Auxiliary tooling for wind turbine nacelle maintenance

Abstract

This utility model discloses an auxiliary tooling for wind turbine nacelle maintenance, belonging to the field of wind turbine nacelle maintenance technology. It includes a tooling support and a lifting assembly: the tooling support comprises two sets of auxiliary slide rails symmetrically installed on the nacelle roof, a crossbeam connecting the slide rails, and an auxiliary pulley system; the lifting assembly consists of three hand-operated hoists, respectively connecting the auxiliary slide rails to the beam moving part, the auxiliary pulley system, and the wind turbine equipment to the beam moving part. Utilizing the structure of the nacelle roof and the wind turbine equipment itself, the tooling eliminates the need for electro-hydraulic assistance, enabling longitudinal adjustment of the crossbeam and lateral adjustment of the beam moving part, thus achieving precise transport and installation of the lifted object. This tooling is convenient to transport, safe to operate, saves manpower and time, is suitable for maintenance in confined nacelles, and is unaffected by weather conditions.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This utility model belongs to the field of wind turbine nacelle maintenance technology, and in particular relates to an auxiliary tooling for wind turbine nacelle maintenance. Background Technology

[0002] In recent years, my country's wind power industry has developed rapidly, with a continuous increase in the variety of wind turbine models and their size. As wind turbines operate continuously for extended periods, core components such as gearboxes and bearings inside the nacelle are prone to wear and aging, requiring timely maintenance and replacement. Wind turbine nacelle maintenance tooling is a key piece of equipment for ensuring the efficient implementation of such operations, and its adaptability and practicality directly affect maintenance efficiency and safety.

[0003] Currently, maintenance tooling for high-power wind turbine nacelles (especially offshore models) is relatively mature. These nacelles have ample internal space, allowing for the direct placement of a complete set of auxiliary tooling for assembly and maintenance, saving labor costs and mitigating the impact of outdoor weather on maintenance progress. However, in early- to mid-stage wind power equipment (especially onshore models), the internal space of the nacelle is extremely limited, making traditional auxiliary tooling suitable for high-power nacelles completely unsuitable.

[0004] In summary, the current wind turbine nacelle maintenance field urgently needs an auxiliary tooling that can adapt to the limited space of early and mid-stage wind turbine models while also being safe and efficient. This tooling would address the prominent issues of existing technologies in terms of space adaptation, transportation and assembly, safety protection, and environmental adaptability, and meet the actual needs of wind turbine nacelle maintenance operations. Utility Model Content

[0005] To solve the above-mentioned technical problems, this utility model proposes an auxiliary tooling for wind turbine nacelle maintenance.

[0006] To achieve the above objectives, this utility model provides an auxiliary tooling for wind turbine nacelle maintenance, comprising:

[0007] The tooling support includes auxiliary slide rails installed on the top cover of the engine room. Two sets of auxiliary slide rails are symmetrically arranged and parallel to the installation direction of the object being lifted. Each of the two auxiliary slide rails is movably connected to an auxiliary pulley group along its extension direction. A crossbeam is provided between the two auxiliary slide rails. The crossbeam is perpendicular to the two auxiliary slide rails, and its two ends are respectively fixed to the two auxiliary pulley groups, thereby movably connecting to the two auxiliary slide rails. A beam moving part is movably connected to the crossbeam along its extension direction.

[0008] The hoisting assembly includes a first traction device, a second traction device, and a third traction device; the fixed end of the second traction device is fixedly connected to the bottom of any of the auxiliary pulley blocks; the fixed end of the third traction device is fixedly connected to the wind power equipment, and the movable end passes through the beam moving part and is detachably connected to the object being hoisted; the fixed end of the first traction device is connected to the auxiliary slide rail on the same side as the second traction device via a sling, and the movable end is hung in the middle of the frame of the beam moving part.

[0009] Optionally, the auxiliary slide rail includes multiple slide rail segments, which are connected by a connecting component.

[0010] Optionally, baffles are installed at both ends of the auxiliary slide rail.

[0011] Optionally, the first traction device, the second traction device, and the third traction device are all hand-operated hoists.

[0012] Optionally, the connecting assembly includes a reinforcing plate and fastening bolts. The reinforcing plate is disposed on both sides of the web of two adjacent slide rail sections and is detachably connected to the web of the slide rail section by locking it with the fastening bolts.

[0013] Optionally, the top of the moving part of the beam is provided with four pulleys, and the crossbeam passes through the space below the four pulleys, so that the bottom of the four pulleys fits against the top surface of the crossbeam.

[0014] Optionally, both the slide rail section and the crossbeam are equipped with a hoisting structure, which is used for self-hoisting.

