Transport container for wind turbine blades

Abstract

A modularly extendable container system for transporting wind turbine blades is disclosed. The extendable container system includes at least one module configured to be connected to other modules. The module includes a box-shaped frame and corrugated side walls attached to the frame. The extendable container system further includes a connecting member positioned at each end of the module for connection between the module and the other module to extend the length of the container system.

What is claimed is:  
     
         1 . An extendable container system for transporting a wind turbine blade comprising: 
 at least one module configured to be connected to other modules, the module comprising: 
 a box-shaped frame; and  
 corrugated side walls attached to the frame, and  
   a connecting member positioned at each end of the module for connection between the module and the other module to extend the length of the container system.    
     
     
         2 . The extendable container system of  claim 1 , wherein the at least one module includes at least one standard module and at least one extension module.  
     
     
         3 . The extendable container system of  claim 2 , wherein the standard module is 40 feet in length.  
     
     
         4 . The extendable container system of  claim 2 , wherein the extension module is one of 40 feet in length and 20 feet in length.  
     
     
         5 . The extendable container system of  claim 1 , wherein the modules are stackable on the top of another.  
     
     
         6 . The extendable container system of  claim 1 , wherein the module comprises a roof.  
     
     
         7 . The extendable container system of  claim 6 , wherein the roof is comprised of at least one corrugated sheet.  
     
     
         8 . The extendable container system of  claim 6 , comprising a plurality of telescoping columns for supporting the roof.  
     
     
         9 . The extendable container system of  claim 8 , wherein the telescoping column includes a roof mounting apparatus for attaching the roof to the telescoping column.  
     
     
         10 . The extendable container system of  claim 1 , wherein a plurality of telescoping columns are configured to support the weight of another extendable container system.  
     
     
         11 . The extendable container system of  claim 10 , wherein the telescoping column is configured to structurally communicate with the frame to hold the telescoping column in place.  
     
     
         12 . The extendable container system of  claim 11 , wherein the telescoping column includes a slider for facilitating sliding motion of the column relative to the frame.  
     
     
         13 . The extendable container system of  claim 11 , wherein the frame includes a receiving hole in which the telescoping column is slidably positioned.  
     
     
         14 . The extendable container system of  claim 10 , wherein the telescoping column includes at least one stop hole to which a secure stop is inserted for positioning the telescoping column at a predetermined height.  
     
     
         15 . The extendable container system of  claim 1 , comprising a blade root fitting attached near an end of the module and configured to fasten a root end of a wind turbine blade.  
     
     
         16 . The extendable container system of  claim 15 , wherein the blade root fitting is configured to tilt the wind turbine blade within the module.  
     
     
         17 . The extendable container system of  claim 16 , wherein the blade root fitting includes a cylinder for controlling the tilting of the wind turbine blade.  
     
     
         18 . The extendable container system of  claim 15 , wherein the blade root fitting comprises: 
 a blade holder for anchoring the turbine blade to the frame of the extendable container;    a blade fitting configured to attach to the blade holder, the blade fitting configured to attach to a root of a wind turbine blade; and    a piston attached to the blade holder and the blade fitting, the piston configured to rotate the blade fitting with respect to the blade holder so as to tilt the wind turbine blade.    
     
     
         19 . The extendable container system of  claim 1 , comprising a blade tip holder attached to the frame for supporting a tip portion of the wind turbine blade.  
     
     
         20 . The extendable container system of  claim 19 , wherein the blade tip holder comprises: 
 a loop-shaped band configured to receive the tip of a turbine blade; and    means for attaching the loop-shaped slings to the frame.    
     
     
         21 . The extendable container system of  claim 1 , comprising a floor.  
     
     
         22 . The extendable container system of  claim 21 , wherein the floor includes at least one drainage hole.  
     
     
         23 . The extendable container system of  claim 21 , wherein the floor is comprised of at least one corrugated sheet.  
     
     
         24 . The extendable container system of  claim 1 , comprising a wheeled member for overland transport.  
     
     
         25 . The extendable container system of  claim 24 , wherein the wheeled member is compatible with road transportation.  
     
     
         26 . The extendable container system of  claim 25 , wherein the height of the container system with the wheeled member installed is not greater than 4.2 meter.  
     
     
         27 . The extendable container system of  claim 1 , wherein the module can be configured to form a stand-alone highcube container.  
     
     
         28 . The extendable container system of  claim 1 , comprising at least one ladder attached to an outside portion of the module and extended to a roof.  
     
     
         29 . The extendable container system of  claim 1 , the module is configured to be secured to a deck of a ship.  
     
     
         30 . A method for shipping wind turbine blades comprising: 
 connecting at least two modular containers to form a container that is large enough to fit at least one wind turbine blade;    loading the wind turbine blade into the container; and    tilting the wind turbine blade so that the widest portion of the wind turbine blade is positioned at oblique angle with respect to the container.    
     
     
         31 . A method of  claim 30 , further comprising supporting a tip portion of the wind turbine blade to the container.  
     
     
         32 . A method of  claim 30 , wherein the tilting is performed by rotating the root portion of the wind turbine blade.  
     
     
         33 . A method of  claim 30 , further comprising attaching wheels to the container for overland transport.  
     
     
         34 . A method of  claim 30 , further comprising loading the container onto a ship and attaching it to the ship's deck.  
     
     
         35 . A method of  claim 30 , further comprising attaching a roof to the container.  
     
     
         36 . A method of  claim 30 , further comprising attaching an end piece to the container.  
     
     
         37 . A method of  claim 30 , further comprising stacking at least one other container on top of the container.  
     
     
         38 . A method of transporting a wind turbine blade container without a wind turbine blade comprising: 
 separating interconnected modular containers of the wind turbine blade container;    attaching an end piece to the modular containers; and    shipping the modules.    
     
     
         39 . A method of  claim 38 , further comprising adjusting a roof height of the modular container to a desired height.  
     
     
         40 . A method of  claim 38 , comprising placing a smaller modular container in a larger modular container.  
     
     
         41 . A method of  claim 38 , comprising forming the separated modular containers into a plurality of stand-alone highcube containers by attaching a roof and end pieces to each modular container.  
     
     
         42 . A method of  claim 38 , wherein the highcube containers are configured to accommodate goods other than the wind turbine blade.  
     
     
         43 . A container formed by connecting container modules, comprising: 
 a retainer connecting upper portions of ends of two container modules;    a guiding bolt connecting a middle portion of the ends of the two container modules; and    a tension bolt connecting a lower portion of the ends of the two container modules.    
     
     
         44 . A method of connecting two container modules for forming a large container, comprising: 
 connecting upper portions of ends of the container modules with a retainer;    connecting a middle portion of the ends of the container modules with a guiding bolt; and    connecting a lower portion of the ends of the container modules with a tension bolt.    
     
     
         45 . A method of  claim 44 , further comprising adjusting the tension of the tension bolt using an arm rotatably coupled to the tension bolt.  
     
     
         46 . A method of  claim 45 , further comprising locking the arm to one of the container modules.