JP4210540B2 - Windmill and wind power generator with easy blade maintenance - Google Patents

Description

[0001]
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a windmill, and more particularly, to a windmill and a wind power generator that facilitate blade maintenance.
[0002]
[Prior art]
The windmill is installed in a windy and severe weather place and is used for a long time while being exposed to ultraviolet rays and lightning. Despite this situation, the blades of windmills are installed at high places, so a large crane or an aerial work vehicle is required for maintenance (referring to inspection and repair; the same shall apply hereinafter). The work is not easy. In particular, in recent years, wind turbines have become larger, and cranes and the like used have also become larger, and the difficulty has become remarkable.
[0003]
In the case of an aviation obstacle light installed at a high place like a blade, it is pulled up from the ground with a rope using a winch near the aviation obstacle light installation position in the tower and inserted directly into the hole provided at the attachment position of the tower wall. Thus, a method has been proposed that facilitates repair installation by fixing. (See Patent Document 1)
[0004]
[Patent Document 1]
JP 2002-279802 A (FIGS. 1 and 2)
[0005]
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
However, unlike an aircraft warning light, the blade is heavy and long, so it cannot be easily lifted or lowered by a rope. SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION An object of the present invention is to provide a windmill with easy blade maintenance.
[0006]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
  In order to achieve the above object, a wind turbine according to the invention described in claim 1 includes, for example, a columnar tower 11, a nacelle 21 attached to the top of the tower 11, A hub 31 rotatably attached to the horizontal end, a blade 32 attached to the hub 31 so as to rotate in a plane inclined with respect to the vertical axis, and a gondola 45 capable of moving up and down along the surface of the blade 32 It has.
  If comprised in this way, since a gondola raises / lowers along a braid | blade, the maintenance of a braid | blade can be easily performed by the operator who got on the gondola.
[0007]
  Further, in the windmill according to the first aspect of the present invention, as shown in FIG. 3, for example, a gondola 55 includes a rail 52 fixed along the tower 11, a traveling machine 53 that moves on the rail 52, and a traveling It is supported by an arm 54 attached to the machine 53.
With this configuration, the traveling machine moves on the rail, the gondola moves up and down, and the gondola supported by the arm moves up and down along the blade by changing the length of the arm, so that the operator is stable Maintenance can be performed in the state.
[0008]
  Moreover, the wind power generator concerning the invention of Claim 2 is provided with the windmill of Claim 1, and the generator 95 driven by a windmill, for example, as shown in FIG.
[0009]
  If comprised in this way, since the maintenance of a braid | blade is easy, the wind power generator which is easy to maintain is provided.
[0010]
  Further, the windmill according to the first aspect of the present invention may include a guide 47 that guides the gondola 45 and has a variable angle with respect to the vertical axis, as shown in FIG.
[0011]
  With such a configuration, since there is a guide whose angle is variable, the gondola moves up and down along the blade, so that the operator can perform maintenance in a stable state.
[0012]
  To achieve the above purpose,Of the second aspect of the inventionFor example, as shown in FIG. 4, the windmill is detachably attached to the columnar tower 11, the nacelle 21 attached to the top of the tower 11, the hub 31 attached to the horizontal end of the nacelle 21, and the hub 31. Blades 32, first lifting devices 61, 62, 63 and first lifting devices 61, 62, 63 used simultaneously to lift and lower the blades 32 when the blades 32 are removed from the hub 31. Has another second lifting device 71, 72, 73May be.
[0013]
If comprised in this way, since the braid | blade removed from the hub can be lowered | hung with the two raising / lowering apparatuses installed in the windmill, a maintenance can be easily performed on the ground.
[0014]
  Furthermore,Of the third aspect of the inventionFor example, as shown in FIG. 4, the windmill sandwiches the position of the center of gravity of the blade 32 and the hanging tool 33 for connecting the first lifting and lowering devices 61, 62, 63 near the hub 21 on the blade 32. In the blade surface opposite to the hanging tool 33, the second lifting device 71, 72, 73 has a hanging tool 34 for connection.May be.
