The present disclosure relates in general to wind turbine rotor blades, and
more particularly to shipping fixtures and methods for transporting the rotor blades.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Wind 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 modem wind turbine typically includes a tower, generator,
gearbox, nacelle, and one or more rotor blades. 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.
Rotor blades are typically manufactured at locations that are separate from
the locations where the wind turbines will be constructed. Thus, an assembled rotor
blade (or portion thereof) may require transporting to the construction location.
Further, in many cases, transportation of a rotor blade to a construction site requires
both marine transport across a body of water and land transport across land. Marine
transport may occur in a suitable transport ship, while land transport may occur in a
truck on a road or in a train on a railroad.
Typically, various shipping fixtures are utilized during transportation of a
rotor blade to contain, secure and protect the rotor blade. For example, one shipping
fixture may contain, secure and protect a tip portion of a rotor blade, while another
may contain, secure and protect a root portion of that rotor blade. However, currently
known shipping fixtures have a variety of disadvantages. In particular, different
shipping fixtures are currently required for marine transport versus land transport.
Marine transport shipping fixtures must generally be capable of stacking, to allow for
columns of shipping fixtures containing rotor blades to be provided on the ships and
transported. Stacking allows for efficient and cost-effective use of space on the ships,
but requires that the fixtures have additional reinforcement and larger sizes to handle
increased loads due to stacking. Land transport shipping fixtures, on the other hand,
do not require stacking capability but must be relatively small and lightweight to
provide ease of movement onto and off of trucks andfor trains.
Thus, during transportation of a rotor blade across both marine and land
environments, multiple fixture changes must be made. For example, a rotor blade
may require a land transport shipping fixture for land transportation to a ship, a
separate marine transport shipping fixture for transporting on the ship, and a separate
land transport shipping fixture for land transportation from the ship. The use of these
multiple separate shipping fixtures increases the time, cost, and amount of equipment
required for shipping of rotor blades, and additionally increases the risk of damage to
the rotor blades during changing of the rotor blades from land fixtures to marine
fixtures, and vice versa.
Accordingly, an improved shipping fixture and method for transporting
one or more rotor blades is desired in the art. In particular, a shipping fixture and
method that are optimized for use in both land transportation and marine
transportation of a rotor blade would be advantageous.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
Aspects and advantages of the invention will be set forth in part in the
following description, or may be obvious from the description, or may be learned
through practice of the invention.
In one embodiment, a shipping fixture for transporting a rotor blade is
disclosed. The shipping fixture is configured for stacking thereon of an adjacent
shipping fixture. The shipping fixture includes a first frame comprising a first support
member and a first nesting feature. The first frame is further configured for stacking
thereon of the adjacent shipping fixture. The shipping fixture further includes a
second frame comprising a second support member, a second nesting feature, and a
mounting feature. The second nesting feature mates with the first nesting feature to
removably nest the second frame to the first frame at least partially within the first
frame. The mounting feature is configured for mounting of the rotor blade thereon.
In another embodiment, a method for transporting a rotor blade is
disclosed. The method includes removably nesting a second frame at least partially
within a first frame. The first frame is configured for stacking thereon of an adjacent
shipping fixture. A rotor blade is mounted on the second frame. The method further
includes transporting the rotor blade in a marine environment.
