Platform assembly for a wind turbine tower

Abstract

A modular platform assembly for a wind turbine tower includes a plurality of individual, multi-sided plate members, with each plate member connected to at least one other plate member along a common side. At least certain of the plate members have an outboard side that defines a circumferential section of the platform assembly. The connected common sides of the plate members define a structural support grid that connects to a wall within a wind turbine tower at a plurality of circumferential positions for supporting the platform assembly relative to the tower.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A modular platform assembly for a wind turbine tower, comprising:
 a plurality of individual, multi-sided plate members, each said plate member connected to at least one other said plate member along a common side;   at least certain of said plate members having an outboard side that defines a circumferential section of said platform assembly; and   said connected common sides of said plate members defining a structural support grid that connects to a wall within a wind turbine tower at a plurality of circumferential positions for supporting said platform assembly relative to the tower.   
     
     
         2 . The platform assembly as in  claim 1 , wherein each of said plate members is formed from a single unitary metal plate, said metal plates comprising down-turned flanges along said common sides, said down-turned flanges connected together to define said structural support grid. 
     
     
         3 . The platform assembly as in  claim 2 , wherein said down-turned flanges are bolted together. 
     
     
         4 . The platform assembly as in  claim 1 , wherein each of said plate members comprises a respective said outboard side such that every said plate member defines a circumferential section of said platform assembly. 
     
     
         5 . The platform assembly as in  claim 1 , wherein one of said plate members is common to all other said plate members and shares a common side with each remaining said plate member. 
     
     
         6 . The platform assembly as in  claim 1 , wherein said common plate member comprises a respective said outboard side and defines a circumferential section of said platform assembly. 
     
     
         7 . The platform assembly as in  claim 1 , wherein said common plate member is an interior plate member completely surrounded by the other remaining said plate members. 
     
     
         8 . The platform assembly as in  claim 2 , wherein said outboard sides comprise up-turned flanges that define a continuous toe rail around a circumference of said platform assembly. 
     
     
         9 . The platform assembly as in  claim 2 , wherein one of said plate members comprises an access opening defined therein, said plate member comprising up-turned flanges that define a toe rail around said access opening. 
     
     
         10 . The platform assembly as in  claim 1 , further comprising a plurality of brackets configured for mounting onto the wind turbine tower wall at said plurality of circumferential support positions, said brackets defining a seat for said structural support grid. 
     
     
         11 . The platform assembly as in  claim 10 , wherein said brackets comprise a sufficient radial length so that the same size platform assembly is mountable to varying diameter sections of the same or different wind turbine tower walls. 
     
     
         12 . The platform assembly as in  claim 1 , wherein said structural support grid has terminal ends only at said circumferential support positions. 
     
     
         13 . A wind turbine, comprising:
 a tower;   a nacelle supported atop said tower;   a rotor hub and rotor blades configured with said nacelle;   a plurality of platform assemblies disposed at different heights within said tower, each of said platform assemblies further comprising:
 a plurality of individual, multi-sided plate members, each said plate member connected to at least one other said plate member along a common side; 
 at least certain of said plate members having an outboard side that defines a circumferential section of said platform assembly; and 
 said connected common sides of said plate members defining a structural support grid that connects to an interior wall of said tower at a plurality of circumferential positions for supporting said platform assembly relative to said tower. 
   
     
     
         14 . The wind turbine as in  claim 13 , wherein each of said plate members is formed from a single unitary metal plate, said metal plates comprising down-turned flanges along said common sides, said down-turned flanges connected together to define said structural support grid, and wherein one of said plate members is common to all other said plate members and shares a common side with each of said remaining plate members. 
     
     
         15 . The wind turbine as in  claim 14 , wherein said outboard sides comprise up-turned flanges that define a continuous toe rail around a circumference of said platform assembly. 
     
     
         16 . The wind turbine as in  claim 14 , further comprising a plurality of brackets mounted on said interior wall of said tower at said circumferential support positions of each said platform assembly, said brackets defining a seat for said structural support grid. 
     
     
         17 . The wind turbine as in  claim 16 , wherein at least two of said platform assemblies within said tower have the same circumferential dimension and are mounted at respective locations within said tower having different diameters, said respective brackets for said platform assemblies having a sufficient radial length so as to accommodate for different radial distances between said platform assemblies and said interior wall of said tower.