Vertically Oriented (e.g., Tower, Etc.) Patents (Class 52/651.01)
  • Patent number: 11933061
    Abstract: A method for pretensioning a tower of a wind power installation, comprising the steps: providing a tensioning device having an adapter element and/or a foundation arrangement and a tensioning element, and/or an adapter element and/or a foundation arrangement, fastening a lower end of a tensioning element a fastening means of the adapter element, fastening an upper end of a tensioning element to an upper end of the tower, tensioning the tensioning element at the lower end of the tensioning element and/or at the upper end of the tensioning element, wherein the tensioning of the tensioning element is effected by reduction of a clearance between the foundation and the adapter element.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 21, 2019
    Date of Patent: March 19, 2024
    Assignee: Wobben Properties GmbH
    Inventor: Roy Kersten
  • Patent number: 11402286
    Abstract: The present invention discloses methods and systems for detecting the health status of a bolt which fastens a rotor blade of a wind turbine. Values of the axial stress/strain of the bolt and motion and orientation data are acquired in different aerial orientations. Values of the prestress/strain and load-stress/strain are obtained using the values of the axial stress/strain and the motion and orientation data. Values of the prestress/strain and load-stress/strain are compared with the reference values. The health status of the bolt, rotor blade, and the wind turbine system is determined based on the comparison results. The method is noninvasive and doesn't affect the function and performance of the bolt and the turbine system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 26, 2019
    Date of Patent: August 2, 2022
    Inventors: Shuangwen Liu, Lei Liu, Zhuang Li, Yunfeng Sheng, Jiajun Yao
  • Patent number: 11261575
    Abstract: A suction bucket for a seabed foundation for an offshore facility is provided. The suction bucket is arranged for being embedded into a marine sediment. The suction bucket includes a lid and a sidewall. The sidewall is segmented into a first circumferential segment and at least a second circumferential segment. The first circumferential segment is connected with the second circumferential segment. The first circumferential segment and the second circumferential segment are attached to the lid of the suction bucket. Furthermore, the first circumferential segment and the second circumferential segment each contains at least one substantially planar section. Furthermore, a method to manufacture a suction bucket for a seabed foundation for an offshore facility is also provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 13, 2018
    Date of Patent: March 1, 2022
    Assignees: AALBORG UNIVERSITY, SIEMENS GAMESA RENEWABLE ENERGY A/S, UNIVERSAL FOUNDATION A/S
    Inventors: Finn Daugaard Madsen, Johnny Soerensen, Jens Thomsen, Lars Bo Ibsen, Soeren Andreas Langbak Nielsen, Nicolai Hallum Steensgaard, Morten Kristiansen, Arne Kryger, Poul Henrik Kyvsgaard Hansen, Sigurd Villumsen
  • Patent number: 10669994
    Abstract: The invention is a wind turbine tower and method of erection. The wind turbine tower comprises a plurality of support columns coupled to a wind turbine tower base, a lift deck coupled to the plurality of support columns configured to traverse a central longitudinal axis of the wind turbine tower, and a nacelle housing assembly coupled to the top of the plurality of support columns. The plurality of support columns spans a height of at least 85 meters may and in some embodiments are constructed of individual column segments transported and assembled via a small crane supported by the lift deck.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 28, 2019
    Date of Patent: June 2, 2020
    Inventor: Joseph R. Kucic
  • Patent number: 10539121
    Abstract: An air duct for a wind power plant is configured to guide air along a circumference of a supporting structure, in particular a tower, of the wind power plant. The wind power plant also includes an air guide and provides methods of manufacturing the air guide for the wind power plant and retrofitting the wind power plant with the air guide.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 15, 2015
    Date of Patent: January 21, 2020
    Assignee: Areva Wind GmbH
    Inventors: Thomas Kramer, Roland Schumacher
  • Patent number: 10384387
    Abstract: With a method for producing a two-dimensional or three-dimensional framework (1) with rods (2) of a composite material with fibers and a matrix, which are connected with nodes (3) to at least one other rod (2) and/or another component (29), comprising the steps of: producing the rods (2) out of a composite material, connecting the rods (2) with at least one other rod (2) and/or another component (29) at the nodes (3), the framework (1) should be manufactured inexpensively and reliably by a low technical effort. This object can be solved in a way that the rods (2) are being produced with pultrusion and/or extrusion and a pultrusion unit (6) and/or an extrusion unit (7) is moved in space such that after the pultrusion and/or extrusion the pultruded and/or extruded rods (2) are pultruded and/or extruded in each case at the required position within the framework (1).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 7, 2015
