1. A method for handling a section (5) of a wind turbine, comprising the steps of:

-inserting an inner portion (22) of a first tool (3, 4, 34, 35, 41) into an open first end (8, 9) of the segment (5) and/or inserting a first end (8, 9) of the segment (5) into an outer portion (42) of the first tool (3, 4, 34, 35, 41),

-actuating the first tool (3, 4, 34, 35, 41) to apply pressure on the inner surface (15) and/or on the outer surface (23) of the wall (16) of the segment (5) along the entire circumferential portion or in a plurality of zones (36) spaced apart along the circumferential portion of the wall (16), and

-moving the first tool (3, 4, 34, 35, 41) to move the section (5) while the first tool (3, 4, 34, 35, 41) exerts a pressure on the inner and/or outer surface (15, 23).

2. Method according to claim 1, characterized in that, before moving the first tool (3, 4, 34, 35, 41), an inner portion (22) of a second tool (3, 4, 34, 35, 41) is inserted into the open second end (8, 9) of the segment (5) and/or the second end (8, 9) of the segment (5) is inserted into an outer portion (42) of the second tool (3, 4, 34, 35, 41), and the second tool (3, 4, 34, 35, 41) is actuated to apply a pressure onto an inner surface (15) and/or an outer surface (23) of the wall (16) of the segment (5) along the entire circumferential portion or in a plurality of areas (36) spaced apart along the circumferential portion of the wall (16).

3. Method according to claim 2, characterized in that during the movement of the section (5), the section (5) extends horizontally between the first and second ends (8, 9).

4. Method according to any of the preceding claims, characterized in that the first and/or second means (3, 4, 34, 35, 41) are attached to a transport vehicle (1, 2) or to a respective transport vehicle (1, 2) for moving the segment (5) along a transport path (28).

5. A tool for attaching a section (5) of a wind turbine to a handling device (24, 25, 45), in particular a transport vehicle (1, 2), characterized in that the tool (3, 4, 34, 35, 41) comprises:

a connecting section (43) connected or connectable to the handling device (24, 25, 45),

-an inner portion (22) designed to be inserted in an open end (8, 9) of the segment (5), and/or an outer portion (42) designed to receive the end (8, 9) of the segment (5), and

-an actuator (13, 38) or actuators (13, 38) designed to move and/or deform at least one component of the tool (3, 4, 34, 35, 41) to apply pressure to the inner surface (15) and/or to the outer surface (23) of the wall (16) of the segment (5) along the entire circumferential portion or in a plurality of zones (36) spaced apart along the circumferential portion of the wall (16).

6. Tool according to claim 5, characterized in that the tool (3, 4, 34, 35, 41) comprises a respective air cushion (12) extending along an outer circumferential part of the inner part (22) and/or along an inner circumferential part of the outer part (42) of the tool (3, 4, 34, 35, 41) or at least one air cushion (12) extending along a respective section of the inner and/or outer circumferential part, wherein the actuator (13, 38) or at least one of the actuators (13, 38) is designed to inflate the air cushion (12) or air cushions (12).

7. Tool according to claim 6, characterized in that a respective air cushion (12) is attached to an inner or outer circumferential portion (33) of a support structure (29) of the tool (3, 4, 34, 35, 41), wherein the tool (3, 4, 34, 35, 41) comprises means (30) for changing the diameter of the circumferential portion (33).

8. Tool according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that it comprises a plurality of movable deflection means (37) distributed along an outer circumferential portion of the inner portion (22) and/or an inner circumferential portion of the outer portion (42) of the tool (3, 4, 34, 35, 41), wherein activation of the actuator (13, 38) or at least one of the actuators (13, 38) displaces the movable deflection means (37) radially outwards or inwards.

9. Tool according to claim 8, characterized in that said tool (3, 4, 34, 35, 41) comprises a plurality of fixed deflecting means (6), each forming a clamp together with one of said movable deflecting means (37) to clamp said wall (16) of said section (5).

10. Tool according to any one of claims 5 to 9, characterized in that it comprises a stop (10) designed to limit the depth of insertion of the inner portion (22) of the tool (3, 4, 34, 35, 41) into the segment (5) and/or the depth of insertion of the segment (5) into the outer portion (42) of the tool (3, 4, 34, 35, 41).

11. Transport vehicle for transporting a segment (5) of a wind turbine, characterized in that the transport vehicle comprises at least one tool (3, 4, 34, 35, 41) according to any of claims 5 to 10.

