Wind Turbine Blade Preform Mould Inlay Tapered Edge
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Solution Overview
Problem
The manufacturing of wind turbine blade preforms is costly and inefficient, particularly when dealing with complex geometries and varying shapes, which complicates the use of fibre preforms in blade moulds and increases the need for precise geometry control.
Innovation Solution
A method using a mould inlay with a tapered edge to create preforms that can compensate for uneven or complex geometries, combined with a preform mould assembly featuring support elements and strip members with grooves and tongues, allowing for the production of consolidated fibre preforms that reduce wrinkle formation and manufacturing costs.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Manufacturing precision
If multiple preforms with different shapes and sizes are manufactured to fit complex geometries in blade moulds, then the precision of geometry control is improved, but the device complexity and manufacturing cost increase due to the need for multiple specialized moulds
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies universality by designing a single standardized preform mould that can produce preforms of various shapes and sizes through the use of interchangeable mould inlays. Instead of requiring multiple specialized moulds for different preform geometries, the system uses one versatile mould assembly that can accommodate different inlays to create the required preform variations, thereby reducing device complexity while maintaining manufacturing precision
Solution Approach 2:
The patent applies segmentation by dividing the mould system into a standardized base mould structure and interchangeable inlay components. The mould assembly consists of a reusable mould body and separate inlays that can be swapped to create different preform geometries. This segmentation allows the complex task of manufacturing various preforms to be broken down into a standardized process with modular components
2Productivity
If preforms are used to reduce cycle time in blade manufacturing, then productivity is improved, but the manufacturing cost increases due to the complexity of producing preforms with varying geometries
Solution Approach 1:
The standardized preform mould with interchangeable inlays enables a single mould to produce multiple preform types, reducing the overall manufacturing cost by eliminating the need for multiple specialized moulds while maintaining the productivity benefits of preform usage in blade manufacturing
3Manufacturing precision
If preforms with precise geometries are manufactured for complex blade regions, then manufacturing precision is improved, but the loss of time increases due to the time-consuming nature of creating specialized preforms
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies preliminary action by pre-manufacturing standardized preforms using the versatile mould system, which can be stored and readily deployed during blade manufacturing. The interchangeable inlays allow for quick production of different preform types as needed, reducing the time loss associated with creating specialized preforms on-demand while maintaining geometric precision
Data Source
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AI summary
The present invention relates to a method of manufacturing a preform (98) for a wind turbine blade. A first mould inlay (72) is fastened to a first portion (112) of the mould surface of a preform mould. The first mould inlay (72) has an outer surface (73) and an inner surface (74), wherein the inner surface of the first mould inlay (72) faces the first portion of the mould surface. At least part of the perimeter of the first mould inlay (72) has a tapered edge (76).