    Date of Patent: August 20, 2019
    Assignee: 9T Labs AG
    Inventors: Martin Eichenhofer, Florian Eichenhofer
  • Patent number: 9726153
    Abstract: A structural tower for a wind turbine assembly, includes along at least a base section: a plurality of peripheral sections extending peripherally of a central section. Each includes a convex-shaped wall having two longitudinal side edges and an inner framework connected to a respective one of the convex-shaped walls and extending inwardly therein. The inner framework includes spaced-apart transversal structural members connecting the two longitudinal side edges of the convex-shaped walls together and pairs of connecting structural members extending inwardly towards the central section. Each connecting structural member of a pair has a peripheral end connected to a respective one of the longitudinal side edges and an inner end connected to an inner end of a respective one of the connecting structural members of an adjacent one of the peripheral sections to define a structural concavity in the structural tower between adjacent peripheral sections.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 25, 2016
    Date of Patent: August 8, 2017
    Assignee: MARMEN INC.
    Inventors: Jerome Doucet, Mathieu Cyrenne
  • Patent number: 9126674
    Abstract: A beam (20) comprising first and second flanges (23, 24), the beam (20) having a first region (28, 30) extending between the flanges (23, 24) and a second region (26) extending between the flanges. The first region (28, 30) is designed to support an applied concentrated shear load and the second region (26) is designed to support a predominantly bending load. The first region comprises a fan-shaped truss comprising a hub (36) adjacent the first flange and a plurality of struts (37) which extend substantially radially from the hub (36), and the second region (26) comprises either a truss structure which is substantially regular in the longitudinal beam direction or a shear web. The beam may, for example, be used as a floor beam for an aircraft fuselage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 12, 2011
    Date of Patent: September 8, 2015
    Assignees: Airbus Operations Limited, Airbus Operations SL, Airbus Operations SAS, Airbus Operations GmbH
    Inventors: Lars Krog, Andrea Marasco, Stéphane Grihon, Manuela Jürgens, Gary Ryan, Stuart Bates
  • Patent number: 9038348
    Abstract: The present subject matter is directed to a lattice tower covering and/or assembly for a wind turbine. The lattice tower assembly includes a plurality of structural members connected together to define an open lattice tower. The structural members include a plurality of supports, a plurality of inner cross-support members, and a plurality of outer cross-support members. The inner and outer cross-support members are connected between the supports so as to define one or more openings. The lattice tower covering includes one or more panel elements. Each of the panel elements are retained in position between the supports and cover at least a portion of one or more of the openings. Further, the lattice tower covering has a surface area defined by the plurality of supports and the one or more panel elements.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 18, 2013
    Date of Patent: May 26, 2015
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Biao Fang, Robert Allan Phelps, David Drue Oliphant, William Clark Weber
  • Patent number: 9032674
    Abstract: A wind turbine tower arrangement (10), having: a concrete tower (12) including an upper portion(14) and a base portion (16); a footer (22) beneath the base portion; a plurality of tendons (30), each tendon spanning an entire height of the concrete tower, at least a portion of each tendon arranged external to concrete (42) forming the concrete tower, and each tendon is pre-stressed to provide compressive force to the concrete in the concrete tower; and a plurality of pilings (28). The tendons are secured by the plurality of pilings.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 5, 2013
    Date of Patent: May 19, 2015
    Assignee: Siemens Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventor: Karsten Schibsbye
  • Patent number: 9016004
    Abstract: A method of folding a mast or derrick and a folding mast apparatus having a back face and a pair of opposed sides with each of the opposed sides having a front leg and a back leg. The apparatus includes at least one spreader beam assembly extending across the back face and connecting the back legs of the pair of opposed sides. At least one pair of telescoping braces extends between the at least one spreader beam assembly and the back legs. A pair of mast folding cylinders, each of the cylinders extending between one back leg and the back face, moves the pair of opposed sides between an open, use position and a closed, transportation position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 15, 2013
    Date of Patent: April 28, 2015
    Assignee: Woolslayer Companies, Inc.