These and other features, aspects and advantages of the present invention
will become better understood with reference to the following description and
appended claims. The accompanying drawings, which are incorporated in and
constitute a part of this specification, illustrate embodiments of the invention and,
together with the description, serve to explain the principles of the invention.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
A full and enabling disclosure of the present invention, including the best
mode thereof, directed to one of ordinary skill in the art, is set forth in the
specification, which makes reference to the appended figures, in which:
FIG. 1 is a side view of a wind turbine according to one embodiment of the
present disclosure;
FIG. 2 is an exploded perspective view of a shipping fixture according to
one embodiment of the present disclosure;
FIG. 3 is an assembled perspective view of the shipping fixture of FIG. 1;
FIG. 4 is an assembled perspective view of a shipping fixture according to
another embodiment of the present disclosure;
FIG. 5 is an exploded perspective view of a first nesting feature and a
second nesting feature for nesting a second frame of a shipping fixture at least
partially within a first frame of the shipping fixture according to one embedment of
the present disclosure;
FIG. 6 is an assembled perspective view of the first nesting feature and a
second nesting feature of FIG. 5; and,
FIG. 7 is a flow chart illustrating a method for transporting a rotor blade
according to one embodiment of the present disclosure.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
Reference now will be made in detail to embodiments of the invention,
one or more examples of which are illustrated in the drawings. Each example is
provided by way of explanation of the invention, not limitation of the invention. In
fact, it will be apparent to those skilled in the art that various modifications and
variations can be made in the present invention without departing from the scope or
spirit of the invention. For instance, features illustrated or described as part of one
embodiment can be used with another embodiment to yield a still hrther
embodiment. Thus, it is intended that the present invention covers such modifications
and variations as come within the scope of the appended claims and their equivalents.
FIG. 1 illustrates a wind turbine 10 of conventional construction. The
wind turbine 10 includes a tower 12 with a nacelle 14 mounted thereon. A rotor is
further mounted on the tower 12. The rotor includes a plurality of rotor blades 16
connected to a rotor hub 18, which is in turn connected to a main flange that tums a
main rotor shaft. The wind turbine power generation and control components are
housed within the nacelle 14. The view of FIG. 1 is provided for illustrative purposes
only to place the present invention in an exemplary field of use. It should be
appreciated that the invention is not limited to any particular type of wind turbine
configuration.
Referring to FIGS. 2 through 3, a rotor blade 16 according to the present
disclosure may include exterior surfaces defining a pressure side 22, a suction side 24,
a leading edge 26, and a trailing edge 28. The pressure side 22 and suction side 24
may each extend between the leading edge 26 and the trailing edge 28. The exterior
surfaces may extend between a blade tip 32 and a blade root 34 in a generally spanwise
direction, as discussed below.
The pressure side 22, suction side 24, leading edge 26 and trailing edge 28
may be generally aerodynamic surfaces having generally aerodynamic contours, as is
generally known in the art. Thus, the exterior surfaces of the rotor blade 16 may
define an aerodynamic profile, such as an airfoil-like cross-sectional profile, for the
rotor blade 16. The aerodynamic profile includes the pressure side 22, suction side
24, leading edge 26 and trailing edge 28.
In some embodiments, the rotor blade 16 may include a plurality of
individual blade segments aligned in an end-to-end order from the blade tip 32 to the
blade root 34. Each of the individual blade segments may be uniquely configured so
that the plurality of blade segments define a complete rotor blade 16 having a
designed aerodynamic profile, length, and other desired characteristics. For example,
each of the blade segments may have an aerodynamic profile that corresponds to the
aerodynamic profile of adjacent blade segments. Thus, the aerodynamic profiles of
the blade segments may form a continuous aerodynamic profile of the rotor blade 16.
Alternatively, the rotor blade 16 may be formed as a singular, unitary blade having the
designed aerodynamic profile, length, and other desired characteristics.
The rotor blade 16 may, in exemplary embodiments, be curved. Curving
of the rotor blade 16 may entail bending the rotor blade 16 in a generally flapwise
direction and/or in a generally edgewise direction. The flapwise direction may
generally be construed as the direction (or the opposite direction) in which the
aerodynamic lift acts on the rotor blade 16. The edgewise direction is generally
perpendicular to the flapwise direction. Flapwise curvature of the rotor blade 16 is
also known as pre-bend, while edgewise curvature is also known as sweep. Thus, a
curved rotor blade 16 may be pre-bent and/or swept. Curving may enable the rotor
blade 16 to better withstand flapwise and edgewise loads during operation of the wind
turbine 10, and may further provide clearance for the rotor blade 16 from the tower 12
during operation of the wind turbine 10.
