Patent Publication Number: US-2013247821-A1

Title: Adhesive application apparatus for manufacturing blade for wind power generator

Description:
TECHNICAL FIELD 
     The present invention relates to an adhesive application apparatus for manufacturing a blade for a wind power generator. 
     BACKGROUND ART 
     Recently, in order to solve problems such as global warming, high oil prices, or the like, development of alternative energy as a substitute for petroleum resources is in the midst of being conducted. A wind power generator as alternative energy does not discharge any pollutant material nor cause damage to the environment, and therefore researches and development with respect to the corresponding technologies are actively being conducted. 
     In general, the wind power generator is classified into a vertical axis type in which a rotating axis is vertical to a wind direction, and a horizontal axis type in which a rotating axis is horizontal to a wind direction. Here, the vertical axis type is mainly used in a small-class wind power generator for producing low electric power, and the horizontal axis type is mainly used in a medium-class wind power generator to a large-class wind power generator for producing high electric power. 
     Among the wind power generators, a horizontal axis wind power generator is configured to include a nacelle fixedly installed on an end portion of a tower, a hub coupled to the nacelle, and a blade fixedly installed on a side surface of the hub. Here, the blade is formed to have an airfoil shaped cross-section, and installed on the hub so as to have a predetermined angle of attack with respect to wind which blows from a front side of the wind power generator. Therefore, the wind which blows from the front side of the wind power generator generates lift force while sliding on a surface of the blade, and the generated lift force rotates the blade and the hub. Here, torque generated by the blade is transmitted to the nacelle connected to the hub and converted into electrical energy. 
     At the time of manufacturing the blade, an adhesive needs to be applied on an inner wall of the blade to have uniform thickness and width, but because a process of applying the adhesive is generally manually performed, it is difficult to apply the adhesive with uniform thickness and width, and a long period of time is needed to apply the adhesive. 
     In addition, a process of applying the adhesive needs to be completed before the adhesive begins to be cured in consideration of a pot life of the adhesive, but because a process of applying the adhesive is manually performed, adhesion performance may deteriorate. 
     DISCLOSURE 
     Technical Problem 
     The present invention has been made in an effort to provide an adhesive application apparatus for manufacturing a blade for a wind power generator having advantages of being capable of reducing a process time for manufacturing the blade and improving qualities of the blade. 
     Technical Solution 
     An exemplary embodiment of the present invention provides an adhesive application apparatus for manufacturing a blade for a wind power generator including: a blade mold on which a blade is mounted; a plurality of adhesive application units positioned to be spaced apart from the blade mold and configured to apply an adhesive on an inner surface of the blade; a horizontal transfer unit configured to transfer the adhesive application unit in a horizontal direction; and a vertical transfer unit configured to transfer the adhesive application unit in a vertical direction. 
     The horizontal transfer unit may include a first carriage and a second carriage, which move along a rail unit formed on a surface of the blade mold and face each other, a shaft which connects the first carriage and the second carriage to each other; and a slider which moves the adhesive application unit along the shaft. 
     The vertical transfer unit may include a first arm having a first one end portion which is connected to the shaft to be rotatable about the shaft; and a second arm having a second one end portion which is formed with a hinge shaft and connected to a first other end portion of the first arm, and configured to be rotatable about the hinge shaft, and the adhesive application unit may be connected to a second other end portion of the second arm. 
     The adhesive application apparatus may further include an adjustment unit connected to the horizontal transfer unit and the vertical transfer unit, in which the adjustment unit may adjust a horizontal transfer speed of the adhesive application unit and a vertical position of the adhesive application unit by controlling the horizontal transfer unit and the vertical transfer unit. 
     The adhesive application apparatus may further include an adhesive supply unit which supplies a main material and a curing agent of the adhesive to the adhesive application unit; and transfer lines which transfer the main material and the curing agent of the adhesive from the adhesive supply unit to the adhesive application unit. 
     The transfer lines may include a first transfer line through which the main material of the adhesive is transferred, a second transfer line through which the curing agent of the adhesive is transferred, and a mixing line to which the first transfer line and the second transfer line are connected and in which the main material and the curing agent of the adhesive are mixed. 
     The adhesive application apparatus may further include an adjustment unit which controls a mixture amount of the main material and the curing agent by controlling the adhesive supply unit or the mixing line. 
     A screw shape may be formed on an inner wall of the mixing line to mix the main material and the curing agent of the adhesive. 
     The mixing line may be positioned inside the second other end portion of the second arm. 
     A guide configured to adjust an application width and an application direction of the adhesive may be further installed at a discharge portion of the adhesive application unit. 
     The adhesive application apparatus may further include an adjustment unit which controls an application width and an application direction of the adhesive by controlling the guide. 
     Advantageous Effects 
     According to the exemplary embodiment of the present invention, the adhesive may be formed on the entire part of the inner surface of the blade with uniform thickness and width. 
     In addition, the adhesive may be accurately applied at a predetermined position of the inner surface of the blade, which is set in advance, and quality uniformity of the blade may be improved by forming the adhesive on the inner surface of the blade with uniform thickness and width. 
     In addition, the adhesive may be applied on a slide inner surface to have a uniform width, and the adhesive may be easily applied even on a curved portion of the inner surface of the blade. 
     In addition, the adhesive may be applied on a shell adhesion portion of the blade immediately after the main material and the curing agent of the adhesive are mixed, and therefore a process of applying the adhesive may be completed before the adhesive begins to be cured. 
     In addition, a structure of the adhesive application apparatus may be simplified. 
    