    Inventor: Dewayne G. Vogt
  • Publication number: 20150107179
    Abstract: Reinforced hollow for a wind turbine tower comprising a lower ring (2) that determines an opening (3) for the installation of an access door (not represented) inside the tower (1). The hollow incorporates at least one structural element (4) that is fastened on both sides of the opening (3) of the tower's lower ring (2), providing the rigidness necessary to attach a door and permit the reduction of the thickness of the ring by 10-20%.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 26, 2014
    Publication date: April 23, 2015
    Applicant: GAMESA INNOVATION & TECHNOLOGY, S.L.
    Inventor: Pablo UNANUA HERMOSO DE MENDOZA
  • Publication number: 20150052836
    Abstract: A tower includes a plurality of stacked sections extending in a longitudinal direction from a base section to a top section. At least one of the stacked sections includes a first block and a second block joined together. The first block and the second block have interlocking portions such that a first portion of the first block is located above a first portion of the second block in the longitudinal direction.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 13, 2013
    Publication date: February 26, 2015
    Applicant: Tindall Corporation
    Inventors: Kevin Lee KIRKLEY, Bryant Allan Zavitz
  • Publication number: 20150052846
    Abstract: A tower portion for a wind turbine includes at least one wall segment and at least one opening segment. The opening segment includes an opening, one or more inner edges, two side edges, an upper edge and a lower edge, the opening being delimited by the one or more inner edges. The wall segment is shaped as less than a full 360° ring. The opening segment is coupled with the wall segment by the side edges. The opening segment and the wall segment form segments of a ring and when coupled form a full 360° ring. The opening segment has a variable thickness increasing from the side edges to the inner edges.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 21, 2014
    Publication date: February 26, 2015
    Inventors: Alberto GONZÁLEZ DEL EGIDO, Rubén HERENCIA MORA, Ivan ARGUDO YUSTE
  • Patent number: 8955274
    Abstract: A windfence supporting tower with tension-integrity, includes a tubular metal tower having a central tubular post and four inclined tubular structural tensile elements attached to the post via the coupling ring and the lower ends attached to the free ends of a yoke of compression tubes, which is in turn attached to the post by the reaction flange of the yoke, further receiving at the free ends of the yoke four vertical tensile structural elements which are tensioned and anchored to the ground through four independent foundations located around the foundation of the central tube. These vertical ties pull on the connection point of the yoke and in turn the inclined structural elements connected to the coupling ring, thereby providing stability with tension-integrity, which is the main feature of the present supporting tower for absorbing forces caused by the wind.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 18, 2012
    Date of Patent: February 17, 2015
    Assignees: Metalvix Engenharia E Consultoria Ltda, MCA Technologia de Estruturas Ltda
    Inventors: José Emílio Brandão, Carlos Alberto Pinto Montenegro, Carlos Augusto Calmon Nogueira Da Gama, Carlos Eduardo Calmon Nogueira Da Gama
  • Patent number: 8950150
    Abstract: The present invention is an apparatus for maintaining the orientation of a tower-mounted device in use with a tower structure. The apparatus includes an adjustable vertical mount member positioned within a tower structure. Several adjustable rods move the vertical adjustable vertical mount member by adjusting their position relative to the tower. Movement of the adjustable vertical mount member in one direction causes an extended section of the adjustable vertical mount member to move in the opposite direction. This has the effect of adjusting the orientation of any device attached to the extended section.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 1, 2014
    Date of Patent: February 10, 2015
    Inventor: Ray Pecor
  • Publication number: 20150037166
    Abstract: Towers for wind turbines are provided. In one embodiment, a tower includes a hollow shell defining an interior, the hollow shell extending generally along a longitudinal axis. The tower further includes a platform disposed in the interior and connected to the shell. The platform includes a first plate fixedly connected to the shell. The platform further includes a second plate movably connected to the first plate such that relative movement of the first plate and second plate is permitted in a plane generally transverse to the longitudinal axis.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 30, 2013
    Publication date: February 5, 2015
    Applicant: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Raghunandan Chickballapur Venkatakrishnappa, Umesh B. Shingne
  • Patent number: 8938933
