Transition Structure Between Adjacent Tower Structures

Abstract

A transition structure for transitioning between two adjacent tower structures of a wind turbine is disclosed. The transition structure may include a plurality of vertical legs spaced apart from one another, a stub section positioned between an upper tower portion and a lower tower portion, a plurality of connecting members, each of the plurality of connecting members connecting one of the plurality of vertical legs to the stub section, and at least one torsion plate positioned between the plurality of vertical legs and the stub section.

We claim: 
     
         1 . A transition structure for transitioning between two adjacent tower structures comprising:
 a plurality of vertical legs, spaced apart from one another;   a stub section positioned between an upper tower portion and a lower tower portion;   a plurality of connecting members, each of the plurality of connecting members connecting one of the plurality of legs to the stub section; and   a torsion plate positioned between the plurality of vertical legs and the stub section.   
     
     
         2 . The transition structure of  claim 1 , wherein the stub section is a tubular structure having a top flange and a bottom flange and at least one can extending between the top flange and the bottom flange. 
     
     
         3 . The transition structure of  claim 2 , wherein the stub section includes two cans. 
     
     
         4 . The transition structure of  claim 2 , wherein a diameter of the stub section is substantially same as a diameter of the upper tower portion. 
     
     
         5 . The transition structure of  claim 1 , wherein each of the plurality of connecting members is a trapezoidal plate having a first longitudinal edge and a second longitudinal edge, the first longitudinal edge connecting an outer periphery of the stub section and the second longitudinal edge connecting the plurality of vertical legs. 
     
     
         6 . The transition structure of  claim 1 , wherein each of the plurality of legs is an angularly positioned I-beam extending from the ground to top of the stub section. 
     
     
         7 . The transition structure of  claim 1 , wherein the torsion plate extends outwardly from and around a top flange of the stub section and is connected to a top edge of the plurality of vertical legs and a top edge of the plurality of connecting members. 
     
     
         8 . The transition structure of  claim 1 , wherein the upper tower portion comprises a tube tower section. 
     
     
         9 . The transition structure of  claim 1 , wherein the lower tower portion comprises a lattice work tower section. 
     
     
         10 . The transition structure of  claim 1 , wherein the torsion plate primarily transfers torsional forces from the upper tower section to the lower tower section. 
     
     
         11 . The transition structure of  claim 1 , wherein the stub section, the plurality of connecting members and the plurality of vertical legs primarily transfer axial, shear and bending forces from the upper tower portion to the lower tower portion. 
     
     
         12 . The transition structure of  claim 1 , further comprising a second torsion plate positioned between the stub section and the plurality of connecting members. 
     
     
         13 . A transition structure for transitioning between two adjacent vertical tower structures comprising:
 a plurality of vertical legs extending from a lower lattice tower portion, spaced circumferentially apart from one another;   a tubular stub section connected to an upper tube tower portion;   a plurality of connecting members, each of the plurality of connecting members connecting one of the plurality of vertical legs to the stub section; and   a torsion plate positioned vertically between the stub section and the upper tube tower portion, and extending radially between and connected to each of the stub section and each of the plurality of vertical legs.   
     
     
         14 . The transition structure of  claim 13 , wherein the stub section comprises a bottom flange and a top flange with at least one can extending therebetween, and the torsion plate is bolted between the top flange of the stub section and a bottom flange of the upper tube portion. 
     
     
         15 . The transition structure of  claim 14 , wherein the plurality of connecting members each comprise plates ringed with edging to form a beam structure. 
     
     
         16 . The transition structure of  claim 13 , wherein height of each of the plurality of connecting members is substantially the same as the height of the stub section. 
     
     
         17 . A wind turbine comprising:
 a wind turbine tower having an upper tower portion, a bottom tower portion having a plurality of vertical legs and a transition structure in between the upper tower portion and the bottom tower portion, the transition structure having (a) a stub section; (b) a plurality of connecting members connecting each of the plurality of vertical legs to the stub section; and (c) a torsion plate between the stub section and the plurality of vertical legs; and   a rotor having a plurality of rotor blades and rotatably connected to a nacelle positioned on top of the upper tower portion.   
     
     
         18 . The wind turbine of  claim 17 , wherein the torsion plate primarily transfers torsional forces from the upper tower portion to the bottom tower portion and the stub section and the plurality of connecting members primarily transfer axial, shear and bending forces from the upper tower portion to the bottom tower portion. 
     
     
         19 . The wind turbine of  claim 17 , wherein the stub section comprises a top flange, a bottom flange, and at least one can connected in between the top and the bottom flanges. 
     
     
         20 . The wind turbine of  claim 17 , wherein each of the plurality of connecting members is a trapezoidal plate having a first longitudinal edge and a second longitudinal edge, the first longitudinal edge connecting an outer periphery of the stub section and the second longitudinal edge connecting the plurality of vertical legs.