[0001] The invention describes a tower manoeuvring arrangement and a method of manoeuvring
a tower assembly into a mounting position relative to a tower mount.
[0002] The size of wind turbines being constructed is increasing, and the number of wind
turbines in use is also increasing. Particularly in the case of offshore wind parks,
the construction and assembly of the wind turbines on site is a costly and hazardous
undertaking. To erect a wind turbine tower at an offshore site, a complete tower or
a set of tower sections may be transported in a horizontal position by ship to the
offshore site and tower mount. The mount can be a foundation, jacket structure, monopile,
etc., depending on factors such as water depth. The tower must then be raised into
a vertical position and brought into place over its tower mount. This procedure usually
involves a crane to hoist the tower into an upright position, and can be very hazardous
for personnel since the lower region of the tower must be secured to prevent the tower
from swinging sideways, but the base of the tower must also be aligned with the tower
mount. Such a method is described in
EP 2 364 949 A1.
[0003] A tower mount and wind turbine tower can be joined using some suitable connection
means such as pin bolts and bushings which must be aligned before the tower can be
lowered into place on the tower mount. However, it is time-consuming and difficult
to achieve this alignment using known techniques. For example, a known approach requires
that an arrangement of tag wires and a lifting frame is used. The tower is suspended
from the lifting frame, and tag lines are connected to corners of the lifting frame.
Winches are used to deploy the tag lines in order to effect a rotation of the tower.
However, since a tower can have a height of 60 - 100 m or more, and a bottom diameter
of 4.5 - 8.0 m or more, and since the tower/mount connectors are relatively small
in comparison, it is very difficult to control the winches precisely enough to manoeuvre
the very heavy tower into place so that the connectors are aligned. Safety measures
must always be taken to ensure that personnel are not at risk at any time. The alignment
procedure can therefore take a relatively long time, thus adding considerably to the
overall cost of installing a wind turbine.
[0004] It is therefore an object of the invention to provide an improved way of aligning
a tower to a tower mount.
[0005] This object is achieved by the tower manoeuvring arrangement of claim 1; and by the
method of claim 12 of manoeuvring a tower assembly into a mounting position relative
to a tower mount.
[0006] According to the invention, the tower manoeuvring arrangement - for bringing a tower
assembly into a mounting position relative to a tower mount - comprises a lifting
means for lifting the tower over the tower mount; a tag line coupling means realised
to detachably couple a tag line arrangement to the tower assembly, which tag line
coupling means comprises a contact surface for application to an outer surface of
the tower assembly; and a winch arrangement realised to deploy the tag lines to effect
a controlled rotation of the tower assembly about a longitudinal axis.
[0007] An advantage of the tower manoeuvring arrangement according to the invention is that,
with relatively little effort, a precise alignment of the tower assembly with the
tower mount can be achieved. The tower can be rotated about the longitudinal axis
- for example the vertical axis of the tower - by any amount, for example by a few
degrees or by a fraction of a degree, thereby allowing the very precise alignment
with the tower mount without any manual intervention by ground personnel. Furthermore,
since the tag lines are coupled to the tower surface using only a contact surface,
there is no need to secure any fasteners to the surface of the tower. Essentially,
the tag line coupling means does not require the use of any fasteners such as a threaded
connector, a bolted or screwed-in connector, a hook connector, etc. The contact surface
that is applied to the tower outer surface can effect a satisfactory connection on
the basis of friction and/or negative pressure, etc., as will be explained below.
Once the tower is in place on the tower mount, the tag line coupling means can simply
and quickly be removed.
[0008] According to the invention, the method of manoeuvring a tower assembly into a mounting
position relative to a tower mount comprises the steps of lifting the tower assembly
over the tower mount; applying a contact surface of a tag line coupling means to an
outer surface of the tower assembly to detachably couple a tag line arrangement to
the tower assembly; and actuating a winch arrangement to deploy one or more tag lines
of the tag line arrangement to effect a controlled displacement of the tower assembly
relative to the tower mount.
[0009] An advantage of the method according to the invention is that it allows the tower
to be manoeuvred in a very precise and controlled manner, since the contact surface
connection between tag line coupling means and tower surface has little or no degree
of freedom, as will be explained below. Furthermore, the tower is held securely at
all times throughout the manoeuvring procedure and can be rotated about the longitudinal
axis by means of the winches, the tag line arrangement and the tag line coupling means.
