Method for manufacturing a connection device for a tower-like structure and tower-like structure

Abstract

The invention relates to a method for manufacturing a connection device, in particular for tower-like structures of offshore wind power installations, which comprises a plurality of connection elements, in particular plate-like, which can be placed between an upper structural part of the structure and a lower structural part of the structure when forming a slip joint and which can be positioned adjacent to one another in the circumferential direction around the longitudinal axis and / or in the longitudinal direction of the longitudinal axis with respect to a central longitudinal axis of the structure for the purpose of load transfer between the upper structural part and the lower structural part, providing data on the actual sizes of the lower and upper structural parts and then at least partially determining the shape, position and / or properties of the connection element or elements and in particular all connection elements of the connection device in a connection-element-specific manner in order to optimize the load transfer and / or to compensate for possibly existing deviations of the lower and / or upper structural part from a target size, and providing a pre-manufactured and / or currently manufactured connection element for assembly to at least one of the structural parts. Furthermore, the invention relates to a tower-like structure which is in particular part of an offshore wind power installation, as well as to a wind power installation, in particular an offshore wind power installation.

Description

[Technical field]

[0001] The present invention relates to a method for manufacturing a connection device for a tower-like structure and further to a tower-like structure and to a wind power installation comprising such a tower-like structure.

[0002] The method mentioned at the outset is known from EP 3443224. However, it has been found that due to deviations of meter-high structural parts, which are typically produced from sheet metal, from their target dimensions, undesirable stress peaks can occur, in particular at the lower end of the upper structural part and at the upper end of the lower structural part.

[0003] The object of the present invention is to minimize such stress peaks.

[0004] This problem is solved by the method according to claim 1 as well as by the subject matter according to claim 16 or 17. Advantageous configurations of the invention are evident from the dependent claims and the following description.

[0005] The method according to the invention leads to the production of a connection device, in particular for tower-like structures of offshore wind power installations, which comprises a number of connection elements, in particular of plate type, which can be arranged between an upper structural part of the structure and a lower structural part of the structure in order to form a slip joint and which may be positioned adjacent to one another in the circumferential direction around the longitudinal axis and / or in the longitudinal direction of the longitudinal axis with respect to a central longitudinal axis of the structure for the purpose of load transfer between the upper structural part and the lower structural part. The method is characterized in that it provides data on the actual sizes of the lower and upper structural parts and then at least partially determines the shape, position and / or properties of one or more connection elements and in particular all connection elements of the connection device in a connection-element-specific manner in order to optimize the load transfer and / or to compensate for possibly existing deviations of the lower and / or upper structural parts from the respective target size (of the lower and / or upper structural parts) and provides a connection element already pre-manufactured or currently manufactured for assembly to at least one of the structural parts.

[0006] If the connection elements are already pre-manufactured and, in particular, stored in various configurations, they are assembled or provided according to a provision specific for the connection elements. Alternatively or additionally, the connection elements are specially manufactured according to a provision and assembled or provided accordingly. Providing therefore includes, in particular, an at least partially, preferably fully automated assembly and making the connection elements available for transport to the installation site and for assembly there to at least one of the structural parts. For the assembly itself, each connection element may additionally be further processed and prepared, as described below.

[0007] A connection-element-specific determination, in particular of the shape and position of the plate-shaped connection elements in the connection of the connection elements, is preferably furthermore made in order to achieve an optimal contact of the plate-shaped connection elements on both the side of the lower structural part and on the side of the upper structural part. Due to deviations from the respective target size of the two structural parts or of one of the structural parts, for example, an enlarged gap on one side can be compensated by a thickened connection element, so that an optimal force flow or load transfer can also occur there when a load is applied. In the design of the connection element, deviations of the structural parts from the target size do not necessarily have to be compensated. If the load transfer between the structural parts is optimized, then the arrangement of the connection elements on one structural part, which is, for example, somewhat elliptical, does not necessarily have to be made in such a way that an elliptical contact surface no longer results for the other structural part. An optimization of the load transfer is made if the load to be transferred from one structural part to the other structural part is transferred as desired, for example, i.e. if it is particularly uniformly distributed over the largest possible area and not transferred in a point-like or small area manner.

[0008] In particular, when determining at least part of the shape of the connection element, the thickness of the connection element is determined, in which case a series of connection elements with already defined length and width can be used. If the thickness of the connection element is significantly smaller than the length or width, the connection element is in particular plate-like, but this results in the formation of an area-extending plate with a certain degree of flexibility. In particular, the thickness is at least 1 / 2 or 1 / 3 of the length and / or width.

