Conical Span-Wise Pin Joint for Segmented Rotor Blade Loads
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing wind turbine rotor blades face challenges in withstanding increasing bending moments and loads due to larger blade sizes, requiring improved joint designs to enhance stiffness, buckling resistance, and strength.
Innovation Solution
A span-wise extending pin with a conical distal portion is used to secure first and second blade segments together, providing ease of insertion and improved torqueing capability, while a radial flange and internal tapered openings enhance radial retention and assembly.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Length of moving object
If larger rotor blades are constructed in segments to increase blade length, then the blade can reach greater lengths, but the bending moment and loads increase requiring improved joint designs
Solution Approach 1:
The rotor blade is divided into multiple blade segments that can be assembled separately and connected through joint designs. This allows the blade to achieve greater lengths while maintaining structural integrity through properly designed connection points between segments.
Solution Approach 2:
The pin joint incorporates a composite structure combining a pin member with a bearing assembly, where the pin may be made of metal materials and the bearing provides additional support. This composite joint design enhances the bending moment resistance at the connection points between blade segments.
2Ease of manufacture
If conventional pin joints are used to connect blade segments, then assembly is possible, but insertion difficulty and assembly time increase
Solution Approach 1:
The pin joint is designed with a bearing assembly pre-installed within the second blade segment before the pin insertion step. This preliminary preparation allows the pin to be inserted more easily and reduces the overall assembly time, as the bearing is already in position to guide and support the pin during connection.
3Reliability
If pin joints are designed to allow blade tip flexing, then some load can be withstood, but joint complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The bearing assembly acts as an intermediary element between the pin member and the blade segments. It provides a controlled interface that allows the pin to rotate and flex while maintaining proper alignment and support, enabling blade tip flexing without significantly increasing joint complexity.
Data Source
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AI summary
A span-wise extending pin for joining blade segments of a rotor blade includes a distal portion having a length defined by a first end and an opposing, second end. The distal portion has a conical shape extending for at least a portion of the length thereof for providing ease of insertion of the pin into a pin joint slot of one of the first and second blade segments. The pin also includes a pin portion adjacent to the distal portion. The pin portion includes a first section and a second section. The second section is configured for securing within a beam structure of the first blade segment. The first section extends span-wise from a receiving end of the beam structure. The pin also includes a proximal portion having at least a rod member that extends span- wise through and secures together the pin portion and the distal portion.