    
     
       DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  is a front view of an adhesive application apparatus for manufacturing a blade for a wind power generator according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention. 
         FIG. 2  is a side view of a vertical transfer unit and an adhesive application unit of  FIG. 1 . 
         FIG. 3  is an enlarged view of a mixing line installed in a second arm of  FIG. 2 . 
     
    
    
     MODE FOR INVENTION 
     Hereinafter, an adhesive application apparatus for manufacturing a blade for a wind power generator according to exemplary embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings. However, the present invention is not limited to the exemplary embodiment disclosed below, but may be implemented in various different forms. The present exemplary embodiments are for rendering the description of the present invention complete and are set forth to provide a complete understanding of the scope of the invention to a person skilled in the art. 
       FIG. 1  is a front view of an adhesive application apparatus for manufacturing a blade for a wind power generator according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention,  FIG. 2  is a side view of a vertical transfer unit and an adhesive application unit of  FIG. 1 , and  FIG. 3  is an enlarged view of a mixing line installed in a second arm of  FIG. 2 . 
     As illustrated in  FIGS. 1 to 3 , an adhesive application apparatus for manufacturing a blade for a wind power generator according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention includes a blade mold  100  on which a blade  10  is mounted, a plurality of adhesive application units  200  positioned to be space apart from the blade mold  100  and configured to apply an adhesive  20  on an inner surface of the blade  10 , a horizontal transfer unit  300  configured to transfer the adhesive application unit  200  in a horizontal direction, a vertical transfer unit  400  configured to transfer the adhesive application unit  200  in a vertical direction, and further includes an adjustment unit  500  connected to the horizontal transfer unit  300  and the vertical transfer unit  400 . 
     The blade mold  100  includes a mold unit  110  on which a blade pattern is engraved, and rail units  120  having surfaces on which rails are formed. The blade  10  is formed on the mold unit  110  to have a shape identical to the blade pattern on the mold unit  110 . The blade  10  is elongated along a streamlined side surface line so as to be in a shape having a semicircular cross section, and an inner surface of the blade  10  includes a shell adhesion portion  11  that is a portion to which a blade shell, which covers the blade  10 , is adhered, and a shear web adhesion portion  12  that is a portion to which a blade shear web with which an inner portion of the blade  10  is filled is adhered. 
     The rail units  120  include a first rail unit  121  formed at a first side of the blade  10 , and a second rail unit  122  formed at a second side of the mold unit  110 , which faces the first side on the basis of the blade  10 . The first rail unit  121  and the second rail unit  122  are formed along the streamlined side surface line of the blade  10 . The blade mold  100  is mounted on a support  600  that fixes the blade mold  100 . As such, the rail units  120  are directly formed on the blade mold  100  such that a structure of the adhesive application apparatus may be simplified because it is not necessary to install a separate rail device for transferring the adhesive application unit  200 . 
     The horizontal transfer unit  300  includes a first carriage  310  and a second carriage  320 , which move along the rail units  120  formed on the surfaces of the blade mold  100  and face each other, a shaft  330  which connects the first carriage  310  and the second carriage  320  to each other, and a slider  340  which moves the adhesive application unit  200  along the shaft  330 . 
     The first carriage  310  moves along the first rail unit  121 , and the second carriage  320  moves along the second rail unit  122 . The shaft  330  has a length greater than a width of the blade  10  so that the adhesive  20  may be applied on the entire inner surface of the blade  10 . Therefore, the adhesive application unit  200  may be transferred in a first horizontal direction when the first carriage  310  and the second carriage  320  are moved, the adhesive application unit  200  may be transferred in a second horizontal direction when the slider  340  is moved, and as a result, the adhesive  20  may be applied on the shell adhesion portion  11  and the shear web adhesion portion  12  of the inner surface of the blade  10  while the adhesive application unit  200  is transferred in all horizontal directions. 
