Abstract:
A strengthening structure for a wind turbine blade includes at least one first reinforcement part adapted to be connected to a first blade part of the wind turbine blade, and at least one second reinforcement part adapted to be connected to a second blade part of the wind turbine blade. The strengthening structure is characterized in that the at least one first reinforcement part and/or the at least one second reinforcement part includes an adjusting mechanism enabling that the first reinforcement part and the second reinforcement part are displaceable in relation to each other, at least during the assembly of the wind turbine blade and wherein the adjusting mechanism includes a force mechanism capable of forcing the first reinforcement part and the second reinforcement part away from each other. A wind turbine blade, a method for assembling a wind turbine blade and a use thereof are also contemplated .

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
       [0001]    The present application is a continuation of pending International patent application PCT/DK2008/000063 filed on Feb. 7, 2008 which designates the United States and claims priority from Danish patent application PA 2007 00297 filed on Feb. 27, 2007, the content of which is incorporated herein by reference. 
     
    
     FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
       [0002]    The invention relates to a strengthening structure for a wind turbine blade, at least one first reinforcement part adapted to be connected to a first blade part of said wind turbine blade, and at least one second reinforcement part adapted to be connected to a second blade part of said wind turbine blade, a wind turbine blade, a method for assembling a wind turbine blade and use hereof. 
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0003]    A wind turbine known in the art comprises a wind turbine tower and a wind turbine nacelle positioned on top of the tower. A wind turbine rotor with a number of wind turbine blades is connected to the nacelle through a low speed shaft, as illustrated on  FIG. 1 . 
         [0004]    The development of mass-produced wind turbines has always moved towards making them larger in output and thereby also in size. This process calls for better and more cost-efficient components and manufacturing methods, and particularly in the field of mass-produced wind turbine blades, this development has been profound, in that the average mass-produced wind turbine blade over the resent years has more than doublet its length. 
         [0005]    Wind turbine blades known in the art are typically made of glass fibre and resin composite reinforced by metal, wood and/or carbon fibres. The blades are usually manufactured by moulding two blade halves in two independent moulds. When the blade halves are hardened the connecting surfaces are provided with an adhesive and a strengthening structure is provided inside one of the blade halves where after the halves are placed on top of each other. 
         [0006]    An embodiment of such a blade and blade assembly procedure can be found in the international patent application WO 2006/089550. 
         [0007]    A problem with this blade design and assembly method is that it can be very difficult to ensure correct positioning of the strengthening structure inside the blade. 
         [0008]    An object of the invention is therefore to provide means and method for a more cost-efficient assembly of a wind turbine blade. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0009]    The invention provides for a strengthening structure for a wind turbine blade. The strengthening structure comprises at least one first reinforcement part adapted to be connected to a first blade part of the wind turbine blade, and at least one second reinforcement part adapted to be connected to a second blade part of the wind turbine blade where the at least one first reinforcement part and/or the at least one second reinforcement part comprises adjusting means enabling that the first reinforcement part and the second reinforcement part are displaceable in relation to each other, at least during the assembly of the wind turbine blade and wherein the adjusting means comprises force means arranged to force said first reinforcement part ( 9 ) and said second reinforcement part ( 12 ) away from each other at least during the assembly of said wind turbine blade ( 5 ). 
         [0010]    Providing the blade with a strengthening structure comprising two reinforcement parts that are displaceable in relation to each other is advantageous in that it hereby—in a simple and inexpensive way—is possible to completely or partly compensate for any imprecision, inaccuracy or misalignments of the reinforcement parts, the blade parts or the assembly procedure and by providing force means attempting to force the reinforcement parts apart—at least during the assembly process—it is, in a simple and efficient way, possible to provide pressure to e.g. glued connections between the reinforcement parts and the blade parts during the assembly, to force the blade into a desired shape, to compensate for the forces of gravity during the assembly process or in other ways assists or aid the assembly process. 
         [0011]    It should be emphasised that the term “strengthening structure” is to be understood as any kind of structure aside from the blade shells, that are provide in the blades to ensure the shape of the blade, to ensure the rigidity of the blade or in other way assists in maintaining the blades shape and/or function. 
         [0012]    In an aspect of the invention, said adjusting means comprises guiding means for guiding a relative displacement between said first reinforcement part and said second reinforcement part. 