[0010] Particularly advantageous embodiments and features of the invention are given by
the dependent claims, as revealed in the following description. Features of different
claim categories may be combined as appropriate to give further embodiments not described
herein.
[0011] In the following, it may be assumed that the tower assembly is a wind turbine tower,
for example of steel or concrete. The tower assembly may be a complete tower or a
tower section. It follows that a tower mount may be a foundation for the tower, for
example an offshore platform, tripod, etc. Equally, the tower mount can be a previously
placed "lower" tower section onto which a "higher" tower section is to be mounted.
In the following, but without restricting the invention in any way, it may be assumed
that the tower mount and tower are to be joined using some suitable connection means
such as pin bolts and bushings which must be aligned before connecting the tower to
the tower mount.
[0012] In a preferred embodiment of the invention, the lifting means comprises a hoist connecting
means for connecting an upper part of the tower to a crane. This can comprise a bearing
wire, which can be connected in some suitable way to the top of the tower so that
the tower can be lifted by the crane. For example, a free swivel connection can be
used, so that the tower can freely rotate about its longitudinal axis when the winch
drive unit of the tower manoeuvring arrangement according to the invention is actuated.
Alternatively, such a bearing wire can be connected to a lifting yoke which in turn
is connected to the top of the tower. Such a lifting yoke can also be connected or
mounted to allow a free rotation of the tower about its longitudinal axis when the
winch drive unit is actuated.
[0013] To actuate the tag lines, in a preferred embodiment of the invention the winch arrangement
comprises a first winch realised to deploy a first tag line, a second winch realised
to deploy a second tag line, and a controller for controlling the winches. The winches
can be controlled so that one winch deploys the same amount of tag line that is drawn
in by the other winch, so that the tension in the tag lines is maintained at an essentially
constant level. This control technique may be used, for example, when the tower is
positioned over the tower mount, but the corresponding fasteners are not correctly
aligned, and a rotation about the tower longitudinal axis is required. Alternatively
or in addition, a "mooring" approach may be used, in which one winch holds its position,
and the other winch either pays out or retracts its tag line. This control technique
may be used, for example, when the tower is not yet correctly positioned over the
tower mount, and a lateral displacement is necessary between the tower and the tower
mount.
[0014] As indicated above, the tag line coupling means of the tower manoeuvring arrangement
according to the invention does not require the use of any fasteners that must first
be mounted to the tower and later removed again, with the inherent risk of damage
to the tower surface. Instead, the contact surface of the tag line coupling means
that is applied to the tower outer surface can effect a satisfactory connection on
the basis of friction and/or negative pressure. In a preferred embodiment of the invention,
the tag line coupling means is characterized by a high degree of friction between
its contact surface and the outer surface of the tower. This can be achieved in any
suitable manner. In a particularly preferred embodiment of the invention, the tag
line coupling means comprises a sling, and the contact surface of the sling is realised
to extend about a circumference of the tower. The sling can comprise a flexible band
or strip of a suitable material such as a webbing sling or a standard nylon lifting
sling to which a suitable anti-slip material such as rubber or silicon may be applied.
The surface properties of the material are preferably chosen so that the sling does
not slip across the surface of the tower, but instead adheres to the tower outer surface
on account of the friction between it and the tower surface.
[0015] Preferably, the sling comprises a tag line connector for connecting to a tag line.
When the sling is realised as a long band of material, the sling preferably comprises
a first tag line connector at one end for connecting to a first tag line, and a second
tag line connector at its other end for connecting to a second tag line.
[0016] To apply the contact surface of the sling to the outer surface of the tower, the
sling is simply wrapped around the tower. Preferably, the ends of the sling have already
been connected to the tag lines which can be held sufficiently taut to prevent the
sling from slipping downwards before the manoeuvring process commences.
[0017] The sling can be made to extend at least half-way about the tower outer circumference
in a lower tower region. Then, when one or more of the winches are actuated, the tag
lines are deployed and the resulting change in length of the tag lines results in
a displacement of the sling and a corresponding rotation of the tower, since the friction
between sling contact surface and tower surface means that the tower must rotate when
the sling is displaced. However, in a particularly preferred embodiment of the invention,
the sling is dimensioned such that the contact surface of the sling exceeds the circumference
of the tower by at least 150%, i.e. the portion of the sling in contact with the tower
is at least one and a half times as long as the circumference of the tower. In a setup
in which the tag lines run essentially parallel, this length ensures that the sling
can be wrapped about the tower at least one and a half times, so that the contact
area of the sling is applied to the tower surface about the entire circumference of
the tower.