[0015]
If comprised in this way, since a braid | blade can be raised / lowered, adjusting inclination with two raising / lowering apparatuses, a braid | blade can be kept horizontal and can be lowered | hung to the ground.
[0016]
  Also,Of the fourth aspect of the present inventionFor example, as shown in FIG. 7, the windmill has a protrusion 36 perpendicular to the longitudinal direction of the blade in the vicinity of the attachment position of the blade 32 to the hub 31, and a first lifting device 61, 62, 63 or A lifting device 37 for connecting the two lifting devices 71, 72, 73May be.
[0017]
If comprised in this way, when attaching a braid | blade to a hub, since an attachment angle can be adjusted with how to suspend two hanging tools, it is easy to attach.
[0018]
  Also,Of the fifth aspect of the present inventionFor example, as shown in FIG., Any one of the first to fourth aspectsA windmill and a generator 95 driven by the windmill;May be.
[0019]
If comprised in this way, since the maintenance of a braid | blade is easy, the wind power generator which is easy to maintain is provided.
[0020]
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. In addition, in each figure, the same code | symbol or a similar code | symbol is attached | subjected to the member which is mutually the same or corresponds, and the overlapping description is abbreviate | omitted.
[0021]
FIG. 1 is a partial cross-sectional side view of a wind turbine according to a first embodiment of the present invention. The tower 11 has a columnar or prismatic shape, and is erected upward from the ground. The lower end of the tower 11 is fixed on the ground. Alternatively, it may be fixed on the ship at sea. A yaw system 12 is installed on the top of the tower 11. The yaw system 12 is used to adjust the blade 32 to the wind direction.
[0022]
A nacelle 21 that can turn in the horizontal direction by the yaw system 12 is installed on the yaw system 12. The nacelle 21 stores a speed increaser, a generator, a control device, and the like (not shown). Alternatively, a power wind turbine such as a pump wind turbine stores a crankshaft and the like, and in this case, the yaw system may not be provided.
[0023]
At the horizontal end of the nacelle 21 is installed a hub 31 that rotates about an axis inclined by the following tilt angle with respect to the horizontal. The hub 31 is connected to the aforementioned speed increaser or the like, and the rotation of the hub 31 is transmitted to the generator via the speed increaser.
[0024]
Around the hub 31, three blades 32 are radially arranged at equal intervals. The wind force is converted into a force by which the blade 32 rotates the hub. Here, the axis of the hub 31 is set so that the plane including the circle drawn by the rotation of the blade 32 is slightly inclined in the direction away from the tower 11 at the lower part. This angle is called a tilt angle, and is intended to prevent contact with the tower 11 even if the blade 32 is deformed by wind force during operation.
[0025]
A winch 41 is installed in the nacelle 21. A wire rope 43 is wound around the winch 41, and the wire rope 43 is connected to a gondola 45 through a pulley 42 installed at the upper part of the inner surface of the nacelle 21, passing through the floor below the nacelle.
[0026]
The gondola 45 can move along the guide rail 47. The upper end of the guide rail 47 is supported by a bracket 46 a attached to the upper portion of the tower 11. The guide rail 47 has a length from the top of the tower 11 to the lower end of the blade 32. Note that the lower end may reach the ground.
[0027]
A bracket 47 a is attached near the lower end of the guide rail 47. One end of a piston 48b is connected to the bracket 47a, and the piston 48b can expand and contract in combination with the cylinder 48a. The cylinder 48 a is supported by a bracket 46 b attached to the tower 11. The cylinder 48a and the piston 48b are installed in a horizontal oblique direction, and the horizontal distance between the bracket 47a and the bracket 46b is changed by extending and contracting, and as a result, the inclination (angle with respect to the vertical axis) of the guide rail 47 is changed. The cylinder 48a and the piston 48b are expanded and contracted by a hydraulic device (not shown).
[0028]
The gondola 45 moves up and down along the guide rail 47 by winding or loosening the wire rope 43 with the winch 41. Then, by extending and contracting the cylinder 48a and the piston 48b, the inclination of the guide rail 47 can be changed and adjusted to approach or move away from the blade 32. As described above, the blade 32 is attached with an inclination with respect to the vertical axis so as to be separated from the tower 11 at the lower portion, and the gondola 45 is moved up and down along the blade 32 when the guide rail 47 is inclined.