12. Transport vehicle according to claim 11, characterized in that the transport vehicle comprises a lifting mechanism (17) for vertically lifting the tool (3, 4, 34, 35, 41) and thus the section (5) of the wind turbine from a loading position to a transport position (27) used during transport.

Background

One of the challenges in constructing large wind turbines is to handle the usually long vertical sections of the wind turbine, which are open on both ends, such as tower sections or mono-piles. Typically, such long sections include flanges at each end to connect them to other sections of the wind turbine. These flanges may also be used to attach the respective segments to a transport, crane, or other handling tool.

In some methods of tower construction, it is not necessary to provide flanges on both or either ends of the respective sections. For example, welding may be used instead of flange connections to connect different sections of the wind turbine. Another method for connecting vertical sections of a wind turbine is the so-called slip joint, wherein the lower opening of the upper section has a diameter slightly larger than the top diameter of the lower section. Thus, the upper section can slide over the lower section and remain at a certain height due to the additional restriction of the tapered shape or inner diameter of the section. Examples of such sliding joints are known, for example, from documents EP 2910686 a2 and EP 3255210 a 2.

Disclosure of Invention

When no flanges are needed to connect different sections of the wind turbine, it would be disadvantageous to include such flanges for handling purposes only, as such flanges would increase the weight of the respective section and its material requirements. It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide a method for handling a section of a wind turbine without flanges on both ends.

This problem is solved by a method for handling a section of a wind turbine, comprising the steps of:

-inserting an inner part of a first tool into an open first end of the segment and/or inserting the first end of the segment into an outer part of the first tool,

-actuating the first tool to apply pressure to the inner and/or outer surface of the wall of the segment along the entire circumferential portion or in a plurality of areas spaced apart along the circumferential portion of the wall, and

-moving the first tool to move the section while the first tool exerts pressure on the inner and/or outer surface.

The inventive method is based on the idea of applying pressure at the inner and/or outer surface of the wall of the segment in order to, on the one hand, prevent movement of the segment in the radial direction and, on the other hand, use friction to avoid sliding of the segment in the longitudinal direction of the segment by applying pressure along the circumferential part. The risk of ovalization of the hollow long sections can also be reduced when they are transported or stored while lying horizontally. In the hollow section comprising the flange, the flange helps to reduce the risk of such ovalization. The tool used in the method of the invention helps to reduce the risk of ovalization if no flange is present.

It is sufficient to use one tool to manipulate the segment, for example when the segment has a flange on the other end, or when the force exerted on the segment in the longitudinal direction is limited, for example by using only a movement in the radial direction or by strongly limiting the acceleration in the longitudinal direction. If it is desired to manipulate both ends of such a section, a second tool may be used, as described below.

The section may be, for example, a part of a tower or a part of a mono pile or a mono pile. The section may have a tubular or in particular conical shape. Alternatively, it would be possible, for example, to provide the segments with an extruded polygonal shape, in particular with rounded corners.

Preferably, the pressure is applied in such a way that the pressure acts mainly in a radial direction or substantially normal to the wall. In particular, pushing the section away from the tool should be avoided.

In many cases it will be sufficient to apply pressure only to the inner or outer surface. Applying pressure to both surfaces may be particularly advantageous when the section has a relatively thin wall and pressure is applied to regions spaced apart at a relatively large distance along a circumferential portion of the wall. In these cases, applying pressure to only the inner surface or only the outer surface may cause the segment to deform, which can be avoided when pressure is applied to both surfaces.

The direction of a wind turbine which will be vertical once the wind turbine is erected and the section is generally along its longer section than along other directions will be referred to as the axial or longitudinal direction. Even when the section does not have a strictly tubular or conical shape, a label for applying the orientation of such shape will be used. Thus, the circumferential direction will extend orthogonal to the longitudinal direction along the wall of the segment, and the radial direction will extend orthogonal to both the circumferential direction and the longitudinal direction.

Prior to moving the first tool, an inner portion of the second tool may be inserted into the open second end of the segment, and/or the second end of the segment may be inserted into an outer portion of the second tool, and the second tool may be actuated to apply pressure to an inner and/or outer surface of the wall of the segment along the entire circumferential portion or in a plurality of regions spaced apart along the circumferential portion of the wall. In other words, the open second end is attached to the second tool using the same method as used for attaching the open first end to the first tool. This may be used to support the section during a single movement of both tools.

