A WIND TURBINE BLADE HAVING A HINGED CONNECTION APPARATUS PROVIDING ELECTRICAL PROTECTION

摘要

A hinged connection apparatus is described for securing a first wind turbine component to a second. The first wind turbine component may be a wind turbine blade and the second wind turbine component may be a control surface such as an aileron. The first or second wind turbine component comprises at least one hinge housing (15) in which an electrically sensitive component, such as a cable or an electrical activated hinge pin, is retained. Preferably, the interior portion of the hinge housing (30) is made of a glass fibre composite material that is fatigue resistant and electrically non-conductive. The exterior (31) of the hinge housing on the other hand is preferably electrically conductive. Furthermore, an extendable conductive or non- conductive sleeve (32) may be provided to bridge the gap in-between one hinge housing and an adjacent hinge housing.