Transit Bracket Assembly With Rotatable Yokes for Low-Torque Tower Securing
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing wind turbine tower section support brackets require high torque for securement and are difficult to modify for different sizes, leading to assembly challenges and potential bolt failure.
Innovation Solution
A bracket assembly with circular apertures and rotatable attachment yokes that align with bolt holes, reducing the need for high torque and allowing easy adaptation to various tower section sizes.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If circular apertures are formed in brackets to accommodate several different diameters of bolts, then the bracket can be used with multiple bolt sizes, but a substantial amount of torque (up to sixty percent of bolt material yield strength) is required to secure the connection, increasing assembly difficulty and risking bolt failure
Solution Approach 1:
The invention divides the connection system into separate functional components: the bracket with circular aperture, the attachment yoke with matching circular aperture, and the bolt assembly. The yoke acts as an intermediary element that segments the loading path, allowing the bolt to engage the yoke first and distribute forces through the yoke's structure to the bracket, thereby reducing the torque required directly at the bracket-bolt interface while maintaining versatility across different bolt diameters.
2Strength
If traditional support brackets are designed for specific tower section sizes, then the bracket structure can be optimized for that size, but the bracket cannot be easily modified to accommodate different tower section sizes
Solution Approach 1:
The invention creates a universal bracket system where the bracket with its circular aperture can accommodate multiple tower section sizes by using different attachment yokes. The yoke serves as an adaptable interface element that can be configured for different bolt patterns and tower section dimensions while the bracket itself maintains a consistent, optimized structure. This multi-functional design allows the same bracket to serve multiple purposes across different tower section specifications.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention introduces dynamic adjustability through the attachment yoke, which can be positioned and oriented to match different tower section configurations. The yoke's circular aperture and flange design allow it to adapt to various bolt hole patterns and positions, enabling the bracket system to dynamically adjust to different tower section sizes while maintaining structural integrity through the optimized bracket design.
Data Source
AI summary
A bracket assembly for securing a tower section to a deck includes a lower support bracket, columns, and a pair of upper upper support brackets, which all have vertical plates with circular apertures. Each circular aperture spans at least two tower flange bolt holes. Attachment yokes are inserted into the circular apertures, and each have at least two bolt apertures, which match the bolt holes size and spacing. The yokes are rotated to align the holes for insertion of bolts. Specific yokes are provided to fit various tower sizes. The brackets can be stacked, and the yoke arrangement substantially reduces bolt torque requirements.