Polyurethane Protective Foot for Wind Turbine Tower Segments
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional methods for protecting wind turbine tower segments during transport and storage, such as using wooden blocks and rubber mats, are inefficient, prone to slipping, and pose risks to personnel, while steel feet can damage the segments. The constant handling and potential loss of these materials lead to increased effort and costs.
Innovation Solution
A permanently but detachably connected protective foot with a base plate, side parts, and a screw-based spreader unit for secure attachment to the tower segment, featuring a rubber coating for anti-slip functionality and a drainage bead to prevent water accumulation, made from polyurethane for reusability and repairability.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If wooden blocks and rubber mats are used to protect tower segments, then protection against subsoil damage is provided, but slipping occurs during transport and constant handling is required
Solution Approach 1:
The protective system is segmented into modular protective feet that can be individually attached to specific locations on the tower segment. Each foot is a self-contained unit with its own base plate, fastening section, and side parts, allowing for precise placement and independent functionality.
Solution Approach 2:
The protective feet are pre-equipped with fastening units (screw connections) that enable direct attachment to the tower segment before transport. This preliminary preparation eliminates the need for constant handling and repositioning of separate wooden blocks and rubber mats during transport operations.
2Stability of the object's composition
If steel feet are used to prevent horizontal movement, then horizontal stability is improved, but damage to the segment occurs
Solution Approach 1:
The protective foot combines multiple materials with complementary properties: a polyurethane base plate for cushioning and protection, metal fastening sections for structural strength and stability, and rubber or anti-slip coatings for friction-based horizontal restraint. This composite structure provides both stability and damage prevention.
Solution Approach 2:
The side parts of the protective foot can be adjusted in their positioning and orientation to optimize the horizontal restraint mechanism. The screw connections allow for parameter adjustment to match different segment geometries and transport conditions, ensuring stable yet non-damaging restraint.
3Ease of repair
If wooden blocks and rubber mats are constantly handled and reused, then resource utilization is maintained, but loss due to negligence increases and costs rise
Solution Approach 1:
The protective feet are designed as self-contained units with integrated fastening mechanisms that enable easy attachment and detachment without requiring specialized tools or procedures. The screw connections can be independently operated, allowing for quick removal and reuse while minimizing the risk of loss through negligent action.
Solution Approach 2:
The protective feet are designed with universal applicability to different tower segment sizes and configurations. The adjustable side parts and standardized screw connections allow the same protective foot design to be reused across multiple segments and transport operations, reducing overall material consumption and cost.
4Reliability
If a permanent rubber coating is applied to the foot, then anti-slip functionality is ensured, but manufacturing complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The rubber coating or anti-slip units are applied only to specific local areas of the protective foot where friction is most critical - primarily the base plate contact surface with the transport floor and the upper contact surface with the tower segment. This localized application provides sufficient anti-slip performance while minimizing manufacturing complexity and material usage.
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
Significantly reduces the effort required for securing segments, minimizes risks during transport, and eliminates the need for separate anti-slip mats, while ensuring horizontal protection and preventing water damage, thus saving resources and costs.
Implementation Method 1
A rubber coating or an anti-slip unit (anti-slip mat) can be glued into the underside of the foot to prevent a turret segment from slipping on the transport floor
Implementation Method 2
A drainage bead makes it possible to drain water that has penetrated, which could otherwise collect and cause damage due to deformation, e.g. in the event of frost
Implementation Method 3
The base plate has a fastening unit in the form of a spreader unit with a screw. The spreader unit is inserted into a hole in the segment and secured by tightening the screw
Data Source
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AI summary
The invention relates to a protective foot for a unit load, in particular a segment from a length of tower or a concrete tower segment of a wind turbine. Said foot has a unit load comprising a base plate (1) for receiving one end of the unit load (100) and a securing unit that can be detachably secured to the first end of the unit load.