The rotor blade 16 may further define a chord and a span extending in
chord-wise and span-wise directions, respectively. The chord may vary throughout
the span of the rotor blade 16. Thus, as discussed below, a local chord may be
defined for the rotor blade 16 at any point on the rotor blade 16 along the span.
Additionally, as shown in FIGS. 2 through 3, the rotor blade 16 may define
an inboard portion 52 and an outboard portion 54. The inboard portion 52 may be a
span-wise portion of the rotor blade 16 extending from the root 34. For example, the
inboard portion 52 may, in some embodiments, include approximately 33%, 40%,
50%, 60%, 67%, or any percentage or range of percentages therebetween, or any
other suitable percentage or range of percentages, of the span from the root 34. The
outboard portion 54 may be a span-wise portion of the rotor blade 16 extending from
the tip 32, and may in some embodiments include the remaining portion of the rotor
blade 16 between the inboard portion 52 and the tip 32. Additionally or alternatively,
the outboard portion 54 may, in some embodiments, include approximately 33%,
40%, 50%, 60%, 67%, or any percentage or range of percentages therebetween, or
any other suitable percentage or range of percentages, of the span from the tip 32.
As shown in FIGS. 2 through 6, the present disclosure is further directed to
a shipping fixture 100. In general, the shipping fixture 100 can accommodate one or
more rotor blades 16 therein, and is capable of transporting these rotor blades 16 in
both land environments and marine environments. A shipping fixture 100 according
to the present disclosure thus includes a first frame 102 and a second frame 104. The
first frame 102 in general may be a marine transportation frame, and may thus
primarily be utilized for transporting rotor blades 16 in marine environments. The
second frame 104 in general may be a land transportation frame, and may thus
primarily be utilized for transporting rotor blades 16 in land environments. Further,
as discussed below, the second frame 104 is removably nestable to and at least
partially within the first frame 102. Thus, when nested together, the first frame 102 at
least partially surrounds the second frame 104, and allows for the stacking of adjacent
shipping fixtures 100 (shown in phantom in FIGS. 3 and 4) on the shipping fixture
100. Thus, the shipping fixture 100, including the second frame 104 nested in the first
frame 102, may be utilized for marine transportation of rotor blades 16. Further,
however, the second frame 104 is removable from the first frame 102, and may itself
act as an independent shipping fixture. Thus, the shipping fixture 100, including the
second frame 104 removed from the first frame 102, may be utilized for land
transportation of rotor blades 16.
Thus, during transportation of a rotor blade 16 according to the present
disclosure, the rotor blade 16 may be mounted on the second frame 104 of the
shipping fixture 100. The rotor blade 16 may then be transported on the shipping
fixture 100, such as through a land environment on, for example, a truck andlor train.
The second frame 104 may then be nested to the first frame 102 of the shipping
fixture 100, and the rotor blade 16 then transported on the shipping fixture 100, such
as through a marine environment on, for example, a ship. The second frame 104 may
then be removed from the first frame 102 as required for further transportation of the
rotor blade 16 on the shipping fixture, such as through another land environment. The
use of one shipping fixture 100 with nesting first and second frames 102 and 104
according to the present disclosure thus decreases the time, cost, and amount of
equipment required for shipping of rotor blades 16. Further the use of such a shipping
fixture 100 reduces the risk of damage to the rotor blades 16 by eliminating the need
to change the rotor blades 16 between different shipping fixtures for different
environments.
A first frame 102 according to the present disclosure includes one or more
first support members 110. In exemplary embodiments, a first support member 110 is
a hollow structural section beam having for example a square or rectangular crosssectional
profile as shown, or a circular, oval or otherwise cross-sectional profile.
