Classifications

• • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
  • B66—HOISTING; LIFTING; HAULING
  • B66C—CRANES; LOAD-ENGAGING ELEMENTS OR DEVICES FOR CRANES, CAPSTANS, WINCHES, OR TACKLES
  • B66C23/00—Cranes comprising essentially a beam, boom, or triangular structure acting as a cantilever and mounted for translatory of swinging movements in vertical or horizontal planes or a combination of such movements, e.g. jib-cranes, derricks, tower cranes
  • B66C23/18—Cranes comprising essentially a beam, boom, or triangular structure acting as a cantilever and mounted for translatory of swinging movements in vertical or horizontal planes or a combination of such movements, e.g. jib-cranes, derricks, tower cranes specially adapted for use in particular purposes
  • B66C23/20—Cranes comprising essentially a beam, boom, or triangular structure acting as a cantilever and mounted for translatory of swinging movements in vertical or horizontal planes or a combination of such movements, e.g. jib-cranes, derricks, tower cranes specially adapted for use in particular purposes with supporting couples provided by walls of buildings or like structures
  • B66C23/207—Cranes comprising essentially a beam, boom, or triangular structure acting as a cantilever and mounted for translatory of swinging movements in vertical or horizontal planes or a combination of such movements, e.g. jib-cranes, derricks, tower cranes specially adapted for use in particular purposes with supporting couples provided by walls of buildings or like structures with supporting couples provided by wind turbines
• • E—FIXED CONSTRUCTIONS
  • E04—BUILDING
  • E04H—BUILDINGS OR LIKE STRUCTURES FOR PARTICULAR PURPOSES; SWIMMING OR SPLASH BATHS OR POOLS; MASTS; FENCING; TENTS OR CANOPIES, IN GENERAL
  • E04H12/00—Towers; Masts or poles; Chimney stacks; Water-towers; Methods of erecting such structures
  • E04H12/34—Arrangements for erecting or lowering towers, masts, poles, chimney stacks, or the like
  • E04H12/342—Arrangements for stacking tower sections on top of each other
• • E—FIXED CONSTRUCTIONS
  • E04—BUILDING
  • E04H—BUILDINGS OR LIKE STRUCTURES FOR PARTICULAR PURPOSES; SWIMMING OR SPLASH BATHS OR POOLS; MASTS; FENCING; TENTS OR CANOPIES, IN GENERAL
  • E04H12/00—Towers; Masts or poles; Chimney stacks; Water-towers; Methods of erecting such structures
  • E04H12/34—Arrangements for erecting or lowering towers, masts, poles, chimney stacks, or the like
  • E04H12/345—Arrangements for tilting up whole structures or sections thereof
• • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
  • F03—MACHINES OR ENGINES FOR LIQUIDS; WIND, SPRING, OR WEIGHT MOTORS; PRODUCING MECHANICAL POWER OR A REACTIVE PROPULSIVE THRUST, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
  • F03D—WIND MOTORS
  • F03D13/00—Assembly, mounting or commissioning of wind motors; Arrangements specially adapted for transporting wind motor components
  • F03D13/10—Assembly of wind motors; Arrangements for erecting wind motors
• • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
  • F03—MACHINES OR ENGINES FOR LIQUIDS; WIND, SPRING, OR WEIGHT MOTORS; PRODUCING MECHANICAL POWER OR A REACTIVE PROPULSIVE THRUST, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
  • F03D—WIND MOTORS
  • F03D13/00—Assembly, mounting or commissioning of wind motors; Arrangements specially adapted for transporting wind motor components
  • F03D13/20—Arrangements for mounting or supporting wind motors; Masts or towers for wind motors
• • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
  • F05—INDEXING SCHEMES RELATING TO ENGINES OR PUMPS IN VARIOUS SUBCLASSES OF CLASSES F01-F04
  • F05B—INDEXING SCHEME RELATING TO WIND, SPRING, WEIGHT, INERTIA OR LIKE MOTORS, TO MACHINES OR ENGINES FOR LIQUIDS COVERED BY SUBCLASSES F03B, F03D AND F03G
  • F05B2230/00—Manufacture
