Sliding Ladder Bracket for Wind Turbine Tower Compression
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Solution Overview
Problem
The assembly and maintenance of wind turbine towers, particularly those made of concrete, are complicated by the high loads and deformations that occur due to gravitational, assembly, inertial, and aerodynamic forces, leading to issues with the ladder's length and stability.
Innovation Solution
A ladder bracket system with a sliding connection between its first and second parts, allowing for relative position modification along the ladder's longitudinal direction, which maintains the ladder's length constant and absorbs tower compression without requiring readjustments or maintenance.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Strength
If the tower sections are compressed under load, then the tower can bear gravitational and operational loads, but the ladder length varies causing deformations and requiring maintenance
Solution Approach 1:
The ladder bracket incorporates a sliding connection between its first and second parts, allowing the bracket to dynamically adjust its length as the tower compresses under load. This dynamic adjustment maintains the ladder's overall length stability while accommodating the tower's elastic deformation, preventing ladder deformations and eliminating the need for maintenance readjustments
Solution Approach 2:
The sliding connection enables the ladder bracket to change its geometric parameters (length) in response to tower compression. As the tower compresses under gravitational and operational loads, the sliding connection allows the bracket to adjust its position, maintaining constant ladder length despite changes in tower section dimensions
2Device complexity
If a fixed-length ladder is used, then the ladder structure is simple, but it requires readjustments and maintenance due to tower compression deformations
Solution Approach 1:
The sliding connection transforms the ladder bracket from a fixed structure to a dynamically adjustable one, allowing automatic compensation for tower compression without requiring manual intervention for maintenance
Solution Approach 2:
The sliding connection enables the ladder bracket to self-adjust its position automatically as the tower compresses under load, eliminating the need for external maintenance activities such as readjustment or repair
3Strength
If the ladder bracket is rigidly connected, then the connection is strong, but it transmits bracing reactions causing ladder deformations
Solution Approach 1:
The sliding connection provides a dynamic, non-rigid connection that allows relative movement between the first and second parts of the bracket. This prevents the transmission of bracing reactions that would cause ladder deformations while maintaining sufficient connection strength through friction and normal forces between the sliding surfaces
Solution Approach 2:
The sliding connection changes the mechanical properties of the joint from rigid to semi-rigid, allowing the bracket to accommodate tower compression without transmitting harmful forces to the ladder structure
Data Source
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AI summary
The object of the invention relates to a ladder bracket of a section of a tower of a wind turbine, to a set comprising a segment of a section of a tower of a wind turbine, at least one ladder bracket and a ladder section configured to be attached to a second part of the at least one ladder bracket, and also relates to a method of assembly of a wind turbine.