FIXTURE FOR LOCATING WIND TURBINE
EQUIPMENT ON FOUNDATION PRIOR TO
TOWER INSTALLATION
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0001] The invention relates generally to wind turbine equipment and more
specifically to a fixture and method for locating wind turbine equipment on a
foundation for a wind turbine tower, prior to the tower installation.
[0002] Early construction of wind power plants first produced a foundation, then
the tower of the wind power plant was erected and subsequently a machine house was
outfitted at the tip of the tower and the rotor was affixed with the rotor blades. After
this, the electric power modules such as a transformer, switch cabinets, converters, a
medium voltage system, a low voltage system, etc., were installed, often in a separate
housing in proximity to the wind turbine tower.
[0003] Subsequently, wind plant equipment and methods were developed to
construct a foundation and then place the essential power modules, such as
transformer; switch cabinets; converters, medium voltage systems, and low voltage
distribution on the wind turbine tower foundation, in various arrangements. Under
these methods, the wind turbine tower (tower) was erected on the foundation over the
electric equipment to provide protection from the elements and make use of otherwise
vacant enclosed space within the tower. The electrical equipment may be
prefabricated and consolidated in structures and modules, designed for mounting to
the tower foundation. However, the locations for these structures and modules needs
to be manually measured out and identified, such as by spray painting the foundation,
prior to the positioning and mounting of the electrical equipment and subsequent
erection of the tower. In the event of faulty location and mounting of these
components, it was sometimes necessary to relocate in order to avoid interference
with the tower base.

[0004] Accordingly, there is a need to provide a fixture and method for rapidly and
accurately locating structures and equipment on the tower foundation prior to the
installation of the tower.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
[0005] The present invention relates to a fixture and method for quickly and
accurately locating and marking the position for mounting wind turbine equipment on
the tower foundation within the envelope of the tower.
[0006] Briefly in accordance with one aspect of the present invention, a fixture is
provided, adapted for locating wind turbine equipment on a foundation within an
inner envelope for a wind turbine tower prior to erecting the wind turbine tower. The
fixture includes a mounting section, adapted to mate with guidepoints at
predesignated locations on the wind turbine foundation; and a locating section,
extending inward from the mounting section, adapted to locate wind turbine
equipment on the foundation for the wind turbine tower and within the inner envelope
of the wind turbine tower.
[0007] In accordance with a second aspect of the present invention, a method is
provided for locating wind turbine equipment on a foundation for a wind turbine
tower, prior to the erection of the wind turbine tower. The method includes providing
a guidepoint on a footprint on the foundation of the wind turbine; mounting a fixture
to a first predesignated guidepoint; and marking a locator spot for the wind turbine
equipment according to an orienting section of the fixture.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING
[0008] These and other features, aspects, and advantages of the present invention
will become better understood when the following detailed description is read with
reference to the accompanying drawings in which like characters represent like parts
throughout the drawings, wherein:

[0009] FIG. 1 illustrates a preassembled structure with electric components and an
individual electric component mounted to the foundation of a wind turbine tower;
[0010] FIG. 2 illustrates one embodiment of an inventive fixture for locating a
structure housing wind turbine equipment on the foundation of a wind turbine tower;
[0011] FIG. 3A illustrates an isometric view of one embodiment of a fixture
adapted for locating wind turbine equipment on a foundation for the wind turbine
tower;
[0012] FIG. 3B illustrates a top view of one embodiment for a fixture adapted for
locating wind turbine equipment on a foundation for the wind turbine tower;
[0013] FIG. 3C illustrates a side view for one embodiment of a fixture adapted for
locating wind turbine equipment on a foundation for the wind turbine tower;
[0014] FIG. 3D illustrates a bottom view for one embodiment of a fixture adapted
for locating wind turbine equipment on a foundation for the wind turbine tower;
[0015] FIG. 4A illustrates a top view of an empty prearranged foundation (without
concrete fill) with a steel reinforcement within an anchor cage;
[0016] FIG. 4B illustrates another embodiment of an inventive fixture 100 for
locating the placement of stub up tubes or conduits; and
[0017] FIG. 5 illustrates a flowchart of an embodiment of a method for locating
wind turbine equipment on a foundation for a wind turbine tower prior to erecting the
wind turbine tower.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
[0018] The following embodiments of the present invention have many
advantages, including quickly and accurately identifying the location for structures
and wind turbine equipment that must be mounted on the wind turbine tower
foundation within the envelope of the tower.

