Wind Turbine Attachment Flexible Washers

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Solution Overview

Problem

Wind turbines experience oscillations due to wind forces, leading to fatigue in the connection between attached elements and the tower, causing damage and wear to protective coatings, which can result in corrosion and further structural issues.

Innovation Solution

The use of a first flexible washer between the fastening portion of the first element and the surface of the second element, and a second flexible washer between the fastening portion and the nut, to prevent direct contact and reduce bending moments on the fastening member, thereby enhancing resistance to oscillations and preventing damage.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Object-affected harmful factors

If a thick rubber washer is used to maintain distance between attached elements, then wear of protective coating is prevented, but the construction can pivot due to loads and oscillations causing bending moments in the stud

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvewear of protective coatingVSAvoidbending moment in fastening member

Core Design Contradiction:

Object-affected harmful factorsVSStrength

Solution Approach 1:

A flexible washer is introduced as an intermediary element between the first element and the second element. This flexible washer acts as a mediator that allows relative movement and pivoting while maintaining contact, thereby preventing direct contact between the attached elements and avoiding wear of the protective coating on the tower wall, while also reducing bending moments in the fastening member

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent changes the parameter of the washer from rigid (thick rubber washer) to flexible. This parameter change allows the washer to deform and accommodate pivoting movements, thereby reducing the transmission of bending moments to the fastening member while still preventing direct contact between elements

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

2Stability of the object's composition

If the stud is press-fitted to avoid through-holes, then the tower structure is maintained, but oscillations cause fatigue of the press-fitted connection

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvetower structure integrityVSAvoidconnection fatigue resistance

Core Design Contradiction:

Stability of the object's compositionVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The flexible washer is positioned beforehand between the attached elements to cushion against oscillations and pivoting movements. This prior cushioning protects the press-fitted connection from fatigue caused by wind-induced oscillations, while maintaining the integrity of the tower structure

Inventive Principle:

Principle #11Beforehand cushioning (Prior cushioning)

Solution Approach 2:

A flexible washer (thin film element) is used to absorb and accommodate oscillations and pivoting movements. This flexible element protects the rigid press-fitted connection from fatigue while maintaining the tower structure integrity

Inventive Principle:

Principle #30Flexible shells and thin films

3Manufacturing precision

If misalignment or fabrication imprecisions occur, then bending moments are introduced into the stud, but using rigid washers does not compensate for these deviations

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvealignment toleranceVSAvoidbending moment in fastening member

Core Design Contradiction:

Manufacturing precisionVSStrength

Solution Approach 1:

The washer is changed from rigid to flexible, allowing it to deform and accommodate misalignment and fabrication imprecisions. This parameter change enables the connection to tolerate alignment deviations without introducing significant bending moments into the fastening member

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

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

This configuration effectively prevents damage to protective coatings and reduces bending moments, ensuring a more stable and durable attachment arrangement by compensating for pivoting and misalignment, while maintaining even load distribution and reducing fatigue in the fastening member.

Implementation Method 1

a first flexible washer arranged between the fastening portion of the first element and the surface of the second element

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectElasticity: Elasticity

Implementation Method 2

a second flexible washer arranged between the fastening portion of the first element and the nut screwed on the threaded portion

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectElasticity: Elasticity

Data Source

PatentEP3670902A1Wind turbine comprising at least one attachment arrangement

Publication Date: 2020.06.24 SIEMENS GAMESA RENEWABLE ENERGY AS

Figure 1~2
Figure 3

AI summary

Wind turbine comprising at least one attachment arrangement (1), wherein the attachment arrangement (1) comprises a first element (2) attached to a second element (3) via a fastening member (4), wherein the fastening member (4) comprises a fitting portion (5) and a threaded portion (6), wherein the fitting portion (5) is fixed to the second element (3) and the threaded portion (6) protrudes from a surface (7) of the second element (3) and through an opening of a fastening portion (9) of the first element (2), wherein between the fastening portion (9) of the first element (2) and the surface (7) of the second element (3), a first flexible washer (8) is arranged and between the fastening portion (9) and a nut (11) screwed on the threaded portion (6) of the fastening member (4) fixing the first element (2) against the second element (3), a second flexible washer (10) is arranged.