[0029]
Therefore, an operator rides on the gondola 45 and raises and lowers the gondola 45 along the blade 32 while changing the inclination of the guide rail 47 by extending and contracting the cylinder 48a and the piston 48b. Then, the operator can perform maintenance of the blade 32 from the gondola 45. Since the blade 32 can be rotated around the longitudinal axis of the blade while being attached to the hub 31, the entire surface of the blade 32 can be maintained by the work from the gondola 45. The rotatable amount (variable pitch angle) around the longitudinal axis of the blade 32 is preferably 180 degrees or more. The longitudinal direction of the blade refers to a direction connecting the center and the tip of the cross section of the attachment portion of the blade with the hub.
[0030]
During operation of the windmill, in order to avoid contact with the blades 32, the gondola 45 is removed from the guide rail 47 and stored in another place, and the guide rail 47 is kept close to the tower 11. The gondola 45 is preferably wound up by the winch 41 and stored in the nacelle 21. Further, when the lower end of the guide rail 47 reaches the ground, the gondola 45 can be lowered to the ground and stored in another place. Also at that time, the wire rope 43 is wound up in the nacelle 21 by the winch 41.
[0031]
2, the horizontal position of the gondola 45 may be determined by a guide rope 49 lowered from the nacelle 21 instead of the guide rail. That is, the gondola 45 is guided to the guide rope 49 by passing the guide rope 49 through the ring installed on the gondola 45. In order to suppress the swing of the gondola 45, it is preferable to pass the guide rope 49 through two or more rings. The lower end of the guide rope 49 is fixed by an arm 49a protruding from the tower at a position below the lower end of the blade 32, and tension is applied to the guide rope 49 so as not to bend. Fixing the lower end of the guide rope 49 changes the position on the arm 49a according to the height of the gondola so that the gondola 45 follows the blade.
[0032]
Alternatively, the lower end of the guide rope 49 may be fixed at a fixed point provided on the ground. In that case, in addition to the maintenance of the blade 32, the lower end of the guide rope 49 is fixed to a fixed point on the ground provided around the tower 11 while the nacelle 21 is rotated. Maintenance can also be performed.
[0033]
During operation of the windmill, since the guide rope 49 can be detached from the arm 49 a and stored in the nacelle 21 after the gondola 45 is removed, the blade 32 does not contact the guide rope 49.
[0034]
Next, a second embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the side view of FIG. The rail 52 is fixed along the tower 11 by a plurality of brackets 51 attached to the tower 11. The rail 52 is installed from the upper part of the tower 11 to near the ground.
[0035]
A self-propelled traveling vehicle 53 is attached to the rail 52. Although not shown, the traveling vehicle 53 moves up and down on the rail 52 by winding up or loosening a rope lowered from the upper part of the rail 52 with a winch in the traveling vehicle. Alternatively, the rail 52 may be moved up and down by turning a gear installed on the traveling vehicle 53 on a rack laid along the rail 52. For the stability of the traveling vehicle, it is preferable to install two rails 52 and support the traveling vehicle 53 with the two rails.
[0036]
The traveling vehicle 53 is provided with two or four arms 54 that extend and contract. The arm 54 is threaded and meshes with a female screw of the traveling vehicle 53. As the female screw of the traveling vehicle 53 rotates, the arm 54 expands and contracts, and the gondola 55 moves in the horizontal direction. Alternatively, as shown in the partial view of FIG. 3B, the gondola 55 may be moved in the horizontal direction by expanding and contracting an arm 54 b that is a raging tong (extensible arm).
[0037]
The gondola 55 moves along the blade 32 by the traveling vehicle 53 moving up and down along the rail 52 and expanding and contracting the arm 54. Therefore, by getting on the gondola 55, the operator can perform maintenance of the blade 32 from the gondola 55. Since the blade 32 can be rotated around the longitudinal axis of the blade while being attached to the hub 31, maintenance of the entire surface of the blade 32 can be performed by work from the gondola 55. The rotatable amount (variable pitch angle) around the longitudinal axis of the blade 32 is preferably 180 degrees or more.
