Abstract:
A transportation tooling of the type that borders the blade at its root and at an intermediate point. This tooling is used in combination with platforms placed on the transportation elements and the platforms can move transversely and turn or rotate with respect to the devices of transportation without affecting blade integrity. Also a method for blade transportation with the tip of one blade facing the tip of the adjacent blade so as to use the minimum space on the devices of transportation. The rail tooling takes into account the maximum corner radius that the train will encounter while absorbing the bending and torsion stress acting on the blades.

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention refers to the transportation of large-sized blades and more specifically to the transportation of these blades in the limited space available in train cargo rail cars. The blades are placed using two types of supports that are capable of movement in relation to the rail car platform, so that the blades are not structurally damaged while passing through the sharpest curves that may appear during the journey. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     Current development of wind turbines points to obtaining large quantities of power. This, in turn, results in an increase of the dimensions of all the elements. The larger size of the elements involves an increase in transportation costs and problems derived from safeguarding the integrity of the elements to be transported. Each mode of transportation has its own peculiarities. Land transportation is affected by complex terrain where the orography makes transportation difficult due to the bending and torsion stress affecting the blades. Patent P200700850 presented by Gamesa has been developed in order to minimize these transportation problems. 
     Other similar patents have been developed to overcome other problems. Thus, patent US2006144741 by Enercon presents a vehicle for blade transportation where the transportation device is the same size as the blade and where said device rotates during transportation. Patent WO2006000230 by Vandrup Specialtransp shows a non-traction platform adjacent to the tractor element provided with rotating transportation elements that can be adjusted according to the weight of the blade. 
     The blades are elements manufactured in composite material and are reaching lengths of between 40 and 65 meters due to the increase in the size of wind turbines. Since land transportation is one of the most common means of transportation, these blade lengths present serious transportation difficulties. A good alternative to conventional transportation is transportation by train. 
     The greatest difficulty presented by train transportation is the curve angle that can be reached in certain sections of the trajectory. The support tools of the present invention have been developed in order to solve the problems presented by this type of transportation. 
     DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
     One object of the invention is blade transportation in an articulated train, considering the maximum curvature that this means of transportation can endure. 
     Another object of the invention is the use of conventional rail cars, accommodating the maximum number of blades possible between the rail cars. 
     Another object of the invention is providing the rail cars with platforms on which supports are fastened, to be used in the transportation of the blades. There are two supports, one for the root and the other for the intermediate section of the blade. 
     Another object of the invention is that the platforms placed on the rail cars can move crosswise and turn and rotate with respect to the rail car, movements that safeguard the integrity of the blade. This and other fields of the invention are achieved by two supports, one located at the end of one rail car and the other located on the opposite end and extending to the adjacent rail car. These platforms are capable of absorbing the bending and torsion stresses that affect the blades and of moving the blades as needed to remain within the rail width limits. 
     In order to facilitate the explanation, a sheet of drawings is attached with an embodiment of a practical case of the scope of the present invention. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES 
         FIG. 1A  is a perspective view of a wind turbine blade with the root support tool and the auxiliary system of the intermediate support tool.  FIG. 1B  is an exploded view that shows the clamp that comprises the auxiliary system of the intermediate support tool. 
         FIG. 2  represents the support tool corresponding to the root area. 
         FIG. 3A  is a perspective of the complete intermediate support tool and  FIG. 3B  is an exploded view of the union of the structure with the internal clamp. 
         FIGS. 4A and 4B  are an elevation and cross section view of the support corresponding to the root support tool. 
         FIGS. 5A and 5B  are an elevation and ground view of the intermediate support tool and its annex placed on the adjacent rail car.  FIG. 5C  is an exploded view that shows the beam end support. A ground view is also shown in  FIG. 5D  of the two supports and their movements while taking a curve. 
         FIGS. 6A ,  6 B and  6 C show the location of a blade in one and a half rail cars, three rail cars taking a sharp curve and an exploded view of the behavior of the blade tips. 
     
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF A PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
     As represented in  FIG. 1A , the blade of wind turbine  10  is an elongated body consisting of several sections: the root section  20  corresponds to the part that joins the blade and the hub, the intermediate section  30  and the tip of the blade  40 . The blade is normally manufactured in composite material and its transportation and movement are delicate. 
     The blade  10  needs two points to fasten the elements required to hoist it. These points are the root section  20  and the intermediate section  30 . Since the fastening elements can not be fastened on the bare blade, auxiliary elements are used, one root support tool  50  and one intermediate support tool  60 . 