Alternatively, a suitable first support member 110 according to the present disclosure
may be an I-beam having a generally I or H shaped cross-sectional profile; a 2-beam
having a generally 2 shaped cross-sectional profile; a T-beam having a generally T
shaped cross-sectional profile; a channel beam having a cross-sectional profile that
defines a channel therein; an L-beam having a generally L shaped cross-sectional
profile; a solid structural section having for example a square, rectangular, circular,
oval or otherwise cross-sectional profile; a plate; a joist; or any other suitable
structural member.
The first frame 102 and first support members 1 10 thereof may generally
define an interior 11 1 of the first frame 102. For example, as shown, the first frame
102 may provide a skeleton that defines the outer perimeter of the shipping fixture
100, and thus further defines the interior 1 11 of the shipping fixture 100 therein.
Thus, when nested in the first frame 102, the second frame 104 may be positioned and
thus contasned at least partially or fully within the interior 1 11 defined by the first
frame 102.
The support members 110 may, as discussed, be arranged to define the
outer perimeter of the first frame 102 and shipping fixture 100, and may thus be
joined to each other at various locations along the support members 110. For
example, each support member 11 0 may include a body 1 12 extending between a first
end 1 14 and a second end 1 16. A support member 1 10 may be connected to another
support member 1 10 at its first end 114 or second end 1 16, or at any other suitable
intermediate location along the body 112. The support members 11 0 may be joined
using any suitable joining technique or apparatus. For example, support members 11 0
may be welded together, or may be joined together using suitable mechanical
fasteners, such as nut-bolt combinations, rivets, screws, nails, etc. The first frame 102
formed by the support members 110 may have any suitable shape andlor size. For
example, the first frame 102 may be generally cubic or cuboid shaped, or generally
conical, spherical, or cylindrical, or may have any other suitable shape.
A second frame 104 according to the present disclosure includes one or
more second support members 120. Similar to the first support members 100, in
exemplary embodiments, a second support member 120 is a hollow structural section
beam having for example a square or rectangular cross-sectional profile as shown, or
a circular, oval or otherwise cross-sectional profile. Alternatively, a suitable second
support member 120 according to the present disclosure may be an I-beam having a
generally I or H shaped cross-sectional profile; a Z-beam having a generally Z shaped
cross-sectional profile; a T-beam having a generally T shaped cross-sectional profile;
a channel beam having a cross-sectional profile that defines a channel therein; an Lbeam
having a generally L shaped cross-sectional profile; a solid structural section
having for example a square, rectangular, circular, oval or otherwise cross-sectional
profile; a plate; a joist; or any other suitable structural member.
The second frame 104 and second support members 120 thereof may in
some embodiments generally define an interior (not shown) of the second frame 104,
similar to the first frame 102, which one or more rotor blades 16 or portions thereof
may be mounted in. In other embodiments as shown, the second frame 104 and
second support members 120 may define, for example, a base support on which one
or more rotor blades 16 or portions thereof may be mounted.
Similar to the first support members 110, the second support members 120
may be joined to each other at various locations along the support members 120. For
example, each support member 120 may include a body 122 extending between a first
end 124 and a second end 126. A support member 120 may be connected to another
support member 120 at its first end 124 or second end 126, or at any other suitable
intermediate location along the body 122. The support members 120 may be joined
using any suitable joining technique or apparatus. For example, support members 120
may be welded together, or may be joined together using suitable mechanical
fasteners, such as nut-bolt combinations, rivets, screws, nails, etc. The second frame
104 formed by the support members 120 may have any suitable shape and/or size.
