Nooteboom Trailers — Super Wing Carrier XL (SWC-XL). Semi-trailer for the transport of long rotor blades (over 85 metres long).
Nooteboom Trailers is expanding its delivery programme with the four times extendible Super Wing Carrier XL (SWC-XL). This trailer is designed for the transport of wind turbine rotor blades of over 85 metres long. The very long trailer, type SWC-91-24V(QP), has extra length and load capacity without loss of stability.
The SWC-XL represents a new generation of Super Wing Carriers, in which various new technologies have been applied. Such as the Wing Shaped Beam patented by Nooteboom: this clever construction allows the transport height behind the gooseneck, where the root of the rotor blade is loaded, to remain extra low.
Due to the high weight of the increasingly long rotor blades, the front of the trailer is equipped with a 2-axle Jeepdolly suitable for an 8×4 truck. The rear of the Super Wing Carrier XL is equipped with 4 pendle axle lines. The loading floor behind the gooseneck can be extended in several steps to a length of more than 75 metres. With additional filler plates, the driver can adjust the curvature of the unloaded trailer to the shape of the wing, so that there is always a good balance between ground clearance and transport height.
Because the longer rotor blades are heavier and higher, especially at the root side, stability played a crucial role in the design of the SWC-XL. By integrating the steering system in the chassis of the Jeepdolly instead of in the gooseneck, Nooteboom Trailers has achieved extra stability at the front. In addition, the torsion-resistant chassis beams and the 2840 mm wide axle assembly at the rear provide extra stability.
Driving such a combination is no child’s play. However, the freely rotating Jeepdolly and the large steering angle of 60 degrees of the pendle axles make the trailer extremely manoeuvrable. In combination with the gooseneck’s 1600 mm travel and the 600 mm rear pendle axles, most obstacles (such as planted verges, pavements, raised edges of roundabouts) can be overcome. In addition, the side protection can be folded up, which improves manoeuvrability in bends.
An advantage of the Super Wing Carrier XL compared to rotor blade transport with a trailing dolly is the shorter loading and unloading time and the ease of operation. The hydraulic support legs with remote control allow the loading area to be extended quickly and easily. All system lines between the front and rear of the trailer are protected in the chassis beams. These automatically adjust to the extended length of the trailer. When the Super Wing Carrier XL is empty, the entire Jeep dolly can be lifted using the gooseneck. This also makes sliding it in quickly and easily. Thanks to the rolling load carrier, the trailer can easily be adapted to different lengths and support distances. The rotor blade does not have to be transferred to other transport frames first, but can be loaded directly onto the Super Wing Carrier XL.
By carrying out the transport with the Nooteboom Super Wing Carrier XL, the rotor blade is protected from various unwanted forces that occur on the rotor blade when transporting with a trailing dolly. This increases the safety and service life of the wind turbine. The underside of the rotor blade is also protected from damage by the chassis beam of the trailer during transport. In addition, the axle distance of 1510 mm makes it easier to obtain an exemption for 12 tonnes per axle throughout Europe.
The prototype of this trailer was tested last year at Laso Transportes in Portugal.