[0019] Many wind turbine towers include cylindrical tower sections that are
attached axially together using connections such as bolted joint flanges at their ends.
The base tower section may include bottom flanges that establish a tower footprint, of
generally cylindrical shape, on the foundation. Alternatively, the bottom end of the
base tower section may be bolted radially to a vertical element of inverted T-shaped
connection members, or other such element.
[0020] However, prior to erection of the tower, structures and wind turbine
equipment must be mounted on the foundation of the tower and internal to the base
section of the tower. The mounted structures and wind turbine equipment must also
be placed so as to avoid any inner elements for the base section of the tower. These
inner elements of the tower may include the inverted T-shaped connection members
supporting the base. The inner elements may also include any inward protrusions
from the base section of the tower that may interfere with the placement of wind
turbine equipment of the foundation of the tower.
[0021] The present invention provides the capability to accurately and quickly
locate the placement of such structures and wind turbine equipment at predetermined
locations within the envelope of the tower. The present invention eliminates the need
for use of detailed drawings in order to establish reference distances and physical
relationships for locating the base of the wind turbine equipment. Further, the
present invention provides a simple procedure capable of being quickly learned by
many different construction crews at disparate locations throughout the world who are
responsible for constructing the wind turbines.
[0022] The present invention incorporates a fixture mounted to an accurately
known position (guidepoint) on the foundation and extending to a precise location for
the placement of the structure or wind turbine component. The guidepoint may
include anchor bolts for the tower, where the anchor bolts extend from the anchor
cage in the tower foundation.
[0023] In alternative tower arrangements, when the lowest part of the tower
structure is embedded in the foundation, a horizontal flange may be provided, at the

top of such an embedded part and above the upper surface of the foundation. The
horizontal flange may be used for mating horizontal flange with a corresponding
lower flange horizontal flange from the upper section of the tower. The boltholes on
the top horizontal flange of the embedded tower part, within the foundation, may
serve as guidepoints for the inventive fixture. It should be recognized that other
guidepoints may also be established for mounting of the inventive fixture.
[0024] One embodiment of the inventive fixture may include a mounting section, a
locating section and an orienting section. The fixture mounting section may include a
plate adapted to sit flat relative to the foundation when mounted for locating
components. The plate may include holes adapted to receive the guidepoints, such the
anchor bolts of the tower foundation. The holes in the plate may alternatively aligned
be with the bolt holes on the top flange of the embedded tower part, within the
foundation. In this case, the mounting section may be bolted to the upper horizontal
flange for the embedded tower part.
[0025] The locating section may be fixed to the mounting section and extend in a
generally inward direction to the establish a locating point for a corner or other fixed
position on the component to be mounted on the foundation of the tower and within
the envelope of the tower.
[0026] At the end of the mounting section, an orienting section may be attached.
The orienting section may include an element shaped to assist in positioning a
structure or wind turbine equipment on the foundation. Such an element may include
a right angle normal to the axial direction of the tower. The right angle may define a
corner position for the structure or the wind turbine equipment component. However
the orienting section may be sized and shaped to accommodate the positioning of
different structures and wind turbine equipment, of varying size, shape and
configuration.
[0027] The elements being positioned by the fixture may include the corners for an
enclosed structure within the tower. The structure may be used to house wind turbine
equipment or mount a platform or frame to carry wind turbine equipment. Such a

