Split Wind Turbine Hub Segments for Assembly

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Solution Overview

Problem

The manufacturing and assembly of wind power generator hubs are challenging due to their large volume, requiring high precision and complexity, especially in connecting blade mounting parts and main shaft mounting ends.

Innovation Solution

The hub is divided into split parts along virtual planes, allowing for simpler connections using plate-shaped members and connecting members, reducing the need for flange structures and enhancing assembly precision, facilitating easier manufacturing and transportation.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of manufacture

If the hub is manufactured as a single large component, then structural integrity is maintained, but manufacturing and assembly difficulty increases significantly

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvemanufacturing easeVSAvoidassembly complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of manufactureVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The hub is divided into multiple segments along the radial direction, with each segment containing a complete circumferential section including blade mounting parts, web plates, and rim structures. This segmentation allows each segment to be manufactured separately with reduced complexity, then assembled together to form the complete hub, thereby improving manufacturing ease while maintaining structural integrity through precise connecting structures between segments

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

2Ease of manufacture

If the hub is divided into multiple segments, then manufacturing and assembly ease improves, but connection complexity between segments increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveassembly easeVSAvoidconnection structure complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of manufactureVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The connecting structure integrates multiple functions into a unified design: the web plate connecting structure combines radial connection, circumferential positioning, and load transmission functions; the rim connecting structure integrates flange connections with bolt fastening systems. This merging of functions reduces the number of separate connection components needed, simplifying the overall connection structure while ensuring secure assembly between segments

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

3Ease of manufacture

If traditional flange structures are used for connecting segments, then connection strength is sufficient, but the structure becomes more complex and assembly more difficult

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveassembly simplicityVSAvoidconnection strength
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of manufactureVSStrength

Solution Approach 1:

The design extracts and eliminates traditional complex flange structures from the hub segment connections. Instead, it uses simplified web plate connecting structures and rim connecting structures that directly join segments without requiring large external flanges. This extraction reduces assembly complexity and simplifies the overall structure while maintaining adequate connection strength through optimized joining geometries and fastening systems

Inventive Principle:
Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Data Source

PatentEP4345286A1Hub of wind power generator and wind power generator
Publication Date: 2024.04.03 SANY ELECTRIC CO LTD
  • EP4345286A1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP4345286A1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP4345286A1 patent drawingFigure 3~4

AI summary

The present application provides a hub of a wind power generator and a wind power generator, the hub comprises: a hub main body (11), the hub main body (11) comprises a main shaft mounting end (15), a windward end (16) opposite to the main shaft mounting end (15), and a plurality of blade mounting parts (13) distributed along the circumferential direction of the hub main body (11), wherein the hub main body (11) is formed by joining at least two split parts. The technical solution provided by the application can effectively reduce the difficulty of manufacturing and assembling the hub.