         [0013]    By providing the adjusting means with guiding means it is possible to ensure that the parts only move in directions in which movement is desired, whereby a more efficient strengthening structure is provided. 
         [0014]    In an aspect of the invention, said guiding means enables displacement in substantially only one direction. 
         [0015]    By making the guiding means enable displacement in only one direction it is possible to more precisely control the assembly process. 
         [0016]    It should be emphasised that the term “substantially only one direction” is to be understood that the guiding means provides the reinforcement parts with substantially only one degree of freedom i.e. the reinforcement parts may move back and forth in one direction. 
         [0017]    In an aspect of the invention, said substantially only one direction is a direction substantially perpendicular with the chord of said blade. 
         [0018]    Hereby is achieved an advantageous embodiment of the invention. 
         [0019]    In an aspect of the invention, said force means is adapted for forcing said first reinforcement part and said second reinforcement part away from each other in a same direction as said substantially only one direction. 
         [0020]    Hereby is achieved an advantageous embodiment of the invention. 
         [0021]    In an aspect of the invention, said force means are one or more elastic members such as rubber pads, foam rubber pads, enclosed gas such as air or any kind of spring. 
         [0022]    Hereby is provided simple and inexpensive resilient members. 
         [0023]    In an aspect of the invention, said force means are one or more springs. 
         [0024]    By using one or more springs e.g. a metal spring to provide a force between the reinforcement parts is advantageous in that it hereby is possible to control the load more precisely. 
         [0025]    It should be emphasised that by the term “spring” is to be understood any kind of elastic body or device that recovers its original shape when released after being distorted. 
         [0026]    In an aspect of the invention, said adjusting means comprises fixating means for fixating said first reinforcement part and said second reinforcement part in relation to each other. 
         [0027]    Providing the strengthening structure with fixating means is advantageous in that it hereby is possibly to ensure the inflexibility and/or rigidity of the strengthening structure and thereby of the blade after the assembly process has ended e.g. during normal operation of the wind turbine blade. 
         [0028]    In an aspect of the invention, said fixating means is an adhesive. 
         [0029]    Hereby is achieved an advantageous embodiment of the invention. 
         [0030]    In an aspect of the invention, said first reinforcement part is adapted to be connected to one or more surfaces by an inside of said first blade part and wherein said second reinforcement part is adapted to be connected to one or more surfaces by an inside of said second blade part. 
         [0031]    Hereby is achieved an advantageous embodiment of the invention. 
         [0032]    In an aspect of the invention, said strengthening structure comprises means for compensating for non-parallelism between said surfaces by the inside of said first blade part and said surfaces by the inside of said second blade part. 
         [0033]    Because the blades are designed for optimal utilization of the wind, the surfaces can be very complex and it is therefore advantageous to provide the strengthening structure with means for compensating for non-parallelism. 
         [0034]    In an aspect of the invention, said first reinforcement part and said second reinforcement part are adapted to be connected to said first blade part and said second blade part by means of an adhesive. 
         [0035]    Hereby is achieved an advantageous embodiment of the invention. 
         [0036]    The invention further provides for a wind turbine blade comprising a strengthening structure according to any of the preceding claims. 
         [0037]    It can be very difficult to fit a strengthening structure known in the art in a wind turbine blade and it is therefore advantageous to provide a wind turbine blade with a strengthening structure according to the invention. 
         [0038]    Even further the invention provides for a method for assembling a wind turbine blade. The method comprises the steps of
       establishing at least one first blade part and at least one second blade part in contact with, or in close proximity of each other to substantially form a wind turbine blade or a section of a wind turbine blade,   establishing a strengthening structure inside said first blade part and said second blade part, said strengthening structure comprising at least one first reinforcement part and at least one second reinforcement part, and   forcing said first reinforcement part and said second reinforcement part away from each other in order to press said first reinforcement part against said first blade part as well as to press said second reinforcement part against said second blade part.       
 
         [0042]    Establishing an assembly force between the first reinforcement part and the second reinforcement part during the assembly of the blade is advantageous in that it hereby is possible to compensate for any inaccuracies or misalignments of the parts or the assembly process. 
         [0043]    It should be emphasised that the strengthening structure in the present description of a method according to the invention is in no way limited to be placed inside the blade parts after they have been assembled. The strengthening structure or parts of the strengthening structure may just as well be placed on one or the other blade parts before the blade parts are assembled. 
