Transmission Handling Rail Assembly for In-Tower Wind Turbine Maintenance
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Solution Overview
Problem
The assembly and disassembly of wind power plant transmissions for maintenance or repair are complex and costly, especially in high and poorly accessible offshore installations, as existing handling devices require crane assistance and are not suitable for in-tower use.
Innovation Solution
A handling device comprising a first and second pillar, receptacles, and rails that allow for rotational and translational displacement, enabling the transmission to be clamped, aligned, and moved within the wind power plant tower without a crane, with synchronized movements for efficient assembly and disassembly.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If a handling device is used for transmission assembly/disassembly in wind power plants, then the complexity of maintenance and repair is reduced, but the device requires crane assistance and cannot be used in high or offshore installations
Solution Approach 1:
The handling device incorporates movable pillars that can be displaced along rails and adjusted in position. The receptacles are designed to be rotatable and translationally displaceable, allowing the device to adapt to different transmission positions and orientations within the tower, eliminating the need for crane assistance and enabling use in high and offshore installations.
Solution Approach 2:
The handling device is divided into separate functional components: pillars, receptacles, and rails. This segmentation allows each component to be independently positioned and adjusted, providing the flexibility needed to access transmissions at various heights and orientations without requiring external crane support.
2Ease of repair
If the transmission is removed from the tower for maintenance, then repair access is improved, but the costs and complexity increase significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The handling device enables self-service maintenance by allowing the transmission to be accessed, repaired, and reinstalled within the tower using the device's own mechanical components (pillars, receptacles, and rails), without requiring external crane assistance or complex removal procedures.
Solution Approach 2:
The handling device performs multiple functions: it can clamp the transmission housing, rotate it to vertical position, translate it to accessible positions, and facilitate reinstallation. This multi-functionality eliminates the need for separate removal and reinstallation operations, reducing overall complexity.
3Shape
If the transmission housing is clamped into a fixed handling device, then the transmission can be positioned vertically, but the device cannot be used within the tower
Solution Approach 1:
The pillars are designed to be translationally displaceable along the rails, and the receptacles are rotatable and translationally displaceable within the pillars. This dynamic configuration allows the device to adapt its position and orientation to fit within the tower space while still achieving vertical positioning of the transmission for proper orientation during maintenance.
Data Source
AI summary
A handling device for a transmission includes a first pillar, a second pillar, a first receptacle for the transmission and a second receptacle for the transmission, and a first rail and a second rail. The first receptacle is fixed in the first pillar so as to be rotatable and translationally displaceable. The second receptacle is fixed in the second pillar so as to be rotatable and translationally displaceable in parallel to the first receptacle. The first pillar is fixed in the first rail so as to be translationally displaceable. The second pillar is translationally displaceable in the second rail in parallel to the first pillar. The axes of rotation of the receptacles are aligned or oriented such that they can be brought into alignment by displacing the first receptacle, the second receptacle, the first pillar and/or the second pillar.