Wind Turbine Machine Support with Lateral Access Openings
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing machine carriers in wind turbines restrict access to internal components, complicating maintenance and servicing while maintaining structural stability and load-bearing capacity.
Innovation Solution
Incorporation of lateral through-openings and strut structures in the machine carrier design, allowing direct access from the side and optimizing force transmission, while reducing weight and maintaining strength.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Strength
If the machine carrier uses a closed-walled shell structure to provide strength and stability, then the structural strength and stability are improved, but the access to internal components is restricted and maintenance becomes complicated
Solution Approach 1:
The closed-walled shell structure is segmented by introducing openings at strategic locations, dividing the continuous structure into sections that allow access while maintaining overall structural integrity. The shell structure is divided into accessible zones (with openings) and structural zones (maintaining closed configuration).
Solution Approach 2:
Specific portions of the shell structure are extracted or removed to create openings that provide access to internal components. These openings are strategically positioned to allow maintenance personnel to reach azimuth drive and azimuth bearing components without compromising the overall structural strength of the machine carrier.
2Stability of the object's composition
If the machine carrier uses a closed-walled shell structure to maintain stability, then the structural stability is improved, but the weight of the machine carrier increases
Solution Approach 1:
The shell structure is segmented with openings that reduce material usage and overall weight while maintaining structural stability through strategic placement and reinforcement of critical load-bearing sections.
Solution Approach 2:
Different regions of the shell structure have different qualities - areas requiring high strength and stability maintain closed-walled configuration, while areas where access is needed have openings. This local differentiation optimizes the balance between weight reduction and structural stability.
3Weight of moving object
If the machine carrier uses a compact supporting structure to reduce weight, then the weight is reduced, but the structural strength may be compromised
Solution Approach 1:
The supporting structure exhibits local quality variations where wall thickness and material distribution are optimized - thinner walls in non-critical areas reduce weight, while thicker or reinforced walls in load-bearing areas maintain structural strength.
Solution Approach 2:
The structure transitions from a fully three-dimensional closed shell to a more open framework or lattice structure in certain regions, utilizing spatial arrangement and geometric optimization to maintain strength with reduced material usage.
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2~3
Figure 4~5
AI summary
The invention relates to a machine carrier (10) for a wind turbine (100), in particular a gearless wind turbine (100), wherein the machine carrier (10) is configured to be rotated about a tower axis by means of an azimuth drive (26) and has a support structure (16) which has a first mechanical interface (12) for directly or indirectly connecting the machine carrier (10) to an azimuth bearing (28) and a second mechanical interface (14) for mounting a generator or a pivot on the machine carrier (10). It is particularly proposed that the support structure (16) has one or more lateral through-openings (24, 24', 36, 38) as access to the azimuth drive (26) and/or the azimuth bearing (28).