Adjustable Bolt Gripper for Variable Wind Turbine Bolt Spacing
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Solution Overview
Problem
Handling and transporting large bolts used in wind turbine tower assembly is difficult due to their size and weight, which existing lifting devices do not adequately address.
Innovation Solution
An adjustable bolt gripper with telescoping shovel mechanisms that can adjust to different bolt spacings, allowing simultaneous gripping and transportation of multiple bolts, featuring a frame with horizontal and vertical profiles, handles, and a lock mechanism for secure handling.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If a fixed-size lifting device is used, then the device structure is simple, but it cannot adapt to different bolt spacings
Solution Approach 1:
The lifting device incorporates telescopic arms with adjustable lengths, allowing the device to dynamically change its configuration to match different bolt spacings. The arms can be extended or retracted along guide rails, providing adaptability without requiring multiple fixed-size devices.
Solution Approach 2:
The lifting device is divided into modular components including separate telescopic arms, shovel mechanisms, and a frame structure. This segmentation allows each component to be independently adjusted and configured for different bolt spacing requirements.
2Ease of operation
If manual handling of bolts is used, then no additional equipment is needed, but handling large and heavy bolts becomes difficult
Solution Approach 1:
The shovel mechanisms are designed to automatically engage with the bolts when the arms are positioned correctly. The bolts are secured by the interlocking geometry of the shovel mechanisms without requiring additional manual operations or complex locking systems.
3Adaptability or versatility
If multiple separate lifting devices are used for different bolt spacings, then each device can be optimized for its specific spacing, but the number of devices and operational complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The lifting device is designed as a universal system that can handle multiple bolt spacing configurations. The telescopic arms and adjustable shovel mechanisms allow a single device to perform the function of multiple fixed-size devices, improving operational efficiency.
Data Source
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AI summary
An adjustable bolt gripper (21) for gripping bolts (13) of a wind turbine (1) comprising a frame (22), a first shovel mechanism (45) to engage with a first bolt (13), a second shovel mechanism (46) to engage with a second bolt (13) wherein the first shovel mechanism (45) and the second shovel mechanism (46) are both slidably supported at the frame (22) for bringing the bolt gripper (21) from a folded status (Z1) into an unfolded status (Z2) and vice versa, and wherein the first shovel mechanism (45) and the second shovel mechanism (46) are positioned further away from each other in the unfolded status (Z2) than compared to the folded status (Z1). Since the bolt gripper (21) can be brought from the folded status (Z1) into the unfolded status (Z2) and vice versa, it is possible to adjust the bolt gripper (21) to a specific distance (64) between two axes of symmetry (17) of two bolts (13) that are received in a magazine (63). Thus one bolt gripper (21) can be used for different distances (64) between the axes of symmetry (17).