[0018] In another preferred embodiment of the invention, the tag line coupling means is
characterized by a negative pressure connection between its contact surface and the
outer surface of the tower. For example, in a preferred embodiment of the invention,
the tag line coupling means comprises a suction element realised to attach to the
outer surface of the tower. A suction element can be a device such as a suction cup,
a suction disc, etc., with a flexible body that can be deformed to expel air from
the interior of the suction element, but which strives to retain its shape. For example,
the suction element can be pressed onto the tower surface to expel air from the interior
of the suction element. When the suction element is released (i.e. pressure is no
longer applied to it), its flexible body attempts to resume its shape, so that a negative
pressure is created in the interior, and the atmospheric pressure is greater on the
exterior. This pressure difference ensures that the suction element cannot release
from the tower surface of its own accord. In a preferred embodiment of the invention,
the suction element comprises a means of expelling air from between its contact surface
and the tower surface, for example a manually actuated lever for "pumping" the suction
element, e.g. for repeatedly pushing the flexible body of the suction element inwards
in order to expel air from its interior.
[0019] Preferably, such a suction element comprises a tag line connector for connecting
to a tag line. For example, the suction element can comprise an eyelet formed to accommodate
the tag line or a connector such as a carabiner that can be connected to the tag line.
[0020] To apply a contact surface of the suction element to the outer surface of the tower,
the flexible body of the suction element is preferably pressed onto the outer surface
of the tower until sufficient air has been expelled from between the suction element
and the tower surface. This ensures that a sufficient negative pressure can be been
created. This step can be carried out prior to or after connecting the tag lines to
the suction element.
[0021] The quality of the negative pressure connection may depend to a large extent on the
porosity of the surface to which the suction element is attached. For example, an
underpressure or vacuum may be maintained for a relatively long time if the tower
outer surface is smooth and non-porous. That might already be the case when the tower
is a steel tower, since construction steel is an essentially non-porous material.
Alternatively, in a preferred embodiment of the invention, the method also comprises
the step of providing a non-porous surface region to which the suction element can
be pressed. For example, a plain concrete tower outer surface may be sealed and/or
painted in the region in which a suction element is to be attached. For example, a
band or strip, extending about the tower circumference and having a suitable width,
may be coated or treated with an appropriate substance to reduce or eliminate any
porosity of the tower material in that region. The suction elements will then adhere
reliably to the tower surface when attached in that region.
[0022] Other objects and features of the present invention will become apparent from the
following detailed descriptions considered in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.
It is to be understood, however, that the drawings are designed solely for the purposes
of illustration and not as a definition of the limits of the invention.
Fig. 1 shows a first embodiment of a tower manoeuvring arrangement according to the
invention;
Fig. 2 shows a cross-section through a tower being aligned using the tower manoeuvring
arrangement of Fig. 1, in a first position;
Fig. 3 shows the tower of Fig. 2 in a second position after alignment using the tower
manoeuvring arrangement of Fig. 1;
Fig. 4 shows a second embodiment of a tower manoeuvring arrangement according to the
invention;
Fig. 5 shows a cross-section through a suction element of the tower manoeuvring arrangement
of Fig. 4;
Fig. 6 shows a third embodiment of a tower manoeuvring arrangement according to the
invention.
In the diagrams, like numbers refer to like objects throughout. Objects in the diagrams
are not necessarily drawn to scale.
[0023] Fig. 1 shows a first embodiment of a tower manoeuvring arrangement 1 according to
the invention. Here, a crane 10 is used to hoist or lift a tower assembly 2 over a
mount 3, for example an offshore monopile 3. The crane 10 can be part of an installation
vessel 8. The tower 2 is suspended from a bearing wire 11 that allows a rotation R
of the tower 2 about its longitudinal axis L.