     The exploded view in  FIG. 1B  of the intermediate support tool  60  shows the auxiliary system. An elongated body clamp  70  whose profile coincides with the aerodynamic profile of the blade. It is provided with hinges  80  and hydraulic closures  90  on opposite sides so that it can be opened and closed for introduction or removal of the blade  10 . It is also equipped on the outside with reinforcing elements  100  formed by two parallel beams. The inner part has a rubber surface  110  to prevent damage to the surface of the blade  10 . 
       FIG. 2  shows the root support tool  50 , consisting of a quadrangular frame  120  inside of which there is a lower bed  130  and an upper bed  140 , both of semicircular shape. The areas of contact of the inner beds with the blade  10  have a rubber surface  150  and the lateral beams  160  that form the frame  120  can be completely separated on both sides for later connection and fastening with bolts or fastening elements. 
     As shown in  FIGS. 3A and 3B , the intermediate support tool  60  is a frame formed by an upper frame  170  and a lower frame  180  that are coupled and uncoupled among themselves by means of the dividing points  190  on the sides of the frame. The lower frame  180  has an auxiliary element  200  at the base that includes a ball joint  210  through which the clamp  70  is coupled. As the ball joint  210  is the only point of support between the auxiliary element  200  and the clamp  70 , the support of the intermediate support tool  60  for the blade  10  has three degrees of freedom of movement. The clamp  70  is placed with the side that corresponds to the hydraulic closures  90  next to the lower frame  180  and the side that corresponds to the hinges  80  is placed at the upper part of the intermediate support tool  60 , next to the upper frame  170 . 
       FIGS. 4A and 4B  show the connecting link between the root support tool  50  and the rail car used as the means of transportation  250 . The rail car in the present preferred embodiment is a convention rail car, open at the top part. 
     The root support tool  50  is supported by and fastened on a platform  240  with wheels  230  at both sides and a central ball joint  220  that connects by means of a support  260  the platform  240  and the rail car  250 . This platform  240  is placed at one end of the rail car  250  and the combination of the wheels  230  and the ball joint  220 , that is welded to the rail car  250 , allows it to turn clockwise and counter-clockwise. 
     As shown in  FIGS. 5A to 5D , the intermediate support tool  60  is placed on an X-shaped support  270  that is crossed by long beam  280  with a double T shape that extends from one rail car  250  to the adjacent rail car  251 . The support  270  of the intermediate support tool, rests on a cross rail  300  inside of which there are rolling elements  310  in continuous contact with a short beam  281  with double T shape. The support  270  slides on the short beam  281  as the long beam  280  becomes out of alignment by the relative movement between one rail car  250  and the adjacent rail car  251 . The long beam  280  is joined to the support  270  at one of its ends and rests on a beam end support  290  at the opposite end. In turn, the beam end support  290  rests on another set of rolling elements  311  that allows the long beam  280  to move longitudinally, while the beam end support  290  can rotate around itself. 
     The group formed by the support  270  of the intermediate support tool, the rail  300  and the short beam  281  is placed on a rectangular platform  320  with the same width as the length of the short beam  281  and to which the short beam  281  is welded. On the other hand, the beam end support  290  rests on another platform  321  that is also rectangular but smaller than the previously mentioned one. Both platforms  320  and  321  are fastened to their respective rail cars  250  and  251 . 
     When the train takes a curve  330 , the first rail car  250  and the adjacent rail car  251  are out of alignment. The support  270  of the intermediate support tool is pushed by the action of the long beam  280  and slides along the cross rail  300 , while the platform  320  that holds the group remains fixed to the rail car  250 . The opposite end of the long beam  280  causes the beam end support  290  to turn on the corresponding platform  321 , at the same time it slides on its rolling elements  311 , compensating the relative movements of both rail cars  250  and  251 . 
       FIGS. 6A and 6B  show two blades  10  and  11  in three rail cars  250 ,  251 ,  252  at the most critical moment that can come about during transportation: a curve  330  with the sharpest radius of curvature. Each blade is transported on one and a half rail car, with the tips of the blades facing each other. But due to the fact that the root support tool  50  turns, while the intermediate support tool  60  slides on the platform  320  that holds it, the tip of one blade  40  and the tip of the adjacent blade  41  do not collide, as can be seen in the exploded view of the  FIG. 6C .