Lifting system and apparatus for constructing and enclosing wind turbine towers

Abstract

An apparatus and method for mounting a wind turbine and blade assembly on the upper end of a wind turbine tower. In one aspect the apparatus generally includes a ginpole that is used to assemble the tower and a lifting frame or truss that is removably secured to a top bay assembly of the tower using the ginpole. The lifting frame or truss is operated using either cables or hydraulic rams and extends fore of the tower when the frame or truss is in a first position and generally above the tower when in a second position. When in the first position, a wind turbine or blade assembly can be hoisted to the top of the tower. The wind turbine or blade assembly is then moved into position for mounting to the tower as the frame or truss is pivoted to a second position. When the turbine and blade assembly are secured to the tower, the frame or truss is disconnected from the tower and lowered to the ground followed by the ginpole being lowered to the ground.

1 . A method of erecting a high-elevation multiple-bay structural tower and associated wind turbine equipment on a foundation, the method comprising the steps of:
 securing a base bay assembly to the foundation;   attaching a ginpole to the base bay assembly;   positioning an intermediate bay assembly on top of the base bay assembly using the ginpole;   positioning a top bay assembly on top of the intermediate bay assembly using the ginpole;   positioning an apparatus for lifting a wind turbine proximate the top bay assembly using the ginpole; and   positioning a wind turbine on top of the top bay assembly using the apparatus for lifting a wind turbine.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising the step of attaching the ginpole to the intermediate bay assembly prior to positioning the top bay assembly on top of the intermediate bay assembly. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising the step of attaching the ginpole to both the base bay assembly and the intermediate bay assembly prior to positioning the top bay assembly on top of the intermediate bay assembly. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising the steps of sequentially positioning a plurality of intermediate bay assemblies on top of the base bay assembly prior to positioning the top bay assembly on top of an uppermost intermediate bay assembly. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 4 , further comprising the step of raising the ginpole following the positioning of each intermediate bay assembly comprising the plurality of bay assemblies. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the base bay assembly comprises a plurality of bay assemblies. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 6 , wherein the step of attaching the ginpole to the base bay assembly includes the steps of attaching the ginpole to one or more of the bay assemblies comprising the plurality of bay assemblies. 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the ginpole comprises a lengthwise beam. 
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 8 , wherein the ginpole further comprises a boom. 
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 9 , wherein the boom is pivotally attached to the lengthwise beam. 
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the apparatus for lifting a wind turbine includes:
 a support frame connected to the top bay assembly of the tower;   a first lifting truss pivotally connected to the support frame, the first lifting truss having a distal end extending away from the support frame;   a rigging assembly connected proximate the distal end and configured for hoisting a turbine to the upper end of the tower; and   an hydraulic ram having a first end connected to the support frame and a second end connected to the first lifting truss.   
     
     
         12 . A method of erecting a multiple-bay structural tower and associated wind turbine equipment, the method comprising the steps of:
 assembling a base bay assembly;   assembling one or more upper bay assemblies on top of the base bay assembly;   attaching a ginpole to one or more of the base bay assemblies and the one or more upper bay assemblies;   positioning an apparatus for lifting a wind turbine proximate an uppermost bay assembly using the ginpole; and   positioning a wind turbine on top of the uppermost bay assembly using the apparatus for lifting a wind turbine.   
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 12 , further comprising the step of attaching the ginpole to at least one of the upper bay assemblies prior to assembling the uppermost bay assembly. 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 12 , further comprising the step of attaching the ginpole to both the base bay assembly and to at least one of the upper bay assemblies prior to assembling the uppermost bay assembly. 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 12 , further comprising the steps of sequentially assembling the one or more upper bay assemblies on top of the base bay assembly prior to assembling the uppermost bay assembly. 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 15 , further comprising the step of raising the ginpole following the assembly of each upper bay assembly comprising the one or more upper bay assemblies. 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 12 , wherein the base bay assembly comprises a plurality of bay assemblies. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 17 , wherein the step of attaching the ginpole to the base bay assembly includes the steps of attaching the ginpole to one or more of the bay assemblies comprising the plurality of bay assemblies. 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 12 , wherein the ginpole comprises a lengthwise beam. 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 19 , wherein the ginpole further comprises a boom. 
     
     
         21 . The method of  claim 20 , wherein the boom is pivotally attached to the lengthwise beam. 
     
     
         22 . The method of  claim 12 , wherein the apparatus for lifting a wind turbine includes:
 a support frame connected to the top bay assembly of the tower;   a first lifting truss pivotally connected to the support frame, the first lifting truss having a distal end extending away from the support frame;   a rigging assembly connected proximate the distal end and configured for hoisting a turbine to the upper end of the tower; and   an hydraulic ram having a first end connected to the support frame and a second end connected to the first lifting truss.   
     
     
         23 . The method of  claim 12 , wherein the one or more upper bay assemblies include a cladding system. 
     
     
         24 . The method of  claim 23 , wherein the cladding system includes an aperture sized and configured to permit access to the members comprising the bay assembly. 
     
     
         25 . The method of  claim 24 , wherein the cladding system includes a plurality of apertures. 
     
     
         26 . The method of  claim 24 , wherein the aperture is a strip running lengthwise along the cladding system. 
     