  • F05B2230/50—Building or constructing in particular ways
• • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
  • F05—INDEXING SCHEMES RELATING TO ENGINES OR PUMPS IN VARIOUS SUBCLASSES OF CLASSES F01-F04
  • F05B—INDEXING SCHEME RELATING TO WIND, SPRING, WEIGHT, INERTIA OR LIKE MOTORS, TO MACHINES OR ENGINES FOR LIQUIDS COVERED BY SUBCLASSES F03B, F03D AND F03G
  • F05B2230/00—Manufacture
  • F05B2230/60—Assembly methods
  • F05B2230/61—Assembly methods using auxiliary equipment for lifting or holding
• • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
  • F05—INDEXING SCHEMES RELATING TO ENGINES OR PUMPS IN VARIOUS SUBCLASSES OF CLASSES F01-F04
  • F05B—INDEXING SCHEME RELATING TO WIND, SPRING, WEIGHT, INERTIA OR LIKE MOTORS, TO MACHINES OR ENGINES FOR LIQUIDS COVERED BY SUBCLASSES F03B, F03D AND F03G
  • F05B2240/00—Components
  • F05B2240/90—Mounting on supporting structures or systems
  • F05B2240/91—Mounting on supporting structures or systems on a stationary structure
  • F05B2240/915—Mounting on supporting structures or systems on a stationary structure which is vertically adjustable
  • F05B2240/9152—Mounting on supporting structures or systems on a stationary structure which is vertically adjustable by being hinged
  • F05B2240/91521—Mounting on supporting structures or systems on a stationary structure which is vertically adjustable by being hinged at ground level
• • Y—GENERAL TAGGING OF NEW TECHNOLOGICAL DEVELOPMENTS; GENERAL TAGGING OF CROSS-SECTIONAL TECHNOLOGIES SPANNING OVER SEVERAL SECTIONS OF THE IPC; TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC CROSS-REFERENCE ART COLLECTIONS [XRACs] AND DIGESTS
  • Y02—TECHNOLOGIES OR APPLICATIONS FOR MITIGATION OR ADAPTATION AGAINST CLIMATE CHANGE
  • Y02B—CLIMATE CHANGE MITIGATION TECHNOLOGIES RELATED TO BUILDINGS, e.g. HOUSING, HOUSE APPLIANCES OR RELATED END-USER APPLICATIONS
  • Y02B10/00—Integration of renewable energy sources in buildings
  • Y02B10/30—Wind power
• • Y—GENERAL TAGGING OF NEW TECHNOLOGICAL DEVELOPMENTS; GENERAL TAGGING OF CROSS-SECTIONAL TECHNOLOGIES SPANNING OVER SEVERAL SECTIONS OF THE IPC; TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC CROSS-REFERENCE ART COLLECTIONS [XRACs] AND DIGESTS
  • Y02—TECHNOLOGIES OR APPLICATIONS FOR MITIGATION OR ADAPTATION AGAINST CLIMATE CHANGE
  • Y02E—REDUCTION OF GREENHOUSE GAS [GHG] EMISSIONS, RELATED TO ENERGY GENERATION, TRANSMISSION OR DISTRIBUTION
  • Y02E10/00—Energy generation through renewable energy sources
  • Y02E10/70—Wind energy
  • Y02E10/72—Wind turbines with rotation axis in wind direction
• • Y—GENERAL TAGGING OF NEW TECHNOLOGICAL DEVELOPMENTS; GENERAL TAGGING OF CROSS-SECTIONAL TECHNOLOGIES SPANNING OVER SEVERAL SECTIONS OF THE IPC; TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC CROSS-REFERENCE ART COLLECTIONS [XRACs] AND DIGESTS
  • Y02—TECHNOLOGIES OR APPLICATIONS FOR MITIGATION OR ADAPTATION AGAINST CLIMATE CHANGE
  • Y02E—REDUCTION OF GREENHOUSE GAS [GHG] EMISSIONS, RELATED TO ENERGY GENERATION, TRANSMISSION OR DISTRIBUTION
  • Y02E10/00—Energy generation through renewable energy sources
  • Y02E10/70—Wind energy
  • Y02E10/728—Onshore wind turbines
• • Y—GENERAL TAGGING OF NEW TECHNOLOGICAL DEVELOPMENTS; GENERAL TAGGING OF CROSS-SECTIONAL TECHNOLOGIES SPANNING OVER SEVERAL SECTIONS OF THE IPC; TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC CROSS-REFERENCE ART COLLECTIONS [XRACs] AND DIGESTS
  • Y02—TECHNOLOGIES OR APPLICATIONS FOR MITIGATION OR ADAPTATION AGAINST CLIMATE CHANGE
  • Y02P—CLIMATE CHANGE MITIGATION TECHNOLOGIES IN THE PRODUCTION OR PROCESSING OF GOODS
  • Y02P70/00—Climate change mitigation technologies in the production process for final industrial or consumer products
  • Y02P70/50—Manufacturing or production processes characterised by the final manufactured product

