Wind Blade Structural Member Turning Without Overhead Cranes
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Solution Overview
Problem
The manufacturing process of wind turbine blades faces challenges in handling and processing structural members, such as spar caps, due to the interference of overhead cranes, which limits operator presence and efficiency in blade production.
Innovation Solution
A system comprising a member support mounted to a base with a plurality of member turning devices along its longitudinal axis, allowing for the turning and support of structural members without using overhead cranes, enabling access to multiple sides for inspection and processing.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If overhead cranes are used to handle structural members, then the structural members can be lifted and positioned, but the overhead cranes interfere with other manufacturing operations and limit operator presence for safety reasons
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the structural member handling function from the overhead crane system and implements it through a dedicated handling system with turning devices positioned along the longitudinal axis of the structural member. This allows inspection and processing operations to be performed without overhead crane interference, resolving the contradiction between operator presence and manufacturing productivity
2Productivity
If overhead cranes are used to handle structural members, then the structural members can be moved and positioned, but this creates high demand for overhead cranes and safety limitations
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the handling function into multiple distributed turning devices positioned along the longitudinal axis of the structural member rather than relying on a single overhead crane. This segmentation reduces the demand on overhead cranes and enables parallel inspection and processing operations, thereby improving blade production productivity
3Ease of operation
If structural members are handled using overhead cranes, then they can be suspended and moved, but this limits access to multiple sides for inspection and processing
Solution Approach 1:
The patent transitions from vertical suspension handling to horizontal support along the longitudinal axis, enabling turning devices to access multiple sides of the structural member in the horizontal plane. This dimensional change allows simultaneous inspection and processing operations on different sides, reducing inspection and processing time while improving ease of operation
Data Source
AI summary
A system (50) for handling a structural member (44) of a blade (10) of a wind turbine (2), comprising a member support (52) configured for supporting the structural member (44), the member support (52) being configured to be mounted to a base (51), and a plurality of member turning devices (60) positioned along a longitudinal axis (54) of the member support (52), the plurality of member turning devices (60) being connected to the member support (52) and configured for turning the structural member (44).