Wind Turbine Blade Mould Markers for Positioning Precision
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current wind-turbine blade manufacturing techniques are time-consuming and prone to errors due to the difficulty in precisely determining the orientation and positioning of large blades, which can lead to incorrect machining and potential damage to load-bearing parts.
Innovation Solution
A method involving markers arranged inside the mould to create negative impressions on the blade surface, allowing for precise positioning and machining by forming reference markings that guide tools during assembly and machining steps.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If markers are arranged inside the mould to create negative impressions on the blade surface, then positioning precision is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
Markers are arranged inside the mould before the composite layup is assembled and cured, so that negative impressions are formed directly on the blade surface during the moulding process. This preliminary action eliminates the need for subsequent reference point determination and reduces positioning errors in machining operations.
Solution Approach 2:
The markers in the mould create negative impressions (copies) on the blade surface that replicate the marker positions. These negative impressions serve as reference markings that guide tool placement during machining, providing a simple yet precise reference system without requiring complex positioning devices.
2Ease of operation
If the blade is supported on a frame and reference points are determined relative to the circular base, then the blade can be positioned, but the process becomes time-consuming and error-prone
Solution Approach 1:
The reference markings are created during the moulding process itself, before the blade is removed from the mould. This eliminates the time-consuming post-moulding reference point determination process and reduces the risk of positioning errors that occur when manually determining reference points on large blades.
Solution Approach 2:
The moulding process itself creates the reference markings on the blade surface, making the blade self-referencing. The negative impressions formed by the markers serve as built-in guides that automatically indicate the correct positioning without requiring external frames or complex measurement procedures.
3Ease of manufacture
If fasteners are embedded in the blade root portion during moulding, then assembly is simplified, but special guides are required and composite layers must be shaped to fit around fasteners
Solution Approach 1:
Instead of embedding fasteners directly in the blade root portion, the patent extracts this function and replaces it with markers that create negative impressions on the blade surface. This eliminates the need for special guides and complex shaping of composite layers around fasteners, while still providing precise positioning for assembly operations.
Solution Approach 2:
The markers in the mould serve as intermediaries that transfer positioning information to the blade surface through negative impressions. These markers replace the function of embedded fasteners and special guides, providing a simpler way to achieve precise positioning without requiring complex moulding techniques.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
This method simplifies and enhances the precision of machining processes, such as drilling and milling, by providing clear reference points for tool placement, reducing costs and minimizing errors in blade assembly.
Implementation Method 1
assembling and curing the composite layup in the mould such that a negative impression of a marker is formed on a surface of the composite layup
Implementation Method 2
Additional resin can be pumped into the closed mould by means of a vacuum, so that the component layers are caused to press against the inside mould surface
Data Source
Figure 1
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Figure 5~6
AI summary
The invention describes a method of moulding a wind-turbine blade (1) in a mould (2), which method comprises the steps of arranging a number of markers (A, A', B, C) on an interior of the mould (2); arranging a composite layup (14) in the mould (2); and assembling and curing the composite layup (14) in the mould (2) such that a negative impression (RA, RB, RC) of a marker (A, A', B, C) is formed on a surface (13) of the composite layup (14), which negative impression (RA, RB, RC) facilitates correct positioning of the blade (1) relative to a component (41, 42) in a subsequent assembly step. The invention also describes a mould (2) for moulding a wind-turbine blade (1); a wind-turbine blade (1) moulded using such a mould; and a positioning device (3) for positioning a drilling and/or milling tool (6) relative to a root portion (10) of a wind-turbine blade (1) moulded using the inventive method. The invention also describes a method of manufacturing a wind-turbine blade (1).