Patent Document

FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
       [0001]    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 
       [0002]    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. 
         [0003]    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. 
         [0004]    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 revolves during transportation. Patent WO2006000230 by Vandrup Specialtransp shows a non-traction platform adjacent to the tractor element provided with revolving transportation elements that can be adjusted according to the weight of the blade. 
         [0005]    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. 
         [0006]    The greatest difficulty presented by train transportation is the curve angle that can be reached in certain sections of the trajectory. The supports of the current invention have been developed in order to solve the problems presented by this type of transportation. 
       DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
       [0007]    One object of the invention is blade transportation in an articulated train, considering the maximum curvature that this means of transportation can endure. 
         [0008]    Another object of the invention is the use of conventional rail cars, accommodating the maximum number of blades possible between the rail cars. 
         [0009]    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 joint and the other for the intermediate section of the blade. 
         [0010]    Another object of the invention is that the platforms placed on the rail cars can move crosswise and turn and revolve 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 car and the other located on the opposite end and extending to the adjacent rail car. 
         [0011]    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. 
         [0012]    In order to facilitate the explanation, a sheet of drawings is attached with an embodiment of a practical case of the scope of the current invention. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES 
         [0013]      FIG. 1A  is a perspective view of a wind turbine blade with the root support frame and the auxiliary system of the intermediate support frame. 
           [0014]      FIG. 1B  is an exploded view that shows the clamp that comprises the auxiliary system of the intermediate support. 
           [0015]      FIG. 2  represents the support corresponding to the root joint area. 
           [0016]      FIG. 3A  is a perspective of the complete intermediate support frame and  FIG. 3B  is an exploded view of the union of the structure with the internal clamp. 
           [0017]      FIGS. 4A and 4B  are an elevation and cross section view of the support corresponding to the root support frame. 
           [0018]      FIGS. 5A and 5B  are an elevation and ground view of the intermediate support and its annex placed on the adjacent rail car.  FIG. 5C  is an exploded view that shows the actuator stand. A ground view is also shown in  FIG. 5D  of the two supports and their movements while taking a curve. 
           [0019]      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 points. 
       
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF A PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
       [0020]    As represented in  FIG. 1A , the blade of wind turbine  10  is an elongated body consisting of several sections: the root joint section  20  corresponds to the part that joins the blade and hub, the intermediate section  30  and the tip blade  40 . The blade is normally manufactured in composite material and its transportation and movement are delicate. 
         [0021]    The blade  10  needs two points to fasten the elements required to hoist it. These points are the root joint 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 frame  50  and one intermediate support frame  60 . 
         [0022]    The exploded view in  FIG. 1B  of the intermediate support frame  60  shows the auxiliary system. An elongated body clamp  70  whose cross section coincides with the aerodynamic cross section of the blade. It is provided with hinges  80  and hydraulic opening and closing  90  on opposite sides so that they 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 flanges. The inner part has a rubber surface  110  to prevent damage to the surface of the blade  10 . 
         [0023]      FIG. 2  shows the root support frame  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 between the inner beds and the blade  10  have a rubber surface  150  and the side flanges  160  that form the frame  120  can be completely separated on both sides. Halves are connected using a twistlock system 
         [0024]    As shown in  FIGS. 3A and 3B , the intermediate support frame  60  is a frame formed by an upper frame  170  and a lower frame  180  that are coupled and uncoupled by twist lock connections  190  on the sides. 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 frame  60  for the blade  10  has three degrees of freedom of movement. The clamp  70  is placed on the side that corresponds to the hydraulic opening and closing  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 frame  60 , next to the upper frame  170 . 
         [0025]      FIGS. 4A and 4B  show the connecting link between the root support  50  and the rail car used as the means of transportation  250 . The rail car in the current preferred realisation is a convention rail car, open at the top. 
         [0026]    The root support frame  50  is supported by and fastened on a ball joint platform  240  with wheels  230  at both ends and a central ball joint  220  that connects the ball joint platform  240  and the rail car  250  by means of a support  260 . The ball joint 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. 
         [0027]    As shown in  FIGS. 5A to 5D , the intermediate support  60  is placed on an X-shaped support  270  that is crossed by a wide flange beam actuated bar  280  that extends from one rail car  250  and the adjacent rail car  251 . The support of the intermediate support frame  270  rests on a cross section rail  300  inside of which are rolling elements  310  in continuous contact with a wide flange  281  with a double T shape. The support  270  slides on the wide flange  281  as the actuated bar  280  becomes unaligned by the relative movement between one rail car  250  and the adjacent rail car  251 . The actuated bar  280  is joined to the support  270  on one of its ends and rests on an actuator stand  290  on the opposite end. In turn, the actuator stand  290  rests on another set of rolling elements  311  that allows the actuated bar  280  to move longitudinally, while the actuator stand  290  can revolve around itself. 
         [0028]    The group formed by the support of the intermediate support frame  270 , the rail  300  and the wide flange  281  is placed on a rectangular plate  320  with the same width as the length of the flange  281  to which the wide flange  281  is welded. On the other hand, the actuator stand  290  rests on another plate  321  that is also rectangular but smaller than the one previously mentioned. Both plates  320  and  321  are fastened to their corresponding rail cars  250  and  251 . 
         [0029]    When the train takes a curve  330 , the first rail car  250  and the adjacent rail car  251  become unaligned. The support of the intermediate support frame  270  is pushed by the action of the actuated bar  280  and slides along the cross section rail  300 , while the plate  320  that holds the group remains fixed to the rail car  250 . The opposite end of the actuated bar  280  causes the actuator stand  290  to turn on the corresponding plate  321 , while it slides on its rolling elements  311 , compensating the relative movements of both rail cars  250  and  251 . 
         [0030]      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 bending radius possible. Each blade is transported on one and a half rail cars, with the points facing each other. But due to the fact that the root support frame  50  turns, while the intermediate support frame  60  slides on the plate  320  that holds it, the point of one blade  40  and the point of the adjacent blade  41  do not collide, as can be seen in the exploded view of the  FIG. 6C .

Technology Category: 2