Suspended Deck Bosses for Tower Inspection Access

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Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional suspended deck systems in wind turbines and tower structures face difficulties in inspection and repair due to their complex structural arrangement, which makes it challenging to access and maintain the components, leading to safety concerns and increased maintenance costs.

Innovation Solution

A suspended deck system comprising a plurality of bosses, links, and a deck, where the bosses are attached to the tower section between the flanges, allowing for easier installation, inspection, and repair by minimizing the need to manipulate the tower flanges and providing a stable platform for maintenance activities.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Strength

If conventional suspended deck systems use multiple load carrying members positioned throughout the tower height with portions below each deck, then the deck support structure is strengthened, but inspection and repair of these components becomes extremely difficult and the tower interior becomes crowded

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvedeck support structureVSAvoidinspection and repair accessibility

Core Design Contradiction:

StrengthVSEase of repair

Solution Approach 1:

The patent extracts the load-carrying function from the tower wall structure and concentrates it in separate, removable support members that can be independently accessed. The decks are supported by discrete load-carrying members that can be removed and inspected without manipulating tower flanges, allowing maintenance personnel to access components from the deck side only.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Solution Approach 2:

The support system is segmented into discrete, modular load-carrying members rather than continuous structural integration. Each support member is a separate component that can be individually inspected, removed, and replaced, transforming a monolithic difficult-to-access structure into modular accessible units.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

2Strength

If conventional decks are supported from underneath by steel angles rigidly welded and bolted to the tower wall, then the deck attachment strength is improved, but inspection and repair of welds and components becomes extremely difficult

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvedeck attachmentVSAvoidinspection complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

StrengthVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

Instead of supporting decks from underneath the tower wall, the patent inverts the support approach by using load-carrying members that extend from the deck level downward, with the critical attachment points accessible from the deck side. This inversion allows inspection and repair to be performed from the deck without needing to access the tower wall interior.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #13The other way round (Inversion)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent introduces intermediate support members that act as mediators between the deck and the tower structure. These members provide the structural connection while their intermediate positioning allows access from the deck side for inspection and maintenance, separating the structural function from the maintenance access requirement.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

3Stability of the object's composition

If load carrying members are positioned throughout the height of the tower with portions below each deck, then the deck support distribution is improved, but the tower interior becomes crowded and working becomes more dangerous

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvedeck support distributionVSAvoidwork safety and accessibility

Core Design Contradiction:

Stability of the object's compositionVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The patent extracts the load-carrying members from the tower interior space and positions them to be accessible from the deck level. By removing portions of the members that would extend into the tower interior and making them accessible from the deck side, the tower interior remains open and uncrowded while maintaining adequate support distribution.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

4Reliability

If conventional systems require manipulation of upper and lower flanges to secure attachment of load carrying members, then the attachment reliability is improved, but the installation complexity and time increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveattachment reliabilityVSAvoidinstallation ease

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

The patent extracts the attachment operation from the tower flange manipulation process. Load-carrying members are attached to the deck structure itself rather than requiring insertion between and manipulation of tower flanges. This separates the attachment function from the flange assembly process, allowing simpler installation without compromising attachment reliability.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Data Source

PatentUS9487960B2Suspended deck systems, kits, and methods of installing, inspecting, and repairing a suspended deck system

Publication Date: 2016.11.08 PXF HOLDING LLC

AI summary

Suspended deck systems, kits, methods of installing a suspended deck system, and methods of inspecting and/or repairing a suspended deck system are described herein. An example embodiment of a suspended deck system comprises a plurality of bosses, a plurality of links, and a deck. Each boss of the plurality of bosses is attached to a tower section between the tower section first flange and the tower section second flange. Each link of the plurality of links has a link first end that is attached to a boss of the plurality of bosses and a link second end. The deck is attached to the link second end of each link of the plurality of links.