MODULAR TRANSPORT UNIT

Technical Area

This invention relates to a modular transport unit that provides faster and safer storage and transportation of building elements. The material of the building elements can be steel, composite, concrete, etc.

State of the Art

Building elements used in structures such as wind turbine towers, industrial chimneys, telecommunication towers, etc. are produced in pieces for easier transport and lifting and transported to the assembly area. Similar structures of wind turbine towers and tower elements are described in documents WO2022086461 and W02009097858A1 . In the document number W02021007318, a transport and storage device of the tower elements, which is fixed with pins to four booms with wheels at the bottom, is mentioned.

Purpose of the invention

The object of the invention is an innovative solution for fast and safe storage and transportation of factory-made structural elements. According to the invention, the structural elements whose production is completed in the factory are fixed to the modular transport unit. The modular transport unit also provides for the factory storage of structural elements until the date of transport. When it is time for transportation, it is loaded on the truck and sent to the assembly area safely. Here it is lowered to the ground with the help of a crane. The crane at the assembly site may sometimes be unsuitable or unavailable. In this case, the legs on the modular transport unit are suspended by attaching and placed on the floor and separated from the truck.

In this document, the storage and transportation of tower elements described in document WO2022086461 will be described. However, similar or different structural elements can also be stored and transported using different variations within the scope of this invention.

Unlike the aforementioned similar document numbered WO2021007318; innovative steps in this document;

It has a chassis and fittings that fix the modular transport unit to the truck and prevent it from slipping.

It has carrier columns whose width can be easily adjusted according to the structure of the structural element to be transported.

It has support bars that prevent the carrier columns from swinging back and forth during transportation.

The modular transport unit can be lowered to the ground with the help of a crane in the assembly area,

If the crane in the assembly area is not suitable or there is no crane, it is suspended by feet and fixed to the floor and can be lowered from the truck. Columns and legs of modular transport units, whose load is unloaded at the assembly site, can be dismantled and placed on top of each other and brought back to the factory with a trailer. This reduces the shipping cost.

Thanks to the wedges and fittings, it ensures the balance of the truck by making the weight of the structural elements it carries a distributed load in the modular transport unit and prevents the structural elements from being deformed during transportation.

Explanation of figures

Figure 1 : Overview of the modular transport unit

Figure 2: View of the modular transport unit being loaded onto the truck with a crane

Figure 3: General view of modular transport unit with feet attached

Figure 4: View of modular transport unit loaded onto trailer without Crane

Figure 5: General view of the chassis

Figure 6: General views of parts 8,17,24 and 18

Figure 7: Support column assembly details

Figure 8: Foot overview

Figure 9: Mounting view of the connection parts to the tower element

Figure 10: Mounting view of the tower element to the modular transport unit

Explanation of references in figures

1 - Modular transport unit

2- Foot

3- Chassis

4- Beam

5- Reinforcement beam

6- Connection plate

7- Beam

8- Carrier column

9- Perforated plate

11- Connection plate

12- Connection plate

13- U-part

14- U-part

15- U-part

16- Connection plate

17- Spacer

18- Support bar

20- Fittings

21- Rope connector

22- Feder 23- Fittings

24- Spacer

25- Column

26- Connection plate

27- Base plate

28- Base wedge

29- Rope

30- Column

31- Tower element

32- Fittings

33- Fittings

34- Slit

35- Bolt

36- Nut

37- Bolt

38- Cut area

39- Pin

40- Rope

41- Crane

42- Balancing apparatus

43- Trailer

44- Tube

45- Joint

46- Intermediate wedge

47- Angle

48- Groove

49- Surface

50- Surface

51- Angle

Detailed description of the invention

(001) According to the invention, the modular transport unit (1) is used for the safe, fast and practical storage of the tower elements (31) and their transport to the assembly area. The modular transport unit (1) can be placed on the floor (Fig. 1 A) at the factory or in the assembly area where it is transported. Or it can be suspended on feet (2) (Fig. 1 B).

(002) In Figure 2A, the modular transport unit (1 ) used when the loading and unloading at the factory are made with a crane (41 ) is shown. The completed tower elements (31) are suspended by four ropes (29). Then, it is fixed to the modular transport unit (1 ) on the ground with the help of the crane (41). (Figure 2B). The modular transport unit (1), whose loading is completed, is sent to the stock area. When the shipping time comes, the modular transport unit (1) is loaded onto the trailer (43) by crane (41). (Fig. 2C). Balancing apparatus (42) and ropes (29 and 40) are used for safe loading.