     As illustrated in  FIG. 2 , the vertical transfer unit  400  includes a first arm  410  connected to the shaft  330 , and a second arm  420  connected to the first arm  410 . The first arm  410  includes a first one end portion  411  connected to the shaft  330 , and a first other end portion  412  connected to the second arm  420 , and the first arm  410  may be rotated at a predetermined angle about the shaft  330 . The second arm  420  includes a second one end portion  421  connected to the first other end portion  412  of the first arm  410 , and a second other end portion  422  connected to the adhesive application unit  200 , and the second arm  420  may be rotated at a predetermined angle about a hinge shaft  430  which penetrates the first other end portion  412  of the first arm  410  and the second one end portion  421  of the second arm  420 . As such, the first arm  410  and the second arm  420  of the vertical transfer unit  400  are rotated about the shaft  330  and the hinge shaft  430 , respectively, such that a vertical position of the adhesive application unit  200  connected to the vertical transfer unit  400  may be adjusted, and as a result, the adhesive  20  may be applied on the shell adhesion portion  11  and the shear web adhesion portion  12 , which have different heights, of the inner surface of the blade  10 . 
     Referring back to  FIG. 1 , the adjustment unit  500  adjusts a horizontal transfer speed of the adhesive application unit  200  by adjusting the horizontal transfer unit  300 , and adjusts a vertical position of the adhesive application unit  200  by adjusting the vertical transfer unit  400  such that the adhesive  20  is accurately applied at a predetermined position of the inner surface of the blade  10 , which is set in advance based on CAD information, or the like. 
     An adhesive supply unit  700  which supplies a main material and a curing agent of the adhesive  20  to the adhesive application unit  200 , and transfer lines  800  which transfer the main material and the curing agent of the adhesive  20  from the adhesive supply unit  700  to the adhesive application unit  200  are provided at a position spaced apart from the blade mold  100  at a predetermined distance. 
     A main material container  710  and a curing agent container  720  are installed in the adhesive supply unit  700  to store the main material and the curing agent of the adhesive  20 , respectively, and transfer wheels  730  are installed below the adhesive supply unit  700 , and therefore the adhesive supply unit  700  may be moved together with the movements of the first carriage  310  and the second carriage  320  in a direction in which the first carriage  310  and the second carriage  320  move. 
     As illustrated in  FIG. 3 , the transfer lines  800  include a first transfer line  810  through which the main material of the adhesive  20  is transferred, a second transfer line  820  through which the curing agent of the adhesive  20  is transferred, and a mixing line  830  to which the first transfer line  810  and the second transfer line  820  are connected and in which the main material and the curing agent of the adhesive  20  are mixed. 
     The first transfer line  810  connects the main material container  710  of the adhesive supply unit  700  and the mixing line  830 , and the second transfer line  820  connects the curing agent container  720  of the adhesive supply unit  700  and the mixing line  830 . A screw shape  831  is formed on an inner wall of the mixing line  830  to easily mix the main material and the curing agent of the adhesive  20 , and the mixing line  830  may be positioned inside the second other end portion  422  of the second arm  420 . 
     As such, the mixing line  830  is disposed adjacent to the adhesive application unit  200  such that the adhesive  20  is applied on the shell adhesion portion  11  and the shear web adhesion portion  12  of the blade  10  immediately after the main material and the curing agent of the adhesive  20  are mixed, and therefore a process of applying the adhesive  20  may be completed before the adhesive  20  begins to be cured. 
     The adhesive application unit  200  includes a discharge portion  210  through which the adhesive  20  is injected, and a guide  220  installed at the discharge portion  210  to be capable of adjusting an angle thereof and having a predetermined width. The adhesive application unit  200  may adjust an application width and an application direction of the adhesive  20  by using the guide  220  such that the adhesive  20  may be applied on a slide inner surface to have a uniform width, and an angle of the guide  220  may be adjusted such that the adhesive  20  may be easily applied even on a curved portion of the inner surface of the blade  10 . 