         [0044]    In an aspect of the invention, said method further comprises the step of fixating the position of said first blade part and said second blade part in relation to each other while said first reinforcement part ( 9 ) and said second reinforcement part ( 12 ) are pressed away from each other. 
         [0045]    In an aspect of the invention, said first reinforcement part and said second reinforcement part are provided on said first blade part before said first blade part and said second blade part are brought in contact with each other. 
         [0046]    In an aspect of the invention, the force between the first reinforcement part and the second reinforcement part is established by bringing said first blade part and said second blade part in contact with, or in close proximity of each other. 
         [0047]    By making the process of bringing the two blade parts together the source of the assembly force is advantageous in that it hereby in a simple and inexpensive way is possible to establish the assembly force. 
         [0048]    In an aspect of the invention, said assembly force is a counterforce to the force bringing and/or holding said first blade part and said second blade part in contact with, or in close proximity of each other. 
         [0049]    By making the assembly force a counterforce to the assembling of the blade parts is advantageous in that the force is only established when needed. 
         [0050]    Even further the invention provides for use of a method according to any of the previously mentioned methods for assembling a wind turbine blade according to any of the above, wherein said wind turbine blade is a blade for a variable speed pitch wind turbine. 
         [0051]    Wind turbine blades for variable speed pitch controlled wind turbines are particularly long and slender and it is therefore especially advantageous to assemble a wind turbine blade for such a wind turbine type by means of a method according to the invention. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
         [0052]    The invention will be described in the following with reference to the figures in which 
           [0053]      FIG. 1 . illustrates a large modern wind turbine as seen from the front, 
           [0054]      FIG. 2  illustrates a wind turbine blade, as seen from the front, 
           [0055]      FIG. 3  illustrates a cross section of a first blade part and a second blade part placed beside each other, as seen from the root of the blade, 
           [0056]      FIG. 4  illustrates a cross section of a blade mould during the assembly of a wind turbine blade, as seen from the root of the blade, 
           [0057]      FIG. 5  illustrates a cross section of a first embodiment of a strengthening structure for a wind turbine blade, as seen from the root of the blade, 
           [0058]      FIG. 6  illustrates a cross section of a second embodiment of a strengthening structure for a wind turbine blade, as seen from the root of the blade, 
           [0059]      FIG. 7  illustrates a cross section of a third embodiment of a strengthening structure for a wind turbine blade, as seen in perspective, 
           [0060]      FIG. 8  illustrates a cross section of a blade comprising a strengthening structure including a spring, as seen from the trailing edge of the blade, and 
           [0061]      FIG. 9  illustrates a cross section of a blade comprising a U-shaped first reinforcement part, as seen from the root of the blade. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION  
       [0062]      FIG. 1  illustrates a wind turbine  1 , comprising a tower  2  and a wind turbine nacelle  3  positioned on top of the tower  2 . The wind turbine rotor  4 , comprising three wind turbine blades  5  mounted on a hub, is connected to the nacelle  3  through the low speed shaft which extends out of the nacelle  3  front. 
         [0063]      FIG. 2  illustrates a wind turbine blade  5 , as seen from the front. 
         [0064]    The wind turbine blade  5  comprises a leading edge  17 , a trailing edge  18 , a tip edge  19  and a root  20 . The blade  5  is typically hollow, except for one or more strengthening structures  16  extending substantially the entire length of the blade  5  or part of the blades  5  length. 
         [0065]    A wind turbine blade  5  known in the art is typically made of a glass fibre and resin composite reinforced by carbon fibre, carbon fibre reinforced wood or a combination hereof. 
         [0066]      FIG. 3  illustrates a cross section of a first blade part  8  and a second blade part  11  placed beside each other, as seen from the root of the blade  5 . The first blade part  8  is placed in a first fixating unit  10 , which in this case is the mould in which the first blade part  8  is made. Likewise the second blade part  11  is placed in a second fixating unit  13 , which also is the mould in which the second blade part  11  is moulded. 
         [0067]    In this embodiment of the invention, the two substantially symmetrical fixating units  10 ,  13  and blade parts  8 ,  11  are placed beside each other with the outer surfaces of the blade parts  8 ,  11  facing down, during the moulding of the blade parts  8 ,  11 . 