Definitions

• This disclosure pertains to power generating wind turbines utilizing a rotating tower with increased dimensions in the direction of the wind, compared to across the wind.
• the tower may be modular to facilitate transportation and construction. It may also utilize a fixed lower tower to retain at its top a rotating bearing that supports rotation of the rotating tower located within and extending above the fixed lower tower.
• the disclosed climbing crane and construction method may also be used with non-rotating tall towers.
• the tower design subject of this disclosure seeks to increase annual energy production (AEP) by reaching up to generally increased wind speed with height in the atmospheric boundary layer region near the earth’s surface. Proximate to the earth’s surface, friction, along with thermal and turbulent mixing effects, cause rapid changes in wind speed. These effects decrease with increased height.
• AEP annual energy production
• This simplified calculation yields about a 1 0% increase in wind speed going from a typical 80 m to a 1 50 m increased hub height.
• this 1 0% speed increase adds about 1 /3 more wind turbine output below rated power, and allows the turbine to reach its full rating in 1 0% less wind. The effect is to produce more energy overall, and to spread the energy more evenly over time, both of which have economic value to the wind generating facility.
• the goal of this patent is allow cost effective construction of wind turbine towers to up to and beyond 1 50 m (500 ft), while also mitigating logistic, transportation, and installation constraints.
• the described invention is based on a patented, lightweight, rotating, wing-shaped tall tower, that may be supported by a fixed lower tower.
• the invention discloses a climbing crane with balanced boom that allows the partially completed rotating tower to be the crane structure used in its own completion, and for lifting the wind turbine nacelle and rotor to the top once the tower is complete.
• the method for using the climbing crane to erect the tower is also disclosed. Certain aspects of this disclosure are applicable to non-rotating tall towers as well.
• Figure 1 illustrates a side view of a fixed lower tower and the tilting up of a portion of the forward leaning rotating tower into position on a lower bearing and a upper bearing.
• Figure 2 illustrates a side view of the rotating tower positioned on the lower bearing and upper bearing, and tilting up the climbing crane toward its initial position on the tower back edge.
• Figure 3 illustrates the climbing crane positioned on the back edge of the rotating tower, and using its balanced boom for hoisting a further rotating tower segment into place atop the completed portion of the rotating tower.
• Figure 4 illustrates using the climbing crane near the tower top, with the balanced boom hoisting a turbine nacelle.
• Figure 5 illustrates the climbing crane hoisting the turbine rotor to the hub.
• Figure 6 illustrates the completed tower and turbine, with the climbing crane removed.
• Figure 7 is a cross sectional view of the rotating tower section illustrating the leading (front) edge and the trailing (back) edge.
• DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF DISCLOSURE [0022] It will be appreciated that not all embodiments of the invention can be disclosed within the scope of this document and that additional embodiments of the invention will become apparent to persons skilled in the technology after reading this disclosure. These additional embodiments are claimed within the scope of this invention.
• the rotating wing-shaped tower 100 can be oriented with the wind (shown by vector arrow 975), which allows less material to carry a given bending moment, and reduced aerodynamic drag, compared with a conventional round tower, which must accept turbine and direct wind loading from any direction.
• the wing portion is comprised of structural leading 110 and trailing 120 edges that provide the main load paths, with joining panels 135 between the edges.
• the joining panels can be mechanically fastened 137, 138 to the leading edge 110 and trailing edge 120.
• the interior of the wing-shaped tower 136 can be empty. The separation of the edges tapers to follow the thrust bending moment on the tower.
• the half circle leading and trailing edges are further apart than for a circular shape, and strength in the fore-aft direction is increased, about linearly with centroid separation, while stiffness increases even faster, going nearer as the square.