(003) In some cases, there may be no crane in the assembly area or the existing crane may be busy with other work. According to the invention, a solution has been developed for such situations. The modular transport unit (1 ) has four disassembled feet (2). The feet (2) can be put into the space at the bottom after the modular transport unit (1) is fixed to the trailer. (See Figure 4A). First, the air suspensions of the trailer (43) are raised to the maximum level with compressed air. (Most trucks have this system). The four feet (2) are mounted on the four connection plates (6) on the modular transport unit (1 ) with bolts. (See Figure 4B). The compressed air in the air suspensions of the trailer (43) is discharged and reduced to the minimum level in the downward direction. Thus, the modular transport unit (1 ) is suspended on the feet (2). The truck moves forward and leaves the modular transport unit (1 ). (See Figure 4C). The truck's air suspensions are brought to their normal level (road position).

(004) In case of need, the tower elements (31) produced at the factory are fixed to the modular transport unit (1 ), whose feet (2) are mounted. (See Figures 3A and 3B). In this case, there is no need for a crane (41) to load the modular transport unit (1) onto the trailer (43). The compressed air in the air suspensions of the trailer (43) is discharged and reduced to the minimum level in the downward direction. The truck moves in the reverse direction and enters under the modular transport unit (1 ). (See Figures 4C and 4B). The truck's air suspensions are raised to the maximum level with compressed air. The modular transport unit (1) is fixed to the trailer (43) by means of fittings (20). (See Figure 4B). The four feet (2) are removed from the modular transport unit (1) and fixed to the base of the trailer (43). (See Figure 4A). The truck's air suspensions are lowered to their normal level (road position). Thus, the loading of the modular transport unit (1) onto the trailer (43) is completed.

(005) In Figure 1A, there is a perspective view of the modular transport unit (1 ). The chassis (3) dimensions of the modular transport unit (1 ) are compatible with the standard trailer (43) dimensions. (Fig. 2C). The modular transport unit (1 ) is fixed to the trailer (43) with the help of fittings (20). These fittings (20) are standard fittings used in the transport industry. There are four carrier columns (8) on which the tower elements (31) are fixed. The carrier columns (8) are fixed to the beams (4) on the short sides of the chassis (3). (See also Figure 7). The carrier columns (8) are detachable, ie modular, in order to be adjusted according to the width of the tower element (31) to be transported. Said width adjustment is made by means of spacers (17 and 24). There are perforated plates (9) fixed to the carrier columns (8). The tower elements (31 ) are fixed to the perforated plates (9) with bolts (35) and nuts (36) by means of fittings (32 and 33). In order to ensure the stability of the carrier columns (8) there are support bars (18) that fix them to the reinforcement beams (5) on the chassis (3). There are four rope connector (21 ) on which the ropes are fixed to lift the modular transport unit (1 ) with the crane (41 ). There are connection plates (6) on which the feet (2) are fixed at all four corners of the chassis (3). (006) There is a groove (48) in the z axis (recess) on the xy plane surface of the connection plate (6). (See Figure 1 A). This groove (recess) (48) is exactly matched to the groove (protrusion) (48) on the connection plate (26). (Figs. 8B and 8C).

(007) Figure 5A shows the general view of the chassis (3), Figure 5B shows the enlarged view of its lower edge. The chassis (3) forms the carrier structure of the modular transport unit (1). It has beams (4 and 7) on its long and short sides, and a reinforcement beam (5) in the middle. They are welded together. Its material is steel. They can be rectangular, I or U section. Connection plates (6) are welded to the edges of the long beams (7) at all four corners. The connection plates (6) ensure that the feet (2) are fixed to the modular transport unit (1) with bolts and nuts. The modular transport unit (1) has fittings (20) that enable it to be securely fastened to the trailer (43). These fittings (20) are standard fittings used in the transport industry. There are eight rope connector (21) on which the ropes are fixed to lift the modular transport unit (1 ) with the crane (41 ). The modular transport unit (1 ) is lifted by the crane (41 ) and loaded onto the trailer (43) by attaching a rope to four of the loaded tower elements (31) that are preferred according to the center of gravity. There are fittings (23) fixed to the reinforcement beam (5). The support bar (18) is fixed with pin (39) to these fittings (23). In the middle of the beams (4) forming the short sides, the connection plates (11) are preferably fixed by welding. These connection plates (11 ) ensure that the opposing carrier columns (8) are fully symmetrical to each other with respect to the z axis. It ensures that the tower elements (31) to be transported are balanced on the trailer (43).

