Mobile Blade Cutting System for On-Site Wind Turbine Segmentation

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing technologies lack a suitable machine for efficiently dividing large structure bodies, such as wind turbine blades, which are costly to transport due to their size, and require significant manual effort to cut.

Innovation Solution

A structure body cutting system comprising a cutter system and a feeder system mounted on separate moving bodies, allowing them to be positioned at the location of the structure body, enabling on-site cutting into smaller pieces without the need for extensive transportation.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Manufacturing precision

If a laser beam is used to remove material from the workpiece, then material removal is achieved, but the laser beam deviates from the intended path due to reflections and refractions at the material surface

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecutting precisionVSAvoidbeam path stability
Core Design Contradiction:
Manufacturing precisionVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent introduces a monitoring camera as an intermediary device to capture images of the material surface and calculate the actual position of the laser beam. This intermediary system detects deviations caused by reflections and refractions, allowing the control system to compensate for these errors and maintain cutting precision.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Ease of operation

If the focus position of the laser beam is fixed, then the system is simple to operate, but the laser beam may focus inside or outside the workpiece depending on material variations

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvefocus adjustment simplicityVSAvoidfocus position accuracy
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSManufacturing precision

Solution Approach 1:

The patent implements an automated feedback system where the monitoring camera captures images of the cut surface, and the control system calculates the actual focus position based on these images. This feedback loop automatically adjusts the focus position to account for variations in material thickness and properties, eliminating the need for manual focus adjustment while maintaining high precision.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #23Feedback

3Manufacturing precision

If manual focus adjustment is required for different materials, then focus precision can be optimized, but the operation becomes complex and time-consuming

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvefocus precisionVSAvoidfocus adjustment complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Manufacturing precisionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent enables the system to automatically determine and adjust the focus position based on real-time images captured by the monitoring camera. The control system performs calculations to identify the optimal focus position without requiring manual intervention, allowing the system to adapt to different materials automatically while maintaining precision.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #25Self-service

4Device complexity

If the laser beam path is not monitored, then the system is simpler, but the actual cutting position deviates from the intended path

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvesystem complexityVSAvoidcutting position accuracy
Core Design Contradiction:
Device complexityVSManufacturing precision

Solution Approach 1:

The patent introduces a monitoring camera that continuously captures images of the laser beam position and material surface. The control system processes these images to calculate the actual beam position and compares it with the intended path, providing feedback that enables real-time compensation for deviations caused by reflections and refractions.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #23Feedback

5Ease of operation

If focus position is not adjusted for material variations, then the operation is simpler, but the cut quality deteriorates when the beam focuses inside or outside the workpiece

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveoperation simplicityVSAvoidcut quality
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSManufacturing precision

Solution Approach 1:

The system automatically adjusts the focus position by capturing images of the cut surface with the monitoring camera and calculating the optimal focus point based on the material's actual properties. This self-adjusting mechanism maintains high cut quality across different materials without requiring manual focus adjustment, preserving operational simplicity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #25Self-service

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

Enables efficient on-site cutting of large structure bodies into manageable pieces, reducing transportation costs and manual labor, while accommodating varying terrain and blade shapes through adjustable support and alignment mechanisms.

Implementation Method 1

a laser beam is used to remove material from a workpiece

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectLaser ablation: Laser Ablation

Implementation Method 2

a monitoring camera is introduced that captures images of the material surface and processes these images to calculate the actual position of the laser beam

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectImage capture and processing:

Data Source

PatentEP4357058B1Structure cutting system and structure cutting method
Publication Date: 2025.10.01 AMADA CO LTD
  • EP4357058B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP4357058B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP4357058B1 patent drawingFigure 3~4

AI summary

A structure body cutting system (1) includes a cutter system (2) mounted on a cutting side trailer (20) and configured to cut a blade (8) to be cut, and a feeder system (5) mounted on a feeding side trailer (50) and configured to send out the blade (8) to the cutter system (2). The blade (8) is placed so as to straddle between the cutter system (2) and the feeder system (5). The feeder system (5) sends out the blade (8) to the cutter system (2) as the feeding side trailer (50) comes close to the cutting side trailer (20). The cutter system (2) cuts the blade (8) into a plurality of cut segments by cutting the blade (8) sent out from the feeder system (5) .