Collapsible Rotor Assembly for Vertical-Axis Turbine Field Setup

Resolve Bottlenecks,
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions

Solution Overview

Problem

The assembly of vertical axis wind turbine rotor assemblies in the field is time-consuming and challenging for contractors, requiring significant effort and equipment.

Innovation Solution

A collapsible rotor assembly that is pre-assembled in a manufacturing plant and transported to the field, allowing for easy installation by unbundling and extending components on-site, reducing the need for complex assembly in the field.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of manufacture

If rotor assembly units are manufactured separately in a plant and assembled in the field, then transportation and logistics are simplified, but assembly time and complexity increase significantly

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveease of transportationVSAvoidassembly time

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of manufactureVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The rotor assembly is divided into multiple detachable units including blade assemblies, hub assemblies, and support structures. Each unit can be independently manufactured, transported, and then quickly assembled on-site using standardized connection interfaces, resolving the contradiction between simplified transportation and reduced assembly time

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

Critical assembly operations such as blade-to-hub attachment, structural reinforcement, and system integration are performed at the manufacturing plant before transportation. This preliminary assembly reduces the complexity and time required for field assembly while maintaining transportation efficiency

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

2Adaptability or versatility

If complete rotor assemblies are assembled in the field, then component customization is flexible, but assembly complexity and resource requirements increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecomponent customizationVSAvoidassembly complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

Standardized connection interfaces and modular component designs enable the same assembly procedures and equipment to be used across different rotor assembly configurations. This universality maintains customization flexibility while reducing assembly complexity and resource requirements

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Solution Approach 2:

Pre-assembled subcomponents and standardized connection mechanisms act as intermediaries between customized design requirements and simplified assembly processes. These intermediary elements enable component customization while maintaining straightforward assembly procedures

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Data Source

PatentUS12410769B2Collapsible rotor assembly of a vertical axis wind turbine

Publication Date: 2025.09.09 WIND HARVEST INT

AI summary

A collapsible rotor assembly and a method to assemble the rotor assembly are disclosed. The rotor assembly may include a mast, a blade, a first arm and a second arm. The rotor assembly may further include a first connection member attached to a mast top portion and a second connection member attached to a mast bottom portion. The rotor assembly may additionally include a third connection member attached to a blade top portion and a fourth connection member attached to a blade bottom portion. A first arm distal end may be pivotally attached with the first connection member and a first arm proximal end may be pivotally attached with the third connection member. Furthermore, a second arm distal end may be removably attached with the second connection member and a second arm proximal end may be pivotally attached with the fourth connection member.