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SUPPORT STRUCTURE FOR A WIND TURBINE MAST AND METHOD FOR REALIZING A BOLT CONNECTION BETWEEN CONNECTING FLANGES OF A WIND TURBINE MAST AND A SUPPORT STRUCTURE FOR A WIND TURBINE MAST

Publication No. EP3623645

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App No. EP19187096

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Filed by DEME Offshore BE NV

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Filed on 2019-07-18

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Issued/Published on 2024-06-19

Official EPO Register

Publication No. EP3623645 A1

Application No. EP19187096 Filed: 2019-07-18

Grant Date 2019-07-18 Mention of grant

Active Oppositions 1 Active EPO Oppositions

Patent Abstract / Summary

Described is an auxiliary device for realizing a bolt connection between connecting flanges, placed against each other, of a wind turbine mast and a support structure for a wind turbine mast. The auxiliary device comprises a support body provided with a number of receiving positions for a bolt. The receiving positions are aligned with corresponding bolt holes in the connecting flanges to be placed against each other. The auxiliary device further comprises moving means with which the support body can be moved toward the connecting flanges which are arranged against each other so that a number of bolts arranged in the receiving positions are arranged substantially simultaneously through the bolt holes. Also described is a corresponding method.

IPC Classifications

F16B5/02, E04H12/08, F03D13/10, F03D13/25

Priority Claims

BE 20180005629 Date: 2018-09-13

Designated Contracting States (38 EPC States)

AL AT BE BG CH CY CZ DE DK EE ES FI FR GB GR HR HU IE IS IT LI LT LU LV MC MK MT NL NO PL PT RO RS SE SI SK SM TR

Parties & Representation

Applicants

DEME Offshore BE NV

Haven 1025, Scheldedijk 30

DEME Offshore BE N.V.

Haven 1025, Scheldedijk 30

DEME Offshore Holding N.V.

Haven 1025 Scheldedijk 30, Zwijndrecht

Inventors (3)

RABAUT, Dieter Wim Jan

Ekkergemstraat 97, Gent 9000

VAN DE VELDE, Kevin Ludo Pegie

Itegemsesteenweg 43, 2560 Bevel

HOLVOET, Mathieu

Jan Breydellaan 132, 8500 Kortrijk

Representatives / Agents

Arnold & Siedsma

Bezuidenhoutseweg 57, 2594 AC The Hague

Brouwer, Hendrik Rogier, et al

Arnold & Siedsma, Bezuidenhoutseweg 57

Bjerkén Hynell KB

P.O. Box 1061, 101 39 Stockholm

Key Procedural Dates

Request-For-Examination 2020-09-17

Mention Of Grant Published 2019-07-18

First-Examination-Report-Despatched 2021-12-23

Patent Oppositions

Official opposition proceedings filed against European Patent EP3623645 under EPC Article 99.

1 ACTIVE OPPONENT

Opponent Company

Vestas Wind Systems A/S

Hedeager 42, DK

Representative

Bjerkén Hynell KB

Filing Date

2025-03-19

Opposition in Progress

Legal Status & Event History

Official European Patent Office legal and procedural status changes recorded for this file.

