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EP-4739901-A1 - METHOD FOR JOINING TWO ROTOR BLADE SEGMENTS OF A WIND TURBINE ROTOR BLADE, BUSHING AND WIND TURBINE ROTOR BLADE

EP4739901A1EP 4739901 A1EP4739901 A1EP 4739901A1EP-4739901-A1

Abstract

The invention concerns a method of connecting two rotor blade segments (132, 134) of a wind turbine rotor blade (110), the method comprising the steps of: - providing a first rotor blade segment (132) and a second rotor blade segment (134), wherein a displaceable thread insert (172) is arranged within the second bushing (142), inserting a connecting bolt (146) into the second bushing (142) and axially moving the displaceable thread insert (172) with the connecting bolt (146) into the first state, in which the displaceable thread insert (172) is locked against rotation relative to the corresponding second bushing (142), screwing the connecting bolt (146) into the displaceable thread insert (172), - axially moving the displaceable thread insert (172) into the second state, in which the displaceable thread insert (172) is rotatable relative to the corresponding second bushing ( 142 ), screwing the connecting bolt (146) into the first bushing (140), and - tightening the connecting bolt (146) to mechanically connect the two rotor blade segments (132, 134). The invention also relates to a bushing (142) and a wind turbine rotor blade (110).

Inventors

  • Klaubert, Steffen
  • LIPKA, THOMAS
  • FESTNER, GERALD

Assignees

  • Nordex Energy SE & Co. KG

Dates

Publication Date
20260513
Application Date
20240701

Claims (15)

  1. 1. Method of connecting two rotor blade segments (132, 134) of a wind turbine rotor blade (110) , the method comprising the steps of: - providing a first rotor blade segment (132) having at least a first bushing (140) at a first connection end (136) , the first bushing (140) having a first internal thread (190) , - providing a second rotor blade segment (134) having at least a second bushing (142) at a second connection end (138) , the second connection end (138) being assigned to the first connection end (136) , wherein a displaceable thread insert (172) is arranged within the second bushing (142) , the displaceable thread insert (172) comprising a second internal thread (158) , the displaceable thread insert (172) is axially displaceable with respect to a longitudinal axis (150) of the second bushing (142) in order to switch the displaceable thread insert (172) between a first state and a second state, - inserting a connecting bolt (146) into the second bushing (142) and axially moving the displaceable thread insert (172) with the connecting bolt (146) into the first state, in which the displaceable thread insert (172) is locked against rotation relative to the corresponding second bushing (142) , - screwing the connecting bolt (146) into the second internal thread (181) of the displaceable thread insert (172) while it is in the first state, - bringing the first connection end (136) of the first rotor blade segment (132) to the second connection end (138) of the second rotor blade segment (134) , - axially moving the displaceable thread insert (172) with the screwed-in connecting bolt (146) into the second state, in which the displaceable thread insert (172) is rotatable relative to the corresponding second bushing (142) , - screwing the connecting bolt (146) into the first internal thread (190) of the first bushing (140) , and - tightening the connecting bolt (146) to mechanically connect the two rotor blade segments (132, 134) to one another at the connection ends (136, 138) .
  2. 2. Method according to claim 1, wherein the displaceable thread insert (172) comprises two sections, the first section (174) being cylindrically formed and the second section (176) having a polygonal-shaped outer contour (178) serving as an engagement element (180) .
  3. 3. Method according to claim 2, wherein, in the first state, the displaceable thread insert (172) engages the corresponding second bushing (142) in a form-fit manner via the engagement element (180) .
  4. 4. Method according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the second bushing (142) has an anti-rotation component (183) for engagement with the displaceable thread insert (172) in the first state.
  5. 5. Method according to claim 4, wherein the anti-rotation component (183) is a separate component with respect to the second bushing (142) , and is fixed within the second bushing (142) .
  6. 6. Method according to claim 4 or 5, wherein the anti-rotation component has an inner polygonal shape (184) for engagement with the engagement element (180) of the displaceable thread insert ( 172 ) .
  7. 7. Method according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the second bushing (142) has an inner abutment surface (170) to limit the axial displacement of the displaceable thread insert (172) within the second bushing (142) in the second state.
  8. 8. Method according to claim 7, wherein, in the connected state of the rotor blade segments (132, 134) via the connecting bolt (146) , the displaceable thread insert (172) abuts against the inner abutment surface (170) .
  9. 9. Method according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the displaceable thread insert (172) is axially displaceably guided in a cylindrical inner section (164) within the second bushing (142) in such a way that a clearance fit (188) is formed.
  10. 10. Method according to any one of the preceding claims, comprising the further step of: - securing the connecting bolt (146) against unscrewing when it is being screwed into the displaceable thread insert (172) .
  11. 11. Method according to claim 10, wherein a thread lock is provided for securing.
  12. 12. Bushing (142) for a wind turbine rotor blade (110) , within which a displaceable thread insert (172) with an internal thread (181) is disposed, wherein - the displaceable thread insert (172) is axially displaceable with respect to a longitudinal axis (150) of the bushing (142) in order to switch the displaceable thread insert (172) between a first state and a second state, - in the first state, the displaceable thread insert (172) is locked against rotation relative to the bushing (142) , and - in the second state, the displaceable thread insert (172) is rotatable relative to the bushing (142) .
  13. 13. Bushing (142) according to claim 12, wherein the displaceable thread insert (172) comprises two sections, the first section (174) being cylindrically formed and the second section (176) having a polygonal-shaped outer contour (178) serving as an engagement element (180) .
  14. 14. Bushing according to claim 13, wherein, in the first state, the displaceable thread insert (172) engages the bushing (142) in a form-fit manner via the engagement element (180) .
  15. 15. Wind turbine rotor blade (110) manufactured according to the method of claims 1 to 11.

