Abstract: A method of fastening a joining insert to a wind turbine rotor blade element, the method including: providing a wind turbine rotor blade element of a fiber-reinforced composite material, the rotor blade element having a joining surface and a blind hole, the blind hole having a proximal end at the joining surface and a distal end within the fiber-reinforced composite material; forming a channel through the fiber-reinforced composite material, the channel connecting the distal end of the blind hole to a channel opening at an inner and/or outer surface of the rotor blade element; placing a joining insert in the blind hole; filling a space between the joining insert and the blind hole with a liquid plastics material in a vacuum infusion process, wherein the channel opening is connected either to a liquid plastics material supply line or to a process suction line; curing the liquid plastics material.

Abstract: A method of applying a corrosion-resistant coating to a fastener that includes preheating an area of the fastener to be coated to elevate a temperature of the area and spraying the preheated area of the fastener with a molten or semi-molten metal. In one embodiment, a corrosion-resistant coating applicator includes a support structure, a rotatable slotted fastener conveyer supported by the support structure, a feeder configured to feed fasteners to the rotatable slotted fastener conveyer, a fastener aligner configured to make head portions of the fasteners aligned with each other, a heater configured to heat head portions of the fasteners as the fasteners are being conveyed by the slotted fastener conveyer, and a sprayer configured to apply a corrosion-resistant coating to the heated head portions of the fasteners being conveyed by the slotted fastener conveyer. The present disclosure also provides corrosion-resistant coated fasteners made using the coating methods and/or coating apparatus.

Abstract: A wind turbine rotor blade element includes a connection section with a front face, an inner and an outer surface. A plurality of connection assemblies each have (i) a metal insert with a longitudinal axis, a circumferential outer surface and a joining portion for connecting the rotor blade to a wind turbine rotor hub; and, (ii) a transition material aligned with the metal insert and having a tapering longitudinal section. The longitudinal section has an axial outer surface parallel to the longitudinal axis of the metal insert and an inclined outer surface at an angle with reference to the longitudinal axis. The connection assemblies are embedded in the connection section such that the joining portions of the metal inserts are accessible. The connection assemblies are arranged in an inner row closer to the inner surface of the connection section and an outer row closer to the outer surface thereof.

Abstract: A method of applying a corrosion-resistant coating to a fastener that includes preheating an area of the fastener to be coated to elevate a temperature of the area and spraying the preheated area of the fastener with a molten or semi-molten metal. In one embodiment, a corrosion-resistant coating applicator includes a support structure, a rotatable slotted fastener conveyer supported by the support structure, a feeder configured to feed fasteners to the rotatable slotted fastener conveyer, a fastener aligner configured to make head portions of the fasteners aligned with each other, a heater configured to heat head portions of the fasteners as the fasteners are being conveyed by the slotted fastener conveyer, and a sprayer configured to apply a corrosion-resistant coating to the heated head portions of the fasteners being conveyed by the slotted fastener conveyer. The present disclosure also provides corrosion-resistant coated fasteners made using the coating methods and/or coating apparatus.

Abstract: A wind turbine rotor blade element includes a connection section with a front face, an inner and an outer surface. A plurality of connection assemblies each have (i) a metal insert with a longitudinal axis, a circumferential outer surface and a joining portion for connecting the rotor blade to a wind turbine rotor hub; and, (ii) a transition material aligned with the metal insert and having a tapering longitudinal section. The longitudinal section has an axial outer surface parallel to the longitudinal axis of the metal insert and an inclined outer surface at an angle with reference to the longitudinal axis. The connection assemblies are embedded in the connection section such that the joining portions of the metal inserts are accessible. The connection assemblies are arranged in an inner row closer to the inner surface of the connection section and an outer row closer to the outer surface thereof.

Abstract: A wind turbine rotor blade element includes a connection section with a front face, an inner and an outer surface. A plurality of connection assemblies each have (i) a metal insert with a longitudinal axis, a circumferential outer surface and a joining portion for connecting the rotor blade to a wind turbine rotor hub; and, (ii) a transition material aligned with the metal insert and having a tapering longitudinal section. The longitudinal section has an axial outer surface parallel to the longitudinal axis of the metal insert and an inclined outer surface at an angle with reference to the longitudinal axis. The connection assemblies are embedded in the connection section such that the joining portions of the metal inserts are accessible. The connection assemblies are arranged in an inner row closer to the inner surface of the connection section and an outer row closer to the outer surface thereof.