[0024] It is necessary to correctly align the tower 2 with the mount 3, so that a lower
mating portion 30 (for example a circular arrangement of mounting bolts) can be aligned
with an upper mating portion 31 (for example a circular arrangement of bushings on
a lower flange of the tower). In this embodiment, the tower manoeuvring arrangement
1 comprises a sling 4 wrapped at least one and half times about the tower in a lower
tower region. The sling 4 has a high-friction inner surface 40 that lies against the
tower outer surface 20. Each end of the sling 4 is connected to a tag line 6A, 6B.
The tag lines 6A, 6B are deployed by winches 70A, 70B. Here, only a first winch 70A
can be seen in the diagram and the other winch 70B may be assumed to be behind the
first winch 70A.
[0025] A "sideways" or lateral displacement of the tower can be effected by deploying both
tag lines 6A, 6B by the same amount and in the same direction. This step can be done
to achieve an initial alignment of the longitudinal axis L of the tower 2 with a central
axis of the mount 3.
[0026] A rotation of the tower 2 relative to the mount 3 can then be effected by actuating
the winches 70A, 70B independently of each other. For example, by only paying out
one tag line 6A, one end of the sling 4 (the end connected to the other tag line 6B)
is fixed in place, and the other is end of the sling is free to move, so that the
tower can turn slightly about its vertical axis L. Alternatively, the winches 70A,
70B can be actuated at the same time but at different rates.
[0027] The diagram shows the sling 4 arranged at a lower level of the tower 2. However,
the sling 4 could equally well be deployed at an upper level of the tower, or even
to a tower lifting arrangement. For example, the tower 2 can be raised by connecting
the bearing wire 11 to a suitable interface element such as a flange gripper realised
to grip an upper flange at the top of the tower 2. In such an embodiment, the sling
4 could be arranged about the flange gripper, and the tag lines 6A, 6B could be arranged
at a suitably high level. Here also, a controlled and precise rotation R of the tower
2 can be achieved in a simple and effective manner by controlling the winches 70A,
70B and the tag lines 6A, 6B according to the desired degree of rotation R.
[0028] The alignment procedure is shown more clearly in Figs. 2 and 3, which indicate a
cross-section through the tower 2, and show a sling 4 wrapped "one and a half turns"
about the tower 2, and with both ends connected to tag lines 6A, 6B by means of connectors
41, for example swivel connectors 41 or carabiner connectors 41. Fig. 2 shows an initial
position in which the longitudinal axis L of the tower 2 is aligned with a vertical
axis L of the mount. However, a tower reference point T must be brought into alignment
with a corresponding point of the mount. To this end, as shown in Fig. 3, the winches
70A, 70B are actuated to effect the desired rotation R, and Fig. 3 shows the tower
in a second position after alignment. The tower 2 has been rotated slightly about
its axis L so that the reference point T has been brought to the desired position,
so that the tower 2 can be fixed to the mount. The rotation R was made possible by
the friction contact between the sling inner surface 40 and the tower outer surface
20. Once the tower 2 is aligned with the mount 3, the sling 4 can be detached from
the tag lines 6A, 6B simply and quickly.
[0029] Fig. 4 shows a second embodiment of a tower manoeuvring arrangement 1 according to
the invention. In this embodiment, the tower manoeuvring arrangement 1 comprises a
suction cup 5 mounted to the outer surface 20 of the tower 2. The suction cup 5 has
been pressed to the tower surface 20 to effect a negative pressure connection. The
diagram shows one suction cup 5, and a second suction cup 5 (not shown) is placed
on the other side of the tower 2, essentially diametrically opposed to the first suction
cup 5. Each suction cup 5 is connected to a tag line 6A, 6B. In this embodiment also,
the tag lines 6A, 6B are deployed by winches 70A, 70B to effect a rotation R of the
tower 2 so that an upper mating portion 31 of the tower 2 can be aligned with a lower
mating portion 30 of the mount 3. This diagram also shows an alternative hoisting
arrangement, in which the upper part of the tower 2 is connected by means of a lifting
yoke 12 to a bearing wire 11. Of course, instead of a lifting yoke, a standard lifting
bracket could be used.