Preferably, the first and second tools are jointly movable, thus minimizing the force applied along the connection between the open ends. In the simplest case, this is achieved by: the first tool and the second tool are attached to the same handling device, for example to the same transport vehicle. However, different manipulators, such as different self-propelled modular conveyers (SPMTs), may also be used to carry the first and second tools and coordinate the movement of these manipulators. Alternatively, it would be possible, for example, to move only the first tool actively and to move the second tool by transmitting a force from the first tool to the second tool via the section.

The segment may extend horizontally between the first end and the second end during movement of the segment. Thus, the weight of the segment will act as a radial force on the first tool and/or the second tool. In this direction, the inner and/or outer part of the first and/or second tool may provide a positive fit (positive fit) for the respective open end, whereas forces in the longitudinal direction will likely have to be counteracted by friction forces caused by the pressure forces. Thus, a moderate level of pressure and thus friction may be sufficient to transport the segment in the longitudinal direction. The transport may preferably follow a substantially horizontal path and may be performed, for example, by a transport vehicle. The transport vehicle may optionally comprise a vertical movement, for example to lift the segment vertically after actuating the first and/or second tool to raise the segment from the initial picking position to the higher transport position, or vice versa.

The first and/or second means may be attached to the transport vehicle or to a respective transport vehicle for moving the section along the transport path. The transport vehicle or corresponding transport vehicle may be, for example, a self-propelled modular transporter (SPMT). SPMT is formed by a platform comprising a plurality of wheels, which are attached to in particular individually controllable axle shafts. SPMT is a common tool used for heavy-duty transportation and wind turbine construction. Typically, a section of a wind turbine is attached to such a transporter via a flange. By attaching the tool in question to such a conveyor, a similar method of transport can be used even for sections without flanges.

Attaching the first and second means to different transport vehicles may be advantageous, since the section of the wind turbine may be very long, and thus a very long transport vehicle would be required if both means were attached to the same transport vehicle. Preferably, the movements of the transport vehicles carrying the respective tools may be automatically synchronized to avoid exerting large forces on the interconnections between the respective tools and on the segments.

The method of the invention makes it possible in particular to use a tool according to the invention, which tool will be described in more detail below. The features described in relation to the tool, in particular in relation to the actuation of the tool and the manner in which pressure is applied by the respective tool, may be transferred to the inventive method with the advantages described, and vice versa.

As mentioned above, the invention relates to a tool for attaching a section of a wind turbine to a handling device, in particular a transport vehicle, wherein the tool comprises:

a connecting section connected or connectable to the handling device,

-an inner portion designed to be inserted into an open end of the segment and/or an outer portion designed to receive the end of the segment, and

-an actuator or actuators designed to move and/or deform at least one part of the tool to apply pressure to the inner and/or outer surface of the wall of the segment along the entire circumferential portion or in a plurality of areas spaced apart along the circumferential portion of the wall.

Two of these tools may be used to manipulate a section of a wind turbine. One tool may be attached to each open end of such a section. Alternatively, two separate manipulators may be used, each using one of the tools, to manipulate the segment together, for example using a separate SPMT as described above.

When the tool is used to apply pressure to a plurality of regions spaced apart along the circumferential portion, it is preferred that pressure is applied in at least three different regions of the circumferential portion. Preferably, the zones are equally spaced along the circumferential portion.

The tool may comprise a respective air cushion extending along an outer circumferential portion of an inner part of the tool and/or along an inner circumferential portion of an outer part of the tool, or at least one air cushion extending along a respective section of the inner and/or outer circumferential portion, wherein the actuator or at least one of the actuators is designed to expand the one or more air cushions. By inflating the respective air cushion, the air cushion is inflated between the outer circumferential portion of the inner part of the tool and the inner surface of the wall of the segment or between the inner circumferential portion of the outer part of the tool and the outer surface of the wall of the segment. Once the cushion contacts the corresponding surface of the wall, further increase in air pressure within the cushion will exert pressure on the surface of the wall. The use of an air cushion to apply pressure allows approximately the same amount of pressure to be applied to a relatively large area of the surface by simple technical means.

The respective air cushion may be attached to an inner or outer circumferential portion of the support structure of the tool, wherein the tool comprises a mechanism for modifying the diameter of said circumferential portion. The air cushion attached to the outer part of the tool will typically be attached to the inner circumferential part of the support structure, whereas the air cushion of the inner part of the tool will typically be attached to the outer circumferential part of the support structure. Thus, by inflating the respective air cushion, pressure may be applied between the respective support structure and the respective surface of the wall of the segment.