     
         27 . The method of  claim 24 , further comprising the step of attaching the ginpole to at least one of the upper bay assemblies prior to assembling the uppermost bay assembly and wherein the ginpole includes a standoff bracket extending through the aperture. 
     
     
         28 . A covering system for a structural tower comprising:
 a plurality of cladding sheets; and   means for securing at least one of the cladding sheets to the structural tower such that the amount of the structural tower concealed by the cladding sheets can be selectively altered.   
     
     
         29 . The covering system as defined in  claim 28  wherein the cladding sheets are comprised of a material selected from the group consisting of: steel, aluminum, PVC-coated fabrics and PTFE-coated glass fabrics and TEDLAR®. 
     
     
         30 . The covering system as defined in  claim 28  wherein the means for securing are selected from the group consisting of: bolts, screws, welds, rope, pipe and wire. 
     
     
         31 . The covering system as defined in  claim 28  wherein cladding sheets comprise at least one access port. 
     
     
         32 . The covering system as defined in  claim 28  wherein the structural tower comprises a plurality of structural members, further comprising a friction reducing material applied to at least some of the plurality of structural members. 
     
     
         33 . The covering system as defined in  claim 32  wherein the friction reducing material is applied to the predominantly vertical areas in which the cladding sheets would contact the structural members. 
     
     
         34 . The covering system as defined in  claim 28  wherein the cladding sheets are formed as a loop around the structural tower so that the first end and the second end of the cladding sheet are connected to each other and not to the structural tower in the horizontal direction. 
     
     
         35 . A system for erecting a high-elevation multiple-bay structural tower and associated wind turbine equipment on a foundation, the system comprising:
 a base bay assembly securable to the foundation;   a ginpole attached to the base bay assembly;   at least one intermediate bay assembly positioned on top of the base bay assembly, the intermediate bay assembly being releasably securable to the ginpole;   a top bay assembly securable to the top of the intermediate bay assembly and being releasably securable to the ginpole;   lifting means for a wind turbine proximate the top bay assembly using the ginpole; and   means for positioning a wind turbine on top of the top bay assembly using the apparatus for lifting a wind turbine.   
     
     
         36 . The system of  claim 35 , wherein the ginpole is releasably secured to the top bay assembly on top of the intermediate bay assembly. 
     
     
         37 . The system of  claim 35 , wherein the ginpole is selectively attached to the base bay assembly and the intermediate bay assembly prior to positioning the top bay assembly on top of the intermediate bay assembly. 
     
     
         38 . The system of  claim 35 , further comprising means for sequentially positioning a plurality of intermediate bay assemblies on top of the base bay assembly prior to positioning the top bay assembly on top of an uppermost intermediate bay assembly. 
     
     
         39 . The system of  claim 38 , further comprising means for raising the ginpole following the positioning of each intermediate bay assembly comprising the plurality of bay assemblies. 
     
     
         40 . The system of  claim 35 , wherein the base bay assembly comprises a plurality of bay assemblies. 
     
     
         41 . The system of  claim 40 , further comprising means from attaching the ginpole to one or more of the structures selected from the group consisting of: the base bay assembly; the intermediate bay assembly; and, the top bay assembly. 
     
     
         42 . The system of  claim 35 , wherein the ginpole comprises a lengthwise beam. 
     
     
         43 . The system of  claim 42 , wherein the ginpole further comprises a boom. 
     
     
         44 . The system of  claim 42 , wherein the boom is pivotally attached to the lengthwise beam. 
     
     
         45 . The system of  claim 35 , wherein the means for lifting a wind turbine includes:
 a support frame connected to the top bay assembly of the structural tower;   a first lifting truss pivotally connected to the support frame, the first lifting truss having a distal end extending away from the support frame;   a rigging assembly connected proximate the distal end and configured for hoisting a turbine to the upper end of the tower; and   an hydraulic ram having a first end connected to the support frame and a second end connected to the first lifting truss.   
     
     
         46 . An apparatus for erecting a high-elevation multiple-bay structural tower and associated wind turbine equipment on a foundation, the apparatus comprising:
 means for securing a base bay assembly to the foundation;   means for securing an intermediate bay assembly on top of the base bay assembly;   means for securing a top bay assembly on top of the intermediate bay assembly;   means for lifting a wind turbine from a level approximately adjacent to the foundation to a level above the uppermost level of the top bay assembly, the means for lifting being pivotally connected to the top bay assembly such that the means for lifting having a first position wherein the turbine equipment can be raised along the exterior side of the structural tower and a second position to a location substantially above the uppermost level of the top bay assembly such that the wind turbine can be operationally secured on top of the top bay assembly.   
     
     
         47 . An apparatus according to  claim 46  wherein the means for lifting comprises:
 a support frame connected to the top bay assembly of the tower; 
 a first lifting truss pivotally connected to the support frame, the first lifting truss having a distal end extending away from the support frame; 
 a rigging assembly connected proximate the distal end and configured for hoisting a turbine to the upper end of the tower; and 
 an hydraulic ram having a first end connected to the support frame and a second end connected to the first lifting truss. 
 
     
     
         48 . An apparatus according to  claim 46  wherein the means for lifting comprises a rigging assembly and a pivot control cable. 
     
     
         49 . An apparatus according to  claim 46  further comprising hoisting means for raising the means for lifting to the top bay assembly.