Method for installing and retaining a bushing in a bearing block of a rotor blade joint

Abstract

A rotor blade for a wind turbine includes a first blade segment and a second blade segment extending in opposite directions from a chord-wise joint. Each of the first and second blade segments includes at least one shell member defining an airfoil surface. The rotor blade also includes pin joint(s) for connecting the first and second blade segments at the chord-wise joint. The pin joint(s) includes pin joint tube(s) received within the pin joint slot(s). The pin joint slot(s) are secured within a bearing block. Further, a gap is defined between the pin joint slot(s) and the bearing block. Moreover, the rotor blade includes a shim within the gap between the pin joint slot(s) and the bearing block so as to retain the pin joint slot(s) within the bearing block. In addition, the shim is constructed of a liquid material that hardens after being poured into the gap.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A rotor blade for a wind turbine, comprising:
 a first blade segment and a second blade segment extending in opposite directions from a chord-wise joint, each of the first and second blade segments comprising at least one shell member defining an airfoil surface;   one or more pin joints for connecting the first and second blade segments at the chord-wise joint, the one or more pin joints comprising one or more pin joint tubes received within the one or more pin joint slots, the one or more pin joint slots secured within a bearing block, wherein a gap is defined between the one or more pin joint slots and the bearing block; and,   a shim within the gap between the one or more pin joint slots and the bearing block so as to retain the one or more pin joint slots within the bearing block, the shim constructed of a liquid material that hardens after being poured into the gap.   
     
     
         2 . The rotor blade of  claim 1 , wherein the one or more pin joint slots comprise one or more bushings. 
     
     
         3 . The rotor blade of  claim 2 , further comprising at least one of a liner or a coating on at least one of an outer surface or an inner surface of the one or more bushings or the one or more pin joint tubes. 
     
     
         4 . The rotor blade of  claim 2 , wherein the one or more bushings are constructed of at least one of one or more metal materials or one or more composite materials. 
     
     
         5 . The rotor blade of  claim 4 , wherein the composite material comprises at least one of a thermoset resin or a thermoplastic resin, the composite material optionally reinforced with one or more fiber materials, the one or more fiber materials comprising at least one of glass fibers, carbon fibers, polymer fibers, wood fibers, bamboo fibers, ceramic fibers, nanofibers, metal fibers, or combinations thereof. 
     
     
         6 . The rotor blade of  claim 1 , wherein the gap comprises a radial gap. 
     
     
         7 . The rotor blade of  claim 1 , wherein the liquid material comprises at least one adhesive, caulk, a polymer material, or a cementitious material. 
     
     
         8 . The rotor blade of  claim 1 , wherein the one or more pin joint slots further comprises one or more tabs so as to prevent rotation of the one or more pin joint slots with respect to the bearing block. 
     
     
         9 . The rotor blade of  claim 8 , wherein the liquid material covers the one or more tabs once hardened so as to secure the one or more tabs in place. 
     
     
         10 . A method for assembling a rotor blade of a wind turbine, the method comprising:
 forming a first blade segment and a second blade segment, each of the first and second blade segments comprising at least one shell member defining an airfoil surface;   forming one or more openings in a bearing block of at least one of the first blade segment or the second blade segment;   placing one or more pin joint slots within the one or more openings of the bearing block of the first blade segment and/or the second blade segment, wherein a radial gap is defined between the one or more pin joint slots and the one or more openings of the bearing block;   filling the radial gap between the one or more pin joint slots and the one or more openings of the bearing block with a liquid material that hardens after filling the gap so as to retain the one or more pin joint slots within the bearing block;   arranging the first and second blade segments in opposite directions from a chord-wise joint; and,   connecting the chord-wise joint via one or more pin joint tubes received within the one or more pin joint slots.   
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 10 , wherein the one or more pin joint slots comprise one or more bushings. 
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 11 , further comprising placing at least one of a liner or a coating on a surface of the one or more bushings. 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein the one or more bushings are constructed of at least one of one or more metal materials or one or more composite materials. 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 10 , wherein the liquid material comprises at least one adhesive, caulk, a polymer material, or a cementitious material. 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 10 , further comprising forming one or more tabs on the one or more pin joint slots so as to prevent rotation of the one or more pin joint slots with respect to the bearing block. 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 15 , further comprising maintaining concentricity of the one or more bushings within the bearing block via the liquid material within the radial gap.