[0038]
Since the rail 52 is installed along the tower 11, it does not come into contact with the blades 32 even during the operation of the windmill, and does not hinder the operation. Further, if the gondola 55 is lowered to a position below the lower end of the blade 32, it does not hinder the operation of the windmill. Moreover, since the traveling vehicle 53 is self-propelled, it is not necessary to install a winch in the nacelle 21, and it is possible to prevent a complicated structure and an increase in weight due to an increase in the number of devices in the nacelle 21.
[0039]
Next, a wind turbine according to a third embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to a partial sectional front view of FIG. 4A and a partial sectional side view of FIG. 4A and 4B show a windmill in which one blade 32 is lowered to the ground for maintenance.
[0040]
Two winches 61 and 71 are installed in the nacelle 21. From each winch 61, 71, a wire rope 62, 72 protrudes under the hub 31 through a pulley in the hub 31 and through a lower portion of the hub 31. Hooks 63 and 73 are attached to the wire ropes 62 and 72, and the tips of the wire ropes are fixed inside the hub 31. The winches 61 and 71 may be installed not in the nacelle 21 but in the hub 31. Alternatively, the wire ropes 62 and 72 may be lowered from the hub 31 by installing on the ground and using a pulley in the hub 31. The wire ropes 62 and 72 are wound around the winches 61 and 71 during the operation of the windmill so as not to obstruct the operation. In addition, a scaffold (not shown) for performing work in the hub 31 is provided in the hub 31.
[0041]
When the blade 32 is removed from the hub 31, the rope 33 a is passed to the two hanging tools 33 provided near the portion where the blade 32 is attached to the hub 31, and the rope 33 a is hung on the hook 63. In addition, the rope 33a may be provided with only one hanging tool 33 and the rope 33a may be hung directly on the hook 63 instead of the rope 33a. Then, the blade 32 is removed from the hub 31. The operator removes the blade 32 from the hub 31 from inside the hub 31. When the blade 32 is removed from the hub 31, the blade 32 is suspended by a hook 63 with its tip facing downward. In this state, the winch 61 is lowered until the tip is near the ground. However, if it continues to be lowered as it is, the tip of the blade 32 hits the ground and is damaged.
[0042]
Therefore, the rope 34 a is hung on the hanging tool 34 near the tip of the blade 32, and the rope 34 a is hung on the hook 73. The reason for not hooking the hook 73 directly on the hanger 34 is to avoid damaging the surface of the blade 32 due to the hook 73 hitting the blade 32. Then, the wire rope 72 is wound up by the winch 71 to raise the hook 73, the wire rope 62 is loosened by the winch 61, and the hook 63 is lowered. Then, since the hanging tool 33 and the hanging tool 34 for hanging the blade 32 are on opposite sides of the center of gravity of the blade 32, the blade 32 is connected to the hanging tool 33 as shown by the broken line in FIG. It becomes horizontal on the line connecting the hanging tools 34. When the blade 32 is hung horizontally, the wire rope 72 spreads left and right, so that the pulley in the hub 31 can receive a load in a direction perpendicular to the axis of the hub 31. By lowering the blade 32 by operating the two winches 61 and 71 while maintaining the level, the tip of the blade 32 is not damaged, and the blade 32 is brought to the ground without using other heavy equipment. Lower. Maintenance of the blade 32 lowered to the ground can be easily performed. Even if the blade 32 is not completely lowered onto the ground, the maintenance can be easily performed from the ground by suspending the blade 32 at a height at which the blade 32 can be operated. In this case, a gutter for placing the blade 32 on the ground becomes unnecessary, and maintenance can be performed even when the blade 32 cannot be lowered on the ground like an offshore windmill.
[0043]
As shown in the partial cross-sectional side view of FIG. 5, while the blade 32 is suspended by one hook 63, the blade is easily shaken by the wind. It is preferable to prevent the large shaking from passing through a ring attached to the blade 32. In particular, the blade 32 is often made of fiber reinforced plastic (FRP) for weight reduction, and is easily damaged when it sways and hits the tower 11.
