Wind turbine tower suspension means

Abstract

The invention relates to a method of mounting elements in a wind turbine tower ( 10, 11, 12, 13, 14 ), whereby said elements are partly or completely attached to the wind turbine tower ( 10, 11, 12, 13, 14 ) by means of magnetic attraction forces. According to the invention, wind turbine suspension units may be attached to the wind turbine tower, preferably completely or partly to the inner wall by means of magnetic attraction forces, which prevent structure-weakening attachments to the tower or part of the tower.

1 . Method of mounting elements in a wind turbine tower ( 10 ,  11 ,  12 ,  13 ,  14 ), 
 whereby said elements are partly or completely attached to the wind turbine tower ( 10 ,  11 ,  12 ,  13 ,  14 ) by means of magnetic attraction forces.    
     
     
         2 . Method of mounting elements in a wind turbine tower according to  claim 1 , 
 whereby said magnetic attraction forces are established by means of permanent magnetic materials interacting with other magnetic materials.    
     
     
         3 . Method of mounting elements in a wind turbine tower according to  claim 1  or  2 , 
 whereby said magnetic attraction forces are established by means of permanent magnetic materials being comprised in a suspension unit ( 20 ;  60 ) and interacting with other magnetic materials forming at least a portion of a wind turbine tower.  
 
     
     
         4 . Method of mounting elements in a wind turbine tower according to any of the  claims 1  to  3 , 
 whereby said magnetic attraction forces are supplemented by mechanical fixation in at least one direction.  
 
     
     
         5 . Method of mounting elements in a wind turbine tower according to any of the  claims 1  to  4 , 
 whereby said mechanical fixation in at least one direction is established by mechanical fixation to fixation areas ( 31 ,  32 ), said fixation areas being arranged at a certain distance from each other in the vertical direction of a wind turbine tower.  
 
     
     
         6 . Method of mounting elements in a wind turbine tower according to any of the  claims 1  to  5 , 
 whereby said mechanical fixation in at least one direction is established by mechanical fixation to fixation areas ( 31 ,  32 ), said fixation areas being arranged at a certain distance from each other in the vertical direction of a wind turbine tower, said distances approximately constituting the vertical length of a wind turbine tower section ( 11 ,  12 ,  13 ,  14 ).  
 
     
     
         7 . Method of mounting elements in a wind turbine tower according to any of the  claims 1  to  6 , 
 whereby said fixation areas comprise flanges ( 131 ,  142 ) adapted to joining the wind turbine tower sections ( 11 ,  12 ,  13 ,  14 ).  
 
     
     
         8 . Wind turbine tower suspension unit ( 20 ;  60 ), 
 said wind turbine tower suspension unit ( 20 ;  60 )    comprising magnetic attachment means ( 24 ).    
     
     
         9 . Wind turbine tower suspension unit ( 20 ;  60 ) according to  claim 8 , 
 wherein said magnetic attachment means ( 24 ) comprise a permanent magnetic material.    
     
     
         10 . Wind turbine tower suspension unit ( 20 ;  60 ) according to  claim 8  or  9 , 
 wherein said permanent magnetic material comprises permanent Neodym magnets.  
 
     
     
         11 . Wind turbine tower suspension unit ( 20 ;  60 ) according to any of the  claims 8  to  10 , wherein said permanent magnetic material comprises permanent Samarium-Cobalt magnets.  
     
     
         12 . Wind turbine tower suspension unit ( 20 ;  60 ) according to any of the  claims 8  to  11 , 
 wherein said wind turbine tower suspension unit ( 20 ;  60 )  
 comprises mechanical fixating means ( 22 ;  62 ).  
 
     
     
         13 . Wind turbine tower suspension unit ( 20 ;  60 ) according to any of the  claims 8  to  12 , 
 wherein said wind turbine tower suspension unit ( 20 )  
 comprises at least one barrier ( 23 ) encapsulating said magnetic attachment means ( 24 ) completely or partly.  
 
     
     
         14 . Wind turbine tower suspension unit ( 20 ;  60 ) according to any of the  claims 8  to  13 , 
 wherein said barrier ( 23 ) prevents transportation of humidity to the magnetic means ( 24 ).  
 
     
     
         15 . Wind turbine tower suspension unit ( 20 ;  60 ) according to any of the  claims 8  to  14 , 
 wherein said unit comprises means for receiving mechanical attraction forces in at least one first direction and means for establishment of magnetic attraction forces in at least one other direction, said at least one other direction being substantially transverse in relation to said at least one first direction.  
 
     
     
         16 . Method of mounting a suspension unit according to any of the  claims 8  to  15 , 
 whereby said unit is attached to at least one wind turbine tower portion by means of computer-controlled positioning systems.  
 
     
     
         17 . System of mutually attachable members, 
 said system comprising at least one magnetic wind turbine tower portion,    said system comprising at least one suspension unit ( 20 ; 60 ),    said at least one suspension unit ( 20 ; 60 ) comprising at least one permanent magnetic portion ( 24 ),    said at least one permanent magnetic portion ( 24 ) facilitating magnetic attachment of at least one suspension unit ( 20 ;  60 ) to said at least one wind turbine tower portion.    
     
     
         18 . System according to  claim 17 , wherein 
 said at least one magnetic wind turbine tower portion comprises the tower ( 11 ,  12 ,  13 ,  14 ;  10 ).    
     
     
         19 . System according to  claim 17  or  18 , wherein 
 said wind turbine tower portion is comprised by a magnetic material of magnetic steel.  
 
     
     
         20 . System according to any of the  claims 17  to  19 , wherein 
 said at least one permanent magnetic portion ( 24 ) comprises a Neodym magnetic material or Samarium-Cobalt magnetic material.  
 
     
     
         21 . System according to any of the  claims 17  to  20 , wherein 
 said system comprises at least one suspension unit ( 20 ; 60 ) according to any of the  claims 8  to  21 .  
 
     
     
         22 . System according to any of the  claims 17  to  21 , 
 wherein said tower comprises at least two tower sections ( 11 ,  12 ,  13 ,  14 ).  
 
     
     
         23 . System according to any of the  claims 17  to  21 , 
 wherein at least one of said tower sections comprises mechanical attachment areas ( 131 ,  142 ) arranged in the upper and lower parts of said at least one tower section.  
 
     
     
         24 . System according to any of the  claims 17  to  22 , 
 wherein at least one of said mechanical attachment areas ( 131 ,  142 ) facilitates mechanical attachment of at least one suspension unit ( 20 ;  60 ) and suspension to said at least one of said mechanical attachment areas ( 131 ,  142 ).  
 
     
     
         25 . System according to any of the  claims 17  to  23 , wherein 
 at least two of said mechanical attachment areas ( 131 ,  142 ) facilitate mechanical attachment of at least one suspension unit ( 20 ;  60 ) and suspension between said at least two of said mechanical attachment areas ( 131 ,  142 ).