A Hub Enclosure for a Hub of a Wind Turbine

Abstract

A hub enclosure ( 6 ), e.g. a spinner, for a hub ( 4 ) of a wind turbine is disclosed. The hub enclosure ( 6 ) comprises an aperture defining an aperture area and at least two aperture covers ( 10 ). The aperture covers ( 10 ) are arranged to cover substantially separate parts of the aperture area. Each of the aperture covers ( 10 ) is movable between a first position and a second position. In the first position the corresponding part of the aperture area is closed, and in the second position the corresponding part of the aperture area is open. The aperture covers ( 10 ) are positioned relative to each other in such a manner that neighbouring aperture covers ( 10 ) are arranged to cover adjacent parts of the aperture area. Thus, when two neighbouring aperture covers ( 10 ) are both in the second position, an opening is defined having an area which corresponds to the sum of the areas covered by the two aperture covers ( 10 ). Thereby a passage opening of a desired size can be obtained, simply be moving an appropriate number of neighbouring aperture covers ( 10 ) to the second position. This allows objects of various size to pass through the aperture without compromising the strength of the structure.

1 - 10 . (canceled) 
     
     
         11 . A hub enclosure for a hub of a wind turbine, said hub enclosure comprising:
 an aperture defining an aperture area; and   at least two aperture covers arranged to cover substantially separate parts of the aperture area, each of the aperture covers being movable between a first position in which the corresponding part of the aperture area is closed and a second position in which the corresponding part of the aperture area is open;   
       wherein the aperture covers are positioned relative to each other in such a manner that neighbouring aperture covers are arranged to cover adjacent parts of the aperture area, and wherein each of the aperture covers is movable from the first position to the second position in a direction towards an interior part of the hub enclosure. 
     
     
         12 . The hub enclosure according to  claim 11 , wherein each of the aperture covers is hinged to a part of the hub enclosure. 
     
     
         13 . The hub enclosure according to  claim 11 , wherein the aperture is arranged in a tip part of the hub enclosure. 
     
     
         14 . The hub enclosure according to  claim 11 , further comprising a sealing element arranged to cover a part of at least two of the aperture covers. 
     
     
         15 . The hub enclosure according to  claim 11 , wherein the hub enclosure is or forms part of a spinner. 
     
     
         16 . The hub enclosure according to  claim 11 , wherein each of the aperture covers is manually movable between the first position and the second position. 
     
     
         17 . The hub enclosure according to  claim 11 , further comprising means for automatically moving each of the aperture covers between the first position and the second position. 
     
     
         18 . The hub enclosure according to  claim 11 , wherein each of the aperture covers is mounted detachably on the hub enclosure. 
     
     
         19 . A wind turbine comprising a hub enclosure according to  claim 11 .