US 12,000,371 B2
Method of manufacturing a wind turbine blade
Christian David Robson, Newport (GB); John Morgan, Newport (GB); and Kieron Lavers, Ryde (GB)
Assigned to Vestas Wind Systems A/S, Aarhus N. (DK)
Appl. No. 18/001,281
Filed by Vestas Wind Systems A/S, Aarhus N (DK)
PCT Filed Jun. 10, 2021, PCT No. PCT/DK2021/050183
§ 371(c)(1), (2) Date Dec. 9, 2022,
PCT Pub. No. WO2021/249605, PCT Pub. Date Dec. 16, 2021.
Claims priority of application No. PA202070372 (DK), filed on Jun. 11, 2020.
Prior Publication US 2023/0235724 A1, Jul. 27, 2023
Int. Cl. F03D 1/06 (2006.01)
CPC F03D 1/0675 (2013.01) [F05B 2230/60 (2013.01); F05B 2260/30 (2013.01)] 15 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A method of making a wind turbine blade, the method comprising
providing a blade shell mould;
providing a plurality of substantially planar strips of reinforcing material;
arranging the plurality of strips in the mould in a first stack to form at least part of a first spar cap;
providing a retaining clip having a substantially planar body and upper and lower flanges projecting transversely to the planar body, the flanges and the body together defining a first receiving region on a first side of the retaining clip, wherein the first receiving region is open on the first side of retaining clip in a direction of the upper and lower flanges; and
arranging the retaining clip on a side of the first stack such that the strips in the first stack are received in the first receiving region.
 
4. A wind turbine blade comprising:
a spar cap comprising a plurality of substantially planar strips of reinforcing material arranged in at least a first stack; and
a retaining clip having a substantially planar body and upper and lower flanges projecting transversely to the planar body, the flanges and the body together defining a first receiving region on a first side of the retaining clip, wherein the first receiving region is open on the first side of retaining clip in a direction of the upper and lower flanges;
wherein the retaining clip is arranged on a side of the first stack such that the strips in the first stack are received in the first receiving region.