Load Handling Device for Wind Turbine Hub Alignment
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing load handling devices for wind turbine components, such as hubs, require separate traverses for each item and often result in uneven lifting, leading to high stress on the hub during tilting, increased space requirements, and excessive force for alignment due to mismatched centers of rotation and gravity, and are costly when using multiple cranes.
Innovation Solution
A load handling device with rotatably mounted, lockable rotary bodies and traction mechanisms that can be controlled independently or jointly to adjust the position of the load, allowing for flexible tilting and alignment, with interchangeable rotary bodies and a spreader beam to optimize the center of rotation alignment with the center of gravity, reducing the effort required for positioning and preventing hub damage.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Area of stationary object
If lateral fixing is used to pick up goods, then the goods can be lifted, but a relatively large area is required and more area than when lifting from above
Solution Approach 1:
Instead of approaching the load laterally as in conventional methods, the load handling device approaches and positions itself above the load. The rotary bodies then rotate to guide the traction means laterally, effectively inverting the sequence of lateral engagement versus vertical positioning, thereby reducing the required lateral area while maintaining operational effectiveness.
2Ease of operation
If lateral fixing is used to pick up goods, then the goods can be lifted, but the goods are already tilted to one side leading to high load on the hub area
Solution Approach 1:
The load handling device positions itself above the load before engagement and uses the rotatable bodies to control the traction means in a manner that prevents premature tilting. The rotary bodies guide the traction means to engage symmetrically, performing the alignment action preliminarily before lifting, thus preventing the harmful tilting effect that occurs with conventional lateral fixing.
3Device complexity
If one drive chain or two drive chains are controlled simultaneously by a single drive, then the structure is simplified, but optimal balancing of the load is not ensured
Solution Approach 1:
The drive system is segmented into multiple independent drives, each controlling a separate rotary body and traction means. This segmentation allows each drive to independently adjust its traction force, enabling precise balancing of the load while maintaining a relatively simple overall structure. Each segmented drive unit can be optimized for specific balancing requirements.
4Stability of the object's composition
If a solid construction is used with four different drives and winches, then the structure is stable, but the construction is complex and costly
Solution Approach 1:
The rotary bodies serve multiple functions: they guide the traction means, provide rotational movement for positioning, and can be controlled independently for balancing. This multi-functionality eliminates the need for separate complex mechanisms for each function, achieving structural stability with a simpler, more integrated drive system that can be adapted to different load configurations.
5Device complexity
If the center of rotation of the load handling device does not coincide with the center of gravity, then the device can be simpler, but a relatively large amount of force is required for alignment
Solution Approach 1:
The load handling device uses dynamically controllable rotary bodies that can adjust their position and rotation independently. This dynamic capability allows the system to adapt the center of rotation to coincide with the center of gravity during alignment operations, minimizing the force required, while maintaining a simpler overall device structure that can operate in both dynamic and static configurations.
Data Source
Figure 1
AI summary
Load handling device (1) for handling a load to be lifted (2) by means of a crane-like lifting device, wherein the load handling device (1) has a receptacle (3) for arranging the load handling device (1) on the lifting device and several traction elements (4) for arranging the load to be lifted (2) on the load handling device (1), has at least two rotatably mounted, lockable rotating bodies (5) that guide the traction elements (4), to which at least one traction element (4) is attached and the rotating bodies (5) can be controlled by means of a drive (6).