Erecting a wind powerplant

Abstract

A method for handling a wind powerplant's rotor hub ( 11 ) or to handle a wind powerplant's rotor ( 10 ) using a hoist, in particular for erecting a wind powerplant or for assembling or disassembling a rotor ( 11 ) to and from such a powerplant, in particular a hub ( 11 ) or a rotor ( 10 ) being configured by means of one assembly side to the wind powerplant's tower, the hub ( 11 ) or rotor ( 10 ) being raised or held by the hoist. In the raised state, the hub ( 11 ) is tilted by a tilting mechanism ( 15 ) acting on it out of the initial, raised position by a predetermined angle of tilting, or the rotor ( 10 ) is tilted by a tilting mechanism ( 15 ) acting on the rotor blade roots of the rotor ( 10 ) through a predetermined angle of tilting. A mechanism ( 15 ) to handle a wind powerplant's rotor hub ( 11 ) of a wind powerplant's rotor ( 10 ), in particular for assembling or dismantling a rotor to or from its wind powerplant.

1 . A method for handling a wind powerplant's rotor-hub ( 11 ) or to handle a wind powerplant's rotor ( 10 ) using a hoisting device, in particular for erecting a wind powerplant or for assembling/dismantling a rotor ( 11 ) to/from such a powerplant, where a rotor hub ( 11 ), or a rotor ( 10 ), is or shall be mounted at one assembly side to a wind powerplant's tower, comprising the steps of:
 raising the hub ( 11 ) or rotor ( 10 ) and holding the hub ( 11 ) or rotor ( 10 ) by means of said hoisting device,   tilting the hub ( 11 ) in the raised state by means of a tilting mechanism ( 15 ) acting on the rotor ( 10 ), out of the initially raised position by a predetermined angle of tilt,   or tilting the rotor ( 10 ) from the initial, raised position through a predetermined angle of tilt by means of the tilting mechanism ( 15 ) acting on the rotor blade roots of the rotor ( 10 ).   
   
   
       2 . Method as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the tilting mechanism ( 15 ) shall be actuated or switched to initiate tilting. 
   
   
       3 . Method as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the hub ( 11 ) or the rotor ( 10 ) shall be mounted on or dismantled from the tower or the tower nacelle. 
   
   
       4 . Method as claimed in  claim 3 , wherein prior to raising the hub ( 11 ), the tilting mechanism ( 15 ) shall be connected to said hub or that prior to raising the rotor ( 10 ) the tilting mechanism ( 15 ) shall be connected to said rotor. 
   
   
       5 . Method as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the tilting mechanism ( 15 ) is disposed between a hoisting means of said hoisting device and the hub ( 11 ) or between a hoist means of the hoisting device and the rotor ( 10 ). 
   
   
       6 . Method as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein following the raising action, said tilted hub ( 11 ) or the tilted rotor ( 10 ) each by its assembly side is configured against a hub assembly side of the tower or to a nacelle mounted on the tower. 
   
   
       7 . Method as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the hub ( 11 ) or the rotor ( 10 ) is raised using a hoisting device in the form of a crane. 
   
   
       8 . A mechanism ( 15 ) to handle a wind powerplant's rotor hub ( 11 ) or a rotor ( 10 ) of said plant, for erecting a wind powerplant or for assembling/disassembling a wind powerplant rotor to/from said plant, said mechanism being designed as a tilting device ( 15 ) which is fitted with affixation elements whereby said mechanism is or shall be affixed to the rotor hub ( 11 ) and/or to the roots of the rotor blade of the rotor ( 10 ) affixed to said rotor hub, said mechanism in particular being fitted with an engagement point ( 13 ) for a hoisting means, of a hoisting device, whereby, in the raised position of the hub ( 11 ) at said hoisting means, said hub's position is altered by being tilted by the tilting mechanism ( 15 ) mounted on said hoist or, when in the raised state of the rotor hub ( 11 ) at the hoisting means, the position of said rotor hub ( 11 ) is altered by means of the tilting mechanism ( 15 ) mounted on the hoisting means. 
   
   
       9 . Mechanism ( 15 ) as claimed in  claim 8 , wherein when tilting the rotor hub ( 11 ), the distance between the engagement point ( 13 ) and the center of gravity (S) of said hub, or the distance between the engagement point ( 13 ) and the center of gravity (S) of the rotor ( 10 ) when tilting said rotor, shall substantially remain constant. 
   
   
       10 . Mechanism ( 15 ) as claimed in  claim 8 , wherein the distance between the engagement point ( 13 ) and the center of gravity (S) of the hub ( 11 ) when tilting said hub, or the distance between the engagement point ( 13 ) to the center of gravity (S) of said rotor being tilted, shall be enlarged or reduced. 
   
   
       11 . Mechanism ( 15 ) as claimed in  claim 8 , wherein the affixation element is designed as a mounting frame or a trestle or affixation bail or adapter. 
   
   
       12 . Mechanism ( 15 ) as claimed in  claim 11 , wherein a support bail or a hoisting arm or a pivot bail, in particular a pivoting frame or pivoting trestle or a specially curved guide rail, preferably a crossarm, are fitted on the affixation element of the tilting mechanism ( 15 ). 
   
   
       13 . Mechanism ( 15 ) as claimed in  claim 8 , wherein the tilting mechanism ( 15 ) comprises a drive means ( 74 ) and/or an actuator ( 19 ,  61 ). 
   
   
       14 . Mechanism ( 15 ) as claimed in  claim 13 , wherein the actuator is a telescoping cylinder ( 19 ,  61 ) or a cable winch ( 27 ) or a control cable to shorten/lengthen said cable or a rotary drive with a drive pinion. 
   
   
       15 . Mechanism ( 15 ) as claimed in  claim 13 , wherein the drive ( 74 ) engages the guide rail. 
   
   
       16 . Mechanism ( 15 ) as claimed in  claim 12 , wherein the guide rail is provided with a gear rim or with a bolt rim or a roller chain. 
   
   
       17 . Mechanism ( 15 ) as claimed in  claim 13 , wherein the drive is or shall be mounted at the hoisting means of the hoist or at the engagement point or at the guide rail. 
   
   
       18 . Application of a tilting mechanism ( 15 ) to erect or dismantle a wind powerplant, said mechanism being designed in the manner defined in  claim 8 , and using a hoist.