         [0068]    When the blade parts  8 ,  11  has hardened, one or more of the contact surfaces  15  are provided with an adhesive, and the second fixating unit  13  including the second blade part  11  is rotated and positioned on top of the first fixating unit  10  including the first blade part  8 , e.g. by means of some sort of a crane (like a gantry crane) or special-build rotating and positioning equipment. 
         [0069]    The adhesive could also be provided to the contact surfaces after the blade parts  9 ,  12  are brought in contact with each other or in close proximity of each other. 
         [0070]    In this embodiment the second blade part  11  is placed on top of the first blade part  8 , but in another embodiment the first blade half  8  could be placed on top of the second blade half  11 , or the two parts  8 ,  11  could be placed against each other in e.g. a vertical position. 
         [0071]    In this embodiment the parts  8 ,  11  are formed as two entire halves of an entire wind turbine blade  5 , but since wind turbines  1  are getting bigger and bigger, the wind turbine blades  5  are gradually getting to long to be transported in one piece. The blade  5  would then be manufactured as sections, which then are to be assembled at the wind turbine mounting site. 
         [0072]      FIG. 4  illustrates the second blade part  11  placed on top of the first blade part  8  making the two parts  8 ,  11  abut at the contact surfaces  15 . Before the second blade part  11  is placed on top of the first part  8 , two strengthening structures  16  are attached to the inside surface of the first blade part  8  e.g. by means of adhesive. In this embodiment the strengthening structures  16  are form as formed as single structures extending from the inside surface of the second blade part  11  to the inside surface of the first blade part  8  as known in the art. 
         [0073]    When the second blade part  11  is placed on top of the first  8 , and the strengthening structures  16  are attached to the second blade part  12 , the strengthening structures  16  constitutes cross braces making the blade  5  more rigid and helping the blade  5  maintain its shape. 
         [0074]    After the assembly of the blade parts  8 ,  11  and strengthening structures  16 , a pressure is applied e.g. by forcing the two fixating units  10 ,  13  against each other or by establishing vacuum inside the fixating units  10 ,  13  or inside the blade parts  8 ,  11  to ensure good and/or close contact between the different contact surfaces  15  while the adhesive hardens. 
         [0075]      FIG. 5  illustrates a cross section of first embodiment of a strengthening structure  16  according to the invention for a wind turbine blade  5 , as seen from the root  20  of the blade  5 . 
         [0076]    In this embodiment of the invention the strengthening structure  16  comprises a first reinforcement part  9  connected to a first blade part  8  and a second reinforcement part  12  connected to a second blade part  11 . Substantially at the middle the reinforcement parts  9 ,  12  comprises adjusting means  21  comprising attachments means  6  which in this case are bolts placed in threaded holes in the second reinforcement part  12  and passing through guiding means  22  in the form of slots in the first reinforcement part  9 . 
         [0077]    The longitudinal direction of the slots  22  is substantially parallel with the cross section as shown in  FIG. 5  hereby enabling, that if the bolts  6  are loosened the reinforcement parts  9 ,  12  can move relative to each other towards and from the blade parts  8 ,  11 . 
         [0078]    Because the slots  22  are relatively narrow—e.g. 0.2 mm wider than the diameter of the bolts  6 —the relative displacement between the reinforcement parts  9 ,  12  is substantially limited to only one free motion direction i.e. the direction towards and from the blade parts  8 ,  11  which in this case is substantially perpendicular with the chord C of the blade  5 . 
         [0079]    In this embodiment of the invention the adjusting means  21  further comprises force means  7  which in this case is a number of hydraulic jacks  26  temporarily provided to force the reinforcement parts  9 ,  12  away from each other during the blade  5  assembly. 
         [0080]    In this embodiment of the invention the assembly process could be that the entire strengthening structure  1   6  is attached to the first blade part  8  where after the second blade part  11  is placed on top of the first blade part  8  making the blade parts  8 ,  11  enclose the strengthening structure  16 . Because of the complex design of the blade halves  8 ,  11  it is difficult to position the strengthening structure  16  accurately and the positioning tolerance chord wise is therefore relatively large. 
         [0081]    In another embodiment of the invention the first reinforcement part  9  could be attached to the first blade part  8  and the second reinforcement part  12  could be attached to the second blade part  11  before the blade parts  8 ,  11  are brought together to be joined to form an entire wind turbine blade  5  or a section of a blade  5 . 