[0009] The actual size of the lower and upper structural parts is determined, in particular, by at least two points, preferably along one height, and better still by four points along one height, as well as above and below and their mutual positions. In this case, a shape is approximately assumed between the individual points, in particular, by interpolation, for example assuming a conical shape. Particularly preferably, a plurality of, at least more than 10, measurement points are used, by which the outer surface of the lower structural part and the inner surface of the upper structural part, which is to be placed on the lower structural part to form the slip joint, are determined. For example, more than 100 measurement points are recorded by a laser scanning measurement method. The actual values ​​thus at least approximately represent the actual outer surface of the lower structural part and the actual inner surface of the upper structural part. Preferably, the respective geometries are depicted by a plurality of points, by freeform surfaces, by 2D and / or 3D models, so that the connection device can be formed as accurately as possible. The actual size of the individual structural parts is the actual dimensions of these structural parts, which may possibly differ from the desired dimensions, i.e. the target dimensions of the respective structural parts, due to the existing manufacturing errors. In particular, the data to be used indicate the actual size of the lower and / or upper structural parts with regard to conicity, ellipticity and / or also with regard to the mutual offset of the individual metal sheets from which the respective structural parts are manufactured. The degree of elevation, unevenness etc. of the weld seam can also be indicated by the data and can be compensated for at least to the extent of the respective errors of the connecting device. The properties of the connecting element include in particular its Shore hardness, viscoelastic modulus, compressibility, surface properties and / or any possibly present layer structure.

[0010] The shape of the connection element in this case includes in particular the length, width and / or thickness of the plate-shaped connection element. Alternatively or additionally, the shape includes the recess and / or the beveled chamfer of each connection element and / or the thickness extension over the entire connection element. At least one of these variables is determined in such a way that the load transfer between both structural parts is optimized.

[0011] The position of the connecting elements includes in particular the spacing between the connecting elements in order to take into account any viscoelastic deformations of the connecting elements which may be present as well as the positioning of each connecting element in the underlying or upper structural part.

[0012] The lower and upper structural parts can be, for example, a monopile and a so-called transition piece or a tripod or tetrapod on which the transition piece is installed via its respective supports, but the upper and lower structural parts can also be the transition piece and the tower or the uppermost part of the wind power installation, including the nacelle and possibly the wind deflection device.

[0013] The connecting device according to the invention allows the actual desired force flow to be achieved in various load situations of a tower-like structure by compensating for any deviations of the lower and upper structural parts from the target size or dimensions.

[0014] Advantageously, for the determination of each connecting element, the shape of the gap between the upper and lower structural parts, which exists in the mounted state of the structural parts, is determined on the basis of the actual size of both structural parts. The thickness of each connecting element can be selected on the basis of the desired optimized configuration of the optimized mutual spacing of the structural parts, which possibly also depends on the material of the connecting element used. In this case, an optimal average thickness for the gap between the upper and lower structural parts, which should be at least partially closed by the connecting device, can be set (for example 3 cm, 4 cm or 5 cm) - possibly depending on the material used for the connecting device - and the thickness of each connecting element is then determined depending on the actual size.

[0015] For the determination of the thickness of each connection element, the thickness is preferably selected from a given module dimension, in particular between 10 mm and 120 mm. This allows the corresponding connection elements to be produced in stock, so that when determining the dimensions of the connection elements, the connection elements can be selected from each plate size or connection element size. In this case, the thickness distribution that exists when determining the size and / or shape of the connection elements is such that, under load, the most complete possible contact occurs with all connection elements, i.e., the mutually facing surfaces of the structural part and the connection elements come into contact with each other, both on the side of the lower structural part and on the side of the upper structural part. The contact surface of the connection element is to be understood as the surface that constitutes the largest surface of the planar or plate-shaped connection element. For example, with a module dimension for the connection element thickness of 10 mm, 10 different thicknesses can be provided between 10 mm and 120 mm, with the connection elements having an extension of, for example, 400 mm by 800 mm for this thickness or height.

