Wind Turbine Blade Transport Frame with Retractable Arms
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Solution Overview
Problem
The increasing size and weight of wind turbine blades pose logistical challenges during storage, transportation, and handling, leading to costly, time-consuming, and damage-prone processes, particularly during multi-stage transitions and shipping, where existing solutions often require frequent switching between different support structures and increased lashing requirements.
Innovation Solution
A transport frame design featuring retractable arms and claws that create a stable, tensioned engagement between adjacent frames, allowing for secure stacking and lifting of multiple blades without the need for extensive lashing, using high-tensile metallic materials for enhanced stability and ease of operation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If conventional transport frames are used for wind turbine blades, then blades can be transported from production site to installation site, but the process requires frequent switching between different support structures which is costly and time-consuming
Solution Approach 1:
The transport frame is designed with universal functionality to handle multiple transportation stages (road, rail, sea) and storage operations without requiring switching to different support structures. The frame can be configured for different blade sizes and transport modes, eliminating the need for frequent changes in handling equipment throughout the logistics chain.
2Reliability
If conventional transport frames are used for wind turbine blades, then blades can be supported during transport, but extensive lashing is required which increases complexity and potential for damage
Solution Approach 1:
The transport frame employs dynamic retention mechanisms including movable clamps that can be adjusted and secured at different positions along the blade, and retractable arms that automatically engage with the blade structure. These dynamic elements provide secure retention without requiring extensive static lashing, reducing both complexity and potential damage points.
3Productivity
If stackable frames are used to transport multiple blades, then transportation efficiency is improved, but stable engagement between adjacent frames during transport is difficult to achieve
Solution Approach 1:
The transport frame includes intermediary connection elements such as engagement protrusions and recesses that facilitate stable coupling between adjacent frames in a stack. These intermediary features act as mediators between frames, ensuring rigid and stable engagement during transport without requiring additional external support structures.
4Ease of operation
If lifting eyelets are added to frames for crane lifting, then blades can be lifted during transport, but the frames require additional components that increase complexity
Solution Approach 1:
The lifting functionality is merged with the existing frame structure by integrating lifting eyelets into the corner castings and structural elements that are already part of the frame design. This combination approach enables crane lifting capability without adding separate, independent lifting components, thereby minimizing the increase in overall system complexity.
Data Source
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AI summary
Transport frame and method; the transport frame having a longitudinal, lateral and upright extent, and being configured for receiving a tip or root portion of a longitudinally extending wind turbine blade, said frame being stackable with similar frames, said frame comprising four upright frame struts which together define a generally cuboid internal space having a longitudinal extent between two pairs of said upright struts; said frame having, within said generally cuboid internal space, a tip or root saddle assembly comprising a saddle with a support surface shaped to receive a respective blade root or tip; said frame furthermore having four top shoulders and four feet, said feet of said frame being conformed to be stackable on corresponding said shoulders of another frame; and wherein said frame, proximate one or more said top or bottom corner thereof, comprises a retractable arm arrangement; wherein said frame further comprises, proximate at least one said top or bottom corner thereof, a claw arrangement; said retractable arm arrangement being configured to fixingly engage a corresponding claw arrangement at an adjacent similar frame in a stacked arrangement of the frames.