US 11,732,688 B2
Wind turbine rotor blade element having connection assemblies
Flemming Sorensen, Svendborg (DK); and Tim Berend Block, Henstedt-Ulzburg (DE)
Assigned to Nordex Energy SE & Co. KG, Hamburg (DE); and Nordex Blade Technology Centre ApS, Stenstrup (DK)
Filed by Nordex Energy SE & Co. KG, Hamburg (DE); and Nordex Blade Technology Centre ApS, Stenstrup (DK)
Filed on May 20, 2022, as Appl. No. 17/749,947.
Claims priority of application No. 21175376 (EP), filed on May 21, 2021.
Prior Publication US 2022/0372950 A1, Nov. 24, 2022
Int. Cl. F03D 1/06 (2006.01); F03D 13/10 (2016.01); B29C 70/88 (2006.01); B29L 31/08 (2006.01)
CPC F03D 1/0675 (2013.01) [B29C 70/885 (2013.01); F03D 1/0658 (2013.01); F03D 13/10 (2016.05); B29L 2031/085 (2013.01); F05B 2230/60 (2013.01); F05B 2240/301 (2013.01); F05B 2260/30 (2013.01); F05B 2280/6003 (2013.01)] 13 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A wind turbine rotor blade element comprising:
a rotor blade body having a connection section defining a front face, an inner surface and an outer surface;
said inner surface and said outer surface conjointly defining a wall thickness therebetween;
a plurality of connection assemblies arranged in said connection section;
each one of said connection assemblies including:
(i) a metal insert defining a longitudinal axis and having a circumferential outer surface and a joining portion for connecting the wind turbine rotor blade element to one of a wind turbine rotor hub or another wind turbine rotor blade element; and,
(ii) a transition material aligned with said metal insert and having a tapered longitudinal section defining an axial outer surface parallel to said longitudinal axis of said metal insert and said tapered longitudinal section further defining an inclined outer surface at an acute angle with respect to said longitudinal axis of said metal insert;
said plurality of connection assemblies being embedded in said connection section so as to cause said joining portions of said metal inserts to be accessible from said front face of said connection section;
said connection assemblies being arranged in an inner row closer to said inner surface of said connection section and an outer row closer to said outer surface of said connection section and so as to cause said inclined outer surfaces of said transition materials of the connection assemblies of both said inner row and said outer row to contribute to a decrease in wall thickness of said connection section;
a prefabricated part including a cured plastics material having at least some of said plurality of connection assemblies of both the inner row and the outer row embedded therein; and,
said wind turbine rotor blade element having been manufactured by placement of said prefabricated part in a mold together with other components of said wind turbine rotor blade element.