Collet Platform Lock for Wind Turbine Blade Attachment

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing solutions for attaching wind turbine blade components to shell parts face challenges such as axial movement, damage to bushings, and limited tolerance for attachment errors during the bonding process.

Innovation Solution

A component platform lock system that uses a housing with a first moving pin featuring a tapered inner cone stud and an expanding collet, which can be actuated to engage and hold the wind turbine blade component without exerting axial forces on the bushings, allowing for larger tolerances and easier release.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Stability of the object's composition

If a rigid holding device is used to prevent axial movement, then positioning stability is improved, but risk of bushing damage increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvepositioning stabilityVSAvoidbushing damage risk

Core Design Contradiction:

Stability of the object's compositionVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The holding device uses a collet mechanism that can dynamically adjust its grip on the component. The collet expands and contracts based on actuation, allowing it to adapt to tolerance variations while maintaining a secure hold, thereby preventing bushing damage from excessive rigid forces.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The system changes the gripping parameter of the holding device by actuating the collet to expand or contract. This allows the device to transition between different states of grip strength, enabling secure positioning without applying damaging axial forces to the bushings.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

2Adaptability or versatility

If a collet-based holding mechanism is used, then tolerance accommodation is improved, but device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvetolerance accommodationVSAvoidholding mechanism complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The holding mechanism is segmented into distinct functional components: the collet body, the inner cone stud, and the actuator. This segmentation allows each component to perform its specific function independently, making the overall system more manageable and easier to control despite its complexity.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The inner cone stud acts as an intermediary between the actuator and the collet. It translates the actuator's linear motion into radial expansion of the collet, mediating the force transmission and enabling precise control of the gripping action.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

3Strength

If axial forces are applied to secure the component, then holding strength is improved, but bushing deformation increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveholding strengthVSAvoidbushing deformation

Core Design Contradiction:

StrengthVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

Instead of applying holding forces solely in the axial direction, the collet mechanism transitions the holding action to the radial dimension. The collet expands radially to grip the component, providing strong holding without axial deformation of the bushings.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #17Another dimension (Dimensionality change)

Solution Approach 2:

The system replaces a simple axial mechanical clamp with a more sophisticated collet mechanism that uses radial expansion for gripping. This substitution of mechanical approach eliminates the need for axial forces that would deform the bushings while maintaining holding strength.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

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

The component platform lock effectively prevents axial movement, reduces the risk of bushing damage, and accommodates larger attachment tolerances, ensuring secure and precise attachment of wind turbine blade components during the bonding process.

Implementation Method 1

a first collet (56) having an expanding section (84) surrounding the first inner cone stud (52) and configured to move along the first inner cone stud (52) between the second section (82) and the first section (80). The expanding section of the first collet (56) is configured to contract and expand based on the diameter of the cone stud.

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectConical geometry expansion: Geometry

Data Source

PatentUS12215669B2Component platform lock with collets and method for holding a wind turbine blade component

Publication Date: 2025.02.04 LM WIND POWER AS

AI summary

A component platform lock for holding a wind turbine blade component during attachment of the wind turbine blade component to a wind turbine blade shell part, the component platform lock comprising a first and second moving pin, first and second inner cone stud and first and second collets surrounding the inner cone stud, the collets expanding based on the movement of the inner cone stud relative to the collets.