4-1 on the support frame 1, which serve as the connection carrier between the platform and the lifting cable. The outer end face of the cable sleeve 4-1 is fixed with a clamping frame 4-2 by bolts, which can firmly fix the lifting cable inside the sleeve. During installation, the cable is inserted into the cable sleeve 4-1, and the bolts of the clamping frame 4-2 are tightened, so that the inner wall of the clamping frame 4-2 is in contact with the surface of the cable. A firm fixation is formed by the compressive force, preventing the cable from slipping out of the sleeve during lifting and avoiding platform falls. The fit gap between the clamping frame 4-2 and the sleeve needs to be precisely controlled to ensure that the cable is tightly fixed while avoiding excessive compression that could damage the cable and extend its service life. The guardrails 4-4, which are vertically rotatably connected in the side grooves 4-3 at both ends of the surface of the upright 1, form a lateral protective barrier for personnel working. When the platform moves, the guardrails 4-4 can be folded upward around the rotation axis in the side grooves 4-3 to fit against the surface of the upright 1, reducing the lateral space occupied and facilitating passage through narrow passages. During maintenance work, the guardrails 4-4 can be rotated downward to a vertical position to prevent personnel from falling from both sides of the platform 2. The height of the guardrails 4-4 must meet safety standards to ensure effective protection against personnel shifting their center of gravity. The guardrails 4-4 can adopt a segmented structure for easy folding and unfolding. At the same time, buckles can be set at the segments to enhance overall stability and prevent the guardrails 4-4 from swaying after unfolding.

[0029] The limiting brackets 4-6, which rotate via pins within the top grooves 4-5 at both ends of the top of the support frame 1, are the locking components after the guardrail 4-4 is deployed. One end of the limiting bracket 4-6 is fitted onto the top of the guardrail 4-4, restricting its rotation. When the guardrail 4-4 is deployed to a vertical position, rotating the limiting bracket 4-6 causes one end to fit over the top of the guardrail 4-4, forming a mechanical lock. This prevents the guardrail 4-4 from accidentally folding due to collisions or vibrations, ensuring continuous and reliable protection. The fitting between the limiting bracket 4-6 and the guardrail 4-4 must be tight enough to facilitate insertion and removal while preventing loosening that could lead to locking failure. The pins within the top grooves 4-5 must have sufficient wear resistance to withstand the friction generated by the frequent rotation of the limiting bracket 4-6, extending its service life. These components work together to achieve a secure connection of the lifting cable and lateral protection for personnel, meeting the safety requirements of the entire wind power maintenance process.

[0030] For example, such as Figure 1 As shown, the platform 2 has a boss 5 on its surface, and the surface of the boss 5 is an inclined structural surface.

[0031] In some examples, the protrusions 5 on the surface of platform 2 are fixedly connected to the surface of platform 2, and their inclined structural surfaces can improve maintenance safety and applicability in two ways. On the one hand, the inclined structural surfaces can increase the friction between the soles of the maintenance personnel's shoes and platform 2, preventing personnel from slipping when the platform is raised or lowered or when the wind power equipment vibrates, which is especially suitable for the humid and dusty outdoor working environment of wind power.

[0032] For example, such as Figure 2 As shown, the platform 2 can rotate upwards by 90° via the horizontal axis 3-1.

[0033] In some examples, the design of platform 2 rotating upwards by 90° via the horizontal axis 3-1 is key to balancing folding and storage with space adaptability. After folding 90°, platform 2 can completely fit against the side of the frame 1, significantly reducing the overall volume of the platform. This facilitates transportation within the narrow passages of the wind turbine tower or storage when not in use, avoiding the occupation of too much working space.

[0034] For example, such as Figure 1 As shown, both of the guardrails 4-4 can only rotate inwards towards the support frame 1.

[0035] In some examples, the design of a pair of guardrails 4-4 rotating only inwards from the upright 1 maximizes the balance between protection and ease of operation. When the guardrails 4-4 rotate inwards, they provide an opening for maintenance personnel to enter and exit the platform or to move maintenance tools. This allows for the transfer of personnel and tools up and down without disassembling the guardrails 4-4, improving work efficiency.

[0036] For example, such as Figures 1-3As shown, the notch 3-6 corresponds to the position of the steel cable sleeve 4-1, and the surfaces of both the steel cable sleeve 4-1 and the clamping frame 4-2 are toothed structures.

[0037] In some examples, the notch 3-6 corresponds to the position of the cable sleeve 4-1, which avoids structural interference between the anti-slip support frame 3-5 and the cable sleeve 4-1. The anti-slip support frame 3-5 needs to be supported on the inner wall of the wind turbine for locking, while the cable sleeve 4-1 is used to connect the lifting cable. The notch 3-6 provides space for the cable arrangement, ensuring that both functions properly. The toothed surface of the cable sleeve 4-1 and the clamping frame 4-2 increases the contact friction between the cable and the cable, preventing the cable from slipping due to force during platform lifting and improving lifting stability.

[0038] In actual use: First, fix the support frame 1 in the designated maintenance position of the wind turbine equipment, ensuring that the support frame 1 is stable and does not shake; start the drive motors 3-3 on both sides of the support frame 1. The worm gear 3-4 at the output end of the motor drives the worm wheels 3-2 at both ends of the horizontal shaft 3-1 to rotate. The horizontal shaft 3-1 rotates horizontally, thereby driving the bottom platform 2 to rotate downwards until the platform 2 is in a horizontal state. At this time, the anti-slip support frame 3-5 on the side end face of the platform 2 is tightly attached to the inner wall of the wind turbine equipment. The notch 3-6 on the surface of the support frame can avoid the protruding structure of the equipment (such as pipelines and supports). The transverse tooth groove 3-7 on the side end face is embedded in the inner wall surface to enhance friction and prevent the platform 2 from sliding; then, insert the lifting steel cable into the steel cable sleeve 4-1 on the support frame 1, and tighten the clamping frame 4 outside the sleeve with bolts. -2. Utilize the toothed structure of both surfaces to increase friction with the steel cable, firmly securing the cable to prevent slippage. Then, rotate the guardrail 4-4 in the side groove 4-3 of the upright 1, flipping it outwards to a vertical position. Next, rotate the limiting frame 4-6 in the top groove 4-5 of the upright 1, fitting one end of it onto the top of the guardrail 4-4 to lock the guardrail 4-4. Maintenance personnel work on the inclined protrusion 5 on the surface of platform 2. The protrusion 5 is both non-slip and convenient for placing tools. After the work is completed, first rotate the limiting frame 4-6 to disengage from the guardrail 4-4, then rotate the guardrail 4-4 inwards towards the upright 1 to retract it. Then, start the drive motor 3-3 to rotate platform 2 upwards to fit against the upright 1. Finally, release the clamping frame 4-2 to remove the steel cable, completing the platform storage.

[0039] It should be noted that the above embodiments are only used to illustrate the technical solutions of this disclosure and are not intended to limit it. Although this disclosure has been described in detail with reference to preferred embodiments, those skilled in the art should understand that modifications or equivalent substitutions can be made to the technical solutions of this disclosure without departing from the spirit and scope of the technical solutions of this disclosure, and all such modifications and substitutions should be covered within the scope of the claims of this disclosure.

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