[0016] The specific determination of the connection elements is preferably carried out by an EDP device, in which the actual dimensions of the structural parts are stored and the respective connection elements are determined on the basis of the deviations from the target dimensions. For example, if the lower structural part has a somewhat elliptical cross-sectional shape and the upper structural part has a circular cross-section (horizontally), the connection elements to be arranged in the area of ​​the major axis of the ellipse should be slightly thinner than the connection elements arranged in the area of ​​the minor axis. In this case, for example, the envelope around the periphery of the connection elements arranged on the lower structural part can also be circular in cross-section. Regardless of whether the envelope is circular or not, however, it is rather necessary that the loads occurring are correctly transferred via the corresponding connection elements. In this case, the viscoelastic deformations and / or compressibility of the connection elements can also be taken into account, as well as any specific loads that may arise, for example due to the location of the structural part and that are due to, for example, the prevailing wind direction.

[0017] The EDP device (electronic data processing device) may be a locally operated system or may be an EDP device located at least partially remotely from the operator. The EDP device typically includes input means, output means, communication means and storage means as well as corresponding data processing means. For example, the EDP device is an EDP device that can be used locally to record data and display information, which transmits data to a cloud-based EDP unit for the calculation of the connection elements. After the determination of the connection elements is made here, the associated data can then be transmitted again to the locally operated calculator.

[0018] The EDP device in particular allows the creation of an installation plan, which provides for the installation of all connection elements as quickly as possible, preferably in a predefined sequence. This is done in particular taking into account the advantageously placed positions of the structural parts which are to be rotated at least successively during installation. Preferably, the upper structural part is located for this purpose on a roller device. If the installation of the connection elements takes place on the inner surface of the upper structural part, for example, the thicker connection elements can be placed on the inner surface first, followed by the thinner elements. If a rotation of, for example, 90° is made about the longitudinal axis of the structural part, then the areas located adjacent thereto in the circumferential direction can be covered, so that after a total of three rotations, the inner surface of the lower structural part is completely covered in the circumferential direction. Complete coverage in this case means the installation of all connection elements provided for this purpose, which may be arranged at intervals from one another.

[0019] Preferably, the determination of the connection elements is made taking into account the loads to which the connection elements are subjected, i.e. in particular on the basis of a load transfer between the lower and upper structural parts. Preferably, this is a load transfer from the upper structural part to the lower structural part, for example the load may be caused by the weight of the upper structural part, possibly including a part of the wind power installation mounted thereon, and / or by wind loads. Alternatively or supplementarily, the load may also be a wave-induced load, for example due to the movement of a floating platform on which the wind power system is installed. In particular, for the structural parts and the connection elements arranged between the structural parts, respectively 2D and / or 3D models are used, for example by FEM simulation.

[0020] The determination of the connection elements to be performed by the EDP device is an optimization problem that allows the determination of the connection elements, in particular the thickness of the connection elements, in particular by AI-based methods using neural networks. The possibly existing training data set can be obtained via simulations based on FEM calculations.

[0021] In the calculation of the connection elements, some of the values ​​to be determined can also be predetermined, for example the connection element material can be predetermined in the form of an existing compressibility, viscoelasticity and / or further, for example, average size. In addition to the prevailing wind direction, in the load calculation, the dynamic installation process of the upper structural part on the lower structural part can also be taken into account, for example if first a first load in the form of an upper structural part is placed on the lower structural part and then additionally a nacelle with rotor and associated gearing assembly is placed on the upper structural part.

[0022] The data used for determining the connection element-specific indication can be, on the one hand, individual measurement points or a model of the actual size. It can also be, for example, an image of the structural part in the form of a target size of the lower and upper structural parts, including any deviations from the respective target size that may exist. This calculation can therefore be carried out on the basis of the deviations from the target size, for example in the form of an optimization calculation.

[0023] Similarly, in the specific determination of the connection element, the tolerances of the structural parts and / or the connection element can be taken into account, for example based on measurements, so that the uncertainties in the determination associated with these tolerances can be taken into account, for example due to compressible materials in particular.

[0024] In particular, the data of the upper and / or lower structural part includes at least the height, conicity, ellipticity, surface curvature and / or weld seam prominence in the connection area, the corresponding values ​​being absolute values ​​or images of the same, as for example in the case of target dimensions and their deviations. Thus, the determination of the connection element can be carried out with relatively few data. The connection area is the area of ​​the building which lies between the uppermost edge of the uppermost connection element and the lowermost edge of the lower connection element. The prominence of the weld seam is the height and contour of the weld seam on the side of the structural part facing the connection element when the structural part is in operation, compared to the surrounding area free of the weld seam.

