An equipment tower includes a foundation, a cast-in-place concrete plinth extending vertically from the foundation, and a tower portion extending vertically from the plinth. The equipment tower is constructed at a site having a set of tower specific parameters, and at least one dimension of the plinth is selected based on a tower specific parameter. For example, a height of the plinth may be selected to achieve a desired elevation of the topmost surface of the plinth, so that two towers having identical tower segments will have a common equipment height in spite of variations in their respective foundation elevations due to variations in local ground level. Moreover, the cast-in-place plinth may be designed to include a door opening large enough to accommodate equipment to be installed within the tower.
An equipment tower having a ladder formed of a plurality of ladder segments each joined to a respective tower segment by a pivotal connection prior to the tower segments being stacked during erection of the tower. The pivotal connection provides a degree of freedom of movement which facilitates the interconnection of adjoining ends of the ladder segments after stacking of the tower segments. Additional accommodation of as-built spacing of the adjacent ends of the ladder segments may be provided by a connecting segment. The pivotal connection may be a rod inserted through a rung of the ladder and supported by a support assembly attached to the tower segment.
E04H 12/12 - Structures made of specified materials of concrete or other stone-like material, with or without internal or external reinforcement, e.g. with metal coverings, with permanent form elements
3.
System and method for installing a tensioning tendon in a wind turbine tower
A system and method for installing a post-tensioning tendon (130) in an equipment tower (100). A sheave frame (196) attaches to anchor rods (140), and a pulley (198) is mounted to the sheave frame through which a hoisting cable (197) is passed for connection to an end (138) of the tendon to lift the tendon to the anchor rods. A carriage assembly (150) having a shank (152) and a bearing plate platform (154) extending transversely from the shank for receiving a bearing plate (170) is attached to the tendon. The carriage assembly includes a deflecting surface (158) to deflect the carriage assembly away from the installed bearing plate upon lowering after tendon attachment. A pair of hydraulic jacks (210) tension the tendon to a desired load.
A crane system includes a structural truss positioned within a central opening defined by an inside surface of an annular tower, a crane mast connected to an outside surface of the annular tower, and a jib arm connected to the crane mast.
E04H 12/18 - TowersMasts or polesChimney stacksWater-towersMethods of erecting such structures movable or with movable sections, e.g. rotatable or telescopic
E04H 12/34 - Arrangements for erecting or lowering towers, masts, poles, chimney stacks, or the like
B66C 23/28 - Cranes comprising essentially a beam, boom or triangular structure acting as a cantilever and mounted for translatory or swinging movements in vertical or horizontal planes or a combination of such movements, e.g. jib cranes, derricks or tower cranes specially adapted for use in particular locations or for particular purposes for use on building sitesCranes comprising essentially a beam, boom or triangular structure acting as a cantilever and mounted for translatory or swinging movements in vertical or horizontal planes or a combination of such movements, e.g. jib cranes, derricks or tower cranes specially adapted for use in particular locations or for particular purposes constructed, e.g. with separable parts, to facilitate rapid assembly or dismantling, for operation at successively higher levels, for transport by road or rail constructed to operate at successively higher levels
B66C 23/20 - Cranes comprising essentially a beam, boom or triangular structure acting as a cantilever and mounted for translatory or swinging movements in vertical or horizontal planes or a combination of such movements, e.g. jib cranes, derricks or tower cranes specially adapted for use in particular locations or for particular purposes with supporting couples provided by walls of buildings or like structures
E04H 12/12 - Structures made of specified materials of concrete or other stone-like material, with or without internal or external reinforcement, e.g. with metal coverings, with permanent form elements
A crane system includes a structural truss positioned within a central opening defined by an inside surface of an annular tower, a crane mast connected to an outside surface of the annular tower, and a jib arm connected to the crane mast.
E04G 21/00 - Preparing, conveying, or working-up building materials or building elements in situOther devices or measures for constructional work
E04H 12/34 - Arrangements for erecting or lowering towers, masts, poles, chimney stacks, or the like
B66C 23/28 - Cranes comprising essentially a beam, boom or triangular structure acting as a cantilever and mounted for translatory or swinging movements in vertical or horizontal planes or a combination of such movements, e.g. jib cranes, derricks or tower cranes specially adapted for use in particular locations or for particular purposes for use on building sitesCranes comprising essentially a beam, boom or triangular structure acting as a cantilever and mounted for translatory or swinging movements in vertical or horizontal planes or a combination of such movements, e.g. jib cranes, derricks or tower cranes specially adapted for use in particular locations or for particular purposes constructed, e.g. with separable parts, to facilitate rapid assembly or dismantling, for operation at successively higher levels, for transport by road or rail constructed to operate at successively higher levels
6.
TOWER SEGMENT AND METHOD UTILIZING SEGMENTED BEARING PLATE
A concrete wind turbine tower segment (132) is provided with a bearing plate (154) formed by a plurality of individual smaller plates (150) secured within the concrete body of the tower segment (132). The tower segment (132) may include an anchor bar cage assembly (180) made of an embedded plate (153) with a plurality of anchor bars (152) extending there through and through the plates (150). A protective sleeve (182) may be positioned over the anchor bars (152). A method of forming the tower segment (132) includes attaching the plate segments (150) to a precision formed template ring (170) as part of the cage assembly (180), pouring concrete/grout (151) around the cage assembly (180) against the plates (150), and removing the template ring (170) to reveal a precision mate face of the bearing plate (154). The single large, expensive ring (170) may be reused to form multiple tower segments (132).