[0015] Compared with the prior art, the present invention has the following advantages and technical effects:

[0016] The tooling support system utilizes two sets of symmetrical auxiliary slide rails parallel to the installation direction of the suspended object. These, along with movably connected auxiliary pulley sets on the slide rails and a crossbeam positioned vertically on the slide rails, and a sliding beam movement section on the crossbeam, form a multi-directional adjustment system of "auxiliary slide rail - crossbeam - beam movement section." This system enables longitudinal movement of the crossbeam along the auxiliary slide rails and lateral movement of the beam movement section along the crossbeam, thus achieving precise horizontal positioning of the suspended object and avoiding the tedious operation of repeatedly adjusting the tooling in confined spaces. The auxiliary slide rails are installed on the engine room roof, leveraging the engine room's own structure to eliminate the need for additional support structures. Simultaneously, the lifting assembly... The first traction device connects to the auxiliary slide rail on the same side and the middle of the beam moving part frame, the second traction device is fixed to the bottom of the auxiliary pulley block, and the third traction device connects the wind turbine equipment and the beam moving part in a coordinated layout. This layout not only achieves smooth lifting and fine-tuning of the hoisted object through the division of labor at multiple traction points, but also relies on the structure of the wind turbine equipment and the nacelle roof itself as support points. No additional auxiliary devices are required, which simplifies the overall structure and improves the stability of hoisting. Ultimately, it enables the precise transportation and safe installation of the hoisted object inside the wind turbine nacelle, greatly saving manpower adjustment time, reducing operational risks, and meeting the high efficiency and safety requirements of wind turbine nacelle maintenance. Attached Figure Description

[0017] The accompanying drawings, which form part of this utility model, are used to provide a further understanding of the utility model. The embodiments of the utility model and their descriptions are used to explain the utility model and do not constitute an undue limitation of the utility model. In the drawings:

[0018] Figure 1 This is a front view of the auxiliary tooling for wind turbine nacelle maintenance according to this utility model;

[0019] Figure 2 This is a top view of the auxiliary tooling for wind turbine nacelle maintenance according to this utility model;

[0020] Figure 3 This is a side view of the auxiliary tooling for wind turbine nacelle maintenance according to this utility model.

[0021] In the diagram: 1. Baffle; 2. Auxiliary slide rail; 21. Slide rail section; 22. Connecting assembly; 3. Wind power equipment; 4. Track beam; 5. Crossbeam; 6. Beam moving part; 7. First traction device; 8. Auxiliary pulley block; 9. Second traction device; 10. Third traction device; 11. Auxiliary support. Detailed Implementation

[0022] The technical solutions of the present utility model will be clearly and completely described below with reference to the accompanying drawings of the embodiments. Obviously, the described embodiments are only some embodiments of the present utility model, and not all embodiments. Based on the embodiments of the present utility model, all other embodiments obtained by those of ordinary skill in the art without creative effort are within the protection scope of the present utility model.

[0023] To make the above-mentioned objectives, features and advantages of this utility model more apparent and understandable, the utility model will be further described in detail below with reference to the accompanying drawings and specific embodiments.

[0024] Reference Figures 1 to 3 As shown, this embodiment provides an auxiliary tooling for wind turbine nacelle maintenance, including:

[0025] The tooling support includes auxiliary slide rails 2 installed on the top cover of the nacelle. Two sets of auxiliary slide rails 2 are symmetrically arranged and are parallel to the installation direction of the object being lifted. Auxiliary pulley groups 8 are movably connected to each of the two auxiliary slide rails 2 along their extension direction. A crossbeam 5 is arranged between the two auxiliary slide rails 2. The crossbeam 5 is perpendicular to the two auxiliary slide rails 2. Both ends of the crossbeam 5 are respectively fixed to the two auxiliary pulley groups 8, thereby movably connecting to the two auxiliary slide rails 2. A beam moving part 6 is movably connected to the crossbeam 5 along its extension direction.

[0026] The hoisting assembly includes a first traction device 7, a second traction device 9, and a third traction device 10; the fixed end of the second traction device 9 is fixedly connected to the bottom of any auxiliary pulley block 8; the fixed end of the third traction device 10 is fixedly connected to the wind power equipment 3, and the movable end passes through the beam moving part 6 and is detachably connected to the object being hoisted; the fixed end of the first traction device 7 is connected to the auxiliary slide rail 2 on the same side as the second traction device 9 by a sling, and the movable end is hung in the middle of the frame of the beam moving part 6.