[0030] Fig. 5 shows a cross-section through the suction cup 5 of the tower manoeuvring arrangement
of Fig. 4. The suction cup 5 comprises a flexible body with a smooth inner surface
50, and was initially pressed to the outer surface 20 of the tower 2 to expel air
from between the suction cup 5 and the tower surface 20. Once released, the flexible
body of the suction cup 5 resumes its initial form, so that the pressure P
N in the interior of the suction cup 5 is lower than the atmospheric pressure P
A acting on the suction cup 5 from outside. The negative pressure difference ensures
that the suction cup 5 is effectively "pressed" onto the surface of the tower 2 until
it is deliberately removed. For example, once the tower 2 has been aligned with the
mount and the mating portions have been joined, an edge of the suction cup 5 can be
lifted slightly to equalize the pressure, allowing the suction cup 5 to be removed.
The quality of the surface contact between suction cup 5 and tower outer surface 20
can be improved by having previously applied a coating to that region of the tower
surface to obtain a non-porous surface region 200.
[0031] Fig. 6 shows a tower manoeuvring arrangement in which a combination of sling 4 and
suction cup 5 is used. Here, the sling 4 is not wrapped about the tower 2 but only
completes a "half-turn" about the tower 2. A suction cup 5 can be attached to the
tower outer surface 20 at the level of the sling 4, and the sling 4 can be "fixed"
relative to the tower 2 by fitting it over a fitting pin 52 of the suction cup 5.
The ends of the sling 4 can be connected to the tag lines 6A, 6B, and a rotation R
of the tower 2 can be effected in the manner described above, namely by actuating
winches to deploy one or both of the tag lines 6A, 6B until the desired alignment
of tower and mount is achieved. In this embodiment, a friction contact between sling
4 and tower outer surface 20 is not strictly necessary, since the negative pressure
connection fixes the suction cup 5 to the tower outer surface 20, and the fitting
element 52 fixes the sling 4 relative to the suction cup 5. These measures can be
sufficient to ensure that the sling 4 does not slip relative to the tower.
[0032] Although the present invention has been disclosed in the form of preferred embodiments
and variations thereon, it will be understood that numerous additional modifications
and variations could be made thereto without departing from the scope of the invention.
[0033] For the sake of clarity, it is to be understood that the use of "a" or "an" throughout
this application does not exclude a plurality, and "comprising" does not exclude other
steps or elements.
1. A tower manoeuvring arrangement (1) for bringing a tower assembly (2) into a mounting
position relative to a tower mount (3), which apparatus comprises
- a lifting means (10, 11) for lifting the tower assembly (2) over the tower mount
(3);
- a tag line coupling means (4, 5) realised to detachably couple a tag line arrangement
(6A, 6B) to the tower assembly (2), which tag line coupling means (4, 5) comprises
a contact surface (40, 50) for application to an outer surface (20) of the tower assembly
(2); and
- characterized in that a winch arrangement (7) is realised to deploy the tag lines (6A, 6B) to effect a
controlled rotation of the tower assembly (2) about a longitudinal axis (L) of the
tower assembly (2) .
2. An apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the tag line coupling means (4) is characterized by a high degree of friction between its contact surface (40) and the outer surface
(20) of the tower assembly (2).
3. An apparatus according to claim 1 or claim 2, wherein the tag line coupling means
(4) comprises a sling (4), and wherein the contact surface (40) of the sling (4) is
realised to extend about a circumference of the tower assembly (20).
4. An apparatus according to claim 3, wherein the sling (4) is dimensioned such that
the contact surface (40) of the sling (4) exceeds the circumference of the tower assembly
(20) by a ratio of at least 1.5 to 1.
5. An apparatus according to claim 3 or claim 4, comprising a tag line connector (41,
51) for connecting a tag line coupling means (4, 5) to a tag line (6A, 6B).
6. An apparatus according to claim 5, comprising a first tag line connector (41) for
connecting to a first tag line (6A) and a second tag line connector (41) for connecting
to a second tag line (6B).
7. An apparatus according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the tag line coupling
means (5) is characterized by a negative pressure connection between its contact surface (50) and the outer surface
(20) of the tower assembly (2).
8. An apparatus according to claim 7, wherein the tag line coupling means (5) comprises
a suction element (5) realised to attach to the outer surface (20) of the tower assembly
(2) .
9. An apparatus according to claim 8, wherein a suction element (5) comprises a tag line
connector (51) for connecting to a tag line (6A, 6B).