As hrther shown in FIGS. 2 through 6, the first frame 102 further includes
one or more first nesting features 132, while the second frame 104 includes one or
more second nesting features 134. The nesting features 132, 134 may mate together
to removably nest the second frame 104 to and at least partially within the first frame
102. For example, in exemplary embodiments, a nesting feature, such as a first
nesting feature 132 or a second nesting feature 134, may be an IS0 comer. FIGS. 2
through 6 illustrate the first nesting features 132 as IS0 comers. As is generally
known in the art, an IS0 comer is a cube having a plurality of holes defined in various
faces of the cube. For example, holes may be defined in all six faces, or in five, four,
three, or two of the faces. The holes are sized and shaped to accommodate various
protrusions therein. Because the holes are defined on the various faces, the
protrusions can be placed into the holes at various suitable angles. Typically, an IS0
comer is a cast piece formed from steel or another suitable metal. However, it should
be understood that the present disclosure is not limited to IS0 comers having any
particular material, shape, or size, and rather that any suitable IS0 comer is within the
scope and spirit of the present disclosure.
Further, in exemplary embodiments, a mating nesting feature, such as the
other of a first nesting feature 132 or a second nesting feature 134 that mates with an
IS0 comer, may be a rod. FIGS. 2 through 6 illustrate the second nesting features
134 as rods. The rods may be generally shaped and sized to fit within the holes
defined in the IS0 comers. Thus, to mate a first nesting feature 132 and second
nesting feature 134 together to removably nest the second frame 104 to the first frame
102, the rod may be placed into the hole of an IS0 comer, as shown.
It should be understood that the present disclosure is not limited to IS0
comers and rods. Rather, the first nesting features 132 and second nesting features
134 may be any suitable components that may mate together to removably nest the
first and second frames 102, 104. For example, one of the first nesting features 132 or
second nesting features 134 may be any suitable female coupling component, while
the other of the first nesting features 132 or second nesting features 134 is a suitable
mating male coupling component, or vice versa.
As discussed, mating of the first and second nesting features 132, 134
together may removably nest the first frame 102 and second frame 104 together.
Thus, the first nesting features 132 may be connected to the first frame 102, such as to
the first support members 1 10 thereof, and the second nesting features 134 may be
connected to the second frame 104, such as to the second support members 120
thereof. Such connection may be by welding, joining using suitable mechanical
fasteners, or any other suitable joining technique or apparatus, or the nesting features
may be integral with the support members. Further, in some embodiments as shown,
a nesting feature 132,134 may be disposed between, and thus join together, various
support members 110 or 120 of a frame 102 or 104. For example, as shown, IS0
comers may be disposed between and join together various first support members 11 0
of the first frame 1 02.
As shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, the first frame 102 is configured for stacking
thereon of one or more adjacent shipping fixtures 100. The adjacent shipping fixtures
100 may be formed according to the present disclosure, or may be any other suitable
fixtures configured to shipping any suitable components, including but not limited to
rotor blades 16 and other wind turbine components. A shipping fixture 100 according
to the present disclosure may thus be readied for shipping, such as on a ship, and an
adjacent shipping fixture 100 may be placed on top of the shipping fixture 100 as
shown. For example, as discussed, the first support members 1 10 define an outer
perimeter of the first frame 102 that further defines an interior 1 11 of the first frame
102. By defining an outer perimeter that further defines an interior 11 1, the first
support members 1 10 thus allow for adjacent shipping fixtures 100 to be stacked on
the first frame 102. Upper or top first support members 1 10 or portions of support
members 110 thus contact and support the adjacent stacked shipping fixtures 100, as
shown. It should additionally be noted that the first frame 102 may additionally or
alternatively be configured for stacking on an adjacent shipping fixture 100 in a
similar fashlon as discussed herein and with respect to lower or bottom support
members 1 10.