    Abstract: A wall section for a tower of a wind turbine is provided. The wall section includes an inner edge surrounding an opening of the wall section and a protrusion protruding in a thickness direction of the wall section and extending transverse to the thickness direction. Further a wind turbine tower is provided. The wind turbine tower includes a tower wall portion and a wall section as described above. The wall section is connected to the tower wall portion at least at a portion of an outer edge of the wall section.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 19, 2011
    Date of Patent: January 27, 2015
    Assignee: Siemens Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Abderrahim Amdaa, Jan Jacobsen, Steen Kirkegaard Jensen
  • Patent number: 8931235
    Abstract: A method for erecting a facility includes the steps of constructing initial tower panels on a foundation. Work platforms and guys are installed so that additional tower panels may be installed on top of the existing tower panels. The work platforms with guys may then be raised, so that the process may be repeated until tower section height is reached. Tower sections are them completed by the addition of peripheral trusses and permanent guys, and additional tower sections are constructed by repeating the process to reach the desired facility height. Lifting units including truss and rail systems and rotatable modules with turbines in shrouds are assembled on the ground, then raised up the towers and operably mounted for generating electricity from wind. The erection process is sequenced to maintain structural integrity.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 12, 2012
    Date of Patent: January 13, 2015
    Inventor: Brookes H. Baker
  • Patent number: 8925277
    Abstract: A tower having a lattice structure for improved structural reliability and load bearing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 13, 2013
    Date of Patent: January 6, 2015
    Assignee: Glenmartin Holding Co, LLC
    Inventors: Xinguo Cai, Christopher J Martin
  • Patent number: 8915043
    Abstract: A bolt connection assembly is provided that is particularly suited for connecting components of a lattice structure wind tower. The assembly includes a pin component having a head and a shaft, with the shaft having a textured friction-fit outer circumferential surface. The shaft further includes a threaded internal bore. A bolt component having a threaded shaft engages within the threaded internal bore. In an assembled state of the pin component and bolt component, the threaded shaft has a free length section that extends into the threaded internal bore for increased distribution of a specified pretension of the bolt component.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 25, 2011
    Date of Patent: December 23, 2014
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Danian Zheng, William Francis Gevers
  • Patent number: 8898991
    Abstract: A tower base ring assembly is provided for securing a wind turbine tower to a foundation. A top ring is configured for securing to a wind turbine tower. A bottom ring has an open center and a plurality of radially oriented troughs spaced circumferentially about the open center, with each trough having an outer end. The top ring and the bottom ring are detachable from one another, and the tower base ring assembly is connectable to the foundation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 7, 2012
    Date of Patent: December 2, 2014
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Ying Xia Cai, William Francis Gevers, Roman Kolar
  • Publication number: 20140345218
    Abstract: A transition structure for a tower comprises a plurality of panels that each includes a panel body having opposed upper and lower ends, a lower mounting surface at the lower end, an upper mounting surface at the upper end, and a pair of lateral mounting surfaces at lateral edges. The upper mounting surfaces are generally planar, and the panel bodies taper from their upper mounting surface to their lower mounting surface. Each panel is mounted to at least another of the panels at corresponding lateral surfaces to form, with the upper ends, the shape that conforms to the lower end of the tower to be supported. The transition structure also comprises a plurality of footings, each having an upper end mated to the lower mounting surface of one of the panels, a lower end configured to mate with a post of a foundation, and a footing body between the upper and lower ends.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 29, 2012
    Publication date: November 27, 2014
    Applicant: VESTAS WIND SYSTEMS A/S
    Inventors: Gerner Larsen, Niels Christian Olsen
  • Patent number: 8881485
    Abstract: A wind turbine tower system includes a wind turbine tower with a height of at least 100 meters, said wind turbine tower. The wind turbine tower includes a plurality of hexagonal-shaped or other shapes of vertical columns comprised of a concrete composition and a plurality of panels, each of the plurality of panels extending between adjacent vertical columns. The plurality of vertical columns and the plurality of panels are arranged to provide a hexagonal cross-section for the wind turbine tower.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 13, 2014
    Date of Patent: November 11, 2014
    Assignee: Iowa State University Research Foundation, Inc.