(008) Figure 6A shows the perspective views of the carrier column (8), and Figure 6B shows parts of it. The perforated plate (9) can be fixed to the column (30) by welding or bolts. Here it is fixed by welding. The tower elements (31) are fixed to the carrier column (8) with bolts (35) and nuts (36) through the holes in the perforated plate (9). (See also Figure 10B). The U-part (15) is mounted on the chassis (3) beam (4) with minimum clearance. In this way, swinging of the carrier column (8) in the z-axis is prevented. Perforated plate (9) column (30), feder (22) and connection plates (11 and 16) are fixed to the U-part (15) by welding. The length of the U part (15) should be according to the width of the tower element (31) to be transported. Connection plates (11 and 16) enable the carrier column (8) to be mounted to other spacers (17 and 24) with bolts and nuts in order to keep it balanced on the chassis (3) beam (4).

(009) In Figure 6C there are perspective views of the spacer (24) and in Figure 6D there are perspective views of its parts. The connection plates (12 and 16) are welded to the U-part (13). The length of the U-part (13) is determined by the width of the tower element (31 ) to be transported. It ensures that the carrier column (8) is mounted on the connection plate (6) on the chassis (3) with bolts and nuts in order to keep it balanced on the chassis (3) beam (4). The long beam (7) may prevent the U-part (13) from being attached to the beam (4). (See Figure 5B). As a solution to this, there is a cut area (38) of the U-part (13) corresponding to the long beam (7). (See Figure 6E). Two on each short side of the modular transport unit (1 ) are used. These cut areas (38) in the U-parts (13) of the spacers (24) on each side are symmetrical to each other.

(010) Figure 6F shows the perspective view of the spacer (17), and Figure 6G shows the parts of it. The connection plates (11 ) are fixed to the U-part (14) by welding. The length of the U-part (14) is determined by the width of the tower element (31) to be transported. It ensures that the carrier column (8) is mounted on the connection plate (11) on the chassis (3) with bolts and nuts in order to keep it balanced on the chassis (3) beam (4).

(011) In Figure 6H, there is a perspective view of the support bar (18). It consists of a tube (44) fixed to both ends of the joint (45). The support bar (18) is fixed with pin (39) to the fittings (23) in the reinforcement beam (5) and the carrier column (8). Thus, it prevents the carrier column (8) from moving in the z-axis.

(012) In order to be able to carry tower elements (31) of different widths and geometric structures with the modular transport unit (1 ), the carrier column (8) is detachable, that is, modular. The carrier column (8) can be changed according to this need. Installation details are shown in Figure 7. The spacer (17) on the right side of the Z axis is fixed to the connection plate (11 ), which is fixed by welding in the middle of the beams (4) on the chassis (3), with bolts and nuts. The carrier column (8) is fixed to the spacer (17) with bolts and nuts. The spacer (24) is fixed to the carrier column (8) and the connection plate (6) on the chassis (3) with bolts and nuts. The support bar (18) is then fixed with pin (39) to the fittings (23) in the reinforcement beam (5) and the carrier column (8). (Fig. 1 A). This process is also done on the left side of the z axis. Thus, the assembly of the carrier columns (8) on one side of the chassis (3) is completed. (013) The same procedures as in section (012) above are applied on the other side of the chassis (3).

(014) If the crane in the factory is not available, the feet (2) are also mounted on the modular transport unit (1 ).

(015) Thus, the modular transport unit (1 ) is ready for the loading of the tower elements (31 ). (Figs. 1 A and 1 B).