[0027] The tooling support uses two sets of symmetrical auxiliary slide rails 2 parallel to the installation direction of the suspended object, along with auxiliary pulley groups 8 movably connected to the slide rails and a crossbeam 5 vertically mounted on the slide rails. Combined with a sliding beam-moving part 6 on the crossbeam 5, a multi-directional adjustment system of "auxiliary slide rail 2 - crossbeam 5 - beam-moving part 6" is formed. This system enables longitudinal movement of the crossbeam 5 along the auxiliary slide rails 2 and lateral movement of the beam-moving part 6 along the crossbeam 5, thus achieving precise horizontal positioning of the suspended object and avoiding the tedious operation of repeatedly adjusting the tooling in confined spaces. The auxiliary slide rails 2 are installed on the top of the engine room, utilizing the engine room's own structure to eliminate the need for additional support structures. Meanwhile, the lifting... The assembly features a coordinated layout where the first traction device 7 connects to the auxiliary slide rail 2 on the same side and the middle of the beam moving part 6 frame, the second traction device 9 is fixed to the bottom of the auxiliary pulley block 8, and the third traction device 10 connects the wind turbine equipment 3 and the beam moving part 6. This layout achieves smooth lifting and fine-tuning of the hoisted object through the division of labor at multiple traction points. It also relies on the structure of the wind turbine equipment 3 and the nacelle roof itself as support points, eliminating the need for additional auxiliary devices. This simplifies the overall structure while improving hoisting stability, ultimately enabling precise transportation and safe installation of the hoisted object inside the wind turbine nacelle. This significantly saves manpower and adjustment time, reduces operational risks, and meets the high efficiency and safety requirements of wind turbine nacelle maintenance.

[0028] In some alternative implementations, the auxiliary slide rail 2 includes multiple slide rail segments 21, which are connected by a connecting assembly 22.

[0029] On the one hand, the splicing design of multiple slide rail sections 21 allows for flexible adjustment of the overall length of the auxiliary slide rail 2 according to the internal space dimensions of different wind turbine nacelles, eliminating the need to customize a single-length slide rail for a specific nacelle. This significantly improves the adaptability of the tooling to wind power equipment 3 of different specifications and reduces the design and manufacturing costs of the tooling. On the other hand, the detachable slide rail section 21 structure facilitates transportation in narrow entrances and internal passages of the nacelle, avoiding the problem of long slide rails being difficult to access the work area due to size limitations. At the same time, the connection component 22 ensures the structural stability of the multiple slide rail sections 21 after splicing, ensuring that the auxiliary slide rail 2 can stably bear the load during hoisting operations. This balances the convenience of transportation and installation with the reliability of the tooling operation.

[0030] In some alternative implementations, baffles 1 are installed at both ends of the auxiliary slide rail 2.

[0031] During the process of adjusting the position of the crossbeam 5 by sliding the auxiliary pulley block 8 along the auxiliary slide rail 2, the baffle 1 can directly block the auxiliary pulley block 8 at the end, effectively preventing the auxiliary pulley block 8 from sliding out from both ends of the auxiliary slide rail 2 due to operational deviation or accidental force, thereby preventing the safety hazard of the crossbeam 5 and the hoisting components falling off. It is especially suitable for the safety protection needs of equipment and personnel when working in the narrow space of the wind turbine nacelle. At the same time, the baffle 1 can limit the sliding range of the auxiliary pulley block 8, ensuring that it always moves within the effective working section of the auxiliary slide rail 2, avoiding the position displacement of the crossbeam 5 due to the pulley block overtravel, ensuring the positioning accuracy of the subsequent hoisting components on the hoisted object, and the baffle 1 structure does not require complicated installation and debugging. While simplifying the overall design of the tooling, it significantly improves the reliability and safety of the tooling sliding operation.

[0032] In some alternative implementations, the first traction device 7, the second traction device 9, and the third traction device 10 are all hand-operated hoists.

[0033] Hand-operated chain hoists are compact in structure and small in size, requiring no external power or hydraulic supply. They are perfectly suited to the confined working space of wind turbine nacelles, avoiding the inconvenience of large electric or hydraulic traction equipment that is difficult to deploy and requires additional power or piping. Their manual operation mode allows for precise control of traction force and lifting speed, and flexible fine-tuning during the adjustment of the position and height of the lifted object. This effectively prevents collisions between the lifted object and nacelle components in confined spaces, ensuring the accuracy of lifting operations. At the same time, hand-operated chain hoists are lightweight, easy to transport and install, and can be connected to the tooling support without complex auxiliary tools. Their manufacturing and maintenance costs are lower than those of automated traction equipment, reducing the overall investment in tooling. In addition, the load-bearing stability and durability of hand-operated chain hoists can meet the conventional load-bearing requirements of the lifted objects in wind turbine nacelle maintenance. While simplifying the design of lifting components, they significantly improve the ease of use, economy, and operational reliability of tooling in actual maintenance scenarios.