In some embodiments, the first frame 102 fhrther includes one or more
connection features 136 for connecting the first frame 102 to the adjacent shipping
fixtures 100. In exemplary embodiments, as shown, the connection features 136 are
IS0 comers. An adjacent shipping fixture 100 may include a rod that extends through
the IS0 comer to connect the adjacent shipping fixture 100 to the first frame 102, or
the adjacent shipping fixture 100 may include an IS0 comer, and a rod may be
extended through the IS0 comers of both the adjacent shipping fixture 100 and the
first frame 102 to connect them together. Alternatively, the connection features 136
are rods, for mating with IS0 comers of the adjacent shipping fixture 100. It should
be understood, however, that the present disclosure is not limited to IS0 comers and
rods. Rather, the connection feature 136 may be any suitable component that may
mate with a suitable mating component of the adjacent shipping fixture to connect the
first frame 102 and adjacent shipping fixture 100. For example, the connection
feature 136 may be any suitable male or female coupling component for connecting
with a respective female or male coupling component of the adjacent shipping fixture
100.
Further, as discussed above with respect to the first and second nesting
features 132, 134, the connection features 136 may be connected to the first frame
102, such as to the first support members 11 0 thereof. Such connection may be by
welding, joining using suitable mechanical fasteners, or any other suitable joining
technique or apparatus, or the connection features may be integral with the support
members. Further, in some embodiments as shown, a connection feature 136 may be
disposed between, and thus join together, various first support members 110 of first
frame 102. For example, as shown, IS0 comers may be disposed between and join
together various first support members 1 10 of the first frame 102.
In some embodiments, the first frame 102 may include more than one
portion. These portions may be separated for, for example, nesting and un-nesting of
the second frame 104 and rotor blades 16 therein, and then connected together for
shipping. As shown in FIGS. 2 through 4, for example, the first frame 102 may
include a first frame portion 142 and a second frame portion 144. The first frame
portion 142 may, in exemplary embodiments as shown, be a lower frame portion
encompassing lower first support members 110, first nesting features 132, and
connection features 136, while the second frame portion 144 may, in exemplary
embodiment as shown, be an upper frame portion encompassing upper first support
members 110, first nesting features 132, and connection features 136. For example,
the lower frame portion may include the lower half or other suitable portion of the
first frame 102, while the upper frame portion may include the upper half or other
suitable portion of the first frame 102. The upper frame portion may be configured
for stacking thereon of adjacent shipping fixtures 100, while the lower frame portion
may be configured for stacking of the shipping fixture 100 on adjacent shipping
fixtures. Alternatively, however, the first and second frame portions 142, 144 need
not be upper and lower frame portions. Rather, the first and second frame portions
142, 144 may be side-by-side frame portions, front-to-back frame portions, or any
other suitable portions of the first frame 102. The first and second frame portions
142, 144 may be connected together to form the first frame using any suitable
technique or apparatus, such as welding, joining using suitable mechanical fasteners,
or through the use of IS0 comers and rods or other suitable coupling components as
discussed herein.
As shown in FIGS. 2 through 4, a second frame 104 according to the
present disclosure further includes one or more mounting features 150. Each
mounting feature 150 is configured for mounting of a rotor blade 16, such as any
suitable section or portion of a rotor blade 16, thereon. As shown, in some
embodiments, a mounting feature 150 is configured for mounting an inboard portion
52 of a rotor blade 16 thereof, while in other embodiment, a mounting feature 150 is
configured for mounting an outboard portion 54 of a rotor blade 16 thereon. Further,
in some embodiments as shown, a second frame 104 may include one or more
mounting features 150 configured for mounting an inboard portion 52 of one rotor
blade 16 and other mounting features 150 configured for mounting an outboard
portion 54 of another rotor blade 16 thereon. Still further, mounting features 150 may
be provided for mounting inboard portions 52 and/or outboard portions 54 of any
number of rotor blades.
The mounting features 150 for mounting of a rotor blade 16 thereon may
be any suitable features capable of supporting and, if desired, securing the rotor blade
16. For example, in some embodiments as shown in FIGS. 2 through 4, a mounting
feature 150 may include one or more cushions 152. A cushion 152 may support one
or more exterior surfaces of the rotor blade 16. The rotor blade 16 when mounted on
the mounting features 150 in the second frame 104 thus may be in contact with the
cushions 152. The cushions 152 may have any suitable size and shape for supporting
the rotor blade 16. Further, the cushions 152 may be formed from any suitable
material having a desired firmness for supporting the rotor blade 16. As shown,
cushions 152 may be included in mounting features 150 for mounting both inboard
portions 52 and outboard portions 54, or any other suitable portions, of rotor blades 16
thereon.
