Rotor Blade Transport Connectors for Stacked Load Transfer

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Solution Overview

Problem

The transport of wind turbine rotor blades requires multiple steps and involves significant challenges in efficiently managing vertical and transverse loads during land and sea transport, necessitating additional lashing and potentially limiting the number of blades that can be carried per shipment.

Innovation Solution

A connector system for rotor blade transport frames that allows for the transfer of vertical and transverse loads between frames, reducing the need for additional lashing and enabling more efficient stacking and transportation by absorbing these loads, thereby allowing for increased capacity per shipment.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Quantity of substance

If multiple transport frames are stacked to carry more rotor blades, then the transport capacity increases, but the vertical loads and forces on the lower frames increase significantly

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvenumber of rotor blades per shipmentVSAvoidvertical loads on transport frames

Core Design Contradiction:

Quantity of substanceVSForce

Solution Approach 1:

The patent introduces connectors as intermediary elements between stacked transport frames. These connectors actively absorb and distribute vertical loads and transverse forces, preventing the accumulation of forces on lower frames. The connectors serve as force-absorbing intermediaries that enable safe stacking of multiple frames without overloading the bottommost frames.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Reliability

If additional lashing is used to secure stacked transport frames, then the stability and safety improve, but the transport time and complexity increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvestability of stacked framesVSAvoidtime for lashing operations

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The patent replaces the traditional passive lashing system with an active mechanical connector system. Instead of relying solely on lashing to prevent frame separation, the connectors provide active mechanical support and force absorption. This substitution reduces the time and complexity of lashing operations while maintaining or improving stability.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

3Strength

If transport frames are designed to be stiffer to handle stacked loads, then the load-bearing capacity improves, but the manufacturing cost and complexity increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveload-bearing capacity of framesVSAvoidframe structure complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

StrengthVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent segments the load-bearing function between the transport frames and the connectors. Instead of making the frames themselves stiffer and more complex, the frame structure remains relatively simple while the connectors handle the additional strength requirements. This segmentation allows each component to be optimized independently, reducing overall system complexity.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Data Source

PatentEP4060188B1System for transporting rotor blades

Publication Date: 2026.02.11 NORDEX ENERGY SE & CO KG

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AI summary

A connector (120, 140, 150) for a rotor blade transport frame (121, 122, 170) is coupleable with a second and a third connector (120, 140, 150) along a longitudinal direction (130), such that in a coupled state vertical loads (138) along the longitudinal direction (130) are transferable between the connectors (120, 140, 150). A system (200) for transporting rotor blades (110) for a wind turbine (100) comprised a plurality of connectors (120, 140, 150) and a plurality of rotor blade transport frames (121, 122, 170), which are connected via the connectors.