The use of a support structure having a diameter that can be modified by the mechanism in question is advantageous and allows the circumference used to be adjusted to the circumference of the section of the wind turbine to be handled. Such adjustable diameters may be advantageous even when only different sections of the same wind turbine are transported, since the diameter of the open end of the respective section typically varies along the length of the tower of the wind turbine due to the tapering or similar shape of the tower of the wind turbine. The adjustable diameter of the support structure also allows sections of the wind turbine having different diameters to be transported using the same tool. For example, the diameter of the support structure may be adjusted in such a way that the inner or outer diameter of the wall of the section differs from this diameter by only about 10%. This relatively small difference in diameter can then easily be compensated for by inflating the air cushion. For example, it is possible to allow the diameter of the support structure to vary by a few meters, for example between 7.5m and 10m, and to increase the outer diameter or decrease the inner diameter using only an air cushion of, for example, 1m or 0.5 m.

The mechanism for modifying the diameter may allow for manual adjustment of the diameter, for example, by moving and attaching various components of the support structure in different positions. Preferably, the diameter of the support structure may be varied by using at least one further actuator. This allows, for example, to adjust the diameter by remote control, by automatically identifying the diameter of the open end of the section and automatically adjusting the diameter of the support structure (e.g., by processing video images), or by similar at least semi-automatic methods of adjusting the diameter.

The tool may comprise a plurality of movable deflection means distributed along an outer circumferential portion of the inner portion of the tool and/or an inner circumferential portion of the outer portion of the tool, wherein activation of the actuator or at least one of the actuators displaces the movable deflection means radially outwards or inwards. The shape of the deflection means can be adjusted to the desired shape of the wall of the segment. The deflection means may also be provided with a resilient surface, an air cushion or similar means which may contact the wall of the segment and follow the shape of the wall.

The outermost or innermost points of the deflection means may be considered to define a polygon. The circumferential portion that should match the inner or outer circumferential portion of the wall of the segment to exert pressure on the wall may then be the circumscribed circle of the polygon. The radial movement of the deflection means may be a movement orthogonal to the circumferential portion or substantially orthogonal to the wall to be contacted.

Preferably, the deflection means are evenly distributed along the circumferential portion. Advantageously, at least three or at least four deflection devices are used. The movement of the deflection means may be a linear displacement, for example by a piston, or the deflection means may be attached to a pivoted mechanism. The actuator for moving the deflection means may be a pneumatic, hydraulic or electromechanical actuator.

The tool may comprise a plurality of fixed deflection devices, each forming a clamp together with one of the movable deflection devices to clamp the wall of the tower section. While it is generally sufficient to apply pressure only to the inner or outer surface of the wall of the segment to reliably operate the segment, applying pressure in relatively small and relatively few areas along the circumferential portion of the wall may cause deformation of the segment when the wall of the segment is formed of a relatively soft material and/or has a relatively small thickness. By using additional fixed deflection means, pressure is applied to the wall from both sides and deformation can be avoided or at least reduced.

Preferably, the tool comprises a stop designed to limit the depth of insertion of the inner part of the tool into the tower section and/or the depth of insertion of the tower section into the outer part of the tool. Preferably, an annular stop may be used. It is also possible to use a plurality of stops distributed along a circumferential portion of the tool. On the one hand, the use of such a stop allows easier alignment of the tool in the correct position for attaching the tool to the section. On the other hand, the stop supports the segment axially during manipulation of the segment. If a tool is attached to both open ends of a section, the forces applied along the connecting line between these ends can be completely or at least largely absorbed by the stops.

The invention also relates to a transport vehicle for transporting a section of a wind turbine, the transport vehicle comprising at least one tool according to the invention. The tool may for example be permanently fixed to the transport vehicle. Alternatively, a movable tool may be used, for example, when the same tool should be used to manipulate the section before or after transport, for example by a crane. It may also be advantageous to keep the tool attached to the section during storage of the section, for example to avoid deformation of the section.

The transport vehicle may comprise two of said tools, which allows to attach a respective tool to each of the open ends of the segments and thus allows to more firmly manipulate the segments. Alternatively, the transport of the section may be performed by using two separate transport vehicles, for example SPMTs as described above, each transport vehicle comprising a single tool for maneuvering the section.

The transport vehicle may comprise a lifting mechanism for vertically lifting the implement and thus the section of the wind turbine from the loading position to a transport position for use during transport. For example, one or more tools may be connected to the section while the section is stored in a relatively low position. To avoid contact of the section with obstacles during transport, the section may then be lifted from the position after one or more implements are attached to the section. Once the transport is complete, for example, the section may be lowered again to position it on the provided support structure.