In other embodiments, as shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, a mounting feature 150
may include one or more brackets 154. A bracket 154 is a generally rigid structure
that can connect to a rotor blade 16 to mount the rotor blade 16 to the second frame
104. In exemplary embodiments, as shown, the bracket 154 connects to the root 34 of
the rotor blade 16. Bolts or other suitable mechanical fasteners 156 extending from
the root 34 are passed through holes 158 defined in the bracket 154 or brackets 154 to
mount the rotor blade 16 to the bracket 154. Brackets 154 may be included in
mounting features 150 for inboard portions 52 as shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, or for
mounting outboard portions 54, or any other suitable portions, of rotor blades 16
thereon.
In some embodiments, one or more clamps (not shown) may additionally
be included in the mounting features 150. These clamps may, for example, secure the
rotor blade 16 to the mounting features 150. Additionally or alternatively, other
components of the mounting features 150, such as the cushions 152 or brackets 154,
may secure the rotor blade 16 to the mounting features.
The present disclosure is further directed to a method for transporting one
or more rotor blades 16. The method includes, for example, removably nesting a
second frame 104 at least partially within a first frame 102, as discussed above. This
step is illustrated by reference numeral 200 of FIG. 7. The first frame 102 may be
configured for stacking thereon of an adjacent shipping fixture. The second frame
104 may be configured for mounting of one or more rotor blades 16 thereon. One or
more rotor blades 16 may be mounted on the second frame 104. The rotor blade 16
may be transported in a marine environment, as discussed above, mounted in the
second frame 104 and first frame 102. This step is illustrated by reference numeral
202 of FIG. 7.
In some embodiments, the method may further include, for example,
mounting the rotor blade 16 in the second frame 104. In some embodiments, the
method may further include, for example, transporting the rotor blade 16 in a land
environment, as discussed above, mounted in the second frame 104 removed from the
first frame 102. This step is illustrated by reference numeral 204 of FIG. 7.
Transporting in a land environment may occur before andlor after transporting in a
marine environment, and transporting in a marine environment may occur before or
after transporting in a land environment. In some embodiments, the method may
Wher include removing the second frame 104 from the first frame 102.
This written description uses examples to disclose the invention, including
the best mode, and also to enable any person skilled in the art to practice the
invention, including making and using any devices or systems and performing any
incorporated methods. The patentable scope of the invention is defined by the claims,
and may include other examples that occur to those skilled in the art. Such other
examples are intended to be within the scope of the claims if they include structural
elements that do not differ from the literal language of the claims, or if they include
equivalent structural elements with insubstantial differences from the literal languages
of the claims.
COMPONENT LIST
Reference Character
10
12
14
16
18
22
24
26
2 8
32
34
- 52
54
100
102
104
110
111
112
114
116
120
122
124
- -
126
132
134
136
142
144
150
152
154
156
158
Component
Wind turbine
Tower
Nacelle
Rotor blade
Rotor hub
Pressure side
Suction side
Leading edge
Trailing edge
Blade tip
Blade root
Inboard portion
Outboard portion
Shipping fixture
First frame
Second frame
First support member
Interior
Body
First end
Second end
Second support member
Body
First end
Second end
First nesting feature
Second nesting feature
Connection feature
First frame portion
Second frame portion
Mounting feature
Cushion
Bracket
Mechanical fasteners
Hole

WE CLAIM:
1. A shipping fixture for transporting a rotor blade, the shipping fixture
configured for stacking thereon of an adjacent shipping fixture, the shipping fixture
comprising:
a first frame comprising a first support member and a first nesting feature, the
first frame further configured for stacking thereon of the adjacent shipping fixture;
and,
a second fi-ame comprising a second support member, a second nesting
feature, and a mounting feature, the second nesting feature mating with the first
nesting feature to removably nest the second frame to the first frame at least partially
^ within the first frame, the mounting feature configvired for mounting of the rotor blade
thereon.