[0044]
The hanging tool 34 for hanging the vicinity of the tip of the blade 32 with the hook 73 rotates at a high speed with the rotation of the blade during operation of the windmill. In other words, if the hanger 34 is shaped to receive a large air resistance, the efficiency of the windmill is lowered, and a loud sound is generated as a basis for noise. Therefore, preferably, a metal female screw is embedded in the blade 32, and an eyebolt is fastened to the female screw only when the blade 32 is suspended for maintenance, and the hanging tool 34 is obtained. At other times, the lid is closed and the hole of the female screw is blocked. With this configuration, no protrusions are projected on the surface of the blade 32 during operation, so that neither air resistance nor noise is generated. When the blade is made of metal, a female screw may be cut directly on the blade.
[0045]
Alternatively, by forming a ring slightly larger than the outer periphery of the cross section at the position where the blade 73 is to be suspended with a rope or a belt, the ring is hung on the blade, and the hanging tool attached to the ring is hooked on the hook 73 to It is also possible to suspend the tip of 32. However, the surface of the blade is easily damaged by rubbing the ring rope and the blade 32.
[0046]
Alternatively, as shown in the partial cross-sectional view of FIG. 6A, a suspension plate 76 in which a hole having a shape that matches the cross-sectional shape near the tip of the blade 32 may be used. It is preferable to provide a protective material for preventing the blade surface from being damaged when the blade 32 is lifted by attaching a rubber sheet or the like to the inner surface of the hole which is a contact portion of the suspension plate 76 with the blade 32. This is because the blade 32 is often made of FRP and is easily damaged by a local load. Since the shape of the hole matches the cross-sectional shape of the blade, when the blade 32 is suspended by the suspension plate 76, the blade 32 is not easily detached from the suspension plate 76, and can be suspended in a stable state. The suspension plate 76 is preferably formed with brackets 76a to 76d for hooking the hook 73 on each of its four sides. Then, the hook 73 can be hung on the suspension plate 76 regardless of the direction of the blade 32.
[0047]
The shape of the suspension plate may be other than the shape illustrated in FIG. That is, the shape of the hole to be formed only needs to match the blade shape with the portion supporting the blade 32 from below, the outer shape may be any shape, and the bracket may be one place, or the bracket is not formed. Further, a rope for hooking the hook 73 may be provided. The suspension plate as described above is lightweight and easy to manufacture.
[0048]
Further, as shown in the cross-sectional view of FIG. 6B, a hanging tool 77 that is less susceptible to air resistance may be provided on the surface of the blade 32. If it is difficult to receive the air resistance, the effect on the efficiency of the windmill is small, and noise is hardly generated.
[0049]
The blade cross-section usually has a convex surface and a concave surface on the front and back. This is because, according to the blade theory, the pressure on the convex surface where the flow velocity of air on the surface is high is lower than the pressure on the concave surface where the flow velocity on the surface is slow, and the pressure difference causes the blade 32 to rotate. Because it becomes power. Therefore, the hanging tool 77 is preferably installed on the concave surface of the blade 32 where the flow velocity of air becomes slow. This is because there is an obstruction in the air flow where the flow velocity is low, and even if the flow velocity is further reduced, the generation of the force that rotates the blade 32 is not adversely affected.
[0050]
So far, the case where the blade 32 is suspended after being removed from the hub 31 has been described. Here, the case where the blade 32 is attached to and removed from the hub 31 will be described. The blade 32 that has been maintained on the ground is attached to the hub 31 using the two winches 61 and 71 described above. First, the blade 32 horizontally placed on the ground is lifted while being horizontal, in the same manner as when the blade 32 is lowered to the ground while being kept horizontal, and the blade 32 is moved by the two hooks 63 and 73. Lift horizontally. Even when the blade 32 is oriented vertically, the hook 73 on the blade tip side is lowered at a height at which the tip does not hit the ground, and the blade 32 is lifted up with the hook 63 alone in the vertical direction.
