Wind Turbine Blade Shear Web Guide Member

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Solution Overview

Problem

The correct positioning and alignment of shear webs during the manufacturing of wind turbine blades are challenging, often resulting in incorrect positioning and bonding, especially when the bond line surface is inclined. Existing solutions add weight, provide insufficient alignment, and can lead to damage or high costs.

Innovation Solution

A method involving the use of guide members with a hollow body and guiding surface, mounted on the inner surface of the wind turbine blade shell halves, to accurately position and align shear webs during the assembly of wind turbine blades.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Manufacturing precision

If guide blocks are attached to guide shear webs during blade manufacturing, then shear web alignment is improved, but blade weight increases and damage risk occurs

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveshear web alignmentVSAvoidblade weight

Core Design Contradiction:

Manufacturing precisionVSWeight of moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The invention removes the guide block from the system entirely. Instead of attaching a physical guide block to the shear web, the method uses the mould structure itself (specifically the bond line surface geometry) to guide and position the shear web during assembly. This extraction eliminates the extra weight while maintaining alignment functionality.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Solution Approach 2:

The invention introduces the bond line surface geometry as an intermediary guiding mechanism. The inclined bond line surface acts as a natural guide that directs the shear web into correct positioning during the closing operation, replacing the need for separate guide blocks while maintaining the guiding function.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Manufacturing precision

If guide blocks are used to align shear webs, then positioning is improved, but shear web and guide block damage occurs during closing

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveshear web positioningVSAvoiddamage to shear web and guide block

Core Design Contradiction:

Manufacturing precisionVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

By removing the guide block entirely and using the mould's bond line surface as the guiding element, the invention eliminates the damage risk to guide blocks. The mould structure is designed to guide the shear web without requiring separate guiding components that could be damaged during the closing operation.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Solution Approach 2:

The inclined bond line surface is designed beforehand to provide a gradual guiding slope that gently directs the shear web into position. This pre-designed geometric feature prevents sudden impacts or forced positioning that could cause damage to the shear web or guide blocks during the closing operation.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #11Beforehand cushioning (Prior cushioning)

3Ease of manufacture

If traditional shear web mounting is used without guide members, then manufacturing is simpler, but shear web alignment accuracy deteriorates on inclined surfaces

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvemanufacturing simplicityVSAvoidshear web alignment accuracy

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of manufactureVSManufacturing precision

Solution Approach 1:

The invention makes the bond line surface serve dual functions: it is both the bonding surface and the guiding surface for shear web alignment. The inclined geometry of the bond line automatically guides the shear web into correct position without requiring separate guiding components, maintaining manufacturing simplicity while improving alignment accuracy.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

Solution Approach 2:

The bond line surface is designed to perform multiple functions simultaneously: it provides the bonding interface for joining shell halves and acts as a guiding surface for positioning shear webs. This multi-functionality eliminates the need for separate guide blocks while maintaining alignment precision on inclined surfaces.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

4Manufacturing precision

If assembly jigs are used to hold shear webs until glue cures, then alignment is improved, but manufacturing cost and cycle time increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveshear web alignmentVSAvoidmoulding cycle time

Core Design Contradiction:

Manufacturing precisionVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The invention removes the assembly jig from the process and replaces it with the mould's built-in bond line geometry. The inclined bond line surface provides continuous guidance during the closing operation, eliminating the need for separate positioning fixtures and reducing moulding cycle time while maintaining alignment precision.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Solution Approach 2:

The bond line surface geometry is pre-designed into the mould structure to provide guiding functionality. This preliminary design of the mould geometry eliminates the need for additional positioning actions or fixtures during the closing operation, streamlining the manufacturing process and reducing cycle time.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Data Source

PatentUS12290995B2Guide member for guiding a shear web of wind turbine blade

Publication Date: 2025.05.06 LM WIND POWER AS

AI summary

The present invention relates to method of manufacturing a wind turbine blade, the method comprising the steps of providing a first shell half and a second shell half, providing a shear web having a first edge and an opposing second edge, and attaching the first edge of the shear web to an inner surface of the first shell half. One or more guide members are mounted onto an inner surface of the second shell half for guiding the shear web, each guide member comprising a hollow body and a guiding surface.