56 Events Recorded

Date	Code	Event Description	Auth
2020-03-18	AX	REQUEST FOR EXTENSION OF THE EUROPEAN PATENT	EP
2020-03-18	AK	DESIGNATED CONTRACTING STATES	EP
2020-05-06	RAP1	PARTY DATA CHANGED (APPLICANT DATA CHANGED OR RIGHTS OF AN APPLICATION TRANSFERRED)	EP
2020-10-28	17P	REQUEST FOR EXAMINATION FILED	EP
2020-10-28	RBV	DESIGNATED CONTRACTING STATES (CORRECTED)	EP
2020-02-14	PUAI	PUBLIC REFERENCE MADE UNDER ARTICLE 153(3) EPC TO A PUBLISHED INTERNATIONAL APPLICATION THAT HAS ENTERED THE EUROPEAN PHASE	EP
2020-09-25	STAA	INFORMATION ON THE STATUS OF AN EP PATENT APPLICATION OR GRANTED EP PATENT	EP
2020-02-14	STAA	INFORMATION ON THE STATUS OF AN EP PATENT APPLICATION OR GRANTED EP PATENT	EP
2021-12-24	STAA	INFORMATION ON THE STATUS OF AN EP PATENT APPLICATION OR GRANTED EP PATENT	EP
2022-01-26	17Q	FIRST EXAMINATION REPORT DESPATCHED	EP
2024-01-10	GRAP	DESPATCH OF COMMUNICATION OF INTENTION TO GRANT A PATENT	EP
2024-01-10	STAA	INFORMATION ON THE STATUS OF AN EP PATENT APPLICATION OR GRANTED EP PATENT	EP
2024-02-07	INTG	INTENTION TO GRANT ANNOUNCED	EP
2024-05-07	GRAS	GRANT FEE PAID	EP
2024-05-17	GRAA	(EXPECTED) GRANT	EP
2024-05-17	STAA	INFORMATION ON THE STATUS OF AN EP PATENT APPLICATION OR GRANTED EP PATENT	EP
2024-06-19	AK	DESIGNATED CONTRACTING STATES	EP
2024-06-19	RAP3	PARTY DATA CHANGED (APPLICANT DATA CHANGED OR RIGHTS OF AN APPLICATION TRANSFERRED)	EP
2024-06-19	REG	REFERENCE TO A NATIONAL CODE	EP
2024-06-28	REG	REFERENCE TO A NATIONAL CODE	EP
2024-07-11	REG	REFERENCE TO A NATIONAL CODE	EP
2024-08-21	U01	REQUEST FOR UNITARY EFFECT FILED	EP
2024-08-21	U07	UNITARY EFFECT REGISTERED	EP
2024-09-04	U20	RENEWAL FEE FOR THE EUROPEAN PATENT WITH UNITARY EFFECT PAID	EP
2024-10-10	PG25	LAPSED IN A CONTRACTING STATE [ANNOUNCED VIA POSTGRANT INFORMATION FROM NATIONAL OFFICE TO EPO]	EP
2024-10-11	PG25	LAPSED IN A CONTRACTING STATE [ANNOUNCED VIA POSTGRANT INFORMATION FROM NATIONAL OFFICE TO EPO]	EP
2024-10-31	PG25	LAPSED IN A CONTRACTING STATE [ANNOUNCED VIA POSTGRANT INFORMATION FROM NATIONAL OFFICE TO EPO]	EP
2025-01-16	PG25	LAPSED IN A CONTRACTING STATE [ANNOUNCED VIA POSTGRANT INFORMATION FROM NATIONAL OFFICE TO EPO]	EP
2025-01-23	PG25	LAPSED IN A CONTRACTING STATE [ANNOUNCED VIA POSTGRANT INFORMATION FROM NATIONAL OFFICE TO EPO]	EP
2025-01-24	PG25	LAPSED IN A CONTRACTING STATE [ANNOUNCED VIA POSTGRANT INFORMATION FROM NATIONAL OFFICE TO EPO]	EP
2025-01-27	PG25	LAPSED IN A CONTRACTING STATE [ANNOUNCED VIA POSTGRANT INFORMATION FROM NATIONAL OFFICE TO EPO]	EP
2025-01-28	PG25	LAPSED IN A CONTRACTING STATE [ANNOUNCED VIA POSTGRANT INFORMATION FROM NATIONAL OFFICE TO EPO]	EP