[0051]
The blade 32 is lifted up to the position of the hub 31 by the hook 63 using the two lifting tools 33 provided near the attachment position of the blade 32 to the hub 31. However, as described above, in a windmill, it is common to provide a tilt angle θ so that the blade does not come into contact with the tower even if the blade is pushed by the wind and deforms when receiving wind power. That is, the central axis of the hub is installed upward by a tilt angle θ from the horizontal. The tilt angle θ is about 5 degrees. That is, even if it is attempted to attach to the hub 31 using only the hanging tool 33 at the end portion on the hub side of the blade 32, the end face of the blade 32 and the surface of the hub 31 are opened by the tilt angle θ.
[0052]
Therefore, as shown in the partial cross-sectional view of FIG. 7, a protrusion 36 perpendicular to the longitudinal direction of the blade 32 is formed in the vicinity of the attachment location of the blade 32 with the hub 31. Here, the protrusion perpendicular to the longitudinal direction of the blade 32 only has to protrude at an angle with respect to the direction (longitudinal direction) connecting the center and the tip of the section where the blade is attached to the hub. The protrusion may be larger than the protrusion in the direction perpendicular to the longitudinal direction. However, it is effective to project in a direction substantially perpendicular to the longitudinal direction, that is, along the attachment surface of the blade 32 with the hub 31.
[0053]
During operation of the windmill, the protrusion 36 also rotates together with the hub 31 and the blade 32. Therefore, in order to reduce air resistance during operation, it is preferable that the protrusion 36 has a smooth shape on the surface of the hub 31 after being attached to the hub 31. Furthermore, in order not to generate noise due to the air flow between the hub 31 and the protruding portion 36, it is preferable that the protruding portion 36 has an integral shape with no gap between the hub 31 and the hub 31. For this purpose, when an elastic material is applied to the contact surface of the protruding portion 36 with the hub 31 and the blade 32 is attached to the hub 31, the elastic material is deformed so that there is no gap between the hub 31 and the hub 31. Is good. However, a protrusion 36 that does not hinder the operation of the wind turbine may be formed at a position that does not become on the surface of the hub 31 after attachment. Alternatively, the protrusion 36 may be fitted in the hub 31 (specifically, the hub cover) after the protrusion 36 is attached, or the protrusion 36 may be removable.
[0054]
A hanging tool 37 for attaching a hook 73 is attached to the protruding portion 36. The hanging tool 37 may be a looped rope, or may have another structure on which the hook 73 can be hung. Here, as described above, the blade 32 is hung by the lifting device including the winch 61 and the hook 63 out of the two lifting devices, and the lifting and lowering including the winch 71 and the hook 73 that suspends the blade tip. Since the device is not used to suspend the blade 32 after the blade 32 has been lifted high, it can now be used to suspend the protrusion 36.
[0055]
A pulley 78 for suspending the wire rope 72 from the winch 71 is installed in the hub near the tip of the hub 31. That is, the wire rope 72 is replaced with a pulley 78 different from that used when the blade 32 is near the ground. This work is performed by a worker entering the hub 31. The wire rope 72 from the pulley 78 passes through a hole formed at a connection portion with the protruding portion 36 on the hub 31 and suspends the hook 73.
[0056]
When the blade 32 is attached to the hub 31, the hook 63 is raised to the height at which the blade 32 body is attached to the hub 31 by the winch 61, and thereafter or simultaneously, the hook 73 is attached to the hub 31 of the blade 32 by the winch 71. Raise until the surface is at a predetermined angle. In this manner, by using two lifting devices, the blade 32 can be attached to the hub 31 installed upward from the horizontal plane by the tilt angle θ. When this attachment method is used not only during maintenance but also during construction, attachment of the blade 32 to the hub 31 is facilitated. Further, the case where the blade 32 is attached to the hub 31 has been described above. However, even when the blade 32 is detached, the lifting tool 37 attached to the protruding portion 36 is removed while being suspended by the hook 73, so that the tilt angle θ is raised upward from the horizontal plane. The blade 31 can be easily removed from the hub 32 installed in the. In FIG. 7, the blade 32 to be attached is shown in a direction opposite to that during operation. However, since the blade 32 can be rotated around the longitudinal axis after being attached to the hub 31, a predetermined value is obtained after being attached to the hub 31. Fix in the direction.
