Wind turbine tower joints

Abstract

A wind turbine tower includes a first substantially tubular wall section having a tapered edge; a second substantially tubular wall section, arranged substantially coplanar with the first wall section, having a flared edge for seating against the tapered edge of the first wall section; and at least one fastener for securing the tapered edge of the first wall section to the flared edge of the second wall section.

1 . A wind turbine tower, comprising:
 a first substantially tubular wall section having a tapered edge;   a second substantially tubular wall section, arranged substantially coplanar with the first wall section, having a flared edge for seating against the tapered edge of the first wall section; and   at least one fastener for securing the tapered edge of the first wall section to the flared edge of the second wall section.   
     
     
         2 . The wind turbine tower recited in  claim 1 , wherein the at least one fastener comprises a bolt extending through the tapered edge and the flared edge. 
     
     
         3 . The wind turbine tower recited in  claim 2 , wherein the bolt is arranged substantially perpendicular to a longitudinal axis of the first and second wall sections. 
     
     
         4 . The wind turbine tower recited in  claim 2 , wherein the at least one fastener further comprises a weld. 
     
     
         5 . The wind turbine tower recited in  claim 2 , further comprising a relief cut arranged in a periphery of at least one of the tapered edge and the flared edge. 
     
     
         6 . The wind turbine tower recited in  claim 5 , wherein the relief cut comprises a slot extending from a periphery of at least one of the tapered edge and the flared edge. 
     
     
         7 . The wind turbine tower recited in  claim 6 , wherein the bolt is arranged substantially perpendicular to a longitudinal axis of the first and second wall sections. 
     
     
         8 . The wind turbine tower recited in  claim 7 , wherein the fastener further comprises a weld. 
     
     
         9 . A wind turbine tower, comprising:
 a first substantially tubular wall section having a tapered edge;   a second substantially tubular wall section having a flared edge for seating against the tapered edge of the first wall section; and   a relief cut arranged in a periphery of at least one of the tapered edge and the flared edge.   
     
     
         10 . The wind turbine tower recited in  claim 9 , wherein the relief cut comprises a slot extending from a periphery of at least one of the tapered edge and the flared edge. 
     
     
         11 . The wind turbine tower recited in  claim 10 , wherein the slot comprises a substantially circular hole at one end. 
     
     
         12 . The wind turbine tower recited in  claim 9 , wherein the first wall section and the second wall section are arranged in different planes. 
     
     
         13 . The wind turbine tower recited in  claim 9 , further comprising at least one fastener for securing the tapered edge of the first wall section to the flared edge of the second wall section. 
     
     
         14 . The wind turbine tower recited in  claim 13 , wherein the at least one fastener comprises a bolt extending through the tapered edge and the flared edge. 
     
     
         15 . The wind turbine tower recited in  claim 14 , wherein the bolt is arranged substantially perpendicular to a longitudinal axis of the first and second wall sections. 
     
     
         16 . The wind turbine tower recited in  claim 14 , wherein the fastener further comprises a weld. 
     
     
         17 . A wind turbine tower, comprising:
 a first substantially tubular wall section having a tapered edge;   a second substantially tubular wall section, arranged substantially coplanar with the first wall section, having a flared edge for seating against the tapered edge of the first wall section;   at least one bolt for securing the tapered edge of the first wall section to the flared edge of the second wall section; and   a relief cut arranged in a periphery of at least one of the tapered edge and the flared edge.   
     
     
         18 . The wind turbine tower recited in  claim 17 , wherein the bolt is arranged substantially perpendicular to a longitudinal axis of the first and second wall sections. 
     
     
         19 . The wind turbine tower recited in  claim 18 , wherein the fastener further comprises a weld. 
     
     
         20 . The wind turbine tower recited in  claim 19 , wherein the relief cut comprises a slot having a substantially circular hole at one end.