10. An apparatus according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the winch arrangement
(7) comprises a first winch (70A) realised to deploy a first tag line (6A); a second
winch (70B) realised to deploy a second tag line (6B); and a controller (71) for controlling
the winches (70A, 70B).
11. An apparatus according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the lifting means (10,
11, 12) comprises a hoist connecting means (11) for connecting an upper part of the
tower assembly (2) to a crane (10).
12. A method of manoeuvring a tower assembly (2) into a mounting position relative to
a tower mount (3), which method comprises the steps of
- lifting the tower assembly (2) over the tower mount (3);
- applying a contact surface (40, 50) of a tag line coupling means (4, 5) to an outer
surface (20) of the tower assembly (2) to detachably couple a tag line arrangement
(6A, 6B) to the tower assembly (2); and
- characterized in that it comprises the step of actuating a winch arrangement (7) to deploy tag lines (6A,
6B) of the tag line arrangement (6A, 6B) to effect a controlled rotation of the tower
assembly (2) about a longitudinal axis (L) of the tower assembly (2).
13. A method according to claim 12, wherein the step of applying a contact surface (40)
of the tag line coupling means (4) to an outer surface (20) of the tower assembly
(2) comprises wrapping a sling (4) about the outer surface (20) of the tower assembly
(2).
14. A method according to 12 or claim 13, wherein the step of applying a contact surface
(50) of the tag line coupling means (5) to an outer surface (10) of the tower assembly
(2) comprises pressing a suction element (5) to the outer surface (20) of the tower
assembly (2).
15. A method according to claim 14, comprising the step of providing a non-porous surface
region (200) on the outer surface (20) of the tower assembly (2), onto which the suction
element (5) can be pressed.
1. Turmmanövrieranordnung (1) zum Bringen einer Turmbaugruppe (2) in eine Montageposition
in Bezug auf eine Turmaufnahme (3), wobei die Vorrichtung Folgendes umfasst:
- ein Hebemittel (10, 11) zum Heben der Turmbaugruppe (2) über die Turmaufnahme (3),
- ein Leitseilkopplungsmittel (4, 5), das so ausgelegt ist, dass es eine Leitseilanordnung
(6A, 6B) lösbar mit der Turmbaugruppe (2) koppelt, wobei das Leitseilkopplungsmittel
(4, 5) eine Kontaktfläche (40, 50) zum Anlegen an eine Außenfläche (20) der Turmbaugruppe
(2) umfasst, und
- dadurch gekennzeichnet, dass eine Windenanordnung (7) so ausgelegt ist, dass sie die Leitseile (6A, 6B) zum Bewirken
einer kontrollierten Drehung der Turmbaugruppe (2) um eine Längsachse (L) der Turmbaugruppe
(2) einsetzt.
2. Vorrichtung nach Anspruch 1, wobei das Leitseilkopplungsmittel (4) durch starke Reibung
zwischen seiner Kontaktfläche (40) und der Außenfläche (20) der Turmbaugruppe (2)
gekennzeichnet ist.
3. Vorrichtung nach Anspruch 1 oder 2, wobei das Leitseilkopplungsmittel (4) eine Schlinge
(4) umfasst und die Kontaktfläche (40) der Schlinge (4) so ausgelegt ist, dass sie
um einen Umfang der Turmbaugruppe (20) herum verläuft.
4. Vorrichtung nach Anspruch 3, wobei die Schlinge (4) so bemessen ist, dass ihre Kontaktfläche
(40) in einem Verhältnis von mindestens 1,5 zu 1 größer ist als der Umfang der Turmbaugruppe
(20).
5. Vorrichtung nach Anspruch 3 oder 4, die ein Leitseilverbindungsstück (41, 51) zum
Verbinden eines Leitseilkopplungsmittels (4, 5) mit einem Leitseil (6A, 6B) umfasst.
6. Vorrichtung nach Anspruch 5, die ein erstes Leitseilverbindungsstück (41) zum Verbinden
mit einem ersten Leitseil (6A) und ein zweites Leitseilkopplungsstück (41) zum Verbinden
mit einem zweiten Leitseil (6B) umfasst.
7. Vorrichtung nach einem der vorhergehenden Ansprüche, wobei das Leitseilkopplungsmittel
(5) durch eine Unterdruckverbindung zwischen seiner Kontaktfläche (50) und der Außenfläche
(20) der Turmbaugruppe (2) gekennzeichnet ist.