Drawings

Other objects and features of the present invention will become apparent from the following detailed descriptions considered in conjunction with the accompanying drawings. However, the drawings are only schematic diagrams, which are designed for the purpose of illustration only and not to limit the invention. The figures show:

FIG. 1 is a pair of transport vehicles according to an embodiment of the invention, each comprising an embodiment of a tool according to the invention and being adapted to perform a method for handling a section of a wind turbine according to the invention,

figure 2 is a different view of the tool used in figure 1,

fig. 3-5 show alternative embodiments of tools that may be used in place of the tools shown in fig. 1 and 2, and

fig. 6 shows the use of one of the tools shown in fig. 1 in another embodiment of the method for handling a section of a wind turbine according to the invention.

Detailed Description

Fig. 1 shows an example of handling and in particular transporting a section 5 of a wind turbine, which section 5 is in this example a section of a wind turbine tower, using two transport vehicles 1, 2 with attachment means 3, 4. The section 5 may for example be designed to be connected via a slip joint or attached to other sections of the wind turbine by welding. This section therefore does not comprise any flanges which can be used for attaching the section 5 to the transport vehicles 1, 2, and therefore each transport vehicle 1, 2 is provided with means 3, 4, which are also shown in different perspective views in fig. 2, for securely attaching the transport vehicles 1, 2 to the section 5.

For a reliable handling of the section 5, the tools 3, 4 are attached to the section 5 by inserting the respective inner portions 22 of the respective tools 3, 4 into the respective open ends 8, 9 of the section 5. Once the inner portion 22 is inserted into the respective open end 8, 9, the respective tool 3, 4 is actuated to apply pressure onto the inner surface 15 of the wall 16 of the segment 5. In this example, the pressure is applied along the entire circumferential portion. This is achieved by using a support structure 11 having a diameter smaller than the inner diameter of the wall 16 and using an actuator 13 to inflate an air cushion 12 attached to an outer circumferential portion of the support structure 11.

The air cushion thus extends in a radial direction, as schematically indicated by the arrow 14 in fig. 2, contacting the inner surface 15 of the wall 16 and exerting a pressure on this inner surface 15. This produces a form fit of the respective tool 3, 4 and the segment 5 in the radial direction. The friction between the air cushion 12 and the wall 16 of the segment 5 inhibits displacement of the segment 5 in the longitudinal direction.

To further ensure that there is no undesired relative movement between the tools 3, 4 and the section 5, the tools 3, 4 preferably comprise a stop 10, which in this example is annular. Thus, even using one of these tools 3, 4, in particular using two tools 3, 4, allows a robust handling of the hollow section 5 of the wind turbine, even when the section 5 is not provided with any flanges or other means for attaching the section 5 to a handling device, in particular a transport vehicle. The tools 3, 4 are then attached to the respective vehicle 1, 2 by means of the connecting section 43.

In most of the discussed examples, the fixation of the segment 5 in the radial direction will be achieved by exerting a pressure on the inner surface 15 of the segment 5. Additionally or alternatively, it would be possible to provide this function by using the outer part of the tool 3, 4 inserted into the section. The respective tool 3, 4 may then be actuated in order to exert pressure on the outer surface 23 of the wall 16, an example of using both the inner and outer portions 22, 42 of the tool 41 will be discussed later with reference to fig. 5. It would also be possible to apply pressure from the outer surface only. This would be possible, for example, by using a support structure surrounding the wall 16 of the segment once the segment 5 is inserted into the outer part of the tool 3, 4, and inflating at least one air cushion arranged between this support structure and the wall 16.

Once the tools 3, 4 are attached to the section 5, the section 5 can be manoeuvred by the transport vehicle 1, 2 or, more generally, by any manoeuvring device 24, 25 attached to the respective tool 3, 4. In this example, the transport vehicles 1, 2 are SPMTs, which are typically used for transporting heavy loads. The implement 3, 4 is attached to the base 26 of the transport vehicle 1, 2 via a lifting mechanism 17 having an actuator 18 which allows the implement 3, 4 to be raised and lowered as indicated by arrow 19. Thus, for example, by first arranging the transport vehicles 1, 2 in a relatively large distance and moving the tools 3, 4 downwards by means of the lifting mechanism 17, sections stored at a relatively low vertical position can be picked up. The tools 3, 4 may then be attached to the section 5 as described above, and the lifting mechanism 17 may then be actuated while reducing the distance between the transport vehicles 1, 2 to move the section 5 to the transport position 27 shown in fig. 1. The transport vehicles 1, 2 may then be controlled together to move at the same speed and in the same direction, as indicated by arrows 20, 21, to transport the section 5 along the transport path 28. Once the destination is reached, the same steps can be reversed to lower and separate the section.

