Wind Turbine Blade Gripper Axial Slippage Prevention
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Solution Overview
Problem
Wind turbine blades experience slippage during transportation and lifting operations due to axial acceleration, which existing solutions like bracket-type frames and clamp-type frames fail to adequately address, especially when positioning a blade frame at the root face is not feasible.
Innovation Solution
A gripper system with a lower and upper blade holding structure and a force transfer mechanism, including linkage assemblies and friction pads, that increases the gripping force along the central longitudinal axis of the blade, allowing for secure engagement and disengagement during movement.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a bracket-type frame is secured to the root face of the blade to prevent axial slippage, then axial slippage prevention is improved, but the positioning flexibility is reduced when the root face cannot be used
Solution Approach 1:
The blade holding structure is divided into separate upper and lower holding structures that can be positioned independently along the blade, rather than requiring a single fixed position at the root face. This segmentation allows the structures to be relocated to alternative positions while maintaining slippage prevention functionality.
Solution Approach 2:
The solution transitions from a single-point constraint at the root face to a distributed constraint system where upper and lower holding structures can be positioned at different locations along the blade's longitudinal axis, adding positional dimensionality to the system.
2Reliability
If a clamp-type frame with cushion is used to restrain the blade axially, then the blade can be held securely, but the cushion is subject to compression creep or loss of elasticity compromising restraint ability
Solution Approach 1:
The friction pads are designed as replaceable components that can be easily replaced when worn or degraded, rather than using durable but complex cushion systems subject to creep and elasticity loss.
Solution Approach 2:
The solution replaces the elastic cushion mechanism with a friction-based mechanical contact system that relies on normal force and friction coefficient rather than material elasticity, eliminating compression creep issues.
3Stability of the object's composition
If friction pads are used in a tilted blade gripper to prevent lateral sliding, then lateral stability is improved, but axial slippage prevention under acceleration is insufficient
Solution Approach 1:
The holding structures are designed to dynamically adjust and maintain contact force under varying acceleration conditions, with the force transfer mechanism actively responding to axial acceleration to maintain gripping force.
Solution Approach 2:
The solution combines lateral stability features with axial acceleration resistance in a unified holding structure design, where the upper and lower holding structures work together to provide both lateral constraint and axial force transmission.
4Stability of the object's composition
If the blade is positioned near the center of gravity for balanced lifting, then lifting stability is improved, but the blade root must overhang the transport platform end requiring axial restraint
Solution Approach 1:
The upper and lower blade holding structures act as intermediary elements that provide axial restraint at positions away from the root face, enabling the blade to be positioned for balanced lifting while still preventing slippage through distributed contact points.
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 gripper effectively prevents slippage of wind turbine blades during transport and lifting by maintaining a secure grip through increased frictional force, even under acceleration, ensuring stable handling and reduced risk of destabilization.
Implementation Method 1
The force transfer mechanism is configured to increase the force applied between the lower blade holding structure and the underside of the wind turbine blade and/or between the upper blade holding structure and the upper side of the wind turbine blade when the wind turbine blade is accelerated during movement along a central longitudinal axis of the wind turbine blade
Data Source
AI summary
A gripper for holding a wind turbine blade when the wind turbine blade is being transported. The gripper comprises a lower blade holding structure configured to engage an underside of the wind turbine blade, an upper blade holding structure configured to engage an upper side of the wind turbine blade and a force transfer mechanism operatively coupled to at least one of the lower or upper blade holding structures. The force transfer mechanism is configured to increase the force applied between the lower blade holding structure and the underside of the wind turbine blade and/or between the upper blade holding structure and the upper side of the wind turbine blade when the wind turbine blade is accelerated during movement along a central longitudinal axis of the wind turbine blade.