(016) Feet (2) enable the modular transport unit (1) to be loaded and unloaded onto the trailer (43) without the need for a crane. (Figure 4). Figure 8A shows the perspective views of the supporting foot (2), and Figure 8B shows the parts. The connection plate (26) is welded to the column (25). The column (25) is welded to the base plate (27). There is a groove (48) in the z- axis (protrusion) on the xy-plane surface of the connection plate (26). In the xy plane of the connection plate (6) on the chassis (3), there is a groove (48) in the z axis (recess). (See Figure 1A). The foot (2) is fixed to the modular transport unit (1) with the bolts and nuts of the connecting plates (6 and 26). The grooves (48) on the connecting plates (6 and 26) (protrusions and recesses) are perfectly matched to each other. (Fig. 8C). This type of connection prevents the loads in the modular transport unit (1) from coming only to the bolts. It provides a secure connection by reducing the shearing force on the bolts.

(017) According to the invention, the base wedge (28) is used to transfer some of the weights of the tower elements (31 ) to the chassis (3). In Figure 8D, there is a perspective view of the base wedge (28). The bottom of the base wedge (28) is flat. Its upper surface (49) is in the same geometric shape as the surface (50) of the tower element (31). The angle (47) on the surface, if any, is the same. Its material is wood, plastic, rubber etc. it could be.

(018) Intermediate wedge (46) can be placed between the tower elements (31) fixed to the modular transport unit (1) according to the invention. The task of the intermediate wedges (46) is to transfer some of the weights of the tower elements (31) to the chassis (3) over each other. In Figure 8E, there is a perspective view of the intermediate wedge (46). The upper and lower surfaces (49) are of the same geometric shape as the surfaces (50) of the tower element (31 ). The angle (47) on the surface (50) is also the same. Its material is wood, plastic, rubber etc. it could be.

(019) According to the invention, fittings (32 and 33) are used to fix the tower elements (31) to the modular transport unit (1 ). Figure 9A shows perspective views of the fittings (32 and 33). It is bent at a 90 degree angle (51). There are slits (34) for bolt connection on both surfaces. The fittings (32 and 33) are of the same construction but symmetrical to each other with respect to the xy plane. It is L-shaped. One is used on the right and the other on the left.

(020) The fittings (32 and 33) are fixed to the holes in the flanges of the tower element (31 ) with bolts and nuts (36 and 37) symmetrically about the xy axis. In Figure 9B, there is an assembly view on either side of the tower element (31). Four fittings (32 and 33) are fixed to each tower element (31 ) symmetrically to each other. (See Figure 2B). Four pairs of fittings (32 and 33) are fixed to each tower element (31 ) symmetrically to each other. (See Figure 2B).

(021) To fix the tower element (31) to the modular transport unit (1), the ropes (29) are connected to the holes in the flanges and suspended from four points. (See Figures 2B and 3D). The tower element (31 ) is brought onto the modular transport unit (1 ) by crane (41 ). Here, the yz planes of the tower element (31) and the modular transport unit (1) are positioned to coincide. The tower element (31) is lowered in the y-axis and placed on the base wedge (28). The fittings (32 and 33) are fixed to the tower element (31) and the perforated plate (9) on the carrier column (8) with bolts and nuts (35, 36 and 37). (See Figures 9B, 10A and 10B). Two intermediate wedges (46) are placed on the upper surface of the tower element (31). The intermediate wedges (46) are in line with the base wedges (28). Then, the other tower elements (31 ) are placed on top of each other in the same way and the loading process is completed. Thus, the modular transport unit (1) is ready to be loaded onto the trailer (43). It is suspended by ropes (40) and balancing apparatus (42) and loaded onto trailer (43) by crane (41 ).

(022) As a result, a modular transport unit (1) can be used to safely transport tower elements (31 ) on standard trailers (43). The modular transport unit (1 ) has detachable carrier column (8) and feet (2). By varying the lengths of the U-parts (13 and 14) in the spacers (17 and 24), tower elements (31) of different widths can be transported. Additional connection plates can be used to adjust the distance between the carrier columns (8) when necessary. The carrier column (8) and feet (2) of the modular transport units (1), whose load is unloaded at the assembly site, are dismantled; several are stacked on top of each other; and is brought back to the factory by a trailer (43). This reduces the shipping cost.

(023) The scope of the modular transport unit (1) is not limited as described in this document. Necessary modifications can be made to safely transport structural elements of many different shapes.

How the invention is applied to industry

The modular transport unit (1) can be produced in factories and applied to industry.