8. Vorrichtung nach Anspruch 7, wobei das Leitseilkopplungsmittel (5) ein Saugelement
(5) umfasst, das so ausgelegt ist, dass es sich an der Außenfläche (20) der Turmbaugruppe
(2) anbringen lässt.
9. Vorrichtung nach Anspruch 8, wobei ein Saugelement (5) ein Leitseilverbindungsstück
(51) zum Verbinden mit einem Leitseil (6A, 6B) umfasst.
10. Vorrichtung nach einem der vorhergehenden Ansprüche, wobei die Windenanordnung (7)
Folgendes umfasst: eine erste Winde (70A), die so ausgelegt ist, dass sie ein erstes
Leitseil (6A) zum Einsatz bringt, eine zweite Winde (70B), die so ausgelegt ist, dass
sie ein zweites Leitseil (6B) zum Einsatz bringt, und eine Steuerung (71) zum Steuern
der Winden (70A, 70B).
11. Vorrichtung nach einem der vorhergehenden Ansprüche, wobei das Hebemittel (10, 11,
12) ein Hebezeugverbindungsmittel (11) zum Verbinden eines oberen Teils der Turmbaugruppe
(2) mit einem Kran (10) umfasst.
12. Verfahren zum Manövrieren einer Turmbaugruppe (2) in eine Montageposition in Bezug
auf eine Turmaufnahme (3), das folgende Schritte umfasst:
- Heben der Turmbaugruppe (2) über die Turmaufnahme (3),
- Anlegen einer Kontaktfläche (40, 50) eines Leitseilkopplungsmittels (4, 5) an eine
Außenfläche (20) der Turmbaugruppe (2) zwecks lösbarem Koppeln einer Leitseilanordnung
(6A, 6B) mit der Turmbaugruppe (2) und
- dadurch gekennzeichnet, dass es das derartige Betätigen einer Windenanordnung (7) umfasst, dass die Leitseile
(6A, 6B) der Leitseilanordnung (6A, 6B) zum Bewirken einer kontrollierten Drehung
der Turmbaugruppe (2) um eine Längsachse (L) der Turmbaugruppe (2) eingesetzt werden.
13. Verfahren nach Anspruch 12, wobei das Anlegen einer Kontaktfläche (40) des Leitseilkopplungsmittels
(4) an eine Außenfläche (20) der Turmbaugruppe (2) das Wickeln einer Schlinge (4)
um die Außenfläche (20) der Turmbaugruppe (2) umfasst.
14. Verfahren nach Anspruch 12 oder 13, wobei das Anlegen einer Kontaktfläche (50) des
Leitseilkopplungsmittels (5) an eine Außenfläche (10) der Turmbaugruppe (2) das Andrücken
eines Saugelements (5) an die Außenfläche (20) der Turmbaugruppe (2) umfasst.
15. Verfahren nach Anspruch 14, das das Bereitstellen eines nichtporösen Flächenbereichs
(200) an der Außenfläche (20) der Turmbaugruppe (2) umfasst, an den das Saugelement
(5) angedrückt werden kann.
1. Dispositif de manoeuvre de tour (1) permettant d'amener un ensemble tour (2) jusqu'à
une position de montage par rapport à une virole de tour (3), ledit dispositif comprenant
- un moyen de levage (10, 11) permettant de lever l'ensemble tour (2) au-dessus de
la virole de tour (3) ;
- un moyen de couplage de câble stabilisateur (4, 5) conçu pour coupler de manière
détachable un agencement de câble stabilisateur (6A, 6B) à l'ensemble tour (2), ledit
moyen de couplage de câble stabilisateur (4, 5) comprenant une surface de contact
(40, 50) destinée à être appliquée sur une surface extérieure (20) de l'ensemble tour
(2) ; et
- caractérisé en ce qu'un dispositif de treuillage (7) est conçu pour déployer les câbles stabilisateurs
(6A, 6B) de manière à provoquer une rotation commandée de l'ensemble tour (2) autour
d'un axe longitudinal (L) de l'ensemble tour (2).
2. Appareil selon la revendication 1, dans lequel le moyen de couplage de câble stabilisateur
(4) est caractérisé par un degré élevé de friction entre sa surface de contact (40) et la surface extérieure
(20) de l'ensemble tour (2).