         [0082]    The bolts  6  of the adjusting means  21  of the strengthening structure  16  are then loosened and the jacks are activated to force the second reinforcement part  12  up against the second blade part  11 . When the second reinforcement part  12  has reached its desired position or e.g. when the outside dimension of the blade  5  measured over the strengthening structure  16  is at a desired level i.e. the blade height H is correct, the jacks  26  are deactivated and the bolts are retightened to fixate the reinforcement parts  9 ,  12  and the blade parts  8 ,  11  in relation to each other. 
         [0083]    In this embodiment of the invention the bolts  6  act as fixating means  25  of the adjusting means  21  of the strengthening structure  16  but in another embodiment the fixating means  25  could be lock pins, dedicated bolts or any other means suitable for permanently ensuring the relative position of the reinforcement parts  9 ,  12  after the assembly of the blade  5  is finished i.e. during normal operation of the blade  5 . 
         [0084]    In this embodiment of the invention the force means  7  are temporarily placed jacks  26  but in another embodiment the force means  7  could be permanently placed jacks, it could be wedges driven into place as a part of the adjustment, pneumatic cylinders, bags or balloons being blown up, spindles or bolts arranged to force the parts  9 ,  12  apart or it could be any other kinds of means part of, integrated in or separate from the adjusting means  21  enabling that the reinforcement parts  9 ,  12  is forced away from each other at least during the assembly of the blade  5 . 
         [0085]    In this embodiment of the invention the adjusting means  21  is provided to establish a desired height H of the blade  5  but in another embodiment the adjusting means  21  could be provided to compensate for inaccuracies in the positioning of the strengthening structure  16 , to compensate for manufacturing inaccuracies in the strengthening structure  16  or the blade parts  8 ,  11  or to provide pressure to one or more of the joints between the reinforcement parts  9 ,  12  and the blade parts  8 ,  11  during the assembly of the blade  5  e.g. to ensure good contact between the parts  8 ,  9 ,  11 ,  12  while a adhesive in the joints hardens. 
         [0086]    In this embodiment of the invention the reinforcement parts  9 ,  12  are adapted to the blade parts  8 ,  11  in that the contact surfaces  15  are formed to fit the inside surface of the blade  5  hereby enabling that the reinforcement parts  9 ,  12  may be attached to the blade parts  8 ,  11  by means of an adhesive such as any kind of natural or synthetic resin. 
         [0087]    In another embodiment of the invention the reinforcement parts  9 ,  12  could be adapted to be connected to the blade parts  8 ,  11  by making the reinforcement parts  9 ,  12  and blade parts  8 ,  11  comprise corresponding holes for connection means, corresponding interlocking shapes or in other way corresponding shapes or the parts  8 ,  9 ,  11 ,  12  and/or the contact surfaces  15  between the parts  8 ,  9 ,  11 ,  12  could in another way be shaped, arranged or in another way adapted to be interconnected. 
         [0088]    In this embodiment the blade is only provided with one strengthening structures  16  but in another embodiment the blade  5  could be provided with more than one strengthening structures  16  such as two, three, four or six juxtaposed structures  16 , and all or some of the structures  16  could be placed inside the blade  5  after the two parts  8 ,  11  are placed on top of each other. 
         [0089]    In another embodiment of the invention the blade  5  could also be provided with only one strengthening structures  16  e.g. in form of a beam. This beam could be the member carrying the entire blade  5 , and the blade parts  9 ,  12  could then just be relatively thin shells, mainly provided for giving the blade its aerodynamic shape. 
         [0090]      FIG. 6  illustrates a cross section of a second embodiment of a strengthening structure  16  according to the invention for a wind turbine blade  5 , as seen from the root  20  of the blade  5 . 
         [0091]    In this embodiment of the invention the second reinforcement part  12  is fork-shaped enabling that the two legs  27  can act as guiding means  22  of the adjusting means  21  in that the first reinforcement part  9  can travel back and forth inside the slit  28  formed by the legs  27 . 
         [0092]    In this embodiment of the invention the adjusting means  21  is provide with force means  7  in the form of a resilient member  24  at the bottom of the slit  28  between the two legs  27 . 
         [0093]    The resilient member  24  is being pre-stressed when the two blade parts  8 , 11  is placed in contact with each other, in that the reinforcement parts  9 ,  12  hereby will be pressed against each other thus compressing the resilient member  24 . The resilient member  24  will thereafter attempt to force the first reinforcement part  9  and the second reinforcement part  12  apart in that it will counterforce the load it is exposed to. 
