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EP-4735238-A1 - LIFTING YOKE

EP4735238A1EP 4735238 A1EP4735238 A1EP 4735238A1EP-4735238-A1

Abstract

Lifting yoke, adapted for transporting convex or concave preform elements (12) comprising a layer stack of fiber mats fixated by means of a binding agent and adapted for the production of a wind turbine rotor blade, comprising a number of gripper elements (6) adapted to grip the preform element (12) and arranged in a convex or concave geometry at a suspension device (5) of the yoke (1), and a supporting device (2) connected to the suspension device (5), which supporting device (2) comprises a connection device (3) adapted to connect the yoke (1) to a lifting means (4) and a rotation device adapted to rotate a part (14) of the supporting device (2) carrying the suspension device (5) relative to the connection device (3) around a horizontal axis (A).

Inventors

  • NIELSEN, MOGENS

Assignees

  • Siemens Gamesa Renewable Energy A/S

Dates

Publication Date
20260506
Application Date
20240820

Claims (15)

  1. 1. Lifting yoke, adapted for transporting convex or concave preform elements (12) comprising a layer stack of fiber mats fixated by means of a binding agent and adapted for the production of a wind turbine rotor blade, comprising a number of gripper elements (6) adapted to grip the preform element (12) and arranged in a convex or concave geometry at a suspension device (5) of the yoke (1) , and a supporting device (2) connected to the suspension device (5) , which supporting device (2) comprises a connection device (3) adapted to connect the yoke (1) to a lifting means (4) and a rotation device adapted to rotate a part (14) of the supporting device (2) carrying the suspension device (5) relative to the connection device (3) around a horizontal axis (A) .
  2. 2. Lifting yoke according to claim 1, characterized in that the suspension device (5) is releasably connected to the supporting device (2) .
  3. 3. Lifting yoke according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the suspension device (5) comprises a, preferably rectangular, suspension frame (30) , to which several carrier rails (7) are attached, at each of which several gripper elements (6) are arranged.
  4. 4. Lifting yoke according to claim 3, characterized in that the gripper elements (6) are movable along the carrier rails (7) and lockable in a desired position.
  5. 5. Lifting yoke according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the supporting device (2) comprises a, preferably rectangular, supporting frame (14) .
  6. 6. Lifting yoke according to claim 2 and one of the claims 3 to 5, characterized in that the supporting device (2) comprises connecting elements for releasably connecting to the suspension device (5) .
  7. 7. Lifting yoke according to claim 6, characterized in that the connecting elements are clamps (15) movable between a releasing position and a clamping position.
  8. 8. Lifting yoke according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the supporting device (2) comprises a shaft (16) coupled to the connection device (3) , which shaft (16) is rotatable by means of a motor (21) arranged preferably at the connecting means (3) and is coupled to the rotatable part (14) of the supporting device (2) by tilting means (22) .
  9. 9. Lifting yoke according to claim 8, characterized in that the shaft (16) is connected via an arm arrangement (17) to the part (14) of the supporting device (2) in a bearing arrangement providing the horizontal axis (A) , which arm arrangement (17) comprises two arms (20) arranged at least partially laterally offset to the shaft (16) and connected to the part (14) of the supporting device (29) which arms (20) are variable in their length and provide the tilting means (22) .
  10. 10. Lifting yoke according to claim 8, characterized in that the shaft (16) is connected via at arm arrangement (17) to the part of the supporting device (2) in a bearing arrangement providing the horizontal axis (A) , wherein the shaft (16) is rotatably connected to the arm arrangement (17) and is coupled either via one or more timing belts (23) , providing the tilting means (22) , to the part (14) of the supporting device (2) , which one or more timing belts (23) mesh with a toothed section (25) of the shaft (16) and are fixated with both ends at the part (14) of the supporting device (2) , or is coupled via one or more traction cables (26) , providing the tilting means (22) , to the part (14) of the supporting device (2) , which one or more traction cables (26) are wound around the shaft (16) and are fixated with both ends at the part (14) of the supporting device.
  11. 11. Lifting yoke according to one of the claims 1 to 7, characterized in that the supporting device (2) comprises a beam (27) coupled to the connecting device (3) , which beam (27) comprises at least one motor (21) coupled to a rim (29) circulating around 90 - 180° and attached to the part (14) of the supporting device, which rim (29) is movable relative to the beam (27) when driven by the motor (21) .
  12. 12. Lifting yoke according to one of the claims 1 to 7, characterized in that the supporting device (2) comprises a frame yoke (9) , which is arranged at a, preferably rectangular, frame part (8) of the supporting device (2) by a pivot connection providing an axis (A) of rotation, wherein at least one motor (10) is provided for pivoting the frame yoke (9) relative to the frame part (8) .
  13. 13. Lifting yoke according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that at least one movable balance weight (11) is arranged at the supporting device (2) .
  14. 14. Lifting yoke according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the supporting device (2) is movable along a longitudinal axis through the connecting device ( 3 ) .
  15. 15. Lifting yoke according to one of the preceding claims, characterized on that the gripper elements (6) are needle grippers, vacuum grippers, Bernoulli grippers or vortex grippers, wherein preferably at least a part of the gripper elements comprises a heating means.