[0025] Advantageously, the connection elements to be used for the construction are characterized, in particular by coloring and / or by an information carrier, which makes fitting accordingly easier. This can be, for example, information carriers based on radio technology, such as RFID chips, which are automatically provided with appropriate location markings, so that the process of removing the connection elements from the warehouse and consigning them can be as fully automated as possible. Alternatively or additionally, the information carrier can be a sticker or marking on each connection element.

[0026] In particular, for connection elements having a variable thickness, the relative position of the connection elements, i.e. their orientation with respect to the edge with respect to each structural part (up, down, left, right), can also be determined via such an information carrier, thereby making it possible to eliminate misrotated and / or mirror-inverted arrangements of the connection elements.

[0027] According to a further embodiment of the method according to the invention, at least one connection element is premanufactured and adapted based on connection element-specific determinations. Such adaptations can be, for example, shortening dimensions, cutting out individual areas, creating cavities for varying the compression ratio, filling cavities, folding and treating the surface, coating with adhesive, adhesive films or other coatings, for example for anti-friction. By having individual sizes in stock, the required parts can be produced quickly.

[0028] In particular, the connection elements are attached to the lower or upper structural part, in which case preferably at least one of the surfaces to be connected to each other is pretreated, in particular cleaned, surface activated and / or coated with an adhesion promoter and / or adhesive. Surface activation can preferably be carried out mechanically, chemically or electrochemically, for example via plasma treatment. The application of adhesion promoters, adhesives or other coatings, as well as the treatment of the surfaces of the connection elements, is carried out on at least a portion of the surface of each connection element, in which case for example application devices are used that allow precise processing / equipping of the surfaces.

[0029] The mounting is performed according to a mounting plan which indicates the position and possibly also the order in which the individual connection elements are to be placed together or side by side.

[0030] The connection elements may also be attached to one another, whereby connection elements of different thicknesses may be combined to provide a further connection element having a thickness resulting from the combination of thicknesses.

[0031] The surface of one of the structural parts and / or the surface of one of the connecting elements can be coated, for example with PTFE (polytetrafluoroethylene), in particular to reduce friction, manually or by means of an application device. The application device can be a movable device configured for mounting, for example having a supply area and a transfer area, between which a connecting element is moved along an application roller. The application device is used, for example, to apply adhesive immediately before attaching the connecting element to the structural part.

[0032] Preferably, the structural part on which the at least one connecting element is arranged is placed on its outer circumferential surface, in which case the structural part is arranged, in particular on a roller device. If not arranged in this way, the structural part, which should be arranged with its longitudinal axis perpendicular to the horizontal foundation, is i.e. inverted, so that its longitudinal axis runs, for example, not exactly parallel to the foundation, but essentially parallel, ignoring conicity. In order to mount the connecting elements around the longitudinal axis in the circumferential direction, the structural part, in particular the transition piece, can in this case be rotated continuously, for example by means of a roller device. Thus, mounting over the entire height of the structural part is simplified.

[0033] Furthermore, a pressing device can be provided, which presses each connecting element with a predefined force against each structural part. In the simplest case, such a device can be a magnet, which holds the connecting element against the surface of the structural part, typically made of metal. However, such a device can also be a device, which itself can be magnetically held on the structural part and is adjustable according to the size of the connecting element, which generates a pressing force against the connecting element via a corresponding arm or other pressing element.

[0034] Preferably, the size of the connection element is designed so that the connection element can be carried and held by only one installer during installation on the structural part, in which case the weight of one connection element is 50 kg.

[0035] Preferably, data on the actual size of the structure is obtained, in particular by a light-based, preferably laser-based, measuring device and / or by image analysis based on images produced by the structure, in particular the latter facilitating recording of the actual size. The obtained data can be provided online by the structure manufacturer and can be read into the EDP device.

[0036] To simplify the method according to the invention, the connection elements are cast in a rectangular mold, in which case the material used may have a certain elasticity so that the plate-like connection elements can be adapted to the curvature of the surface of the respective structural part. The use of a rectangular mold allows, in particular, the use of an open mold, which therefore simplifies production. Alternatively, a closed mold can be used, which may also include curved walls. After casting, the connection elements are usually first hardened, after which they are preferably additionally tempered and / or then cleaned, for example with isopropanol. This facilitates the subsequent application of adhesion promoters, adhesives or other coatings. The connection elements may be coated and / or surface treated before or after transport to the installation site.

[0037] The problem stated at the outset is also solved by a tower-like construction, in particular part of an offshore wind power installation, which comprises a connection device produced by the method according to one of claims 1 to 15. Such a tower-like construction includes the advantages of the connection device described above.