    Inventors: Sivalingam Sritharan, Thomas J. Lewin, Grant M. Schmitz
  • Patent number: 8844237
    Abstract: A wind power plant tower segment is provided. The tower segment is designed as a jacket segment and comprises a reinforced concrete body, comprising two faces for attaching to faces of at least one further tower segment. In the region of each face, at least one connecting body is introduced in the reinforced concrete body and anchored therein for connecting to a connecting body of an adjoining tower segment. The connecting body comprises a fastening wall that is disposed substantially parallel to the respective face for absorbing a tensile load that is directed transversely to the face and transversely to the fastening wall. A wind power installation pylon having a plurality of such pylon segments, a wind power installation having a corresponding pylon, and a process for the production of a plurality of pylon segments is also provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 27, 2011
    Date of Patent: September 30, 2014
    Assignee: Wobben Properties GmbH
    Inventors: Jan Kapitza, Panos Papadopoulos, Norbert Hölscher
  • Patent number: 8826604
    Abstract: A telescoping tower includes a plurality of nested tower sections extendable in a telescoping direction, each of the plurality of nested tower sections having a plurality of legs that define respective heights of the plurality of nested tower sections in the telescoping direction, each of the plurality of legs slidably engaging at least one leg of at least one adjacent one of the plurality of nested tower sections along an overlap in the respective heights thereof.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 5, 2014
    Date of Patent: September 9, 2014
    Inventors: Ronald Liborio Diniz, Jill Louise Diniz
  • Publication number: 20140245671
    Abstract: A wind turbine tower system includes a wind turbine tower with a height of at least 100 meters, said wind turbine tower. The wind turbine tower includes a plurality of hexagonal-shaped or other shapes of vertical columns comprised of a concrete composition and a plurality of panels, each of the plurality of panels extending between adjacent vertical columns. The plurality of vertical columns and the plurality of panels are arranged to provide a hexagonal cross-section for the wind turbine tower.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 13, 2014
    Publication date: September 4, 2014
    Applicant: IOWA STATE UNIVERSITY RESEARCH FOUNDATION, INC.
    Inventors: Sivalingam Sritharan, Thomas J. Lewin, Grant M. Schmitz
  • Publication number: 20140237932
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a tower assembly system, a method of assembling a wind turbine tower and a wind turbine thereof. Three or more guidance devices may be mounted to a mounting flange in the upper end of a lower tower section and/or in the lower end of an upper tower section. The guidance device comprises a contact surface for contacting a mating contact surface on the opposite tower section. The guidance device comprises a mounting flange for mounting the device to the mounting flange of the tower section using fastening means. This allows the guidance devices to catch and guide the free hanging tower section into the correct position on the stationary tower section. This enables the assembly time to be reduced with up to 50% compared with the present assembly methods. The guidance devices allow the workers to guide the free hanging tower section into position from the ground.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 20, 2014
    Publication date: August 28, 2014
    Applicant: Envision Energy (Denmark) ApS
    Inventors: Henning MOESTRUP, Jan WESTERGAARD
  • Publication number: 20140208676
    Abstract: A crack-resistant member for preventing crack propagation, a method of preventing crack propagation, and method of assembly a tower are provided. The crack-resistant member includes at least one insert attached to at least one removed portion at a predetermined location along a girth weld and adjacent a heat affected zone of the tower. The at least one insert is positioned perpendicular to a weld direction and intersecting the girth weld. The at least one insert prevents crack propagation in the girth weld of the tower.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 3, 2014
    Publication date: July 31, 2014
    Applicant: GENERAL ELECTRIC COMPANY
    Inventors: Bill Damon JOHNSTON, George Albert GOLLER, Colwyn SAYERS
  • Publication number: 20140190115
    Abstract: There is provided a wind power installation pylon comprising a plurality of pylon segments which respectively have an upper and a lower horizontal flange. At least one of the plurality of the pylon segments has at least two longitudinal flanges. Each longitudinal flange has a first side for bearing against a first side of a further longitudinal flange and a second side to which the peripheral surface is welded, wherein the second side is opposite to the first side.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 7, 2012
    Publication date: July 10, 2014
    Applicant: WOBBEN PROPERTIES GmbH
    Inventors: Albrecht Brenner, Rene Mertens, Panos Papadopoulos, Roy Kersten
  • Publication number: 20140137507
