Pivotable Lever Arm Counterweight Tool for Wind Turbine Lifting
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Solution Overview
Problem
The increasing size and weight of wind turbine components necessitate larger cranes and counterweight tools, which are cumbersome to lift and require additional crane capacity, while existing counterweight tools are complex and often need power sources, making them less efficient and adaptable.
Innovation Solution
A counterweight tool with a pivotable lever arm that can be lifted by a self-hoisted crane, allowing it to be compactly positioned near the crane, and adjusted to balance loads without power sources, using a displacement mechanism to change the crane's lifting point, and comprising detachable weight elements for tuning.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Weight of moving object
If the counterweight tool uses a longer lever arm to reduce weight element size, then the weight and size of the weight element is reduced, but the total tool size increases and requires greater crane reach
Solution Approach 1:
The lever arm is made pivotable rather than fixed, allowing it to change position dynamically. During lifting, the lever arm is positioned vertically to minimize horizontal footprint. During balancing operations, it pivots to provide the necessary counterweight moment. This dynamic repositioning resolves the contradiction by allowing a shorter lever arm to serve dual purposes.
Solution Approach 2:
The solution transitions from a fixed two-dimensional layout to a three-dimensional dynamic configuration. The pivotable lever arm can rotate between vertical and horizontal positions, utilizing the vertical dimension during lifting and the horizontal dimension during balancing, thereby reducing the overall tool size requirement.
2Volume of moving object
If the counterweight tool uses a shorter lever arm to reduce tool size, then the tool size is reduced, but the weight element must be heavier
Solution Approach 1:
The pivotable lever arm allows the system to optimize the moment arm length dynamically. During lifting, the short vertical position minimizes tool size. During blade mounting, the lever arm pivots to maximize the counterweight effect, eliminating the need for an excessively heavy weight element.
3Adaptability or versatility
If the counterweight tool is made complex with powered actuators, then the adaptability and precision are improved, but the device complexity and need for power sources increases
Solution Approach 1:
The lever arm utilizes the crane's lifting force and gravity itself to achieve positioning and balancing, without requiring separate powered actuators. The system serves itself by using the available forces in the environment, eliminating complex power systems while maintaining adaptability through simple pivotable mechanics.
Solution Approach 2:
The pivotable connection acts as a passive intermediary that transfers and redirects forces between the crane, lever arm, and weight element. This simple mechanical intermediary provides adaptability without requiring active control systems or power sources.
4Force
If ground mounted cranes are used, then the lifting capacity is sufficient, but the crane size and reach must be increased
Solution Approach 1:
The pivotable lever arm allows the counterweight effect to be achieved with minimal horizontal extension from the crane. By positioning the lever arm vertically during lifting and only extending it horizontally when needed for balancing, the crane reach requirement is minimized while maintaining sufficient lifting capacity.
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 lifting heavier loads with existing crane capacity, reducing tool size and complexity, and eliminating the need for power sources, thus enhancing operational efficiency and adaptability.
Implementation Method 1
a lever arm (12) having one end pivotably connected to said attachment element (10)
Implementation Method 2
a weight element (14) attached to said lever arm (12) at a distance from said attachment element (10)
Data Source
AI summary
A counterweight tool comprising an attachment element, a lever arm, a weight element, a first locking mechanism, and a first crane connection point. The attachment element being arranged to be attachable to a component of a wind turbine. The lever arm is pivotably connected to the attachment element about a pivot point, said lever arm being pivotable between a first position where the lever arm is arranged at a first angle with respect to the attachment element and a second position where the lever arm is arranged at a second angle with respect to the attachment element, the difference between the first and second angles being greater than 25 degrees. The weight element is attached to the lever arm at a distance from the pivot point, the first locking mechanism being arranged to lock the position of the lever arm with respect to the attachment element in the second position. The first crane connection point being arranged such that when a crane lifts the counterweight tool, by the first crane connection point, the lever arm will be arranged at an angle to the vertical of less than 30 degrees and when the attachment element is fixed in position relative to the crane then lifting or lowering by the crane via the first crane connection point will cause the lever arm to pivot about the pivot point from the first position to the second position. In this way a counterweight tool is provided which has a small horizontal dimension during the initial lifting phase, but which can easily be changed into an effective counterweight tool by just using the lifting capabilities of the crane.