Handling device for handling a rotor blade mold for producing a rotor blade of a wind turbine

{
  "publication_number": "US9796116B2",
  "country": "US",
  "kind": "B2",
  "title": "Handling device for handling a rotor blade mold for producing a rotor blade of a wind turbine",
  "abstract": "The present disclosure concerns a transport vehicle for handling a rotor blade mold for the production of a rotor blade of a wind power installation or a shell portion of a rotor blade of a wind power installation, adapted for use in a handling apparatus. The handling apparatus includes a first rail set for displacement of the transport vehicle in a first direction, and a second rail set for displacement of the transport vehicle in a second direction. In addition the transport vehicle includes a first wheel set including a plurality of wheels for movement on the first rail set, and a second wheel set including a plurality of wheels for movement on the second rail set.",
  "claims": [
    "1. A transport system for transporting a rotor blade mold for producing a rotor blade or a shell portion of a rotor blade of a wind power installation, the transport system comprising: a first rail set extending in a first direction, a second rail set extending in a second direction, a transport vehicle that includes: a first wheel set including a plurality of wheels for movement on the first rail set, and a second wheel set including a plurality of wheels for movement on the second rail set; a first rotor blade mold arranged on the transport vehicle for producing a first rotor blade shell portion; a second rotor blade mold arranged on the transport vehicle for producing a second rotor blade shell portion; and a hinge device coupled to the first rotor blade mold and adapted for pivotal movement of the first rotor blade mold in such a way that the first rotor blade shell portion accommodated in the first rotor blade mold is pivoted on to a second rotor blade shell portion accommodated in the second rotor blade mold for assembling the first and second rotor blade shell portions into a rotor blade, wherein the hinge device is adapted to be releasably connected to the first rotor blade mold for the pivotal movement.",
    "2. The transport system according to claim 1 wherein the transport vehicle includes a change device that is coupled to the first wheel set and the second wheel set and configured to move from the first wheel set being on the first rail set to the second wheel set being on the second rail set.",
    "3. The transport system according to claim 2 wherein: the change device is adapted to lift and lower the wheels of the first wheel set, wherein the wheels of the first wheel set can be moved between a lowered position into a lifted position, and wherein the transport vehicle is lifted and lowered by the movement of the wheels of the first wheel set, and wherein the transport vehicle: in the lowered position rests with the wheels of the first wheel set on the first rail set and the wheels of the second wheel set do not rest on the second rail set, and in the lifted position rests with the wheels of the second wheel set on the second rail set and the wheels of the first wheel set do not rest on the first rail set.",
    "4. The transport system according to claim 3 wherein the change device further comprises an elbow lever mechanism, wherein the elbow lever mechanism is configured to lower and lift the wheels of the first wheel set.",
    "5. The transport system according to claim 2 wherein the change device is operated hydraulically or electrically.",
    "6. The transport system according to claim 3 wherein the change device includes a lifting means for lifting and lowering the respective wheel or a respective group of wheels.",
    "7. The transport system according to claim 2 wherein the change device is electrically coupled to an electric rechargeable energy storage means that is arranged and fixed on the transport vehicle, and a connection coupling is provided on the transport vehicle to connect the transport vehicle or at least one of the first and second rotor blade molds accommodated on the transport vehicle to supply lines for at least one of electric current, compressed air, vacuum and control data.",
    "8. The transport system according to claim 3 wherein the wheels of the first and second wheel sets are respectively driven by a common drive motor and corresponding drive torques are transmitted from the drive motor by way of drive shafts and universal joints to the drive wheels.",
    "9. The transport system according to claim 1 wherein the transport vehicle is located on both the first and second rail sets, wherein the first direction is substantially transverse to the second direction in order to allow the transport vehicle that is located on both the first and second rail sets to move substantially in two mutually transversely arranged directions.",
    "10. The transport system according to claim 1 wherein the first rail set and the second rail set have round rails projecting in a floor.",
    "11. The transport system according to claim 6 wherein the lifting means for the wheels are configured to be synchronously actuated.",
    "12. The transport system according to claim 8 wherein respective universal joints are arranged between the wheels and the drive shaft.",
    "13. The transport system according to claim 12 further comprising a transmission arranged between the universal joint and the wheels and configured to convert a shaft rotary speed of the drive shaft at the universal joint into a lower wheel rotary speed.",
    "14. The transport system according to claim 1 wherein the pivotal movement is about a substantially horizontal pivot axis."
  ],
  "description_excerpt": "Technical Field\n\nThe present invention concerns a transport vehicle for handling a rotor blade mold for the production of a rotor blade of a wind power installation. The invention further concerns a handling apparatus which includes such a transport vehicle. Furthermore the invention concerns a process for the production of a rotor blade of a wind power installation.\n\nDescription of the Related Art\n\nWind power installations are generally known and usually require at least one and usually three rotor blades which are to be driven by the wind. Modern wind power installations like for example the one shown in FIG. 1 can have a nominal power of several megawatts and require suitably large rotor blades for that purpose. Such rotor blades can nowadays already be of lengths of about 50 m and more. In that respect such a rotor blade is frequently made, at least in a large portion thereof, from glass fiber-reinforced plastic or similar material. A common possible form of production involves making the rotor blade or the rotor blade portion from two shell portions. The two shell portions are first produced substantially separately and are then fitted together. The production of such shell portions involves using a rotor blade mold which in particular predetermines the shape of the rotor blade to be produced or the corresponding portion thereof. In this case for example fiber mats can be placed in position, which are then impregnated with a suitable resin.",
  "cpc": [
    "B29C 31/006",
    "B29C 31/00",
    "B29C 33/34",
    "B29D 99/0028",
    "B60P 1/28",
    "B61J 1/10",
    "B65G 2201/02",
    "B65G 2207/14",
    "B65G 67/30",
    "Y02E 10/72",
    "Y02P 70/50"
  ],
  "ipc": [
    "B29C 31/00",
    "B29C 33/34",
    "B29D 99/00",
    "B60P 1/28",
    "B61J 1/10",
    "B65G 67/30",
    "F03D 13/40",
    "F03D 80/00",
    "F03D 80/80"
  ],
  "assignees": [
    "Wobben Properties GmbH"
  ],
  "inventors": [
    "Arno Georgs",
    "Herbert Biebl",
    "Rainer Schlueter"
  ],
  "filing_date": "2013-07-01",
  "publication_date": "2017-10-24",
  "grant_date": "2017-10-24",
  "priority_date": "2012-07-02",
  "application_number": "US-201314411824-A",
  "family_id": "48703574",
  "cited_by_count": 3,
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}