    Abstract: A method is provided for the production of tower segments, which are used to assemble a wind turbine tower. The method includes providing a sheet steel, cutting the sheet steel into a plurality of steel plates, cutting at least one opening in the plurality of steel plates, and bending the steel plates into a desired shape. The steps are performed in a continuous process, such that the steel plates move from one step in the production to the next.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 15, 2012
    Publication date: May 22, 2014
    Inventors: Lars Heltoft, Steen Kirkegaard Jensen, Anders Nygaard Rasmussen, Henrik Stiesdal
  • Publication number: 20140133921
    Abstract: The invention relates to an offshore installation method of a wind power generator and its fabrication segments. A prefabricated wind power generator is finished at a first location, and then carried by a ship to a second location for installation, largely saving installation time. With a tower inserted down through a base to shrink height of the generator, the ship can not only effectively diminish shaking posed by wind and sea waves, advancing steadiness of delivery, but also be one with smaller tonnage to save cost.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 14, 2012
    Publication date: May 15, 2014
    Applicant: SHIP AND OCEAN INDUSTRIES R&D CENTER
    Inventors: Chao-Cheng Wu, Po-Feng Lin, Che-Yuan Liu
  • Publication number: 20140130439
    Abstract: A tower having a lattice structure for improved structural reliability and load bearing.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 13, 2013
    Publication date: May 15, 2014
    Inventors: Xinguo Cai, Christopher J. Martin
  • Patent number: 8720153
    Abstract: A method for creating a tapered spiral welded conical structure where the overall shape of the cone is first graphically slit axially and unwrapped, and then a series of construction arcs and lines are created to form the edge lines of a strip that can then be wrapped (rolled) to form a tapered conical structure. The edges of the spirally wound strip can be welded together, and a very large conical structure can thus be achieved. Various construction options are presented from a constant width strip to strip made from straight segments. Equations are given for the formation of the strips to enable those skilled in the art of spiral welded tubing to practice the invention.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 25, 2010
    Date of Patent: May 13, 2014
    Assignee: Keystone Tower Systems, Inc.
    Inventors: Eric Smith, Alexander Slocum
  • Patent number: 8713896
    Abstract: A modular tower structure is described herein. The modular tower uses a cost-effective, efficient design that reduces the amount of steel necessary for tower structures for wind turbines. The modular tower is constructed from sections. The sections are constructed from panels. The panels comprise a curved or arcuate shape. The panels include vertical edges and horizontal edges. A vertical connection connects or secures the panels at the vertical edges of the panels and forms the sections. The sections have a generally circular shape. A horizontal connection connects or secures the sections at the horizontal edges of the panels.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 28, 2012
    Date of Patent: May 6, 2014
    Assignee: Northstar Endeavors, LLC
    Inventors: Jeffrey O. Willis, John Menichetti
  • Patent number: 8701369
    Abstract: This invention relates to a tower for a wind turbine, comprising one or more tubular tower sections, having an outer jacket wall and an inward directed flange in its lower and upper ends, and at least one platform arranged inside the tower for facilitating access for maintenance and repairs to the inner of the tower and to the nacelle. The tower also comprises a support structure including at least three elongated tensile load carrying members, which each is attached in its upper end to the upper flange of the tower section and in its lower end to the lower flange of the tower section and which supports one or more platforms that are suspended by the tensile load carrying members while at least one ladder is attached to the platforms. The at least one ladder is stabilized in the horizontal direction by transversal tensile load carrying members extending from the ladder to the tensile load carrying members that are vertically arranged between the upper and lower flanges.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 23, 2011
    Date of Patent: April 22, 2014
    Assignee: Vestas Wind Systems A/S
    Inventor: Jonas Kristensen
  • Publication number: 20140075860
    Abstract: Tower sections for towers of wind turbines and methods for installing towers of wind turbines are disclosed. A tower includes a preassembled power module having a first cross-sectional area. The tower section includes a wall having an inner surface and an outer surface. The inner surface defines a tower interior and has a first diameter. The tower section further includes a tower flange extending from the wall into the tower interior and having a second diameter less than the first diameter. Further, the tower section includes a platform assembly affixed to the wall and having a third diameter greater than the second diameter. The platform assembly defines an aperture having a second cross-sectional area greater than the first cross-sectional area.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 14, 2012
