Device for lifting the gearbox cover of a wind turbine

Abstract

The present invention discloses a device for lifting the gearbox cover of a wind turbine, comprising: an upper beam (10) comprising at least two upper beam parts; two pillars (20) supporting the upper beam, said pillars comprising at least two pillar parts; each pillar having a pillar base (30) at its lower end, said pillar base being fixed to the pillar and comprising at least two inclined rods for strengthening fixation to the pillar; a lower frame (50) fixed to the pillar base of each pillar, said lower frame comprising an angle bracket with an angle bracket base fixed to the pillar base and at least two columns projecting downwardly, each column (70) comprising at its end at least one column eyelet (70A) for lifting a gearbox cover.

Description

"DEVICE FOR LIFTING THE GEARBOX COVER OF A WIND TURBINE"TECHNICAL FIELD

[0001] The present invention relates to a lifting device. More specifically, the present invention relates to a device for lifting the gearbox cover of a wind turbine.BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0002] Usually, for field repair (i.e. uptower) of a gearbox it is necessary to take a lifting device, such as a crane, from the ground to the top of the wind turbine. This lifting device is used to lift the gearbox cover so that its internal elements can be accessed.

[0003] However, due to the great height of a wind turbine and the great weight of a lifting device, the problem with the prior art is the fact that bringing the lifting device to the top of the turbine is a costly and complex activity .SUMMARY

[0004] The objective of the present invention is to provide a device for lifting the gearbox cover of a wind turbine that avoids the drawbacks of the prior art.

[0005] This objective is achieved by means of a device for lifting the gearbox cover of a wind turbine, comprising: an upper beam comprising at least two upper beam parts; two pillars supporting the upper beam, said pillars comprising at least two pillar parts; each pillar having a pillar base at its lower end, said pillar base being fixed to the pillar and comprising at least two inclined rods for strengthening fixation to the pillar; a lower frame fixed to the pillar base of each pillar, said lower frame comprising an angle bracket with an anglebracket base fixed to the pillar base and at least two columns proj ecting downwardly, each column comprising at its end at least one column eyelet for li fting a gearbox cover .

[0006] Conveniently, the device according to the present invention consists in the fact that the at least two upper beam parts are fixed together by means of screws and the at least two pillar parts are fixed together by means of screws .

[0007] The device according to the present invention further consists in the fact that the pillars are arranged at the respective ends of the upper beam .

[0008] Additionally, the device according to the present invention consists in the fact that the pil lar base is fixed to the pillar by welding or screws .

[0009] Furthermore , the device according to the present invention consists in the fact that the upper end of the inclined rod is welded to the pillar, and the lower end of the inclined rod is welded to the pillar base .

[0010] Conveniently, the device according to the present invention consists in the fact that the angle bracket base is fixed to the pillar base by means of screws .

[0011] The device according to the present invention further consists in the fact that the angle bracket comprises an angle bracket wall with holes for fixing to the gearbox housing by means of screws .

[0012] Additionally, the device according to the present invention consists in the fact that a support pin ( 80 ) is inserted through the at least one column eye for fixing the gearbox housing .

[0013] Furthermore, the device according to the present invention consists in the fact that the upper beam comprises, on its lower face, close to their respective ends, an upper beam eyelet for lifting the gearbox cover.

[0014] Conveniently, the device according to the present invention consists in the fact that the upper beam and pillars are made of square tubes.

[0015] Additionally, the device according to the present invention consists of the fact that it is made of ASTM 36 steel.

[0016] An advantage of the device according to the present invention is the fact that it is detachable, with the components only fixed together when they have all been taken from the ground to the top of the wind turbine, simplifying the activity of bringing the lifting device to the top of the turbine.BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0017] The objects and advantages of the present invention will become clearer through the following detailed description of the examples and non-limiting drawings presented at the end of this document:

[0018] Figure 1 illustrates the device for lifting the gearbox cover of a wind turbine assembled in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention.

[0019] Figure 2 illustrates the pillar according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention.

[0020] Figure 3 illustrates the lower frame according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention.

[0021] Figure 4 illustrates the gearbox covex and upper beam eyelets in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention.

[0022] Figure 5 illustrates the gearbox housing, holes and column eyelets in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0023] Although the present invention may be susceptible to different embodiments, a preferred embodiment is shown in the following detailed discussion with the understanding that the present description should be considered an exemplification of the principles of the invention and that the present invention is not intended to be limited to what has been illustrated and described here.

[0024] According to Figure 1, the device for lifting the gearbox cover of a wind turbine comprises an upper beam 10 with two upper beam parts 10A. In other embodiments, the upper beam may comprise three or more upper beam parts for supporting the elements. Still according to Figure 1, the upper beam 10 comprises, on its lower face, close to their respective ends, an upper beam eyelet 10B for lifting a gearbox cover. In order for the gearbox cover to be lifted, an electric hoist is installed in each upper beam eyelet 10B and the lifting device is positioned such that an electric hoist hook can be inserted through holes present in the gearbox cover (as seen in Figure 4) .

