Lift-up device and method for constructing tower-like structure

Abstract

To provide a lift-up device and a construction method of a tower-like structure capable of efficiently extending a lift tower.SOLUTION: The lift-up device 15 conveys the element member upward when the wind power generator is constructed. The lift-up device 15 includes a lift tower 20 having a pair of lift supports 21 installed on the front side of the tower body 11 in a top view, a lifting part 30 having a holding tool 41 for holding an element member to be conveyed and configured to be movable up and down along the lift tower 20, and a connecting member for separately connecting each of the pair of lift supports 21 and the tower body 11. When the lift tower 20 is extended, a new partial post 213 is connected to the uppermost part of the existing lift tower 20.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 5

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] The present invention relates to a lift-up device used for constructing tower-like structures such as wind power generators, and a method for constructing tower-like structures using the lift-up device. [Background technology]

[0002] A method for constructing a wind turbine, which is a tower-like structure with a rotor at the top, uses a construction method using a lift-up device, as described in Patent Document 1, for example. The lift-up device has a lift tower with four lift columns installed to surround the tower-like structure, and a lifting unit that can rise and fall along the lift tower. The lift-up device is used to transport the tower body of the wind turbine and various elemental members that make up the rotor, with the lifting unit rising and falling along the lift tower. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0003] [Patent Document 1] Japanese Patent Publication No. 2020-12321 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0004] In a lift-up device, the lift tower needs to be extended depending on the height of the tower-like structure. Also, in recent years, the development of higher towers for wind turbines has been considered. Therefore, there has been a demand for technology that can efficiently extend the lift tower. [Means for solving the problem]

[0005] A lift-up device that solves the above problem transports element members upward when constructing a tower-like structure. The lift-up device includes a lift tower having a pair of lift columns installed on the front side of the tower-like structure in a top view, a lifting section having holders that hold the element members and configured to be able to move up and down along the lift tower, and connecting members that individually connect each of the pair of lift columns to the tower-like structure. [Effects of the Invention]

[0006] According to the present invention, the lift tower can be extended efficiently. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0007] [Figure 1] FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing a schematic configuration of a wind power generator, which is an example of a tower-like structure constructed by an embodiment of a lift-up device. [Figure 2] FIG. 2 is a side view showing the schematic configuration of the lift-up device including the wind power generator under construction. [Figure 3] FIG. 3 is a top view showing the schematic configuration of the lift-up device including the wind power generator under construction. [Figure 4] FIG. 4 is a side view showing an example of a state in which a part of the lifting frame protrudes upward from the guide support. [Figure 5] FIG. 5 is a side view illustrating an example of a method for extending a guide support in one embodiment of the method for constructing a tower-like structure. [Figure 6] FIG. 6 is a side view illustrating an example of a method for extending the tower body in one embodiment of the method for constructing a tower-like structure. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0008] An embodiment of a lift-up device and a method for constructing a tower-like structure will be described with reference to FIGS. As shown in FIG. 1, a wind power generator 10, which is an example of a tower-like structure, includes a tower body 11, a nacelle 12, and a rotor 13.

[0009] The tower body 11 extends upward from a base installed on the ground. The tower body 11 is composed of a plurality of cylindrical bodies connected in the vertical direction, specifically a first cylindrical body 111, a second cylindrical body 112, ..., an n-th cylindrical body 11n (n is an integer of 1 or more) arranged in this order from the ground side.

[0010] The nacelle 12 is attached to the top of the tower body 11. The nacelle 12 is configured to be rotatable about a rotation axis extending along the extension direction of the tower body 11. The rotating body 13 has a hub 13h and a plurality of blades 13b. The hub 13h is rotatably attached to the nacelle 12. The blades 13b are attached to the hub 13h so as to extend in a radial direction relative to the rotation axis of the hub 13h. The rotating body 13 may be assembled to the nacelle 12 after the hub 13h is transported to the top of the tower body 11 and assembled to the hub 13h. The rotating body 13 may be assembled to the nacelle 12 after the blades 13b are attached to the hub 13h and transported to the top of the tower body 11.

[0011] (Lift-up device) The lift-up device 15 used for constructing the tower body 11 and transporting the nacelle 12 will now be described.

[0012] As shown in FIG. 2, the lift-up device 15 includes a lift tower 20, a lifting unit 30, a suspension base 40, and a connecting member 50. The lift tower 20 extends vertically at a position close to the tower main body 11. The lifting unit 30 is supported by the lift tower 20. The lifting unit 30 is configured to be able to move up and down along the lift tower 20. The hoisting base 40 is supported by the lifting unit 30. The hoisting base 40 has a holder 41 that holds the element members to be transported. The holder 41 is configured to be adjustable in height. The connecting member 50 is a member that connects the tower main body 11 and the lift tower 20. Note that, hereinafter, the direction corresponding to the left direction in FIG. 2 is referred to as the front direction, and the direction corresponding to the right direction in FIG. 2 is referred to as the rear direction. Furthermore, the direction corresponding to the front of the paper in FIG. 2 is referred to as the left direction, and the direction into the paper is referred to as the right direction.

