Patent · US Active

System and method for repairing dents in wind turbine tower sections and a related dent repair tool

US10288045B2 · kind B2 · utility

0Cited by
10References
20Claims
0Family size

Assignee

Inventors

Key dates

Filing dateDec 21, 2015
Grant dateMay 14, 2019
Priority date
Expiry dateApr 16, 2037

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC Y)Emerging Cross-Sectional Technologies
  • CPC primaryY02P70/50
  • WIPO fieldMachine tools
  • WIPO sectorMechanical engineering

Abstract

A system for repairing dents in a wind turbine tower section may generally include a dent repair tool having a tool hub and a plurality of arms configured to extend radially outwardly from the tool hub towards an inner surface of the tower section. The tool may also include a linear actuator configured to linearly actuate a plunger of the actuator arm relative to the tool hub such that the plunger applies a radially outward force against the inner surface of the tower section at or adjacent to a location of a dent formed in the tower section. In addition, the system may include a load sensor configured to provide an indication of a load associated with the radially outward force applied against the inner surface of the tower section by the plunger and a controller configured to monitor the load based on signals received from the load sensor.

Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.