[0038] The problem is also solved by a wind power generation installation, in particular an offshore wind power generation installation, having the above-mentioned tower-like structure.

[0039] Further advantages and details of the invention will become apparent from the following description of the drawings, in which: FIG. [Brief description of the drawings]

[0040] [Figure 1] FIG. 1 shows an object according to the invention. [Diagram 2] FIG. 2 is a perspective cutaway view of a portion of the object according to the invention of FIG. [Diagram 3] 3 shows a cross-sectional view of a further object according to the invention; [Figure 4] FIG. 4 shows a part of the object of FIG. 3. [Diagram 5] FIG. [Figure 6] FIG. 13 is a diagram showing another measurement process. [Figure 7] 1A-1D are diagrams illustrating a part of a method for manufacturing an object according to the invention;

[0041] The individual technical features of the exemplary embodiments described below can also be combined with the features of the independent claims to form further configurations according to the invention. Wherever possible, identical reference numbers are used to refer to elements that have the same functional effect.

[0042] The wind power installation 2 according to the invention comprises a lower structural part 6, which is placed vertically on a horizontally extending foundation 4, on which is placed an upper structural part 8, which at its end has a nacelle 10 with a rotor (FIG. 1). The tower-like construction consisting of the wind power installation 2 and the lower and upper structural parts 6 or 8 together with a connection device, not yet shown, has a central longitudinal axis 14, around which the connection elements 12 are arranged. The longitudinal axis 14 (see FIG. 2) runs perpendicular to the foundation 4.

[0043] In the embodiment according to FIG. 1 or 2, the wind power installation 2 or tower-like structure each comprises five rings of connection elements 12 which are arranged between the upper outer surface of the lower structural part 6 and the lower inner surface of the structural part 8 for the purpose of load transfer and to compensate for manufacturing tolerances of these structural parts with regard to load removal.

[0044] In order to determine the thickness of the connection element 12, the actual size of the lower and upper structural parts 6, 8 was measured after production, at least in each conically formed section, and then, after providing the measurement data, the optimal size for the connection element, including its positioning, was determined in the EDP device. This shows that in the case of FIG. 2, the connection elements 12 of the rings arranged above each other are formed with different thicknesses. In such optimization calculations, it can be additionally adapted to make the main load-carrying areas in the middle of the connection area, i.e. away from the upper and lower edges of the conical sections of the lower structural part 6 and the upper structural part 8, thicker and thus transmit more loads there.

[0045] In the embodiment according to Fig. 3, which shows a further embodiment of a tower-like construction according to the invention, the cone angle of the upper structural part 8 is undesirably different from that of the lower structural part 6 due to manufacturing errors, so that in the illustrated working position a gap is created between them, which increases downwards towards the foundation. The thickness of the connection element 12 at the lower end of the connection area 16 is therefore also greater, which thickness is generally determined upwards by the upper edge of the uppermost connection element 12 and generally determined downwards by the lower edge of the lowermost connection element 12. Due to the compensation of the manufacturing errors, a desired load transfer between the upper and lower structural parts is achieved by the connection device according to the invention.

[0046] In the detailed view according to FIG. 4, it can be seen that the thickness of the lower connection element 12 is approximately twice as large as the thickness of the upper connection element 12. The thickness is the distance between the tips of the arrows 18 which run perpendicularly to the surface corresponding to the lower structural part 6 or the upper structural part 8. In this case, the thickness is the thickness of the connection element in the loaded state. It should be understood that the thickness in the unloaded case, in which the connection element 12 is not deformed, can be greater. Therefore, preferably and generally, for determining the connection element 12, for example in the course of optimization calculations, the thickness of the unloaded structural part is described, where appropriate.