    Publication date: March 20, 2014
    Applicant: GENERAL ELECTRIC COMPANY
    Inventors: Thomas Edenfeld, Matthias Wiehn
  • Patent number: 8671643
    Abstract: The invention relates to a wind turbine including a foundation and a tower positioned on the foundation where the tower includes more than one modules, where the modules each include a separate strengthening structure defining the outer edges of the module and wind turbine equipment, and where the more than one module are positioned substantially vertically on top of each other in an upright position within the tower. The modules are connected directly and/or indirectly through the strengthening structure, to the foundation. The invention further relates to a method for assembling a wind turbine at a wind turbine site and a method for handling more than one wind turbine modules.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 1, 2012
    Date of Patent: March 18, 2014
    Assignee: Vestas Wind Systems A/S
    Inventor: Jonas Kristensen
  • Publication number: 20140069046
    Abstract: A tower base ring assembly is provided for securing a wind turbine tower to a foundation. A top ring is configured for securing to a wind turbine tower. A bottom ring has an open center and a plurality of radially oriented troughs spaced circumferentially about the open center, with each trough having an outer end. The top ring and the bottom ring are detachable from one another, and the tower base ring assembly is connectable to the foundation.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 7, 2012
    Publication date: March 13, 2014
    Applicant: GENERAL ELECTRIC COMPANY
    Inventors: Ying Xia Cai, William Francis Gevers, Roman Kolar
  • Patent number: 8653421
    Abstract: The invention relates to a device for heating weather masts on wind turbines. The object of the invention is to eliminate the drawbacks of the prior art and to keep the weather masts of a wind turbine free of ice. The device according to the invention for heating a weather mast on a wind turbine is that the weather mast comprises interconnected pipings. In the pipings, there is arranged a heating system which is formed by one or a plurality of electric heating wires.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 22, 2011
    Date of Patent: February 18, 2014
    Assignee: Nordex Energy GmbH
    Inventor: Sebastian Kathoefer
  • Patent number: 8650821
    Abstract: A multi-story tall building structure consisting plurality of three or more towers which are the primary structure enclosing a space longitudinally and transversely therein which are multiple floor/ceiling assemblies for multiple use occupied spaces including condos, military areas, observation, hotels, restaurants, retail, and offices. Each of the three towers has three or more vertical structural elements such as solid or hollow columns, or steel, concrete, or masonry constructs vertically extending. As an alternative occupied space including an aircraft landing deck or platform is attached to the top of the structure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 13, 2008
    Date of Patent: February 18, 2014
    Inventor: Donald A. Ely, Jr.
  • Patent number: 8640340
    Abstract: Installation vessels and methods for offshore wind turbine installation are disclosed. In one embodiment, a cantilever mast is used to transfer of wind turbine components from an installation vessel to an offshore installation site and guide the transfer to prevent undesired swinging movements of the wind turbine components. In another embodiment, a main crane is used in cooperation with a guide arm to transfer and guide wind turbine components from an installation vessel to an offshore installation site.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 13, 2010
    Date of Patent: February 4, 2014
    Assignees: Keppel Offshore & Marine Technology Centre Pte Ltd, Offshore Technology Development Pte Ltd, Keppel Fels Ltd
    Inventors: Kok Seng Foo, Hock Chye Michael Chia, Asbjørn Mortensen, Cheng Choong Chan, Teng Kiat Lim, Toh Tung Wong, Tom Aksel Waitz Østvold, Rune Henriksen
  • Patent number: 8607517
    Abstract: The foundation structure includes a plurality of structural members. A first end of each structural member is coupled to a central shaft. In appropriate soil conditions, the foundation structure is buried in the soil and the soil itself constrains the mass at the base of the foundation and keeps it from moving. The foundation structure is made of structural components comprises a material, including concrete pre-cast concrete, cast-in place concrete, reinforced concrete, pre-stressed concrete, pre-tensioned concrete and post-tensioned concrete, for resisting the expected forces transferred from the tower.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 1, 2013
    Date of Patent: December 17, 2013
    Inventor: Tony Jolly
  • Patent number: 8590276
