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EP-3942178-B1 - TOOL ARRANGEMENT FOR UNLOADING A TOWER OR A TOWER SEGMENT FROM A TRANSPORTATION VEHICLE AND/OR FOR STORING THE TOWER OR THE TOWER SEGMENT

EP3942178B1EP 3942178 B1EP3942178 B1EP 3942178B1EP-3942178-B1

Inventors

  • WEISS, CHRISTOPHER

Dates

Publication Date
20260506
Application Date
20200325

Claims (15)

  1. Tool arrangement for unloading a tower (4) or a tower segment from a transportation vehicle and/or for storing the tower (4) or the tower segment, comprising a bottom tool device (2) with an attachment means (7) to removably attach the bottom tool device (2) to a bottom mounting section (5) of the tower (4) or the tower segment, wherein the tool arrangement (1) further comprises a top tool device (3) with an attachment means (23) to removably attach the top tool device (3) to a top mounting section (6) of the tower (4) or the tower segment, wherein the bottom tool device (2) and the top tool device (3) each comprise a lifting means (35, 36) to lift the tower (4) or the tower segment, when the tower (4) or the tower segment is in a non-erected position and attached to the respective tool device (2, 3), wherein the bottom tool device (2) comprises a first device section (9) with the attachment means (7) and a second device section (10) adapted to be arranged on the ground and being attachable or attached to the first device section (9), wherein the bottom tool device (2) comprises a pivot axis (12) at least when the first and the second device sections (9, 10) are attached to each other, wherein the tower (4) or the tower segment, when fixed to the bottom tool device (2), is pivotable around the pivot axis (12) for being pivoted from the non-erected position to an erected position, wherein, when the tower (4) or the tower segment is fixed to the bottom tool device (2), the pivot axis (12) is perpendicular to the longitudinal axis (48) of the tower (4) or the tower segment, wherein axis forming means (11) are arranged at the first and the second device section (9, 10), which axis forming means (11) engage with each other when the first device section (9) is attached to the second device section (10) building the pivot axis (12), wherein the axis forming means (11) comprise a rod or at least two separate pins (14) arranged at the first or the second device section (9, 10) and a rod or pin support (15) arranged at the second or the first device section (9, 10), wherein the rod or the pins (14) engage in the rod or pin support (15) building the pivot axis (12).
  2. Tool arrangement according to claim 1, characterised in that each lifting means (35, 36) is or comprises at least two extendable pillars (37, 39).
  3. Tool arrangement according to claim 2, characterised in that the pillars (37, 39) are arranged at the sides of the bottom tool device (2) and the top tool device (3).
  4. Tool arrangement according to claim 2 or 3, characterised in that the bottom tool device (2) and/or the top tool device (3) comprise at least two vertical beams (38, 40), wherein the pillars (37, 39) are extendable from the vertical beams (38, 40).
  5. Tool arrangement according to one of the claims 2 to 4, characterised in that on each pillar (37, 39) a foot plate (50) of the lifting means (35, 36) is movably, especially pivotably, attached.
  6. Tool arrangement according to one of the preceding claims, characterised in that the bottom tool device (2) and/or the top tool device (3) comprises pneumatic or hydraulic or electric means for operating and/or positioning the attachment means (7, 23) and/or for operating the lifting means (35, 36).
  7. Tool arrangement according to claim 2, characterised in that the second device section (10) is attachable to the first device section (9) by arranging the second device section (10) on the ground beneath the first device section (9) and bringing the pillars (37) of the lifting means (35) of the bottom tool device (2) from the extended state to the non-extended state.
  8. Tool arrangement according to one of the preceding claims, characterised in that the attachment means (7, 23) of the bottom tool device (2) and/or of the top tool device (3) comprises a first attachment device (8, 24) and a second attachment device (8, 24), wherein the relative position between the first attachment device (8, 24) and the second attachment device (8, 24) is adjustable.
  9. Tool arrangement according to claim 8, characterised in that the attachment devices (8, 24) are clamping devices.
  10. Tool arrangement according to claim 9, characterised in that each clamping device (8, 24) comprises a first clamping part (25) and a second clamping part (26) adapted to clamp the bottom mounting section (5) or the top mounting section (6) of the tower (4) or the tower segment in between.
  11. Tool arrangement according to one of the claims 8 to 10, characterised in that the first device section (9) of the bottom tool device (2) and/or the top tool device (3) is or comprises an, especially horizontal, main beam (13), wherein the first attachment device (8, 24) and/or the second attachment device (8, 24) is, along a longitudinal main beam axis, movably mounted on the main beam (13).
  12. Tool arrangement according to one of the claims 8 to 10, characterised in that that the first device section (9) of the bottom tool device (2) and/or the top tool device (3) is or comprises a V-shaped beam arrangement (18) with a first beam (19) and a second beam (20), wherein the first attachment device (8, 24) is, along a longitudinal first beam axis, movably arranged on the first beam (19) and the second attachment device (8, 24) is, along a longitudinal second beam axis, movably arranged on the second beam (20).
  13. Tool arrangement according to claim 12, characterised in that the longitudinal axes of the first and the second beam (19, 20) are perpendicular to each other.
  14. Tool arrangement according to claim 12 or 13, characterised in that - the first beam (19) acts as a guiding rail for the first attachment device (8, 24) and the second beam (20) acts as a guiding rail for the second attachment device (8, 24) or - the first beam (19) comprises a, regarding its longitudinal axis, extendable first beam bar (21) and the second beam (20) comprises a, regarding its longitudinal axis, extendable second beam bar (22), wherein the respective attachment device (8, 24) is attached to the respective beam bar (21, 22).
  15. Tool arrangement according to one of the preceding claims, characterised in that the bottom tool device (2) and/or the top tool device (3), especially the or a V- shaped beam arrangement (18) or a horizontal beam (33), comprises a support section (32), wherein the tower (4) or the tower segment rests on the support section if the tower or the tower segment is in the non-erected position and attached to the respective tool device (2, 3).