[0034] In some alternative embodiments, the connecting assembly 22 includes a reinforcing plate and fastening bolts. The reinforcing plate is disposed on both sides of the web of two adjacent slide rail sections 21 and is detachably connected to the web of the slide rail section 21 by fastening bolts.

[0035] The close fit between the reinforcing plate and the connecting end plate creates a large contact area, effectively improving the structural rigidity and load-bearing stability of adjacent slide rail sections 21 after splicing. This prevents deformation of the slide rail due to excessive gaps or uneven stress at the connection points when bearing the auxiliary pulley block 8, crossbeam 5, and hoisting components, ensuring the overall load-bearing reliability of the slide rail. The locking method of the fastening bolts not only provides high connection strength to meet the load-bearing requirements of tooling hoisting operations but also offers convenient disassembly. This facilitates the on-site assembly and disassembly of the slide rail section 21 within the confined space of the wind turbine nacelle, solving the problem of the difficulty in entering the nacelle with the entire long slide rail. It also facilitates the subsequent replacement and maintenance of a single damaged slide rail section 21 without discarding the entire slide rail structure, reducing maintenance costs. At the same time, this connection structure requires no complex installation process or special tools, making it simple and efficient to operate. It is adaptable to the working conditions at the wind turbine nacelle maintenance site, ensuring the stability of the slide rail connection while improving the assembly efficiency and flexibility of the tooling.

[0036] In some alternative embodiments, the top of the beam moving part 6 is provided with four pulleys, and the crossbeam 5 passes through the space below the four pulleys, so that the bottom of the four pulleys fits against the top surface of the crossbeam 5.

[0037] Four pulleys replace sliding contact with multi-point rolling support, significantly reducing the frictional resistance when the beam moving part 6 is adjusted laterally along the crossbeam 5. This design is compatible with the overall manual operation logic of the tooling, allowing operators to easily push the beam moving part 6 to adjust its position without extra effort, significantly improving the ease of operation in the confined engine room. In addition, the bottom of the four pulleys is in contact with the top surface of the crossbeam 5, restricting the vertical movement and lateral deviation of the beam moving part 6 during the sliding process, ensuring its smooth movement along the crossbeam 5, and ultimately achieving precise lateral positioning of the suspended object. This reduces the risk of collision between the suspended object and engine room components in the confined space, balancing ease of operation, structural stability, and positioning accuracy.

[0038] In some alternative implementations, both the slide rail section 21 and the crossbeam 5 are equipped with lifting structures for self-lifting.

[0039] The lifting structure can be any structure that facilitates connection with shackles, such as lifting rings or lifting holes. When it is necessary to move the slide rail section 21 or the crossbeam 5, the shackles can be quickly inserted into the lifting structure, thereby connecting to external lifting equipment to achieve individual lifting of the slide rail section 21 and the crossbeam 5. This design perfectly adapts to the transportation conditions of the narrow entrance and internal passage of the wind turbine nacelle, avoiding difficulties in handling due to the large overall weight or size of the slide rail section 21 and the crossbeam 5. It also facilitates precise adjustment of the installation position of each component inside the nacelle, reducing the intensity of manual handling. Furthermore, the lifting structure can be adjusted according to the center of gravity of the slide rail section 21 and the crossbeam 5. Based on the distribution or actual hoisting needs, the installation position of the hoisting structure can be flexibly selected to ensure that the components are subjected to balanced forces and have a stable posture during the hoisting process. This effectively avoids the risk of components tilting or colliding with the internal structure of the nacelle due to improper hoisting points. In addition, this structure does not require complex modifications to the slide rail section 21 and the crossbeam 5. The hoisting function can be expanded simply by pre-setting the hoisting structure. This does not affect the original load-bearing capacity of the components and provides convenience for the subsequent disassembly and maintenance of the tooling. It reduces the cumbersome process of overall disassembly and assembly, lowers maintenance costs, and further improves the adaptability and operational efficiency of the tooling in the wind turbine nacelle maintenance scenario.