[0057]
Then, with reference to the partial cross section side view of FIG. 8, the wind power generator provided with the windmill and the generator which is the 4th Embodiment of this invention is demonstrated. In the nacelle 21, a main shaft 92 fixed coaxially with the hub 31 is rotatably supported by the main bearing 91. The other end of the main shaft 92 is connected to a speed increasing device 93. The speed increaser 93 increases the rotational speed of the main shaft 92 rotated by the hub 31. The increase in the rotational speed is for adjusting to the operation rotational speed of the generator 95 described later. The rotational speed of the main shaft 92 is increased by the speed increaser 93 and transmitted to the power shaft 94. The power shaft 94 is connected to a rotor (not shown) of the generator 95, and the rotor is rotated by the power shaft 94.
[0058]
The wind energy is converted into a force for rotating the hub 31 by the blade 32, and when the hub 31 rotates, the main shaft 92 and the power shaft 94 rotate. As a result, the rotor of the generator 95 rotates. Electric power is generated by the generator 95.
[0059]
Since the windmill includes the gondola 45 that can move up and down along the surface of the blade 32, the maintenance of the blade can be easily performed as described above, and the maintenance of the wind turbine generator is facilitated.
[0060]
FIG. 9 is a partial cross-sectional side view of a wind turbine generator including a windmill and a generator, which represents a fifth embodiment of the present invention. In the same manner as above, the main shaft 92 fixed coaxially with the hub 31, the main bearing 91 that supports the main shaft 92, the speed increasing device 93 that increases the rotational speed of the main shaft 92, and the speed increasing device 93 are increased. A power shaft 94 to which the rotation speed is transmitted and a generator 95 in which the rotor is rotated by the power shaft 94 are installed.
[0061]
Since the windmill includes two lifting devices 61, 62, 63, 71, 72, and 73, the blade 32 removed from the hub 31 can be lowered to the ground, and the blade 32 can be maintained on the ground. Maintenance is easy.
[0062]
In any of the wind power generators described above, the generator 95 may be placed on the ground instead of in the nacelle. At that time, the rotation of the hub 31 and the main shaft 92 is transmitted to the rotor of the generator on the ground by a chain gear or the like. By installing a heavy generator on the ground, the nacelle 21 can be reduced in size and weight.
[0063]
【The invention's effect】
As described above, according to the present invention, the provision of the gondola that moves up and down along the blades allows the operator on the gondola to perform maintenance of the blades, so that maintenance of the windmill is facilitated. Alternatively, the maintenance of the blade can be performed on the ground by providing two lifting devices and removing the blade from the hub and lowering it to the ground, so that the windmill can be maintained easily.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is a partial sectional side view showing a first embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 2 is a partial cross-sectional side view illustrating a modification of the first embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 3 is a side view showing a second embodiment of the present invention.
FIGS. 4A and 4B are a partially sectional front view and a partially sectional side view showing a third embodiment of the present invention. FIGS.
FIG. 5 is a partial cross-sectional side view showing a modification of the third embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 6 is a partial cross-sectional view illustrating a hanger near the tip of a blade.
FIG. 7 is a partial cross-sectional view for explaining how to attach the blade to the hub.
FIG. 8 is a partial cross-sectional side view showing a fourth embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 9 is a partial sectional side view showing a fifth embodiment of the present invention.
[Explanation of symbols]
11 Tower
21 Nasser
31 hub
32 blades
33, 34, 37
36 Projection
41 Winch
45, 55 Gondola
47 Guide rail
49 Guide rope
52 rails
53 traveling machine
54 arms
61, 71 Lifting device
62, 72 wire rope
63, 73 hook
66 Guide rope
77 Suspension
95 Generator

Claims (2)

A columnar tower;
A nacelle attached to the top of the tower;
A hub rotatably mounted on a horizontal end of the nacelle;
A blade attached to the hub for rotation in a plane inclined with respect to a vertical axis;
A gondola that can be raised and lowered along the surface of the blade;
The gondola is supported by a rail fixed along the tower, a traveling machine moving on the rail, and an arm attached to the traveling machine;
Windmill. A windmill according to claim 1;
  A generator driven by the windmill;
  Wind power generator.

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