[0013] (Lift Tower) As shown in Figure 3, the lift tower 20 is constructed on the front side of the tower body 11. On the "front side," work is carried out near the ground to have the hoisting platform 40 hold the element members to be transported. Also, on the "front side," the hoisting platform 40 is positioned when the lifting section 30 is raised or lowered.

[0014] The lift tower 20 has a pair of lift columns 21 and multiple connecting beams 22. Each of the pair of lift columns 21 is composed of multiple partial columns connected in the vertical direction, specifically, a first partial column 211, a second partial column 212, ..., a k-th partial column 21k (k is an integer of 1 or greater) arranged from the ground side as shown in FIG. 2. The pair of lift columns 21 are installed at symmetrical positions with respect to an axis 23 that passes through the center of the tower body 11 and extends in the front-to-rear direction. The installation interval between the pair of lift columns 21 is preferably larger than the maximum diameter of the tower body 11 so that the posture of the lift tower 20 can be easily stabilized. The connecting beams 22 are arranged side by side in the vertical direction and connect the pair of lift columns 21 at various points.

[0015] (Lifting section) As shown in FIG. 2, the lifting section 30 has a frame body made up of a lifting frame 31, an upper frame 32, a lower frame 33, and various reinforcing frames .

[0016] The lifting frame 31 is provided adjacent to the lift column 21 from the outside in the left-right direction. The lifting frame 31 is supported by the lift column 21 via lifting guide sections 35 provided at various locations. In this embodiment, the lifting guide sections 35 are provided at the lower end, central section, and upper end of the lifting frame 31. The lifting guide section 35 provided at the lower end is the first lifting guide section, the lifting guide section 35 provided at the central section is the second lifting guide section, and the lifting guide section 35 provided at the upper end is the third lifting guide section. The lifting guide sections 35 engage with the lifting frame 31 and the lift column 21. The lifting guide sections 35 rise and fall along the lift column 21 together with the lifting frame 31 by being driven by a built-in lifting source. The lifting source may be built into the lifting guide section 35 provided at the lower end, may be built into all of the lifting guide sections 35, or may be built into the lifting guide sections 35 provided at the center and the lower end.

[0017] The upper frame 32 is connected to the upper end of the lifting frame 31. The upper frame 32 has a portion extending forward and a portion extending rearward from the upper end of the lifting frame 31. The lower frame 33 is connected to the lower end of the lifting frame 31. The lower frame 33 extends rearward from the lower end of the lifting frame 31. The reinforcing frames 34 appropriately connect the lifting frame 31, the upper frame 32, and the lower frame 33 to increase the rigidity of the frame body in the lifting section 30. For example, one of the reinforcing frames 34 connects the upper frame 32 and the lower frame 33 on the rear side of the lifting frame 31. Furthermore, one of the reinforcing frames 34 connects the front end of the upper frame 32 to the front end of the lower frame 33 on the front side of the lifting frame 31.

[0018] The lifting section 30 has a guide rail 37 on each of the upper frames 32. The lifting section 30 also has a stage 38 connected to the pair of upper frames 32. The guide rails 37 are laid between the front and rear ends of the upper frames 32. The guide rails 37 support a hoisting platform 40 so that the hoisting platform 40 is movable in the front-to-rear direction. The hoisting platform 40 is a gantry crane supported by the pair of guide rails 37. The stage 38 is provided in the area between the pair of upper frames 32 on the rear side of the tower main body 11.

[0019] 4, the lifting section 30 is configured to be able to rise to a position where the lifting guide section 35 (second lifting guide section) in the center is located at the upper end of the lift column 21. This causes a part of the lifting frame 31 to protrude upward from the upper end of the lift column 21, making it possible to locate the suspension platform 40 at a higher position.

[0020] (Connector) As shown in Fig. 3, the connecting member 50 connects the tower body 11 and the lift tower 20. As a result, the lift tower 20 is supported on the tower body 11 via the connecting member 50. The connecting member 50 is a long, thin rod-shaped member that extends in a direction of approximately 45° with respect to the axis 23, with the center of the tower body 11 as the reference point, when viewed from above.

[0021] The connecting members 50 are joined by pin joints to metal brackets 51 provided at various locations on the tower main body 11. It is preferable that a bracket 51 is provided for each n-th cylindrical body 11n that constitutes the tower main body 11. Note that in each drawing, connecting members 50 on the far side of the frame body of the lifting section 30 and the like are omitted, and only visible connecting members 50 are shown.