When the tapered section is used, for example, to construct the tower of a wind turbine, the diameters of the open ends 8, 9 of the section 5 may be different. Typically, a single wind turbine also uses sections having different diameters. It will also be preferred to use the same tools 3, 4 for handling sections 5 of different wind turbines, possibly having sections 5 with different diameters. Although slight variations in diameter can be compensated for by different expansions of the air cushions 12 using the tools 3, 4 shown in fig. 1, it may be advantageous to replace the fixed support structure 11 shown in fig. 1 with a variable support structure 29 shown in fig. 3 for larger variations in the available diameter. In this example, the outer circumferential portion 33 of the support structure 29, to which the air cushion 12 is attached, is defined by the position of several sectors 31, which can be moved radially as indicated by the arrow 32 via respective mechanisms 30, e.g. actuators moving pistons. When such a tool 34 is used to manipulate the segment 5, the segment 31 may first be adjusted to provide a diameter of the circumferential portion 33 that is slightly less than, for example, 10% of the inner diameter on the respective open ends 8, 9 of the segment 5. The inner part of the tool 34, including the support structure 29 and the air cushion 12, may then be inserted into the respective open end 8, 9, and the air cushion 12 may be inflated as described above. Thus, the tool 34 can be used to manipulate sections 5 having different diameters.

Fig. 4 shows an alternative embodiment of a tool 35 for manipulating the segments 5, which uses movable deflection means 37 distributed along the outer circumferential part of the inner part instead of air cushions as described above. The deflection means 37 is attached to the stop 10 arranged outside the section by an actuator 38 which can move the deflection means 37 radially as indicated by an arrow 40. The deflector 37 is first positioned radially inwards, then the inner part of the tool 35 is inserted into the open ends 8, 9 of the segments 5, and then the deflector 37 is moved radially outwards by the actuator 38. The deflecting means 37 thus exert pressure on the inner surface 15 of the wall 16 of the segment 5 in a plurality of zones spaced apart along the circumferential portion of the wall 16.

When pressure is exerted on the wall from only one side and in a plurality of different regions spaced along a circumferential portion of the wall 16, deformation of the wall 16 may result if the strength of the wall 16 is low. To avoid such deformation, it may be advantageous to apply pressure to the inner surface 15 and the outer surface 23 of the wall 16. A simple example of a tool 41 that implements this feature will now be discussed with reference to fig. 5. In this example, the tool 41 comprises an outer part 42 and an inner part 22, which may both be attached to the stopper 10, for example. The wall 16 of the section 5 is inserted between these parts as indicated by the arrow 7. In other words, the inner portion 22 is inserted into the respective open end 8, 9 of the segment 5, and the segment 5 is inserted into the outer portion 42.

The inner part comprises the deflection means 37 already discussed with reference to fig. 4. The outer portion 42 is formed by a plurality of fixed deflection means 6, each forming a clamp (vice) together with a respective movable deflection means 37. Once the jaws are closed by moving the movable deflector 37 as indicated by the arrow 39, pressure is exerted on the two surfaces 15, 23 of the wall 16, thus avoiding undesired deformations of the wall 16.

The example according to fig. 5 can obviously be modified in many ways. For example, it would be possible to use a movable deflection device 37 as part of the outer part 42 of the tool 41 and a fixed deflection device 6 as the inner part 22 of the tool 41. Alternatively, both portions 22, 42 may be formed by a movable deflection device 37. It would also be possible to use one or more inflatable air cushions 12, which have already been discussed in fig. 1-3, instead of the movable deflection means 37.

Fig. 6 shows another use of the tool 3 shown in fig. 1. Instead of attaching the implement 3 to the transport vehicle 1, the connecting section 43 of the implement 3 is attached to a different handling device 45, i.e. a crane. By connecting the tool 3 to the section 5 as discussed in relation to fig. 1 and 2, the crane can be used to lift the section 5 even when the section 5 does not comprise a flange or other means for connecting the section 5 to the crane. The crane can then be used, for example, to lift the section 5 to connect it to the lower section 44 of the tower by means of a sliding joint, as shown in fig. 6.

While the invention has been described in detail with reference to preferred embodiments, the invention is not limited by the disclosed examples, and those skilled in the art will be able to derive other variations from the disclosed examples without departing from the scope of the invention.