Wind Turbine Lifting Device Steering Wire Control

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing systems for lifting and controlling the horizontal orientation and position of wind turbine components, such as those disclosed in WO 2008/061797, JP 6156975 A2, KR2011 0123929 A, EP 3 165 493 A1, and WO 94/20403 A1, suffer from unwanted forces on the crane arrangement and limited control over the horizontal orientation and position of components during installation and dismounting.

Innovation Solution

A lifting device comprising a crane connection arrangement, a frame arrangement connected to the crane connection arrangement, first and second steering wire guides supported by the frame arrangement, and a component connection arrangement, which allows for relative displacement between the frame arrangement and the steering wire guides to control the angle between the steering wires, thereby reducing unwanted forces and enhancing control over the horizontal orientation and position of components.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of operation

If steering wires are connected directly to the crane arrangement for controlling horizontal orientation, then control over component orientation is achieved, but unwanted forces are induced at the crane arrangement

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecontrol over horizontal orientationVSAvoidunwanted forces at crane arrangement
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

A frame arrangement is introduced as an intermediary between the crane connection arrangement and the steering wire guides. The frame arrangement is rotatably connected to the crane connection arrangement and supports the steering wire guides, thereby mediating the forces and preventing direct transmission of unwanted forces to the crane arrangement while maintaining control capability.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

The system is segmented into distinct functional components: the crane connection arrangement, the frame arrangement, and the steering wire guides. This segmentation allows the frame arrangement to rotate independently relative to the crane connection arrangement, enabling control operations without transmitting harmful forces to the crane structure.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

2Measurement precision

If the frame arrangement is made rotatable to improve horizontal orientation control, then control precision is improved, but device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecontrol precision of horizontal orientationVSAvoidcomplexity of frame arrangement
Core Design Contradiction:
Measurement precisionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The frame arrangement is made rotatable relative to the crane connection arrangement, introducing dynamic capability for horizontal orientation control. This rotational freedom allows precise positioning of the steering wire guides while the simplicity of the rotational joint keeps the added complexity minimal.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

Data Source

PatentEP3724120B1System, device and method for lifting and controlling the horizontal orientation and/or position of components
Publication Date: 2022.11.09 ENABL AS
  • EP3724120B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3724120B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP3724120B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

The system (1) for lifting and controlling the horizontal orientation and/or position of components (90), such as wind turbine main components, during installation and/or dismounting of said components comprises: a crane boom arrangement (3) and one or more lifting lines (3a) guided by said crane boom arrangement (3) for lifting said components. The system moreover comprises a lifting device (10) comprising a crane connection arrangement (11) connected to said one or more lifting lines (3a), a frame arrangement (12) connected to said crane connection arrangement (11), a first and a second steering wire guide (13a, 13b) configured for guiding steering wires (20a, 20b), and a component connection arrangement (30) connected to said frame arrangement and configured to be connected directly or indirectly to the component to be lifted. The system (1) further comprises a guiding arrangement (4) connected to said crane boom arrangement (3), and said steering wires (20a, 20b) are connected to said guiding arrangement (4) and extend from the guiding arrangement (4) in a direction towards the lifting device (10) with a mutual angle (al) between the steering wires (20a, 20b). A relative displacement between said frame arrangement (12) and one or both of the first and second steering wire guides (13a, 13b) is configured to be provided to control the mutual angle (al) between the steering wires (20a, 20b).