Description

DESCRIPTION Method for j oining two rotor blade segments of a wind turbine rotor blade , bushing and wind turbine rotor blade The invention concerns a method for j oining two rotor blade segments of a wind turbine rotor blade . The invention also concerns a bushing and a wind turbine rotor blade . Wind turbines with wind turbine rotor blades are widely known from the state of the art and are used to convert wind energy into electrical energy . A rotor blade can be designed as a split or segmented rotor blade , in which rotor blade segments are arranged and j oined together lengthwise to form an entire rotor blade . Mechanical connections are generally used to j oin the two rotor blade segments . Typically, a plurality of connection elements ( so-called inserts , for example cross bolts or bushings ) is integrated into the laminate of each rotor blade segment , by means of which the rotor blade segments can be connected to each other, either directly or via one or more suitable intermediate connection pieces . Typically, fastening means or connecting means such as fastening bolts , e . g . screw bolts , or the like are used for a direct connection or for connecting to the one or more intermediate connection pieces . For example , the connection elements are located in the laminate of a respective connecting flange of the rotor blade segments . A generic structure is known, for example , from international application WO 2015/ 124568 Al . Segmented rotor blades are becoming increasingly important and provide advantages , in particular for transport reasons , since the overall length of the rotor blades tends to increase in order to achieve a higher energy output . One task underlying the present invention is to provide a concept for segmented rotor blades which ensures an easy manufacturing process . This obj ect is solved by the independent claims and the respective sub-claims . According to a first aspect , a method of connecting two rotor blade segments of a wind turbine rotor blade is disclosed . The method comprises the steps of : - providing a first rotor blade segment having at least a first bushing at a first connection end, the first bushing having a first internal thread, - providing a second rotor blade segment having at least a second bushing at a second connection end, the second connection end being assigned to the first connection end, wherein a displaceable thread insert is arranged within the second bushing, the displaceable thread insert comprising a second internal thread, the displaceable thread insert is axially displaceable with respect to a longitudinal axis of the second bushing in order to switch the displaceable thread insert between a first state and a second state , - inserting a connecting bolt into the second bushing and axially moving the displaceable thread insert with the connecting bolt into the first state , in which the displaceable thread insert is locked against rotation relative to the corresponding second bushing, - screwing the connecting bolt into the second internal thread of the displaceable thread insert while it is in the first state , - bringing the first connection end of the first rotor blade segment to the second connection end of the second rotor blade segment , - axially moving the displaceable thread insert with the screwed-in connecting bolt into the second state , in which the displaceable thread insert is rotatable relative to the corresponding second bushing, - screwing the connecting bolt into the first internal thread of the first bushing, and - tightening the connecting bolt to mechanically connect the two rotor blade segments to one another at the connection ends . Thus , the wind turbine rotor blade is formed . The wind turbine rotor blade is formed by two detachably connected rotor blade segments . For this purpose , a connecting bolt , e . g . a screw bolt , is screwed into the first and second bushing in order to firmly connect both rotor blade segments . Optionally, the connecting bolt is pretensioned at a later stage . During the assembly process according to the inventive method, i . e . during the connection of the rotor blade segments , the displaceable thread insert is axially moved into the first state , in which a rotation of the displaceable thread insert within the second bushing is not possible . This first state can also be defined as rotation stop state . In the first state the connecting bolt can be screwed into the displaceable thread insert , since the displaceable thread insert itsel f cannot be rotated around a turn axis of the connecting bolt , i . e . it cannot be rotated relative to the second bushing . Thus , the second bushing is capable of absorbing torques in this first state . In a further step, the displaceable thread insert is axially moved into the second state , in which a rotation of the displaceable thread insert with respect to the bushing is enabled . The second state can also be defined as the rotation s