structured may also be preassembled with wind turbine equipment allowing for quick
installation of the preassembled components. However, the elements being positioned
need not be preassembled on the structure. The elements being positioned may also
include individual wind turbine equipment components. Whether preassembled on a
structure or mounted individually, such components may be electric components. The
wind turbine equipment may be mounted on the structure, platform or frame, or be
individually mounted to the foundation. The electric components may include, but
not be limited to, transformers; switch cabinets; converters, medium voltage systems,
low voltage distribution systems, etc.
[0028] FIG. 1 illustrates a preassembled structure with electric components and an
individual electric component mounted to the foundation of a wind turbine tower prior
to the installation of the tower. Individual electric component 1 may be mounted on
the foundation 2. Preassembled electric power components 3 may be mounted to an
assembly 4 supported on footings or stanchions 5 attached to the foundation 1. When
installation of the components has been performed, the tower 6 may be erected over
the foundation and installed components.
[0029] The electric components may also include stub tubes for electric wiring to
various electric components to be mounted on the structure, tower foundation and
other locations within the tower. The electrical equipment on it may be connected to
the cables coming into the tower from the outside. These cables can enter the tower
conduits embedded in the foundation. Some of these cables are large and fairly rigid,
making it important to place the equipment as designed or risk being unable to make
the electric connection. Therefore, the stub up tubes need to be precisely located
relative to the equipment they will feed on the structure or tower floor.
[0030] The fixture may further include a reversible symmetry, such that the the
fixture may be flipped 180 degrees and translated to mount at other predesignated
guidepoints on the tower footprint to locate at least one additional corner of the
structure or the wind turbine equipment.

[0031] FIG. 2 illustrates one embodiment of a fixture for locating a structure
housing wind turbine equipment on the foundation of a wind turbine tower. Anchor
bolts 70 in the footprint of the anchor cage 60 for the tower provide guidepoints 72 for
the mounting of the fixture 10. The anchor bolts 70 projecting upward from the
anchor cage 60 are precisely located around the footprint for tower shell. The anchor
cage holes 65 are indexed with respect to the centerline 90 of the door for the
structure 85. Consequently, the anchor bolts may used as guidepoints 72 for
positioning the fixture 10. The fixture may be indexed to a first predetermined
location by designating the specific holes with reference to the centerline 90 to which
the fixture is to be mounted. The length and shape of the fixture 10 with respect to
the guidepoints determine the placement of the footings 80 for the structure 85 on the
foundation 75 for the tower. Fixture 10 is illustrated indexed to the left side of the
centerline 90. Further, the fixture 10 may be reversed by flipping over and translating
to an indexed position on the right side of centerline 90 as shown for reversed fixture
55. Reversed fixture 55 may locate a second footing 80 for the structure 85. By
precisely locating two footings for the structure, the structure may be properly and
precisely positioned within the envelope of the tower, thereby avoiding interferences
and the potential need for repositioning. While it is not shown, if individual wind
turbine equipment components were to be mounted on the tower foundation, one or
more of these components may be located by using one or more appropriately
configured fixtures.
[0032] FIG. 3A illustrates an isometric view of one embodiment of a fixture
adapted for locating wind turbine equipment on a foundation for the wind turbine
tower. FIG. 3B illustrates a top view of one embodiment for a fixture adapted for
locating wind turbine equipment on a foundation for the wind turbine tower. FIG. 3C
illustrates a side view for one embodiment of a fixture adapted for locating wind
turbine equipment on a foundation for the wind turbine tower. FIG. 3D illustrates a
bottom view for one embodiment of a fixture adapted for locating wind turbine
equipment on a foundation for the wind turbine tower. The fixture 10 includes a
mounting section 15 and a locating section 25. Mounting section 10 and locating
section 25 may be fabricated from thin flat metal plate, which must be strong enough