• This basic improvement in section geometry is what allows a given amount of material to reach higher into the airflow than is possible with conventional round tower construction.
• the leading and trailing edges need not be circles, and will be tailored for aerodynamic and structural optimization - the basic mechanism of increased efficiency remains effective.
• the tower can be modified to contain components allowing the attachment and movement of a climbing crane.
• the disclosed tower and crane could be used with either a windward facing or downwind facing wind turbine, so it is appropriate to define the tower edges relative to crane function.
• front refers to the tower side facing the components to be lifted
• back refers to the side facing away from the components to be lifted. It will be further appreciated that the back edge above the upper bearing is at a less vertical angle than the front edge thereby facilitating the operation of the climbing crane.
• the tapering shape of the tower structure follows the primary thrust moment distribution, reducing the need to taper material thickness, and efficiently transferring load to the foundation via the conical tower base (fixed lower tower).
• the tapering tower width allows relatively uniform stress in the main structural edges so their material is loaded efficiently, and the side panels need carry only modest amounts of shear and bending loads.
• the material properties and shape can be selected based upon the rotating tower maintaining a relatively constant orientation with the wind.
• the tower may be allowed to self-feather causing the leading edge to become the trailing edge.
• the ability to choose the thickness, shape, and local radius of curvature of the front edge part enhances the buckling stability of the front edge while minimizing its weight and cost, i.e., maximizes structural efficiency.
• the ability to tailor the shape of this edge could have a substantial impact on its weight, as its buckling stability may be a design driver for passive high wind self-feathering survivability.
• All components may be modular and shipped within existing wind turbine trucking and lifting constraints.
• the fixed portion can be installed with a conventional crane and can support tilting up a wing portion.
• the forward-leaning top of the wing tower can then be used to hoist upper tower sections to efficiently achieve very tall tower heights, and to provide the nacelle and rotor lift after the tower is assembled to full height.
• the description of the construction process is described below with reference to the Figures 1 through 6.
• Figure 1 illustrates an exposed interior side view of the fixed lower tower 50. Also illustrated are the front edge 110 and the back edge 120 of the rotating tower.
• the rotating tower is shown installed on the lower bearing 370, and being tilted up from its mid point 330 (mid-tower collar), through a temporary slot (not illustrated) in the fixed lower tower.
• the mid point is where the separation between the front and back edge is the greatest, and the tower is strongest.
• the height of the fixed tower is shown by vector arrow 15.
• the height of the midpoint may be the same as the height of the fixed lower tower wherein the bearing loads are taken into the strongest place on the tower.
• the ground based winch vehicle 11 that may tilt up the rotating tower, although this may also be done with a crane used to build the lower tower, or to position loads for later lifts by the self-erecting tower climbing crane.
• Figure 2 illustrates the completed installation of the rotating tower 100 on to the lower bearing and the upper bearing 220.
• the function and operation of the lower bearing and upper bearing in relation to the rotating tower is more fully described in patents 7,891 ,939 & 8,061 ,964.
• Figure 2 also shows the climbing crane 7 being tilted toward initial engagement with the tower, from which position it would be moved to working height to begin its climb.
• the attachment modules 5 may be in position on the rotating tower before the climbing crane is positioned (as shown), or may be moved into position with the climbing crane in a single operation.
