Containerized Lifting Yoke for Wind Turbine Blade Handling
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing lifting devices for wind turbine blades are cumbersome to transport and require extensive installation time, leading to increased costs and safety risks due to the need for manual handling and crane operations at heights.
Innovation Solution
A lifting device with a modular design featuring a transport frame that converts from a packed state to an operational state, allowing components to fit within a standard container for easy transport and assembly, including a C-shaped connecting mechanism and counter ballast for stability, enabling secure lifting and maneuvering of long and heavy units.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Power
If a lifting device is designed to lift long and heavy units (up to 60 meters and 12,000 kg), then the lifting capability is improved, but the device becomes cumbersome to transport and requires extensive installation time
Solution Approach 1:
The lifting device is divided into separate modular components including a lifting yoke, support elements, connecting means, and counter ballast that can be individually transported and assembled. This segmentation allows each component to be compact enough for standard container transport while maintaining the overall lifting capability when assembled on-site.
Solution Approach 2:
The device incorporates movable and adjustable components such as the C-shaped connecting means that can transition between transport and operational configurations. The counter ballast system can be dynamically positioned and adjusted during assembly to achieve proper balance and stability for different lifting scenarios.
2Ease of operation
If the lifting device uses manual handling and crane operations at heights, then the lifting operation can be performed, but safety risks increase
Solution Approach 1:
The lifting device is designed to be self-contained with integrated fastening means and connecting mechanisms that reduce the need for manual intervention at heights. The C-shaped connecting means and locking mechanisms enable automated or semi-automated assembly operations, minimizing worker exposure to hazardous heights while maintaining operational capability.
3Strength
If the lifting device components are designed for high strength and stability, then the structural integrity is improved, but the transport dimensions exceed standard container limits
Solution Approach 1:
Device components are designed to nest within each other during transport configuration. The support elements can be positioned within the footprint of the lifting yoke, and the counter ballast can be compacted into a reduced volume arrangement, allowing all high-strength components to fit within standard container dimensions while maintaining their structural integrity for lifting operations.
Data Source
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AI summary
The present invention relates to a lifting device comprising a lifting yoke for windmill blade. In particular the present invention relates to a lifting device which is easy to transport and bring into position for the actual lifting operation. In particular, the invention relates to a lifting device comprising a lifting yoke (1) comprising fastening means (2) connecting to a crane during operation, a support element (4, 5, 6) comprising a support surface (5) dimensioned to support an area of a unit to be lifted, connecting means (3) securing the lifting yoke (1) to the support element (4, 5, 6) during operation, and at least a part of the support element (4, 5, 6) comprises a transport frame (4) corresponding to a lower frame of a container such as a standard container. The lifting device comprises a packed state and an operational state, and in the packed state the components of the lifting device (1, 2, 3, 5, 6) are configured to fit within the dimensions of a container such as a standard container, and in the operational state the components of the lifting device (1, 2, 3, 5, 6) are configured to operate as a lifting device.