    Abstract: The invention concerns a tower element for a tower, preferably for a wind power plant, where several tower elements with an outer surface and an inner surface are mounted on top of each other, where the periphery of the tower element is made up of a number of segments provided with inwardly facing flanges at the longitudinal sides, the flanges being connected to corresponding flanges on laterally arranged segments. The individual segments are made with an overlap on the outer surface in the transverse joints and with a butt joint at the inwardly facing flanges. By the invention there is achieved flexibility in production and during transport and mounting. With an overlap on the outer surface between two segments, mechanical joining can be performed between two segments in transverse direction. This mechanical joint between two segments results in a more stable construction and a rigidity substantially corresponding to the rigidity that may be achieved in segments joined by welding.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 5, 2009
    Date of Patent: November 26, 2013
    Assignee: Andresen Towers A/S
    Inventors: Arne Kryger, Lars Ryholl
  • Patent number: 8578681
    Abstract: The disclosure relates to a connector assembly (20) for joining a main tower (102) to a base structure (114) where the axial alignment of the tower to the base structure needs to be adjustable, and to a method of using such a connector assembly to assemble a tower structure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 18, 2011
    Date of Patent: November 12, 2013
    Assignee: Claxton Engineering Services Limited
    Inventors: Rowan Warwick Patterson, Matthew Marcantonio
  • Patent number: 8572926
    Abstract: A method of erecting a wind turbine comprising the following steps: Providing the hub (9), the blades (11), the nacelle (13) and a lattice tower (15) comprising first and second sections (21, 27) pivotally connected along an axis (17) at a height H, in which the tower lower part, below height H, is composed by the second section (27), including the tower lower and upper legs (31, 33) and a first part (23) of the first section (21) and in which the tower upper part, above height H, is composed by a second part (25) of the first section (21). Assembling on ground the wind turbine, with the nacelle (13) resting on a carrier (19). Raising the second section (27) and fixing the upper legs (33) to second foundation corners (43). Raising the first section (21) and fixing its first part (23) to the second section (27).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 26, 2008
    Date of Patent: November 5, 2013
    Assignee: Gamesa Innovation & Technology, S.L.
    Inventors: Bent Vangsy, Mogens Christensen
  • Publication number: 20130263542
    Abstract: A transmission tower comprising a plurality of legs, each leg being formed of a composite material formed as a pultrusion of reinforcing fibers, a plurality of diagonal members extending between the legs, and a connection plate extending between an end of the diagonal member and the leg, the connecting member being formed of a plurality of layers of fibers and resin, the layers of fibers having differing fiber directions with respect to each other, the connecting member being adhesively secured to the leg and being connected to the diagonal member. The transmission tower is very light and has the requisite strength.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 4, 2012
    Publication date: October 10, 2013
    Inventor: Ramiro Guerrero
  • Patent number: 8544214
    Abstract: A wind turbine tower assembly includes a tubular section having a first longitudinal axis and a base section assembly including a plurality of legs. The base section assembly is configured to be assembled into a base section having the legs coupled together at an interface such that the base section has a second longitudinal axis and such that the legs are obliquely oriented relative to the second longitudinal axis at the interface, wherein the base section is configured to support the tubular section on the legs and in substantially coaxial alignment with the base section.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 7, 2010
    Date of Patent: October 1, 2013
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Bharat Sampathkumaran Bagepalli, Roman Kolar
  • Patent number: 8534025
    Abstract: This invention relates to metallic towers or the like utilized for electric power transmission lines, telecommunications, wind energy generators and other applications. The standard sections used in lattice towers of the prior art have structural and aerodynamic deficiencies. To overcome the drawbacks and problems the prior art one aspect of the present invention is directed to a metallic tower comprising lattice members with a channel section, wherein the length of the channel web is smaller than the length of the channel legs.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 31, 2008
    Date of Patent: September 17, 2013
    Assignee: Seccional Brasil SA
    Inventor: Paulo Emmanuel De Abreu
  • Patent number: 8534026
    Abstract: A reinforced triangular truss column having two vertical pipe reinforcing columns added to the three rods of the truss column is provided. Also provided is a method of reinforcing triangular truss columns comprising adding two vertical pipe reinforcing columns to a triangular truss column.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 11, 2010
    Date of Patent: September 17, 2013
    Assignee: AeroSolutions, LLC
    Inventors: Kevin P. Bauman, Curtis J. Porr