• FIG. 3 illustrates the operation of the climbing crane, with frame 8 shown positioned on the back edge of the rotating forward leaning tower 100. The operation of the components used in the attachment of the climbing crane is described below. Also illustrated is the balanced climbing crane boom 13. An upper tower section 9 is illustrated suspended from a lifting cable 10 that passes across the pivoting boom 13 via sheaves 15 at each end, and is controlled by a ground based winch vehicle 11. The tower segment is raised from the ground level 12 and hoisted into position on the rotating forward leaning tower. This process is continued sequentially until the tower reaches its full height. It will be appreciated that this disclosure teaches towers constructed up to and over 500 feet in height. (See vector arrow 14 illustrated in Figure 6.) This is higher than the lifting capacity of most existing cranes.
• FIG 4 illustrates the tower 100 at its completed height.
• the climbing crane (illustrated as item 7 in Figure 3) is elevated to its greatest height.
• the nacelle 350 is shown being hoisted into position at the top of the rotating forward leaning tower by lifting cable 10.
• the angle of the lifting cable from the winch vehicle 11 makes twice the angle 2a to the vertical of the tower back edge a.
• the nacelle is hoisted into close proximity to the front edge of the tower.
• Figure 5 illustrates the hoisting of the turbine rotor 351 to the top of the tower. Also illustrated are the attachment modules 5 for the climbing crane frame 8 and the crane boom 13,and the lifting cable 10 and winch vehicle 11.
• FIG. 6 illustrates the completed tower and turbine.
• the tower 100 comprises the fixed lower tower 50, the lower bearing (not shown), mid tower collar 330 and upper bearing 220, the back edge 120, front edge 110, rotor 351 , and nacelle 350.
• the tower height is represented by vector arrow 14. It will be appreciated that the lower portion of the rotating tower, i.e., below the upper bearing, rotates within the visible external fixed lower tower.
• Circular cylinders create substantial drag, due to large-scale disruption of fluid flow.
• the drag coefficient (Cd) for a large diameter circular tower in extreme wind conditions is approximately 0.7, and can be well in excess of 1 .0 over a large range of operating Reynolds numbers.
• Research conducted on elliptical shapes similar in form to the wing shaped tower show that a Cd of 0.1 4 is attainable for such tower sections, thereby reducing direct aerodynamic tower drag loads during extreme winds by about a factor of 5. Further drag reduction via a more airfoil shape is possible, but may be limited by cost.
• the rotating tower can be constructed to allow the front edge to lean into the windward direction, as shown in Figure 6. This increases the distance between the tower leading edge and the plane of rotation of the turbine blades, and minimizes potential for damage to the turbine blades by striking the tower, thereby allowing for more blade flex during design.
• the tower design subject of this disclosure incorporates a rotating tower with the capability to hoist the nacelle and rotor to hub heights that are well beyond current limits.
• a recent NREL report (Cotrell, J., Stehly. T., Johnson, J., Roberts, J.O., Parker, Z., Scott. G., and Heimiller, D.,“Analysis of Transportation and Logistics Challenges Affecting the Deployment of Larger Wind Turbines: Summary of Results,” NREL/TP-5000-61 063, January 201 4 noted that nacelle hoisting is one of the most significant challenges for tower heights over 1 40 m.
• the nacelle weight for the 3.0 MW baseline turbine was 67 metric tonnes and it must be lifted to the full hub height. This requires a 1 ,250 to 1 ,600 tonnes crawler crane to assemble the wind turbine generator (WTG).
• the fixed lower tower can be constructed using segmented steel or concrete construction as is seen in existing hybrid tower designs. An extension beyond current practice is leaving out one or more segments to tilt up the lower part of the rotating tower. Note that the size of the tilt up portion is to be chosen for best overall tower and erection costs— it could be anything from zero to full height as best benefits cost at given sites. It is possible to build the lower part of the rotating tower incrementally within the fixed portion. Using an incremental build for the lower rotating tower assures that the departure point for the upper tower build via the climbing crane can be achieved. In some rough terrain sites, this may be the best option, possibly the only option, available if or as needed.