     With reference to  FIG. 1 , it has been described that the adjustment unit  500  may control a horizontal position and a vertical position of the adhesive application unit  200  by controlling the horizontal transfer unit  300  and the vertical transfer unit  400 . 
     However, a function of the adjustment unit  500  according to the exemplary embodiment of the present invention is not limited to the aforementioned example, but the adjustment unit  500  may further perform various functions in accordance with an environment in which the adhesive is applied. 
     In more detail, the adjustment unit  500  may control one or more of the adhesive supply unit  700 , the first carriage  310 , the second carriage  320 , the mixing line  830 , and the guide  220 . 
     For example, the adjustment unit  500  may control a discharge amount of the adhesive of the adhesive application unit  200  by controlling one or more of the adhesive supply unit  700 , and the mixing line  830 . In this case, the adjustment unit  500  may further control a mixture ratio between the main material and the curing agent by controlling one or more of the main material container  710  and the curing agent container  720  of the adhesive supply unit  700  (the first transfer line  810  and/or the second transfer line  820  in some cases). 
     For example, the adjustment unit  500  may control a moving speed of the adhesive application unit  200  by controlling a moving speed of one or more of the first carriage  310  and the second carriage  320  on the first rail unit  121  and the second rail unit  122  formed in a longitudinal direction of the blade  1 . Here, when the adjustment unit  500  controls a moving speed of the adhesive application unit  200 , one or more of a required thickness of the adhesive, a required discharge amount of the adhesive, and a spaced distance between the adhesive application unit  200  and the adhesion portions  11  and  12  may be considered. 
     For example, the adjustment unit  500  may control the guide  220  of the adhesive application unit  200 . More specifically, it has been described above that, when it is assumed that two shear webs are adhered to the blade  10  illustrated in  FIG. 1  in a longitudinal direction of the blade, a position of the adhesive application unit  200 , moving speeds of the blade  10  in a longitudinal direction and a width direction thereof, and a discharge amount of the adhesive may be controlled by the adjustment unit  500 . Although not illustrated in  FIG. 2 , according to another exemplary embodiment of the present invention, a drive unit (not illustrated) may be further provided to rotate the guide  200  based on the second other end portion  422  at a predetermined angle. Further, the adjustment unit  500  may control a rotating angle of the guide  200  by controlling the drive unit (not illustrated). The curvature of the curved portion to which the shear web is adhered may be different in the longitudinal direction of the blade. Therefore, according to another exemplary embodiment of the present invention, there is a merit in that the adjustment unit  500  controls an angle of the guide  220  in correspondence to the curvature that becomes different in the longitudinal direction of the blade, and thus adhesive application may be uniform. 
     As describe above, the present invention has been described with reference to the exemplary embodiments illustrated in the drawings. However, the present invention is not limited to the exemplary embodiments, but various modified exemplary embodiments or another exemplary embodiment may be made by a person skilled in the art within the equivalent scope of the present invention. Therefore, the true protective scope of the present invention should be determined by the appended claims. 
     
       
         
           
               
             
               
                   
               
               
                 &lt;Description of symbols&gt; 
               
               
                   
               
             
            
               
                   
               
            
           
           
               
               
               
            
               
                   
                 100: Blade mold 
                 200: Adhesive application unit 
               
               
                   
                 300: Horizontal transfer unit 
                 400: Vertical transfer unit 
               
               
                   
                 500: Adjustment unit 
                 600: Support 
               
               
                   
                 700: Adhesive supply unit 
                 800: Transfer line