Description

The present invention relates to a tool arrangement for unloading a tower or a tower segment from a transportation vehicle and/or for storing the tower or the tower segment. WO 2015 / 101 375 A1 discloses a method which involves arranging a first object to be supported by a several wheels. A second object is arranged to be supported by several wheels. The first object is rolled into a first location and the first object is raised to a second location above the first location. The second object is rolled into the first location and the second object is inserted under the first object. The first location on a vessel and the first and second objects are rolled onto the vessel before rolled into the first location. WO 2011 / 076 238 A1 discloses an assembly which has a support element with a storage surface placed on a ground area. The support element introduces weight of a unit load e.g. hollow cylindrical tower segment, into the ground area after unloading/before loading the unit load front/onto a height-adjustable loading area. An adapter element is connected to the support element. The adapter element has a fastening region for releasably fastening to the specific unit load, where the unit load is a component of a wind turbine. EP 2 360 372 A1 discloses a tool which has several modular pieces formed by modules, clips, wedges, balancing tool and securing elements. The modular pieces are combined to anchor any type of section of wind turbine tower. WO 2011 / 134 472 A1 discloses a support assembly which has a primary support which supports an end of the crane and which has a pivoting structure that is pivotable between a transport position where the crane is substantially horizontal, and a lifting position where the crane is vertical. The pivoting structure has a locking structure which releasably engages the crane end. WO 2010 / 012 280 A1 discloses a fixture which has two pivotally mounted threaded rods or bolts having free ends comprising nuts for clamping displaceable mounted second holders on the rods to engage against the length axis-oriented side of a flange to counteract relative horizontally directed displacement between members and the fixture in a transverse direction relative to the length axis of the members during use. A console comprises a through-slit-opening located between cross positioning units to introduce a bolt or a threaded nut. Many tower structures, especially tower structures of wind turbines, are pre-casted or comprise several pre-casted towers or tower segments. After the tower or tower segment has been brought to the construction site by a transportation vehicle like a truck or the like, the tower or tower segment is typically unloaded from the transportation vehicle using two cranes. The cranes hoist the tower or tower segment from the truck by ropes or chains or the like. After hoisting the tower or tower segment by the cranes, the truck drives away and the tower or tower segment is lowered by the cranes and set down directly on the ground or on, especially chock-like, tower feet or the like. It is an object of the present invention to provide a system for a simplified unloading of the tower or the tower segment from the transportation vehicle and/or for storing the tower or the tower at the construction site. To achieve this object, a tool arrangement as initially described comprises a bottom tool device with an attachment means to removably attach the bottom tool device to a bottom mounting section of the tower or the tower segment, wherein the tool arrangement further comprises a top tool device with an attachment means to removably attach the top tool device to a top mounting section of the tower or the tower segment, wherein the bottom tool device and the top tool device each comprise a lifting means to lift the tower or the tower segment, when the tower or the tower segment is in a non-erected position and attached to the respective tool device. According to the present invention, the bottom tool device comprises a first device section with the attachment means and a second device section adapted to be arranged on the ground and being attachable or attached to the first device section, wherein the bottom tool device comprises a pivot axis at least when the first and the second device sections are attached to each other, wherein the tower or the tower segment, when fixed to the bottom tool device, is pivotable around the pivot axis for being pivoted from the non-erected position to an erected position, wherein, when the tower or the tower segment is fixed to the bottom tool device, the pivot axis is perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the tower or the tower segment; wherein axis forming means are arranged at the first and the second device section, which axis forming means engage with each other when the first device section is attached to the second device section building the pivot axis; and wherein the axis forming means comprise a rod or at least two separate pin