US 12,291,433 B2
Transport apparatus
Johnny Soerensen, Videbæk (DK)
Assigned to SIEMENS GAMESA RENEWABLE ENERGY A/S, Brande (DK)
Appl. No. 17/770,100
Filed by Siemens Gamesa Renewable Energy A/S, Brande (DK)
PCT Filed Oct. 9, 2020, PCT No. PCT/EP2020/078455
§ 371(c)(1), (2) Date Apr. 19, 2022,
PCT Pub. No. WO2021/078543, PCT Pub. Date Apr. 29, 2021.
Claims priority of application No. 19205054 (EP), filed on Oct. 24, 2019.
Prior Publication US 2022/0388815 A1, Dec. 8, 2022
Int. Cl. B66C 1/56 (2006.01); B66C 1/46 (2006.01); B66C 1/62 (2006.01); B66C 1/10 (2006.01); B66C 1/42 (2006.01)
CPC B66C 1/56 (2013.01) [B66C 1/46 (2013.01); B66C 1/62 (2013.01); B66C 1/108 (2013.01); B66C 1/427 (2013.01)] 14 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A transport apparatus for use in the transport of a heavy structure, the transport apparatus comprising:
a shape-adjustable adapter configured to adjust between an initial shape and a mating shape; and
an actuator configured to:
affect a change in shape of the shape-adjustable adapter into the initial shape to facilitate positioning of the shape-adjustable adapter relative to the heavy structure, and
affect a change in shape of the shape-adjustable adapter into the mating shape to engage the shape-adjustable adapter with a surface of the heavy structure;
wherein the shape-adjustable adapter has an essentially circular cross-section between a fixed end and a variable end, further wherein a diameter at the variable end is larger in the mating state than in the initial state.