         [0094]    In this embodiment of the invention the resilient member  24  is a number of pressure springs  14  but in another embodiment the resilient member  24  could be another type of springs such as any kind of disc spring, torsions springs or tension spring or the member  24  could be one or more blocks or masses of flexible material such as rubber, foam rubber or any kind of gas filled cavity such as one or more air filled balloons or any other sort of elastic body or device that entirely or partly recovers its original shape when released after being distorted. 
         [0095]      FIG. 7  illustrates a cross section of a third embodiment of a strengthening structure  16  according to the invention for a wind turbine blade  5 , as seen in perspective. 
         [0096]    In this embodiment of the invention the reinforcement parts  9 ,  12  are adapted to be connected to the blade parts  8 ,  11  in that the reinforcement parts  9 ,  12  is provided with relatively wide contact surfaces  15  adapted to be provided with adhesive, hereby establishing a strong connection between the parts  8 ,  9 ,  11 ,  12 . 
         [0097]    In this embodiment of the invention the adjusting means  21  is provide with force means  7  in the form of a specially adapted spring  14  which will be further discussed under  FIG. 8 . 
         [0098]    The spring  14  will try to force the reinforcement parts  9 ,  12  away from each other to ensure pressure to the contact surfaces  15  during the hardening of the adhesive. 
         [0099]    To substantially prevent the strengthening structure  16  from being flexible after the assembly, the adjusting means  21  is provide with fixating means  25  in the form of adhesive provided in the slit  28  in the second reinforcement part  12 . 
         [0100]    During or immediately before the assembly of the strengthening structure  16  or the blade  5  the slit is provided with an adhesive  25 . During the blade  5  assembly e.g. when the adhesive connecting the reinforcement parts  9 ,  12  to the blade parts  8 ,  11  has substantially hardened, the force provided by the force means  7  is no longer needed or desired and adhesive provided in the slit  28  will gradually glue the reinforcement parts  9 ,  12  together making the reinforcement parts  9 ,  12  form one single substantially inflexible strengthening structure  16 . 
         [0101]      FIG. 8  illustrates a cross section of a blade  5  comprising a strengthening structure  16  including a spring  14 , as seen from the trailing edge of the blade  5 . 
         [0102]    In this embodiment the adjusting means  21  is provide with force means  7  in the form of at least one spring  14  formed as a piece of wave shaped wire. Such a spring design is a simple and inexpensive way of forming a spring  14  that are particularly suited for being fitted in and operating in a slit  28 . 
         [0103]    In this embodiment the spring  14  is made of stainless steel that are particularly suited for making springs  14 , but in another embodiment the spring  14  could be made of ordinary steel, of plastic or of another material comprising good resilient qualities. 
         [0104]      FIG. 9  illustrates a cross section of a blade  5  comprising a U-shaped first reinforcement part  9 , as seen from the root of the blade  5 . 
         [0105]    In this embodiment of the invention the strengthening means  16  comprises one substantially U-shaped first reinforcement part  9  provided with one second reinforcement part  12  on top of each of the legs of the first reinforcement part  9 . 
         [0106]    The cross section of the blade  5  disclose a substantial tear-shape and because the blade  5  is designed regarding advantageous use of the wind both the inside and the outside surface of the blade  5  can be very complex and it will vary along the longitudinal length of the blade  5 . 
         [0107]    The first reinforcement part  9  is therefore in this embodiment of the invention provided with means for compensating for non-parallelism  23  between inside surface of the first blade part  8  and the inside surface of the second blade part  11 . 
         [0108]    In this embodiment of the invention these means for compensating for non-parallelism  23  is established in the form of permanent bends of in the legs of the U-shaped first reinforcement part  9  but in another embodiment the means could be comprised by the second reinforcement part  12 , by another part of the strengthening means  16  or the means could be provided by a permanently or more likely temporarily flexible joint in one or more of the parts of the strengthening means  16 . 
         [0109]    The invention has been exemplified above with reference to specific examples of designs and embodiments of wind turbines blades  5 , strengthening structures  16  and other. However, it should be understood that the invention is not limited to the particular examples described above but may be designed and altered in a multitude of varieties within the scope of the invention as specified in the claims.