[0047] To measure the actual dimensions of the structural parts 6, 8, a mobile measuring device 18 according to FIG. 5 or FIG. 6 can be used. The measuring device 18 can for this purpose scan the inner surface in a cone from the outer region of the upper structural part 8 by means of a laser. Alternatively, the measuring device 18 can be introduced into the upper structural part 8, in which case it is guided along the rod 20 by means of a longitudinal movement and a swiveling movement so as to scan the inner surface of the upper structural part 8 in the region of the cone as well. The data acquired by the measuring device 18 is transmitted, for example wirelessly, via the Internet to the EDP device 26, where the thickness of each connecting element as well as its position are then determined. If different materials are provided for the production of the connecting elements 12, the EDP device 26 can also determine the material of the connecting elements 12 within the scope of the optimization of the load transmission between the upper structural part 8 and the lower structural part 6. After production, preferably by the PU casting method, the connecting elements 12 are cleaned, surface-treated, coated and then brought by means of the supporting device 22 to the position defined for this in the structural part 8 and glued there. The fitting of the connecting elements 12 preferably takes place in the lower area of ​​one of the inner surfaces, so that in order to fit all the connecting elements, the structural part 8 has to be rotated by means of the roller device 24 in the circumferential direction about the longitudinal axis 14 of the structural part, which in operation runs perpendicularly towards the foundation. After fitting of the connecting devices, the upper structural part 8, in this case formed as a transition piece, can be transported to the place of use and installed there.

Claims

1. 1. A method for manufacturing a connection device, in particular for a tower-like structure of an offshore wind power installation (2), comprising a plurality of connection elements (12), in particular of plate shape, which are arranged between an upper structural part (8) of the structure and a lower structural part (6) of the structure when forming a slip joint and which are positioned adjacent to one another with respect to a central longitudinal axis (14) of the structure, in the circumferential direction about said longitudinal axis (14) and / or in the longitudinal direction of said longitudinal axis, for the purpose of load transfer between said upper structural part (8) and said lower structural part (6), providing data on the actual sizes of the lower and upper structural parts (6, 8), then at least partially determining the shape, position and / or properties of a connection element (12) or of several connection elements (12) and in particular of all connection elements (12) of the connection device in a connection-element-specific manner in order to optimize the load transfer and / or to compensate for possibly existing deviations of the lower and / or upper structural parts (6, 8) from a target size, and providing the pre-manufactured and / or currently manufactured connection element for assembly to at least one of the structural parts (6, 8).

2. 2. The method according to claim 1, further comprising the step of determining the shape of the gap between the upper structural part (8) and the lower structural part (6) that exists in the mounted state of the structural parts (6, 8) based on the actual sizes of both structural parts for the determination of each of the connecting elements (12).

3. 3. A method according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the thickness of each connecting element (12) is selected from a predefined module dimension, in particular between 10 mm and 120 mm.

4. 3. The method according to claim 1, wherein the connection element specific determination is performed by an EDP device (26).

5. 5. The method according to claim 4, wherein the determination is made taking into account the loads received by the connection element (12), in particular on the basis of the load transmission between a lower structural part (6) and an upper structural part (8), in which case in particular a 2D and / or 3D model for the structural parts, respectively, is used.

6. 3. The method according to claim 1, further comprising providing data on a target size of the lower and / or upper structural part (6, 8), including any deviations from the respective target size, for the connection element-specific determination.

7. 3. The method according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the data of the upper and / or lower structural parts (6, 8) indicate or represent at least the height, conicity, ellipticity, surface curvature and / or weld seam prominence in the connection area.

8. 3. The method according to claim 1, further comprising characterizing the connection elements (12) to be used for the construction, in particular by a coloring and / or by an information carrier.

9. 3. The method according to claim 1 or 2, wherein at least one connection element (12) is pre-manufactured and adapted based on said connection-element-specific determination.

10. 3. The method according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the connecting element (12) is attached to the lower structural part (6) and / or to the upper structural part (8), in particular in which at least one of the surfaces to be connected to one another in each case is previously pretreated, in particular cleaned, surface-activated and / or coated with an adhesion promoter and / or adhesive.

11. 11. The method according to claim 10, further comprising coating the surface of one of the structural parts and / or the surface of one of the connecting elements, preferably with PTFE, in particular to reduce friction, preferably by means of an application device.

12. 11. The method according to claim 10, further comprising arranging the connecting element on the structural part while the outer circumferential surface of the structural part is placed, in particular on a roller device.

13. The method of claim 10, further comprising a pressing device for pressing at least one of the connection elements against each of the structural parts with a predefined force.

14. 3. The method according to claim 1, further comprising obtaining data on the actual size of the structure (6, 8) by means of a laser-based measuring device (18) and / or by image analysis based on images produced by the structure.

15. 3. The method according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the connecting element (12) is cast, in particular in a rectangular mold, and then is, in particular, tempered and / or cleaned.

16. 3. A tower-like structure, in particular part of an offshore wind power installation, comprising a connection device manufactured by the method according to claim 1 or 2.

17. A wind power installation, in particular an offshore wind power installation (2), comprising a tower-like structure according to claim 16.

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