Hub crane assembly for a wind turbine

{
  "publication_number": "US10801473B2",
  "country": "US",
  "kind": "B2",
  "title": "Hub crane assembly for a wind turbine",
  "abstract": "The present disclosure is directed to a hub crane assembly for a wind turbine. The hub crane assembly includes an adjustable articulating arm mountable at a first height on a hub of the wind turbine at a hinge point, a first hoist mountable at a second height of the wind turbine, the second height being greater than the first height, and a support component secured to the first hoist and a first attachment point of the articulating arm. Further, the first hoist is configured to rotate the articulating arm about the hinge point via the support component such that, as the articulating arm rotates, a clearance distance between the wind turbine and the articulating arm changes.",
  "claims": [
    "1. A hub crane assembly, comprising: an adjustable articulating arm for mounting at a first height on a hub of a wind turbine at a hinge point, the articulating arm comprising a first attachment point and an opposing, second attachment point; a first hoist for mounting at a second height of the wind turbine, the second height being greater than the first height; and, a second hoist secured to the articulating arm at the second attachment point, the second hoist configured to lift or lower a load from a support surface to the hub; a support component secured to the first hoist and the first attachment point, wherein the first hoist is configured to rotate the articulating arm about the hinge point via the support component such that, when the hub crane assembly is mounted to the wind turbine and the articulating arm rotates, a clearance distance between the wind turbine and the articulating arm changes.",
    "2. The hub crane assembly of claim 1, wherein the articulating arm comprises a first arm portion and a second arm portion, the first and second arm portions secured together at a fixed attachment location.",
    "3. The hub crane assembly of claim 2, wherein the fixed attachment location comprises the second arm portion of the articulating arm secured within a slot defined in the first arm portion.",
    "4. The hub crane assembly of claim 2, wherein the second arm portion of the articulating arm is mounted to the hub via a mounting plate at the hinge point.",
    "5. The hub crane assembly of claim 1, further comprising an anchoring point configured to secure the first hoist to the hub of the wind turbine.",
    "6. The hub crane assembly of claim 5, wherein the anchoring point comprising a swivel bolt.",
    "7. The hub crane assembly of claim 1, wherein the articulating arm is mountable to a front location of the hub.",
    "8. The hub crane assembly of claim 1, wherein the first hoist is mountable to a top location of at least one of the hub or a nacelle of the wind turbine.",
    "9. The hub crane assembly of claim 1, wherein the support component comprises at least one of a strap or a sling.",
    "10. A method for lifting or lowering a wind turbine component between a support surface and a hub of a wind turbine, the method comprising: securing an adjustable articulating arm at a first height on the hub of the wind turbine, the articulating arm comprising a first attachment point and an opposing, second attachment point; securing a first hoist at a second height of the wind turbine, the second height being greater than the first height; connecting a support component to the first hoist and the first attachment point of the articulating arm; securing a second hoist to the second attachment point of the articulating arm; securing a load to the second hoist via at least one strap; and, lifting or lowering, via coordinated hoist operation of the first and second hoists, the articulating arm and the load, wherein, as the load is lifted or lowered via the second hoist, the first hoist rotates about a hinge point such that a clearance distance between the load and the wind turbine changes.",
    "11. The method of claim 10, further comprising securing the adjustable articulating arm at the first height on the hub via a mounting plate from within the hub.",
    "12. A wind turbine, comprising: a tower mounted to a support surface; a nacelle mounted atop the tower; a rotor mounted to the nacelle, the rotor comprising a rotatable hub having one or more rotor blades mounted thereto; and, a hub crane assembly comprising: an adjustable articulating arm mounted at a first height on the rotatable hub at a hinge point; a first hoist mounted at a second height of the wind turbine, the second height being greater than the first height; an anchoring point configured to secure the first hoist to the hub of the wind turbine; and, a support component secured to the first hoist and a first attachment point of the articulating arm, wherein the first hoist is configured to rotate the articulating arm about the hinge point via the support component such that, as the articulating arm rotates, a clearance distance between the wind turbine and the articulating arm changes.",
    "13. The wind turbine of claim 12, further comprising a second hoist secured to the articulating arm at an opposing, second attachment point, the second hoist configured to lift or lower a load from a support surface to the hub.",
    "14. The wind turbine of claim 12, wherein the articulating arm comprises a first arm portion and a second arm portion, the first and second arm portions secured together at a fixed attachment location.",
    "15. The wind turbine of claim 14, wherein the fixed attachment location comprises the second arm portion of the articulating arm secured within a slot defined in the first arm portion.",
    "16. The wind turbine of claim 14, wherein the second arm portion of the articulating arm is mounted to the hub via a mounting plate at the hinge point.",
    "17. The wind turbine of claim 12, wherein the articulating arm is mountable to a front location of the hub.",
    "18. The wind turbine of claim 12, wherein the first hoist is mountable to a top location of at least one of the hub or a nacelle of the wind turbine."
  ],
  "description_excerpt": "The present disclosure relates generally to wind turbines, and more particularly to a hub crane assembly for a wind turbine.\n\nWind power is considered one of the cleanest, most environmentally friendly energy sources presently available, and wind turbines have gained increased attention in this regard. A modern wind turbine typically includes a tower, a generator, a gearbox, a nacelle, and one or more rotor blades. The nacelle includes a rotor coupled to the gearbox and to the generator. The rotor and the gearbox are mounted on a bedplate support frame located within the nacelle. More specifically, in many wind turbines, the gearbox is mounted to the bedplate via one or more torque supports or arms. The rotor blades capture kinetic energy of wind using known airfoil principles. The rotor blades transmit the kinetic energy in the form of rotational energy so as to turn a shaft coupling the rotor blades to a gearbox, or if a gearbox is not used, directly to the generator. The generator then converts the mechanical energy to electrical energy that may be deployed to a utility grid.\n\nOftentimes, it is desired to lift or lower various wind turbine components between the ground and the hub and/or nacelle mounted atop the tower. For example, certain components within the nacelle or hub requiring repair and/or maintenance may need to be lowered to the ground or may require repair parts to be lifted uptower. As such, large cranes are typically utilized to lift and lower wind turbine components between the ground or other support surface and the hub/nacelle.",
  "cpc": [
    "F03D 13/10",
    "B66C 2700/0392",
    "F05B 2230/61",
    "F05B 2240/2211",
    "F05B 2240/912",
    "F05B 2240/916",
    "Y02E 10/72",
    "Y02E 10/728",
    "Y02P 70/50",
    "Y02P 70/523"
  ],
  "ipc": [
    "F03D 13/10"
  ],
  "assignees": [
    "General Electric Co"
  ],
  "inventors": [
    "Daniel Gomez MORA",
    "Jacob Thomas HOYT",
    "Michael Royce Johnson"
  ],
  "filing_date": "2018-05-01",
  "publication_date": "2020-10-13",
  "grant_date": "2020-10-13",
  "priority_date": "2017-03-29",
  "application_number": "US-201815967782-A",
  "family_id": "58501419",
  "cited_by_count": 1,
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