Wind Blade Clamp with Walking Beams for Profile-Adaptive Transport
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Solution Overview
Problem
The transportation of long wind turbine blades is challenging due to their varying cross-sectional profiles and aerodynamic properties, which require a secure and adjustable support system that can adapt to different positions along the blade length and between various types of blades.
Innovation Solution
A wind blade clamp with pivotably connected jaws and pads that automatically adjust to the cross-sectional profile of the blade, providing uniform clamping force and cushioning, and a base system allowing the blade to pitch, yaw, and roll during transportation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a fixed rigid clamp is used to secure the wind blade, then the clamping force is strong and reliable, but the clamp cannot adapt to varying cross-sectional profiles and may damage the blade
Solution Approach 1:
The clamp incorporates walking beams that can dynamically adjust their position and angle to match the varying cross-sectional profile of the wind blade. The pads mounted on these walking beams move along with the blade's contour, maintaining reliable clamping force while adapting to different shapes along the blade length.
Solution Approach 2:
The clamp system changes its geometric parameters (position, angle, orientation) through the walking beam mechanism to match the blade's cross-sectional profile. This allows the rigid clamping structure to conform to varying blade shapes without compromising clamping reliability or risking blade damage.
2Strength
If a single-piece blade construction is used to maintain strength, then the blade structural integrity is improved, but the transportation becomes infeasible due to length constraints
Solution Approach 1:
The transportation system is segmented into multiple components: a tractor unit supporting the blade root and a separate trailer unit supporting the blade at a distant point. This segmentation allows the transport of extremely long single-piece blades by distributing support across multiple vehicles rather than requiring a single oversized transport platform.
Solution Approach 2:
The clamp assembly acts as an intermediary between the trailer unit and the wind blade, providing a secure connection point that allows the trailer to support the long blade without direct rigid attachment, enabling transportation of blades that would otherwise be too long for conventional single-vehicle transport.
3Adaptability or versatility
If the clamp is designed to be universally adjustable for different blade types, then the versatility is improved, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The clamp assembly with walking beams and adjustable pads serves multiple functions: it adapts to different cross-sectional profiles, accommodates various blade lengths, and works with different blade types. This universal design allows a single clamp configuration to handle diverse wind turbine blades without requiring multiple specialized clamps.
Solution Approach 2:
The walking beam mechanism provides dynamic adjustability through pivot connections that allow the pads to automatically position themselves according to the blade's profile. This self-adjusting capability achieves universal adaptability without requiring complex manual adjustment mechanisms or multiple fixed configurations.
4Manufacturing precision
If pads are rigidly fixed to the clamp structure, then the manufacturing precision is improved, but the pads cannot conform to the blade profile and may cause damage
Solution Approach 1:
The pads are mounted on walking beams with pivot connections, allowing them to dynamically adjust their position and orientation to match the blade's cross-sectional profile. This dynamic positioning maintains manufacturing precision of the pad-clamp connection while enabling conformation to varying blade shapes, eliminating the risk of damage from rigid fixed pads.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The clamp effectively supports and protects the blade during transport by evenly distributing weight and adjusting to varying profiles, reducing the risk of damage and facilitating smooth navigation over uneven terrain.
Implementation Method 1
an upper jaw which is preferably pivotably coupled to the lower surface jaw by a clamp pivot... each walking beam pivotably coupled to an end of the primary support bar... upper pad pivotably coupled to each end of each walking beam
Implementation Method 2
The lower jaw preferably further comprises a plurality of toggle latches, and the upper jaw preferably comprises toggle latch keepers for each of the toggle latches
Data Source
AI summary
An adaptable wind blade clamp for securely fastening and supporting a wind turbine blade during transportation. Walking beams are pivotably coupled to inner sides of the wind blade clamp jaws, and pads which contact the wind turbine are pivotably coupled to ends of the walking beams, resulting in a wind blade clamp which easily adjusts to the varying cross-sectional profiles of the wind turbine blade along its length. The wind blade clamp is optionally provided with an edge walking beam and edge pads to support and protect the leading edge of the wind turbine blade.