Wind Turbine Blade Root Assembly with Translational Fastener Movement
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing methods for manufacturing wind turbine blades face challenges such as undesired movement of fastening members during resin infusion and curing, leading to misalignments, wrinkle formation, and costly repair operations due to shrinkage, which affect the structural performance and alignment of the blade root.
Innovation Solution
A root end assembly with a mounting plate and sheath members allowing translational movement of fastening members, such as bushings, through apertures, along with connection members and biasing members to maintain alignment and reduce misalignments during resin infusion and curing.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Manufacturing precision
If fastening members are fixed rigidly to the mounting plate, then alignment precision is maintained during assembly, but misalignment and wrinkle formation occur during resin infusion and curing due to shrinkage
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies the dynamics principle by transforming the rigid fixed connection into a dynamic adjustable connection. The mounting plate incorporates sliding mechanisms that allow fastening members to move freely during resin infusion and curing, adapting to dimensional changes and preventing misalignment while maintaining structural integrity.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent utilizes parameter changes by allowing the position parameters of fastening members to vary during the manufacturing process. The sliding mechanisms enable positional adjustments in response to shrinkage and deformation, maintaining optimal alignment throughout resin infusion and curing stages.
2Reliability
If fastening members are allowed to move freely during resin infusion, then shrinkage-induced misalignment is reduced, but additional alignment control mechanisms are required
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces sliding mechanisms as intermediary elements between the mounting plate and fastening members. These intermediaries facilitate controlled movement while maintaining alignment, acting as mediators that reconcile the need for both mobility and positional stability during resin infusion and curing.
3Ease of manufacture
If traditional rigid mounting plates are used, then manufacturing process is simple, but wrinkle formation and repair operations increase due to misalignment
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements dynamic sliding mechanisms within the mounting plate structure, allowing fastening members to adjust their positions during resin infusion and curing. This dynamic capability prevents wrinkle formation and eliminates the need for costly repair operations, thereby improving manufacturing efficiency despite the slightly more complex structure.
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 assembly significantly reduces misalignments and wrinkle formation, minimizing the need for repair operations and ensuring a stable, structurally sound wind turbine blade root end.
Implementation Method 1
undesired movement of the fastening members within the inner or outer fibre skin occurring due to shrinkage during resin infusion and/or resin curing
Data Source
Figure 1
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Figure 4~8b
AI summary
The present invention relates to a root end assembly (100) for incorporating a plurality of fastening members (74) into the root end of a wind turbine blade shell part during a moulding operation. The root end assembly (100) comprises a mounting plate (70) with a plurality of apertures (72) and a plurality of sheath members (83), each sheath member being disposed in a respective aperture of the plurality of apertures (72). Connection members (78) are received in the sheath members (83), and a plurality of fastening members (74) are releasably attached to a respective connection member of the plurality of connection members (78) such that the fastening members (74) extend substantially normal to a first surface (77) of the mounting plate (70). The apertures (72) are dimensioned for allowing translational movement of the sheath members (83) in the respective apertures (72).