Wind Turbine Rotor Lifting Unit With Rotatable Hinges
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing lifting units for wind power installations face challenges in safely and efficiently mounting rotor blades to the pylon without damaging the blades or the rotor during the lifting process.
Innovation Solution
A lifting unit comprising first and second slings, transverse struts, and hinge units that allow for secure looping around the rotor blade root, preventing contact with the rotor blades and enabling safe lifting and mounting of the rotor and rotor blades to the pylon, utilizing a configuration where the hinge units are rotatably coupled to avoid damage.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Stability of the object's composition
If the lifting unit uses rigid struts and fixed connections to securely lift the rotor, then the lifting stability is improved, but the risk of contact damage to rotor blades increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies dynamics by replacing fixed rigid connections with hinge units that enable rotational movement. The hinge units allow the lifting unit to adapt its configuration dynamically during lifting, preventing contact with rotor blades while maintaining lifting stability. This is achieved through the rotatable connection between struts and slings, enabling the structure to flex and adjust to the lifting process requirements.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the structural parameters of the lifting unit by introducing hinge joints that transform rigid fixed connections into flexible rotatable connections. This parameter change allows the lifting unit to modify its geometry and orientation during operation, preventing harmful contact with rotor blades while maintaining adequate lifting stability through controlled movement.
2Device complexity
If the lifting unit uses a compact design with fewer components, then the device complexity is reduced, but the reliability of secure attachment decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies segmentation by dividing the lifting unit into distinct modular components: slings, struts, and hinge units. This segmentation allows each component to perform its specific function reliably while maintaining overall system manageability. The modular design ensures that each element can be independently positioned and secured, enhancing attachment reliability without excessive complexity.
3Object-affected harmful factors
If the transverse strut is made longer to prevent hinge contact with rotor, then the protection of rotor blades is improved, but the lifting unit size increases
Solution Approach 1:
Rather than increasing strut length statically, the patent uses dynamic hinge joints that allow the strut to rotate and adjust its position. This dynamic adjustment enables the hinge units to maintain adequate clearance from rotor blades through controlled movement, protecting the rotor without requiring an excessively long transverse strut.
Data Source
AI summary
There is provided a lifting unit for lifting a rotor of a wind power installation. The lifting unit has at least one first sling for looping around a region of a rotor blade on a rotor of the wind power installation, which region is near the rotor blade root, at least one transverse strut, at least one first and second strut or sling portion, and at least one first and second hinge unit. The at least one first and second struts or sling portions extend between the at least one first and second hinge units and the transverse strut. The lifting unit further has at least one second sling having first and second sling portions and a strut. The first ends of the first and second sling portions are fixed to the first and second hinge units. The second sling is adapted to be arranged around a rotor blade stub.