Abstract: A method of applying a corrosion-resistant coating to a fastener that includes preheating an area of the fastener to be coated to elevate a temperature of the area and spraying the preheated area of the fastener with a molten or semi-molten metal. In one embodiment, a corrosion-resistant coating applicator includes a support structure, a rotatable slotted fastener conveyer supported by the support structure, a feeder configured to feed fasteners to the rotatable slotted fastener conveyer, a fastener aligner configured to make head portions of the fasteners aligned with each other, a heater configured to heat head portions of the fasteners as the fasteners are being conveyed by the slotted fastener conveyer, and a sprayer configured to apply a corrosion-resistant coating to the heated head portions of the fasteners being conveyed by the slotted fastener conveyer. The present disclosure also provides corrosion-resistant coated fasteners made using the coating methods and/or coating apparatus.

Abstract: A method of applying a corrosion-resistant coating to a fastener that includes preheating an area of the fastener to be coated to elevate a temperature of the area and spraying the preheated area of the fastener with a molten or semi-molten metal. In one embodiment, a corrosion-resistant coating applicator includes a support structure, a rotatable slotted fastener conveyer supported by the support structure, a feeder configured to feed fasteners to the rotatable slotted fastener conveyer, a fastener aligner configured to make head portions of the fasteners aligned with each other, a heater configured to heat head portions of the fasteners as the fasteners are being conveyed by the slotted fastener conveyer, and a sprayer configured to apply a corrosion-resistant coating to the heated head portions of the fasteners being conveyed by the slotted fastener conveyer. The present disclosure also provides corrosion-resistant coated fasteners made using the coating methods and/or coating apparatus.

Abstract: A method for forming fibre reinforced composites, such as rotor blades for wind turbines, and a heated mould. The mould includes an active surface intended to be in contact with the composite and a core member comprising a cell structure. One or more conduit(s) is/are embedded in the core member forming a path through the cell structure, and one or more heating wire(s) is/are arranged in said conduit(s). The core member is preferably made from a material with a high thermal conductivity and may include openings in at least some cell walls of the cell structure to allow fluids to pass there through. The mould may include two or more heating zones.

Abstract: A wind turbine blade root having fully bonded insert bushings with internal threads for mounting bolts for releasable attachment to a hub of a wind turbine is manufactured by arrangement of a plurality of the insert bushings on a first layer of fibre mat arranged on a holder having a plurality of spaced recesses for accommodation of the insert bushings such that the bushings extend largely in a longitudinal direction of the blade accommodated in the spaced recesses. Subsequently, a number of additional layers of fibre mat are arranged on top of the bushings, and the fibre mat layers are consolidated.

Abstract: Method of manufacturing a blade root of a wind turbine blade and wind turbine blade having an aerodynamically designed blade portion and a blade root adapted for releasable attachment to a hub of a wind turbine, said blade root being of laminated construction and comprising a plurality of fully bonded bushings (4) extending largely in the longitudinal direction of the blade, which bushings (4) are provided with an internal thread (5) for mounting bolts for releasable attachment to the hub, wherein the bushings (4) comprise a first portion (6) and an extension portion (7) having gradually increased flexibility in the direction away from the first portion (6) to provide a light blade of high strength.

Abstract: The invention relates to a blade for use on a wind turbine and a method of assembling laminated profiles (3, 5) for a blade for a wind turbine. The development towards increasingly larger blades requires, that the technology of manufacture is reviewed and novel methods applied, in particular with regard to aspects regarding strength and weight. It is an object of the invention to provide a blade that can be manufactured more accurately and with large uniformity with regard to strength, from blade to blade, and which is lighter than prior art blades.

Abstract: The invention relates to a blade for use on a wind turbine and a method of assembling laminated profiles (3, 5) for a blade for a wind turbine. The development towards increasingly larger blades requires, that the technology of manufacture is reviewed and novel methods applied, in particular with regard to aspects regarding strength and weight. It is an object of the invention to provide a blade that can be manufactured more accurately and with large uniformity with regard to strength, from blade to blade, and which is lighter than prior art blades.

Abstract: A wind turbine blade root having fully bonded insert bushings with internal threads for mounting bolts for releasable attachment to a hub of a wind turbine is manufactured by arrangement of a plurality of the insert bushings on a first layer of fibre mat arranged on a holder having a plurality of spaced recesses for accommodation of the insert bushings such that the bushings extend largely in a longitudinal direction of the blade accommodated in the spaced recesses. Subsequently, a number of additional layers of fibre mat are arranged on top of the bushings, and the fibre mat layers are consolidated.