to support its own weight when suspended from a mounting location. The mounting
section 15 may include a plurality of mounting holes 20, positioned normal to the face
of the mounting section 15 and of appropriate diameter and location, to mate with
guidepoints (previously described) on the foundation for the tower.
[0033] The locating section 25 extends from and may be attached to the mounting
section 15 by welds or other means known in the art. The locating section 25 includes
a guide arm 30 of appropriate length and orientation with respect to the mounting
section 15 to place the end of the guide arm 30 opposite the mounting section 15 in
proximity to the location for the structure or wind turbine equipment to be mounted to
the foundation. The guide arm 30 may also include, at the end opposite the mounting
section 15, an orienting section 35, adapted to fix the position of a corner of the
structure or wind turbine equipment component being located on the foundation. In
the embodiment shown, the orienting section 35 may be fixed to the guide arm by
welding or other appropriate method known in the art. The orientating section 35
may include a plate 37 forming a 90-degree angle 45, with vertex 38. The plate 37
may define the position for the corner of the structure or wind turbine equipment
component mounted on the foundation. The vertex 38 for the 90-degree angle is
usually arranged in a parallel configuration with the axis of the tower. In other
embodiments the orienting section may be formed in other shapes or sizes to define
the position for other objects being located on the foundation. Further the top surface
and the bottom surface of the guide arm 30 may be marked "LEFT" 45 and "RIGHT"
50 to facilitate orientation. In this case, "LEFT" 45 and "RIGHT"-50 identify which
surface should be facing an individual mounting the fixture on the left side and the
right side, respectively, of the centerline for the door of the structure.
[0034] FIG. 4A illustrates a top view of an empty prearranged foundation 105
(without concrete fill) with a steel reinforcement 102, 102 within an anchor cage 160.
A stub up tube 110 (conduit) is waiting to be positioned prior to the concrete fill.
[0035] FIG. 4B illustrates another embodiment of an inventive fixture 100 for
locating the placement of stub up tubes or conduits. The stub up tube provides a path
for electric cables through the foundation to a location in proximity to where the

power from the electric cables must be supplied. The stub up tube 110 needs to be
accurately positioned in proximity to the electric components being supplied. After
the stub up tubes 110 are positioned, concrete will poured for the foundation section
105 within the tower footprint. Here, the fixture 100 is shown mounted to a guidepost
set by anchor bolts 170 of the anchor cage 160. The fixture 100 comprises a
mounting section 115 and a locating section 125, which includes a guide arm 130 and
an orienting section 135. Dimensions and material strength for the fixture 100 may be
determined by methods known to the art. The length and orientation of the guide arm
130 may be chosen to place the orienting section 135 in the general area of the stub up
tubes 110 (extending vertically from the foundation). The orienting section 135 may
be formed as a flat plate with cutouts of precise diameter and location to position the
stub up tubes 110. The orienting section 135 may provide for a single stub up tube or
multiple tubes. The tubes may be of the same or multiple diameters. Large diameter
tube holes 140 and small diameter tube holes 150 are shown. More than one fixture
may be employed if the tubes are required to be widely separated on the foundation.
[0036] A method is also provided for locating wind turbine equipment on a
foundation for a wind turbine tower prior to erecting the wind turbine tower. The
method may include providing a guidepoint on a footprint on the foundation of the
wind turbine tower. The method provides for mounting a fixture to a first
predesignated guidepoint. The fixture is of such size and orientation that an
orientation section of the fixture will define a locator spot for the wind turbine
equipment or structure. The step may further include indexing the mounting section
of the fixture to a location relative to a designated predetermined location on the
foundation, such as the centerline for the door of a structure being positioned. The
method further includes marking a locator spot for the wind turbine equipment or
structure according to the orienting section of the fixture.
[0037] The step of providing the guidepoint may further include providing anchor
bolts for the foundation of the tower or providing boltholes on a top flange of an
embedded tower part, within the foundation, to act as the guidepoints.

[0038] The step of marking locating spots for a plurality of components on the
foundation may also include marking spots for a plurality of different components
according to a plurality of associated fixtures, which may be of different size and
orientation and be mounted at different guidepoint locations according to the required
positioning for the components. The step of marking may also include marking the
locating spot for a structure. These structures may include enclosed spaces such as a
machinery or equipment room, or frames for components. The marking step may also
include marking the spot for an electric component of the wind turbine equipment.
The electric equipment may include, but not be limited to, transformers; switch
cabinets; converters, medium voltage systems, low voltage distribution systems, etc.
The electric component may also include a stub up tube for electric wiring for electric
components within the tower. The method may include marking the locating spot for
a stub tube for electric cabling for wind turbine equipment.
[0039] Further, the method for locating wind turbine equipment may also include
the step of flipping the fixture 180 degrees and translating the fixture to a second
predesignated guidepoint. The second predesignated point may also be indexed to the
designated position for the centerline of the door for the structure being positioned.
For example, the procedure may index the mounting section of the fixture to a first
predesignated point (e.g., 9th hole 96 and 10th hole 97 on the anchor cage to the left of
the centerline in FIG. 2). The method may further include mounting the fixture to the
second predesignated guidepoint (e.g. 9th hole 98 and 10th hole 99 on the anchor cage
to the right FIG. 2) of the centerline. The method may also include marking the
locating spot according to the orienting section of the fixture.
[0040] FIG. 5 illustrates a flowchart of a method for locating wind turbine
equipment on a foundation for a wind turbine tower prior to erecting the wind turbine
tower. Step 200 includes providing a guidepoint on a footprint on the foundation of
the wind turbine. Step 210 includes mounting a fixture to a first predesignated
guidepoint. Step 220 includes marking a locator spot for the wind turbine equipment
according to an orienting section of the fixture.