E04H 12/12 - Structures made of specified materials of concrete or other stone-like material, with or without internal or external reinforcement, e.g. with metal coverings, with permanent form elements
An equipment tower (100) having a ladder (130) formed of a plurality of ladder segments (132) each joined to a respective tower segment (105) by a pivotal connection (152) prior to the tower segments being stacked during erection of the tower. The pivotal connection provides a degree of freedom of movement which facilitates the interconnection of adjoining ends of the ladder segments after stacking of the tower segments. Additional accommodation of as-built spacing of the adjacent ends of the ladder segments may be provided by a connecting segment (158). The pivotal connection may be a rod (154) inserted through a rung (138) of the ladder and supported by a support assembly (134) attached to the tower segment.
A precast concrete post-tensioned segmented equipment tower (100) including a lower segment (1078) of a relatively larger diameter, an upper segment (109) of a relatively smaller diameter, and a transition segment (116) there between, with a post-tensioning tendon (200) spanning these segments and imparting a compressive preload between the segments, and a slot (212) formed in an inwardly protruding surface (214) of the transition segment for receiving and laterally retaining the tendon during installation and tensioning. The slot may be defined in a saddle (300) formed of high density polyurethane which is cast into the inwardly protruding surface. An innner surface (520) of the saddle may be curved to impart a bend (530) in the tendon.
E04H 12/12 - Structures made of specified materials of concrete or other stone-like material, with or without internal or external reinforcement, e.g. with metal coverings, with permanent form elements
An equipment tower (100) includes a foundation (102), a cast-in-place concrete plinth (120) extending vertically from the foundation, and a tower portion (104, 106, 108) extending vertically from the plinth. The equipment tower is constructed at a site having a set of tower specific parameters, and at least one dimension of the plinth is selected based on a tower specific parameter. For example, a height (134) of the plinth may be selected to achieve a desired elevation of the topmost surface (138) of the plinth, so that two towers (170, 172) having identical tower segments (105, 107, 109) will have a common equipment height (A) in spite of variations in their respective foundation elevations due to variations in local ground level (128). Moreover, the cast-in-place plinth may be designed to include a door opening (140) large enough to accommodate equipment to be installed within the tower.
A system and method for installing a post-tensioning tendon (130) in an equipment tower (100). A sheave frame (196) attaches to anchor rods (140), and a pulley (198) is mounted to the sheave frame through which a hoisting cable (197) is passed for connection to an end (138) of the tendon to lift the tendon to the anchor rods. A carriage assembly (150) having a shank (152) and a bearing plate platform (154) extending transversely from the shank for receiving a bearing plate (170) is attached to the tendon. The carriage assembly includes a deflecting surface (158) to deflect the carriage assembly away from the installed bearing plate upon lowering after tendon attachment. A pair of hydraulic jacks (210) tension the tendon to a desired load.
A concrete wind turbine tower segment (132) is provided with a bearing plate (154) formed by a plurality of individual smaller plates (150) secured within the concrete body of the tower segment (132). The tower segment (132) may include an anchor bar cage assembly (180) made of an embedded plate (153) with a plurality of anchor bars (152) extending there through and through the plates (150). A protective sleeve (182) may be positioned over the anchor bars (152). A method of forming the tower segment (132) includes attaching the plate segments (150) to a precision formed template ring (170) as part of the cage assembly (180), pouring concrete/grout (151) around the cage assembly (180) against the plates (150), and removing the template ring (170) to reveal a precision mate face of the bearing plate (154). The single large, expensive ring (170) may be reused to form multiple tower segments (132).
E04H 12/34 - Arrangements for erecting or lowering towers, masts, poles, chimney stacks, or the like
E04H 12/12 - Structures made of specified materials of concrete or other stone-like material, with or without internal or external reinforcement, e.g. with metal coverings, with permanent form elements
12.
PRECAST CONCRETE POST TENSIONED SEGMENTED WIND TURBINE TOWER
A post-tensioned precast segmental concrete tower has a stack of annularsegments with uniform cross-sections which varies over the tower height. The transition between tower segments occurs in stages and is achieved using annular members or segments which support and anchor post-tensioning tendons that transfer loads passing through the tower as a result of a change in tower geometry. The tower segments are match cast against one another in fabrication to create tight matching opposing surfaces when placed into the tower and to create tight joints. The match casting eliminates the need for grout between precast segments, resulting in a faster tower erection time and high durability of the joints. All annular segments have horizontal joints and no vertical joints. The tower geometry simplifies the formwork system used to precast the segments, and the post-tensioning tendons tie all segments together and to the foundation.
E04H 12/12 - Structures made of specified materials of concrete or other stone-like material, with or without internal or external reinforcement, e.g. with metal coverings, with permanent form elements
A post-tensioned precast segmental concrete tower has a stack of annular segments with uniform cross-sections which varies over the tower height. The transition between tower segments occurs in stages and is achieved using annular members or segments which support and anchor post-tensioning tendons that transfer loads passing through the tower as a result of a change in tower geometry. The tower segments are match cast against one another in fabrication to create tight matching opposing surfaces when placed into the tower and to create tight joints. The match casting eliminates the need for grout between precast segments, resulting in a faster tower erection time and high durability of the joints. All annular segments have horizontal joints and no vertical joints. The tower geometry simplifies the formwork system used to precast the segments, and the post-tensioning tendons tie all segments together and to the foundation.
patents