[0025] As it can be seen in Figure 1, the device for lifting the gearbox cover of a wind turbine further comprises two pillars 20 supporting the upper beam 10, said pillars 20comprising two pillar parts 20A. In other embodiments , the pillar may comprise three or more pillar parts for supporting the upper beam .

[0026] Further according to Figure 1 , the pillars 20 are arranged at the respective ends of the upper beam 10 . Still according to Figure 1 , the two upper beam parts 10A are fixed together by means of screws and the two pillar parts 20A are fixed together by means of screws . Additionally, the upper beam 10 and the pillars 20 are preferably made of square tubes .

[0027] According to Figure 2 , each pillar 20 has a pillar base 30 at its lower end, with the pillar base 30 being fixed, by welding, to the pi llar 20 and comprising two inclined rods 40 to reinforce the fixation to the pillar 20 . Additionally, the upper end 40A o f the inclined rod 40 is welded to the pillar 20 , and the lower end 40B of the inclined rod 40 is welded to the pillar base 30 . In other embodiments , the pillar base may comprise three or more inclined rods to reinforce the fixation to the pillar .

[0028] According to Figure 1 , the device for li fting the gearbox cover of a wind turbine a lower frame 50 fixed to the pillar base 30 of each pillar 20 .

[0029] According to Figure 3 , said lower frame 50 comprises an angle bracket 60 with an angle bracket base 60A fixed to the pillar base 30 and two columns 70 proj ecting downwards , each column 70 comprising, at its end, a column eyelet 70A for fixing the gearbox housing . According to the present invention, the angle bracket base 60A is fixed to the pillar base 30 by means of screws . In order for thegearbox housing to be secured to the column eyelet V OA, the device for li fting the gearbox cover of a wind turbine is positioned so that the column eyelets V OA correspond to a hole present in the gearbox housing so that a support pin 80 can be inserted through the V OA eyelets and go through the hole in the gearbox housing ( as seen in Figure 5 ) . In other embodiments , the angle bracket base may comprise three or more columns and each column may comprise two or more eyelets for more secure fixation of the gearbox housing .

[0030] Still according to Figure 3 , the angle bracket 60 further compri ses an angle bracket wall 60B with holes 90 for fixing to the gearbox housing by means of screws . In order for the gearbox housing to be fixed to these holes 90 , the Device for li fting the gearbox cover of a wind turbine is positioned so that the holes 90 of the angle bracket wall 60B correspond to holes present in the gearbox housing, so that screws can be inserted through the holes 90 and are fixed in the holes present in the gearbox housing ( as seen in Figure 5 ) .

[0031] According to the present invention, the li fting device is preferably made of ASTM 36 steel .

[0032] In addition to the embodiments presented above , the same inventive concept may be applied to other alternatives or possibilities for using the invention .

[0033] Although the present invention has been described in relation to certain preferred embodiments , it should be understood that it is not intended to limit the invention to those particular embodiments . Rather, it is intended to cover all possible alternatives , modi ficationsand equivalences within the spirit and scope of the invention, as defined by the appended claims .

Claims

CLAIMS1. Device for lifting the gearbox cover of a wind turbine, comprising: an upper beam (10) comprising at least two upper beam parts ( 10A) ; two pillars (20) supporting the upper beam (10) , said pillars (20) comprising at least two pillar parts (20A) ; each pillar (20) having a pillar base (30) at its lower end, said pillar base (30) being fixed to the pillar (20) and comprising at least two inclined rods (40) for strengthening fixation to the pillar (20) ; a lower frame (50) fixed to the pillar base (30) of each pillar (20) , said lower frame (50) comprising an angle bracket (60) with an angle bracket base (60A) fixed to the pillar base (30) and at least two columns (70) projecting downwardly, each column (70) comprising at its end at least one column eyelet (70A) for lifting a gearbox cover.

2. Device, as in claim 1, wherein the at least two upper beam parts (10A) are fixed together by means of screws and the at least two pillar parts (20A) are fixed together by means of screws.

3. Device, as in claim 1, wherein the pillars (20) are arranged at the respective ends of the upper beam (10) .

4. Device, as in claim 1, wherein the pillar base (30) is fixed to the pillar (20) by welding.

5. Device, as in claim 1, wherein the upper end (40A) of the inclined rods (40) is welded to the pillar, and the lower end (40B) of the inclined rods (40) is welded to the pillar base ( 30 ) .

6. Device, as in claim 1, wherein the angle bracket base (60A) is fixed to the pillar base (30) by means of screws .

7. Device, as in claim 1, wherein the angle bracket (60) comprises an angle bracket wall (60B) with holes (90) for fixing to the gearbox housing by means of screws.

8. Device, as in claim 1, wherein a support pin (80) is inserted through the at least one column eye (VOA) for fixing the gearbox housing.

9. Device, as in claim 1, wherein the upper beam (10) comprises, on its lower face, close to their respective ends, an upper beam eyelet (10B) for lifting the gearbox cover.

10. Device, as in claim 1, wherein the upper beam (10) and the pillars (20) are made of square tubes.

11. Device, as in claim 1, wherein it is made of ASTM 36 steel.

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