[0022] The connecting members 50 are joined by pin joints to metal brackets 52 provided at various locations on the lift support column 21. The brackets 52 are installed on the k-th partial support column 21k according to the positions of the brackets 51 on the tower body 11.

[0023] In the lift-up device 15 configured as described above, the lifting unit 30 is placed near the ground with the suspending platform 40 placed in front of the tower body 11 (holding operation state). After that, the element to be transported is held by the holder 41 of the suspending platform 40, and the lifting unit 30 is raised along the lift tower 20 to transport the element to the desired height. Then, after moving the suspending platform 40 along the guide rails 37 and adjusting the height of the element using the holder 41, various operations related to the element are carried out.

[0024] (How to build a wind turbine) 5 and 6, an example of a method for constructing the wind power generator 10 will be described. Here, a method for constructing the wind power generator 10 will be described from a state in which the tower main body 11 is configured by the first cylindrical body 111 and the second cylindrical body 112, and the lift tower 20 is configured by the first partial support column 211 and the second partial support column 212, and then installed.

[0025] When constructing the wind power generator 10, the tower body 11 is constructed by repeating the extension of the lift tower 20 and the extension of the tower body 11. As shown in Figure 5, when extending the lift tower 20, the element members to be transported are a pair of partial supports connected by a connecting beam 22. First, the lift-up device 15 is set in a holding operation state, and then the third partial supports 213 connected by the connecting beam 22 are held by the holders 41 of the suspension frame 40. Each third partial support 213 has a bracket 52 at a predetermined position to which a connecting member 50 is connected.

[0026] Next, the lifting unit 30 is raised along the lift tower 20 so that the lower end of the third partial support column 213 is positioned higher than the upper end of the second partial support column 212, and then the suspension platform 40 is moved along the guide rails 37 so that the third partial support column 213 is positioned directly above the second partial support column 212. Then, the third partial support column 213 is lowered, and then the lower end of the third partial support column 213 is connected to the upper end of the second partial support column 212. This causes the lift tower 20 to be extended by the length of the third partial support column 213.

[0027] As shown in Fig. 6, when extending the tower body 11, the element member to be transported is the cylindrical body that constitutes the tower body 11. In this case as well, the lift-up device 15 is set in a holding operation state, and then the third cylindrical body 113 is held by the holder 41 of the suspension base 40. A connecting member 50 is connected to a bracket 51 provided at a predetermined position on the third cylindrical body 113.

[0028] Next, the lifting unit 30 is raised along the lift tower 20 so that the lower end of the third cylindrical body 113 is positioned higher than the upper end of the lift tower 20, and then the suspension platform 40 is moved along the guide rails 37 so that the third cylindrical body 113 is positioned directly above the second cylindrical body 112. Then, the third cylindrical body 113 is lowered, and then the lower end of the third cylindrical body 113 is connected to the upper end of the second cylindrical body 112. This extends the tower main body 11 by the length of the third cylindrical body 113. Then, the connecting member 50 connected to the third cylindrical body 113 is connected to the bracket 52 of the second partial support column 212. Note that, although FIG. 6 shows the third cylindrical body 113 being lowered by lowering the holder 41, the third cylindrical body 113 may also be lowered by lowering the lifting unit 30, or the third cylindrical body 113 may be lowered by a combination of lowering the lifting unit 30 and lowering the holder 41.

[0029] The lift tower 20 and the tower body 11 are repeatedly extended in this manner until the n-th cylindrical body 11n is connected to complete the tower body 11. The rotor 13 is then installed at the top of the tower body 11 using the lifting unit 30, thereby completing the wind power generator 10.

[0030] The effects of this embodiment will be described. (1) In the lift-up device 15, the lift tower 20 is connected to the tower body 11 via the connecting members 50. As a result, the lift tower 20 is supported by the tower body 11, and therefore the lift tower 20 can be constructed with a small number of lift columns 21. As a result, various tasks related to the lift columns 21, such as connecting the lift columns 21 together during extension, are reduced, and the lift tower 20 can be extended efficiently.

[0031] (2) The lift tower 20 is composed of a pair of lift supports 21. This reduces the weight of the object to be transported when the lift tower 20 is extended, thereby reducing the load acting on various parts such as the connecting members 50 when the lift tower 20 is extended.

[0032] (3) The connecting member 50 is connected to the brackets 51 and 52 by pin joints. This reduces the load acting on the connecting member 50 even if an external load such as wind acts on the lift tower 20 or the tower body 11. In addition, the workload when attaching and detaching the connecting member 50 to the brackets 51 and 52 can be reduced.