3. Appareil selon la revendication 1 ou 2, dans lequel le moyen de couplage de câble
stabilisateur (4) comprend une élingue (4), et dans lequel la surface de contact (40)
de l'élingue (4) est conçue pour s'étendre autour d'une circonférence de l'ensemble
tour (20).
4. Appareil selon la revendication 3, dans lequel l'élingue (4) est dimensionnée de telle
manière que la surface de contact (40) de l'élingue (4) dépasse la circonférence de
l'ensemble tour (20) à concurrence d'un rapport d'au moins 1,5 à 1.
5. Appareil selon la revendication 3 ou 4, comprenant un raccord de câble stabilisateur
(41, 51) permettant de raccorder un moyen de couplage de câble stabilisateur (4, 5)
à un câble stabilisateur (6A, 6B).
6. Appareil selon la revendication 5, comprenant un premier raccord de câble stabilisateur
(41) permettant un raccordement à un premier câble stabilisateur (6A) et un deuxième
raccord de câble stabilisateur (41) permettant un raccordement à un deuxième câble
stabilisateur (6B).
7. Appareil selon l'une quelconque des revendications précédentes, dans lequel le moyen
de couplage de câble stabilisateur (5) est caractérisé par un raccordement à pression négative entre sa surface de contact (50) et la surface
extérieure (20) de l'ensemble tour (2).
8. Appareil selon la revendication 7, dans lequel le moyen de couplage de câble stabilisateur
(5) comprend un élément d'aspiration (5) conçu pour se fixer à la surface extérieure
(20) de l'ensemble tour (2).
9. Appareil selon la revendication 8, dans lequel l'élément d'aspiration (5) comprend
un raccord de câble stabilisateur (51) permettant un raccordement à un câble stabilisateur
(6A, 6B) .
10. Appareil selon l'une quelconque des revendications précédentes, dans lequel le dispositif
de treuillage (7) comprend un premier treuil (70A) conçu pour déployer un premier
câble stabilisateur (6A) ; un deuxième treuil (70B) conçu pour déployer un deuxième
câble stabilisateur (6B) ; et un dispositif de commande (71) permettant de commander
les treuils (70A, 70B).
11. Appareil selon l'une quelconque des revendications précédentes, dans lequel le moyen
de levage (10, 11, 12) comprend un moyen de raccordement de palan (11) permettant
de raccorder une partie supérieure de l'ensemble tour (2) à une grue (10).
12. Procédé de manoeuvre d'un ensemble tour (2) jusqu'à une position de montage par rapport
à une virole de tour (3), ledit procédé comprenant les étapes consistant à :
- lever l'ensemble tour (2) au-dessus de la virole de tour (3) ;
- appliquer une surface de contact (40, 50) d'un moyen de couplage de câble stabilisateur
(4, 5) sur une surface extérieure (20) de l'ensemble tour (2) afin de coupler de manière
détachable un agencement de câble stabilisateur (6A, 6B) à un ensemble tour (2) ;
et
- caractérisé en ce qu'il comprend une étape consistant à :
actionner un dispositif de treuillage (7) afin de déployer des câbles stabilisateurs
(6A, 6B) de l'agencement de câble stabilisateur (6A, 6B) de manière à provoquer une
rotation commandée de l'ensemble tour (2) autour d'un axe longitudinal (L) de l'ensemble
tour (2).
13. Procédé selon la revendication 12, dans lequel l'étape d'application d'une surface
de contact (40) du moyen de couplage de câble stabilisateur (4) sur une surface extérieure
(20) de l'ensemble tour (2) comprend une étape consistant à enrouler une élingue (4)
autour de la surface extérieure (20) de l'ensemble tour (2).
14. Procédé selon la revendication 12 ou 13, dans lequel l'étape d'application d'une surface
de contact (50) du moyen de couplage de câble stabilisateur (5) sur une surface extérieure
(10) de l'ensemble tour (2) comprend une étape consistant à presser un élément d'aspiration
(5) sur la surface extérieure (20) de l'ensemble tour (2).
15. Procédé selon la revendication 14, comprenant une étape consistant à fournir une région
de surface non poreuse (200) sur la surface extérieure (20) de l'ensemble tour (2),
sur laquelle l'élément d'aspiration (5) peut être pressé sur ladite surface.