[0040] Reference Figure 3 The following describes the use of auxiliary tooling in the hoisting process of track beam 4. First, the nacelle assembly slide rail transports track beam 4 to point A near the right auxiliary slide rail 2. The other end of the third traction device 10 is connected to track beam 4, and one end of the second traction device 9 is connected to track beam 4. Then, it is slowly and steadily lifted to point B (the second traction device 9 has reached its position and cannot be raised further). The third traction device 10 continues to lift slowly and steadily upwards, while the length of the second traction device 9 is adjusted appropriately according to the working conditions. When the third traction device 10 is fully under load and track beam 4 is directly below the beam moving part 6, the connection between the second traction device 9 and track beam 4 is released. The third traction device 10 is then slowly and steadily tightened and moved towards point C. To prevent excessive movement and to adjust the installation position, the first traction device 7 is slowly released. When track beam 4 reaches point C, the first traction device 7 stops operating, and the third traction device 10 is lifted slightly upwards to reserve space for subsequent assembly with the maintenance tooling legs. Track beam 4 is adjusted back and forth along the auxiliary slide rail 2, and the bolts are tightened after the holes are aligned. After confirming everything is correct, disconnect the third traction device 10 from the track beam 4, and retract the first traction device 7 to its initial length. When the other track beams 4 reach point C, raise them slightly to provide space for the subsequent installation of auxiliary supports. A matching auxiliary support 11 is installed below each track beam 4; only the matching auxiliary support 11 is installed at each end of the track beam 4.

[0041] Any aspects of this utility model that are not detailed herein are conventional technical means known to those skilled in the art.

[0042] In the description of this utility model, it should be understood that the terms "longitudinal", "lateral", "up", "down", "front", "back", "left", "right", "vertical", "horizontal", "top", "bottom", "inner", "outer", etc., indicate the orientation or positional relationship based on the orientation or positional relationship shown in the accompanying drawings. They are only for the convenience of describing this utility model and do not 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 utility model.

[0043] The embodiments described above are merely preferred embodiments of the present utility model and are not intended to limit the scope of the present utility model. Various modifications and improvements made to the technical solutions of the present utility model by those skilled in the art without departing from the spirit of the present utility model should fall within the protection scope defined by the claims of the present utility model.

Claims

1. An auxiliary tooling for wind turbine nacelle maintenance, characterized in that, include: The tooling bracket includes auxiliary slide rails (2) installed on the top cover of the engine room. Two sets of auxiliary slide rails (2) are symmetrically arranged and are parallel to the installation direction of the object being lifted. Auxiliary pulley groups (8) are movably connected to each of the two auxiliary slide rails (2) along their extension direction. A crossbeam (5) is provided between the two auxiliary slide rails (2). The crossbeam (5) is perpendicular to the two auxiliary slide rails (2). The two ends of the crossbeam (5) are respectively fixed to the two auxiliary pulley groups (8), thereby movably connecting to the two auxiliary slide rails (2). A beam moving part (6) is movably connected to the crossbeam (5) along its extension direction. The hoisting assembly includes a first traction device (7), a second traction device (9), and a third traction device (10); the fixed end of the second traction device (9) is fixed to the bottom of any of the auxiliary pulley blocks (8); the fixed end of the third traction device (10) is fixed to the wind power equipment (3), and the movable end passes through the beam moving part (6) and is detachably connected to the object being hoisted; the fixed end of the first traction device (7) is connected to the auxiliary slide rail (2) on the same side as the second traction device (9) by a sling, and the movable end is hung in the middle of the frame of the beam moving part (6).

2. The auxiliary tooling for wind turbine nacelle maintenance according to claim 1, characterized in that, The auxiliary slide rail (2) includes multiple slide rail segments (21), which are connected by a connecting component (22).

3. The auxiliary tooling for wind turbine nacelle maintenance according to claim 1, characterized in that, The auxiliary slide rail (2) is equipped with baffles (1) at both ends.

4. The auxiliary tooling for wind turbine nacelle maintenance according to claim 1, characterized in that, The first traction device (7), the second traction device (9) and the third traction device (10) are all hand-operated hoists.

5. The auxiliary tooling for wind turbine nacelle maintenance according to claim 2, characterized in that, The connecting assembly (22) includes a reinforcing plate and fastening bolts. The reinforcing plate is disposed on both sides of the web of two adjacent slide rail sections (21) and is detachably connected to the web of the slide rail section (21) by locking it with the fastening bolts.

6. The auxiliary tooling for wind turbine nacelle maintenance according to claim 1, characterized in that, The top of the moving part of the beam (6) is provided with four pulleys, and the crossbeam (5) passes through the space below the four pulleys, so that the bottom of the four pulleys fits against the top surface of the crossbeam (5).

7. The auxiliary tooling for wind turbine nacelle maintenance according to claim 2, characterized in that, Both the slide rail section (21) and the crossbeam (5) are equipped with hoisting structures, which are used for self-hoisting.

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