• the tower itself becomes the boom of an ever taller crane as work progresses. There may not be any other way to achieve breakthrough heights, since some form of crane is needed to reach above the tower top to lift the nacelle and rotor. Costs for exceptionally tall cranes rise very quickly, and they are not available to service all locations. The costs that go into building this tower remain with the turbine; there are no large crane mobilization or teardown costs.
• the climbing crane is illustrated in Figures 3-5. It comprises a climbing crane frame, attachment modules, and balanced pivoting boom.
• the frame is a beam structure that is positioned and moves parallel to the slope of the tower back edge.
• the climbing crane includes attachment modules for attachment of the frame to the tower back edge.
• the frame has at its tip a pivoting boom that provides forward reach for lifting the loads.
• Back edge elements engaged by the climbing crane attachment modules could be a captive rail(s) as used on roller coasters, holes into which mechanical cogs are inserted, complementary geared wheels and rails, or bands that reach around the tower and secure the crane from falling away, with wheels to roll along the tower edge, or even magnetic retention given a steel back edge.
• the height adjustment of the climbing crane can be achieved in many ways, for instance by one or more hydraulic lifts within the attachment modules.
• the hydraulic lift(s) can contain components such as over center grip pads that interface with complementary fitting components such as a rail(s) on the back edge.
• the hydraulic lifts would propel the climbing crane to the next higher level on the back edge, while multiple redundant over-center grip pads or equivalent could provide safe retention by requiring active release to safeguard against accidental drop, similar to personal safety harness climbing equipment.
• the climbing crane uses cogs as on cogged railways, with the attachment modules employing cog wheels interfacing with a cog pattern affixed to the tower back edge.
• the climbing crane attachment comprises a geared or toothed wheel that interfaces with geared or toothed rail(s) permanently attached to the tower back edge.
• additional fitting components of the back edge may be located at engineered strong points.
• the cog and geared rail systems are examples of permanent back edge elements.
• the components may include one or more guide rails. Similar rails could provide a griping surface for one or more additional fail safe components on the climbing crane frame or attachment modules.
• the above described cog wheel, geared or toothed wheel, and hydraulic lift are examples of climbing crane attachment module elevation devices.
• Other examples are clamping pads similar to brake system calipers that grip and release in sequentially higher (or lower) positions, or a winch and cable or chain that lifts or lowers the climbing crane to a new height.
• Many other mechanisms that can achieve the same functions are known, and are claimed herein as ways to adjust the climbing crane height while securing it to the rotating tower back edge.
• Another component of the attachment modules are contact pads that are shaped to complement the surface of the tower back edge.
• the pads help transfer the crane load into the tower, and also serve to limit deformations in the tower edge shape induced by the loads. They may be adjustable in shape if needed to follow changes in tower back edge shape.
• the climbing crane also includes a balanced pivoting boom comprising a beam structure at the upper tip end of the climbing crane frame that pivots to control the forward reach of the lift hook.
• This beam may be
• the climbing crane used in conjunction with the rotating forward leaning tower is a quite novel and useful development. There is, however, an important structural limitation. It is important that the climbing crane not impose loads on the partially complete tower during erection, and on the completed tower during turbine nacelle and rotor lift, that add significant cost and weight penalties to the tower as it would be designed in the absence of the climber crane.
• the tower In its normal function (absent the role of the climbing crane) the tower carries the wind turbine rotor induced loads to the ground.
• the rotating tower front and back edges are therefore constructed to carry the large structural loads in the vertical direction.
