Locating Clamp for Wind Turbine Blade Reinforcement Web Assembly
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional methods for manufacturing reinforcement webs for wind turbine blades face challenges such as dislodgment of pre-formed web flanges during assembly, leading to structural integrity issues and increased costs due to complex and expensive molding equipment.
Innovation Solution
A method and apparatus using a locating clamp to securely position a pre-formed flange structure during the assembly process, ensuring it remains in place during resin injection molding and curing, without the need for additional external mould side walls or complex equipment.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of manufacture
If conventional molding equipment with external side walls is used to manufacture reinforcement webs, then the flange structure can be formed, but the equipment becomes complex and expensive
Solution Approach 1:
The patent removes the external side walls from the molding equipment, extracting only the essential molding function. The flange structure is formed using a simplified mold without complex external side walls, thereby reducing equipment complexity while maintaining manufacturing capability.
Solution Approach 2:
The molding process is segmented into two stages: first forming the flange structure, then removing the mold to attach the web. This segmentation allows the use of simpler equipment for each stage rather than requiring complex integrated molding equipment.
2Productivity
If pre-formed web flanges are used during assembly, then manufacturing time is reduced, but the flanges may dislodge during the assembly process
Solution Approach 1:
The flange structures are pre-formed before assembly, allowing for precise manufacturing and quality control. This preliminary formation ensures the flanges are ready for attachment without requiring complex on-site formation processes.
Solution Approach 2:
Adhesive is used as an intermediary substance between the flange structure and the web. The adhesive bonds the flange to the web, preventing dislodge ment during assembly while maintaining the productivity benefits of using pre-formed flanges.
3Strength
If separate flanges are bonded to a C-shaped panel to form I-beam reinforcement webs, then structural strength is improved, but manufacturing time and costs increase
Solution Approach 1:
The flange structure and web are combined into a single integrated component through adhesive bonding. This merging eliminates the need for separate manufacturing and assembly of multiple parts, reducing manufacturing time while maintaining the structural strength of the I-beam configuration.
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
This approach enhances the structural reliability and consistency of reinforcement webs while maintaining the benefits of simple and inexpensive molding equipment, preventing dislodgment and reducing manufacturing costs.
Implementation Method 1
integrating the laminate layers and the flange structure by vacuum bag resin injection molding of matrix material
Implementation Method 2
vacuum bag resin injection molding of matrix material and curing to bond the projecting portion of the flange structure to the laminate layers
Implementation Method 3
vacuum bag resin injection molding of matrix material and curing to bond the projecting portion of the flange structure to the laminate layers
Data Source
AI summary
A method and apparatus (14) for assembling a reinforcement web (12) for use with a wind turbine blade (10) are provided. A pre-formed flange structure (20) to be integrated with laminate layers (58, 60) to form the reinforcement web (12) is clamped into position against a mould end surface (76) using one or more locating clamps (16). The locating clamps (16) include first and second clamp blocks (80, 82) that are shaped to provide an external profile that avoids resin collection and bridging during resin injection molding, while allowing for clamping to be applied to the flange structure (20) with an easily assembled and disassembled removable engagement of the clamp blocks (80, 82). The locating clamp (16) prevents undesirable dislodgment of the flange structure (20) during the assembly process for the reinforcement web (12), and without necessitating the use of complex or expensive molding equipment or processes.