2. The shipping fixture of claim 1, wherein one of the first nesting feature and
the second nesting feature is an ISO comer and the other of the first nesting featiire
and the second nesting feature is a rod.
3. The shipping fixture of claim 1, wherein the first frame further comprises a
plurality of first support members and a plurality of nesting features, and wherein the
second frame further comprises a plurality of second support members and a plurality
of nesting features.
4. The shipping fixture of claim 1, wherein the first frame further comprises a
plurality of first support members, a first frame portion, and a second fi-ame portion,
and wherein each of the first frame portion and the second frame portion comprises at
^ least one of the plurality of first support members.
5. The shipping fixture of claim 4, wherein the first frame portion is a lower
frame portion and the second frame portion is an upper frame portion, and wherein
the second frame is removably mated to the lower frame portion.
6. The shipping fixture of claim 1, wherein the mounting feature comprises a
cushion.
7. The shipping fixture of claim 1, wherein the mounting feature comprises a
bracket.
8. The shipping fixture of claim 1, wherein the second frame is positioned
entirely within the first frame when removably mated to the first frame.
17
9. The shipping fixture of claim 1, wherein the mounting feature is configured
for mounting of an inboard portion of the rotor blade thereon.
10. The shipping fixture of claim 1, wherein the first frame further comprises a
connection feature for connecting the first frame to the adjacent shipping fixture.
11. The shipping fixture of claim 10, wherein the connection feature is an ISO
comer.
12. A shipping fixture for transporting a plurality of rotor blades, the shipping
fixture configured for stacking thereon of an adjacent shipping fixture, the shipping
fixture comprising:
a first frame comprising a plurality of first support members and a plurality of
^ first nesting features, the first frame further configured for stacking thereon of the
adjacent shipping fixture; and,
a second frame comprising a plurality of second support members, a plurality
of second nesting features, and a plurality of mounting features, at least one of the
plurality of second nesting features mating with at least one of the first nesting
features to removably nest the second frame to the first frame at least partially within
the first frame, the plurality of mounting feature configured for mounting of the
plurality of rotor blades thereon.
13. The shipping fixture of claim 12, wherein each of the plurality of first nesting
features is an ISO comer and each of the plurality of second nesting feature is a rod.
14. The shipping fixture of claim 12, wherein the first frame further comprises a
first frame portion and a second frame portion, and wherein each of the first frame
^ portion and the second frame portion comprises at least one of the plurality of first
support members.
15. The shipping fixture of claim 12, wherein at least one of the plurality of
mounting feature comprises a cushion.
16. The shipping fixture of claim 12, wherein at least one of the plurality of
mounting feature comprises a bracket.
17. The shipping fixture of claim 12, wherein at least one of the plurality of
mounting features is configured for mounting of an inboard portion of one of the
plurality of rotor blades thereon, and wherein at least one of the plurality of mounting
18
features is configured for mounting of an outboard portion of one of the plurality of
rotor blades thereon.
18. The shipping fixture of claim 12, wherein the first fi^ame further comprises a
plurality of connection features for cormecting the first frame to the adjacent shipping
fixture.
19. A method for transporting a rotor blade, the method comprising:
removably nesting a second frame at least partially within a first frame, the
first frame configured for stacking thereon of an adjacent shipping fixture, and
wherein a rotor blade is mounted on the second frame; and,
transporting the rotor blade in a marine environment.
20. The method of claim 19, fiirther comprising transporting the rotor blade in a
land environment, the rotor blade mounted on the second frame, the second frame
removed from the first frame.