• the vertical component of the climbing crane loads is small relative to tower working and extreme wind loads, and will not require further strengthening.
• the pivoting boom does not have to be perfectly balanced to achieve its goals, as some level of perpendicular loads can be transferred toward or away from the tower back edge without modification.
• Balanced as used in this boom definition means near enough to equal moments to each side of the pivot that the tower need not be reinforced to handle the climber crane imposed loads. For a 1 :1 cable system, a difference of 5%, 1 0%, or even 20% in boom arm lengths may thereby be consistent with the invention.
• the primary load lifting winch can not be on the climbing crane– it must be an independent ground winch vehicle that applies the same downward force to the back arm of the boom as lifting the load does to the front arm.
• This vehicle must be large enough to supply the required lifting cable tension without itself being lifted off the ground, whereby it must weigh substantially more than the largest load to be lifted, so that needed forces to resist being slid toward the tower base can also be reliably provided.
• a modified tracked vehicle similar in size to a Caterpillar D9 earthmover, possibly with additional mass added, could be needed for a 1 :1 lift system.
• a suitably stabilized extension from the foundation or floating platform would provide the equivalent function of the ground base for the winch vehicle.
• two ground vehicles both of which may carry winches, or one of which may serve to dead end a 2:1 lifting cable, while the other carries the active winch.
• double sheaves would be used at each end of the pivoting boom, and a 2:1 sheave would be used at the primary lifting hook.
• a winch and cable could be used, if the boom loads were biased so it always tries to pivot in one direction. This could also be done using additional independently controlled cables from the ground winch vehicle. Given the tower heights for which the climber crane is intended, this last is not seen as a preferred embodiment, but is claimed within the scope of the patent.
• the distance from the climbing crane support points to the load is very much shorter than the 500’+ reach to tower top for a ground crane, and because the climbing crane and tower move together rather than independently, the precision and speed of load placement will be aided by that feature of the invention as well.
• the rotational yaw ability of the rotating tower combined with its forward lean can be used to provide a degree of lateral adjustment of the lift line for picking loads from the ground. This would not be used for large lateral movements, as that would impose additional loads on the climber crane, attachment modules, and tower back edge - a small ground crane would be used to place loads in the designated lift zone, and the limited lateral adjustment could be to aid attaching the load to the lift hook, or limiting adverse loads or motions in the initial lift free of ground contact.
• Lifting would be done once the climbing crane is in position at a chosen location.
• a preferred choice would be where the attachment modules are at the joints between tower sections, since the overlap creates a thicker, stiffer, and stronger zone there.
• secure retention would be engaged, such as pins inserted into holes in the tower or rails, or mechanical clamping to the rails that requires powered release.
• Many similar safety requirements exist for cables cars, ski lifts, as well as large crane erection, and would be applied to make the climbing crane movement and retention both safe and efficient. The use of such a system is claimed within the scope of this invention.

Landscapes

• Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
• Architecture (AREA)
• Civil Engineering (AREA)
• Structural Engineering (AREA)
• Mechanical Engineering (AREA)
• Life Sciences & Earth Sciences (AREA)
• Sustainable Development (AREA)
• Sustainable Energy (AREA)
• Chemical & Material Sciences (AREA)
• Combustion & Propulsion (AREA)
• General Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
• Wind Motors (AREA)

Applications Claiming Priority (4)

Publications (2)

Family

ID=58490603

Family Applications (1)

Country Status (2)

Families Citing this family (3)

Family Cites Families (6)

• 2015
  • 2015-06-02 EP EP15819709.5A patent/EP3167186A4/de not_active Withdrawn
  • 2015-06-02 CN CN201580032895.XA patent/CN106662076A/zh active Pending

Also Published As

Similar Documents

Legal Events