Description

Description Li fting yoke The invention refers to a li fting yoke , adapted for transporting convex or concave preform elements comprising a layer stack of fiber mats fixated by means of a binding agent and adapted for the production of a wind turbine rotor blade . A preform element is made of a preform building material comprising separate fiber mats of preferably glass fiber, which mats are arranged in a preform mold as a stack . The stack is provided with a binding agent , preferably in powder form, made of a thermoset or thermoplastic binder . The building material is heated in the mold, thereby activating the binding agent , which adheres to the fiber mats and, when cooled again, fixates the stack . As a result , a preform element made of a stack of reinforcing fiber mats is obtained in a desired shape , which is defined by the mold . Such preform elements are advantageous when building a wind turbine rotor blade , as they signi ficantly decrease the lay-up time of the blade material in the blade mold . When such preform elements are to be handled, e . g . from the preform mold to a rack for storing them, or from the rack to a blade mold for positioning them in the mole , a handling tool is needed . Usually a li fting yoke is used, which can li ft the fragile preform elements so that they do not delaminate during the handling process and which can li ft and transport them to the blade mold, which mold comprises convex and concave areas , to which the preform elements are to be precisely attached in an angled position . The mold comprises a lower outer mold part having a concave molding area, and a mandrel arranged in the outer mold part and having a circular cross section, thereby providing a convex molding area . The yoke therefore must be able to handle the preform elements accordingly, so that they can be arranged in the concave molding area as well as in the convex molding area . It is an obj ect of the invention to provide a li fting yoke which supports and simpli fies the transport and arrangement of such bend preform elements . For addressing the obj ect , the invention proposes a li fting yoke , adapted for transporting convex or concave preform elements comprising a layer stack of fiber mats fixated by means of a binding agent and adapted for the production of a wind turbine rotor blade, comprising a number of gripper elements adapted to grip the preform element and arranged in a convex or concave geometry at a suspension device of the yoke , and a supporting device connected to the suspension device , which supporting device comprises a connection device adapted to connect the yoke to a li fting means and a rotation device adapted to rotate a part of the supporting device carrying the suspension device relative to the connection device around a hori zontal axis . The inventive li fting yoke is adapted for the transport of such large preform elements , which may have a length of several meters , e . g . 10 to 16 m, and a width also of several meters , e . g . 2 to 4 m. therefore , also the li fting yoke respectively the arrangement of the gripper elements adapted to grip the preform element is adapted to the si ze and geometry of the preform elements to be transported, in order to provide a secure gripping of the preform element . The gripper elements are arranged in a convex or concave geometry at a suspension device , depending on the orientation, in which the preform element needs to be gripped . The suspension device , preferably, is frame-like , wherein the si ze of this framelike suspension device also corresponds to the si ze of the preform element , thereby allowing for the respective distribution of the gripper elements . The suspension device , which is the carrier means for the arrangement of the gripper elements , is connected to a supporting device , which supporting device comprises a connection device . The connection device is adapted to connect the yoke to a li fting means like a li fting rope arrangement of a crane . The supporting device furthermore comprises a rotation device adapted to rotate the part of supporting device to which the suspension device is attached, and thereby certainly also the suspension device and the gripper element arrangement relative to the connection device around a hori zontal axis . This rotation device therefore allows for a rotation of the gripper element arrangement around a hori zontal axis , from a neutral position, in which the gripper elements respectively the frame-like suspension device are in a hori zontal position, to both sides in a respective pivoted position . As for the transport a preform element is attached to the gripper elements respectively the gripper element arrangement , certainly also the preform element can be rotated respectively swiveled around the hori zontal axis , from a neutral position in an angled position to both sides . The angle of rotation may for example be , starting from the neutral position, at least+/