[0041] While various embodiments are described herein, it will be appreciated
from the specification that various combinations of elements, variations or
improvements therein may be made, and are within the scope of the invention.

CLAIMS:
1. A fixture 10 adapted for locating wind turbine equipment 85 on a foundation
75 within an inner envelope for a wind turbine tower prior to erecting the wind
turbine tower, comprising:
a mounting section 15, adapted to mate with guidepoints 72 at predesignated locations
on a wind turbine foundation 75; and
a locating section 25, extending inward from the mounting section 15, adapted to
locate wind turbine equipment 85 on the foundation 75 for the wind turbine tower and
within the inner envelope of the wind turbine tower.
2. The fixture 10 adapted for locating wind turbine equipment 85 on a
foundation 75 for a wind turbine tower according to Claim 1, wherein the guidepoints
72 on the foundation comprise: embedded guidepoints within the foundation 75.
3. The fixture 10 adapted for locating wind turbine equipment on a foundation 75
for a wind turbine tower according to Claim 2, wherein the embedded guidepoints 72
on the foundation comprise: at least one of anchor cage bolts 70 for the foundation 75
and bolt holes on a top flange of an embedded tower part, within the foundation 75.
4. The fixture 10 adapted for locating wind turbine equipment 85 on a foundation
75 for a wind turbine tower according to Claim 2, wherein a locating section 25 fixes
the location for a corner of a structure 85.

5. The fixture adapted for locating wind turbine equipment on a foundation for a
wind turbine tower according to Claim 2, wherein the locating section 25 fixes the
location for a wind turbine equipment component.
6. The fixture adapted for locating wind turbine equipment on a foundation for a
wind turbine tower according to Claim 7, wherein the locating section fixes the
location for a wind turbine equipment electric component.

7. The fixture adapted for locating wind turbine equipment on a foundation for a
wind turbine tower according to Claim 7, wherein the wind turbine electric
component is a stub up tube for electric wiring.
8. The fixture adapted for locating wind turbine equipment on a foundation for a
wind turbine tower according to Claim 2, wherein the locating section 25comprises:
a guide arm 30 extending inward from the mounting section 15 to the intended
position of at least one of the structure 85 and the wind turbine equipment; and
an orienting section 35 at the inner end of the guide arm 30 adapted to orient at least
one of the structure 85 and the wind turbine equipment.
9. The fixture 10 adapted for locating wind turbine equipment 80 on a foundation
75 for a wind turbine tower according to Claim 2, further comprising:
a reversible symmetry such that the fixture 10 may be flipped 180 degrees and
translated to mount at predesignated locations to locate an additional position of the at
least one of the structure 85 and the wind turbine equipment.
10. The fixture 10 adapted for locating wind turbine equipment on a foundation 75
for a wind turbine tower according to Claim 2, wherein the fixture 10 is indexed to
mount at predesignated locations on the guidepoints 72.

A fixture 10 is provided for locating wind turbine equipment 85 on a foundation within an inner envelope for a wind turbine tower, prior to erecting the wind turbine tower. The fixture 10 includes a mounting section 15, adapted to mate with guidepoints 72 at predesignated locations on the wind turbine foundation; and a
locating section 25, extending inward from the mounting section 15, adapted to locate the position for wind turbine equipment 85 on the foundation for the wind turbine tower and within the inner envelope of the wind turbine tower.