US 11,788,512 B2
Apparatus for movement along a tower structure
Angelo Sardellano, Crispiano (IT)
Assigned to Vestas Wind Systems A/S, Aarhus (DK)
Appl. No. 16/330,419
Filed by Vestas Wind Systems A/S, Aarhus (DK)
PCT Filed Sep. 14, 2017, PCT No. PCT/DK2017/050289
§ 371(c)(1), (2) Date Mar. 5, 2019,
PCT Pub. No. WO2018/050190, PCT Pub. Date Mar. 22, 2018.
Claims priority of application No. PA 2016 70700 (DK), filed on Sep. 14, 2016.
Prior Publication US 2020/0340455 A1, Oct. 29, 2020
Int. Cl. F03D 80/55 (2016.01); B05B 13/04 (2006.01); E04G 3/32 (2006.01); F16M 13/02 (2006.01); E04G 3/28 (2006.01); F03D 80/50 (2016.01); E04G 3/24 (2006.01); B65D 61/00 (2006.01)
CPC F03D 80/55 (2016.05) [B05B 13/0436 (2013.01); E04G 3/32 (2013.01); F16M 13/022 (2013.01); B65D 61/00 (2013.01); E04G 3/243 (2013.01); E04G 2003/286 (2013.01); F03D 80/50 (2016.05); F05B 2230/61 (2013.01); Y02E 10/72 (2013.01); Y10S 180/901 (2013.01)] 14 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A system for movement along a tower structure, comprising:
an apparatus configured to be arranged at least partly circumferentially around the tower structure, the apparatus comprising:
a plurality of sliding rails, and
a frame structure comprising a plurality of frame elements, each frame element being slidably connected to at least one of the sliding rails, the frame elements and the sliding rails being interconnected to form a scissor structure, and
a hoisting mechanism for raising and lowering one or more wires connected to the frame structure of the apparatus via connection points of at least some of the frame elements at or near positions where the frame elements are connected to the sliding rails, wherein the plurality of frame elements pivot with respect to each other at said connection points along a horizontal pivot axis, the hoisting mechanism for hoisting the apparatus along the tower structure having the apparatus mounted thereon,
wherein raising and lowering the one or more wires using the hoisting mechanism, in combination with gravity working on the frame structure, causes the frame elements to slide along the sliding rails, thereby causing the scissor structure to contract and expand, respectively, to adjust a diameter of the frame structure to an outer diameter of the tower structure having the apparatus mounted thereon.