Wind Turbine Tower Carriage With Multi-Rail Heavy Component Transfer
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Solution Overview
Problem
There is a need for an improved wind turbine assembly, wind turbine tower, and elevator carriage that can efficiently support and transfer heavy components during assembly while providing structural reinforcement and stability against lateral forces and torques.
Innovation Solution
A wind turbine tower design with multiple rails spaced apart around the tower body, a carriage with releasable rail clamps and a lifting mechanism, and a carriage chassis with pivotable nacelle support for secure transfer and assembly of tower sections and nacelles.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Stability of the object's composition
If multiple rails spaced apart around the tower body are used, then stability against lateral forces and torques is enhanced, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The tower structure is segmented into multiple discrete rails (typically three) spaced around the tower body, each rail independently providing structural support and bearing capacity. This segmentation allows the system to achieve enhanced stability through distributed support while maintaining manageable complexity by using standardized, modular rail components rather than a monolithic structure.
2Ease of operation
If releasable rail clamps and lifting mechanism are used, then ease of operation is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The rail clamps are designed as releasable, dynamic connections rather than fixed attachments. This allows the carriage to be easily installed and removed from the rails, and enables the lifting mechanism to engage and disengage as needed during component transfer operations. The dynamic nature of these connections provides operational flexibility while the modular design keeps complexity manageable.
3Productivity
If elevator carriage is used for transporting heavy components, then productivity is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The elevator carriage is designed as a universal, multi-functional platform that can transport various heavy components including tower sections, the nacelle, and other assembly elements. By creating a single versatile lifting and transport device that can handle multiple types of loads, the system improves productivity across all assembly operations without requiring separate specialized equipment for each component type, thereby limiting the increase in overall device complexity.
Data Source
AI summary
A wind turbine tower elevator carriage for clamping onto at least a first tower rail extending up a wind turbine tower to releasably support the carriage on the first tower rail, the elevator carriage comprising: a carriage body, independently operable first and second releasable rail clamps and a lifting mechanism for raising and lowering the carriage body with respect to the first releasable rail clamp.