US 12,286,957 B2
Method and device for connecting a blade of a wind turbine to a hub
Paul Antonius Alphonsus Geene, Leiden (NL); Roland De Vos, Leiden (NL); and Robert Marc Aarts, Leiden (NL)
Assigned to Heerema Marine Contractors Nederland SE, Leiden (NL)
Appl. No. 17/779,683
Filed by Heerema Marine Contractors Nederland SE, Leiden (NL)
PCT Filed Nov. 26, 2020, PCT No. PCT/EP2020/025543
§ 371(c)(1), (2) Date May 25, 2022,
PCT Pub. No. WO2021/104677, PCT Pub. Date Jun. 3, 2021.
Claims priority of provisional application 62/940,690, filed on Nov. 26, 2019.
Claims priority of application No. 2025208 (NL), filed on Mar. 25, 2020.
Prior Publication US 2023/0228246 A1, Jul. 20, 2023
Int. Cl. F03D 13/10 (2016.01); B66C 1/10 (2006.01); B66C 13/08 (2006.01); B66C 23/18 (2006.01); B66C 23/52 (2006.01); F03D 13/25 (2016.01)
CPC F03D 13/10 (2016.05) [B66C 1/108 (2013.01); B66C 13/085 (2013.01); B66C 23/185 (2013.01); B66C 23/52 (2013.01); F03D 13/25 (2016.05); F05B 2230/6102 (2013.01); Y02E 10/72 (2013.01); Y02E 10/727 (2013.01)] 16 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A root end moving assembly for connecting a root end of a blade to a root end connector of a hub of nacelle of a wind turbine, the root end moving assembly comprising a movable root end support base and a root end support for supporting the root end, the root end support being connected to the movable root end support base,
wherein the root end moving assembly is configured for moving the root end from an engagement position to an installation position of the blade at the root end connector,
wherein the root end support is configured for engaging the root end of the blade in an engagement position thereof,
wherein:
a) the root end moving assembly comprises a rail which defines a guide path, wherein the movable root end support base is connected to the rail, the root end moving assembly being configured for moving the movable root end support base along the rail from the engagement position to the installation position, or
b) the root end moving assembly forms part of an auxiliary support structure connected to a hull or deck of the installation vessel, the auxiliary support structure comprising a positioning assembly which comprises an elongated member which extends upward from the hull or deck, wherein the root end moving assembly is connected to the positioning assembly, wherein the root end moving assembly further comprises a mast stop configured to engage the mast or the nacelle in the installation position and to connect an upper end of the auxiliary support structure to the mast, wherein the root end moving assembly comprises support base actuators which are provided between an upper end of the elongated member and the movable root end support base, wherein the support base actuators are configured to move the movable root end support base relative to the upper end of the elongated member from the engagement position to the installation position of the blade,
wherein the root end moving assembly further comprises one or more actuators which are configured to move the root end support relative to the movable root end support base in the X-direction, Y-direction or Z-direction for moving the root end toward the root end connector and aligning the root end with the root end connector, the X-direction being the longitudinal direction of the blade, the Y-direction being horizontal and orthogonal to the X-direction,
wherein the root end moving assembly further comprises a force limiting system configured to prevent the root end support from exerting forces on the root end which exceed a threshold force.