[0033] (4) The lifting unit 30 includes a lifting frame 31 extending vertically along the lifting column 21, an upper frame 32 connected to the upper end of the lifting frame 31 and extending in the front-rear direction, a suspension platform 40 having a holder 41 and configured to be movable above the upper frame 32 along the upper frame 32, and a lifting guide unit 35 that engages with the lifting column 21 and the lifting frame 31 and guides the lifting frame 31 as it moves up and down along the lifting column 21. The lifting guide unit 35 includes a first lifting guide unit provided at the lower end of the lifting frame 31 and a second lifting guide unit provided in the center of the lifting frame 31 in the vertical direction. This allows a portion of the lifting frame 31 to protrude upward from the upper end of the lifting column 21. As a result, the suspension platform 40 can be positioned at a higher position.

[0034] (5) The lift tower 20 is located on the front side of the tower body 11, i.e., on the side where the element members to be transported are placed when they are transported. As a result, a tensile force acts on the connecting members 50 when the element members are transported, and therefore, the connecting members 50 can be effectively utilized because they can resist tensile force more efficiently than compressive force.

[0035] (6) The lift tower 20 is extended by connecting the lower end of a newly installed partial support to the upper end of an existing partial support. In other words, the lift tower 20 is extended without raising the existing part. As a result, the tower body 11 can easily be made into a high tower.

[0036] This embodiment can be modified as follows: This embodiment and the following modifications can be combined and implemented within the scope of technical compatibility. The lift tower 20 and the ties 50 may be installed at the rear side of the tower body 11.

[0037] The lifting unit 30 may be configured such that the lifting guide unit 35 installed at the upper end of the lifting frame 31 rises and falls from the upper end of the lift tower 20 as the highest position. Also, the lifting unit 30 may be configured to have four or more lifting guide units 35.

[0038] The connecting member 50 may be configured to be pin-connected to at least one of the tower body 11 and the lift column 21. Alternatively, the connecting member 50 may be configured to be rigidly connected to both the tower body 11 and the lift column 21.

[0039] The lift tower 20 may have a pair of lift columns 21 on the front side of the tower-like structure, and may be configured so that the area around the tower-like structure is open from at least two directions when viewed from above. For example, the lift tower 20 may have one lift column on the left side of the tower-like structure connected to one of the pair of lift columns 21 by a connecting beam, and may be configured so that the areas on the rear and right sides of the tower-like structure are open when viewed from above.

[0040] The tower-like structure may be any structure that is constructed by transporting element members upward using the lift-up device 15, and is not limited to the wind power generator 10, but may also be, for example, a radio tower. [Explanation of symbols]

[0041] 10...wind turbine generator, 11...tower body, 12...nacelle, 13...rotating body, 13b...blade, 13h...hub, 15...lift-up device, 20...lift tower, 21...lift support, 22...connecting beam, 23...axis, 30...lifting section, 31...lifting frame, 32...upper frame, 33...lower frame, 34...reinforcing frame, 35...lifting guide section, 37...guide rail, 38...stage, 40...suspension frame, 41...holding device, 50...connecting material, 51...bracket, 52...bracket.

Claims

1. A lift-up device that transports element members upward when constructing a tower-like structure, a lift tower having a pair of lift columns installed on the front side of the tower-like structure in a top view; a lifting unit having a holder for holding the element member and configured to be able to move up and down along the lift tower; and a connecting member for connecting each of the pair of lift columns to the tower-like structure. Lift-up device.

2. The tether is connected to at least one of the tower structure and the lift column by a pin joint. The lift-up device according to claim 1 .

3. The lifting unit is a lifting frame extending in the vertical direction along the lift column; an upper frame connected to an upper end of the lifting frame and extending in the front-rear direction; a suspension stand having the holder and configured to be movable above the upper frame along the upper frame; a lift guide portion that engages with the lift column and the lift frame and guides the lift frame to move up and down along the lift column; The lift guide portion is a first lift guide portion provided at a lower end portion of the lift frame; a second lift guide portion provided at a center portion of the lift frame in the vertical direction; The lift-up device according to claim 1 .

4. The front side of the tower-like structure is the side on which the element members are placed when transporting them. The lift-up device according to any one of claims 1 to 3.

5. A method for constructing a tower-like structure using a lift-up device that transports element members upward, comprising: The lift-up device is a lift tower having a pair of lift columns installed on the front side of the tower-like structure in a top view; a lifting unit having a holder for holding the element member and configured to be able to move up and down along the lift tower; a connecting member for connecting each of the pair of lift columns to the tower-like structure, The lift column is composed of a plurality of sub-columns; The lift-up device transports a new partial support to the top of the existing lift support, and connects it to the top of the existing lift support, thereby extending the lift support. A method for constructing tower-like structures.

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