2025-01-31	PG25	LAPSED IN A CONTRACTING STATE [ANNOUNCED VIA POSTGRANT INFORMATION FROM NATIONAL OFFICE TO EPO]	EP
2025-02-28	REG	REFERENCE TO A NATIONAL CODE	EP
2025-03-19	PG25	LAPSED IN A CONTRACTING STATE [ANNOUNCED VIA POSTGRANT INFORMATION FROM NATIONAL OFFICE TO EPO]	EP
2025-03-28	PLBI	OPPOSITION FILED	EP
2025-03-31	PG25	LAPSED IN A CONTRACTING STATE [ANNOUNCED VIA POSTGRANT INFORMATION FROM NATIONAL OFFICE TO EPO]	EP
2025-04-01	PLAX	NOTICE OF OPPOSITION AND REQUEST TO FILE OBSERVATION + TIME LIMIT SENT	EP
2025-03-19	REG	REFERENCE TO A NATIONAL CODE	EP
2025-04-24	PG25	LAPSED IN A CONTRACTING STATE [ANNOUNCED VIA POSTGRANT INFORMATION FROM NATIONAL OFFICE TO EPO]	EP
2025-04-30	26	OPPOSITION FILED	EP
2025-05-28	GBPC	GB: EUROPEAN PATENT CEASED THROUGH NON-PAYMENT OF RENEWAL FEE	EP
2025-07-10	PG25	LAPSED IN A CONTRACTING STATE [ANNOUNCED VIA POSTGRANT INFORMATION FROM NATIONAL OFFICE TO EPO]	EP
2025-07-29	PG25	LAPSED IN A CONTRACTING STATE [ANNOUNCED VIA POSTGRANT INFORMATION FROM NATIONAL OFFICE TO EPO]	EP
2025-08-02	PLBB	REPLY OF PATENT PROPRIETOR TO NOTICE(S) OF OPPOSITION RECEIVED	EP
2025-08-20	U20	RENEWAL FEE FOR THE EUROPEAN PATENT WITH UNITARY EFFECT PAID	EP
2025-11-10	PG25	LAPSED IN A CONTRACTING STATE [ANNOUNCED VIA POSTGRANT INFORMATION FROM NATIONAL OFFICE TO EPO]	EP
2026-02-06	PLBD	TERMINATION OF OPPOSITION PROCEDURE: DECISION DESPATCHED	EP
2026-02-06	PLBP	OPPOSITION WITHDRAWN	EP
2026-02-11	REG	REFERENCE TO A NATIONAL CODE	EP
2026-03-06	PG25	LAPSED IN A CONTRACTING STATE [ANNOUNCED VIA POSTGRANT INFORMATION FROM NATIONAL OFFICE TO EPO]	EP
2026-05-15	PLBM	TERMINATION OF OPPOSITION PROCEDURE: DATE OF LEGAL EFFECT PUBLISHED	EP
2026-05-21	REG	REFERENCE TO A NATIONAL CODE	EP
2026-06-01	PG25	LAPSED IN A CONTRACTING STATE [ANNOUNCED VIA POSTGRANT INFORMATION FROM NATIONAL OFFICE TO EPO]	EP
2026-06-17	27C	OPPOSITION PROCEEDINGS TERMINATED	EP
2026-08-19	U20	RENEWAL FEE FOR THE EUROPEAN PATENT WITH UNITARY EFFECT PAID	EP

Patent & Non-Patent Citations

Cited documents and prior art referenced in search and examination reports.

18 Citations

Cited Patent Documents

US6439807 2002-08-27

Espacenet

EP2636899 2013-09-11

Espacenet

US5632583 1997-05-27

Espacenet

US5466105 1995-11-14

Espacenet

US4052045 1977-10-04

Espacenet

WO2005090800 2005-09-29

Espacenet

WO2017168176 2017-10-05

Espacenet

EP2615315 2013-07-17

Espacenet

JP2018012174

Espacenet

JPH11182759

Espacenet

Non-Patent Scientific Literature (NPL)

- ANONYMOUS: "Sea Installer", SHIP-TECHNOLOGY.COM, 1 January 2018 (2018-01-01), pages 1 - 8, XP093375290, Retrieved from the Internet <URL:https://www.ship-technology.com/projects/sea-installer/>

- ANONYMOUS: "GeoSea Finalizes A2SEA Buy", OFFSHOREWIND.BIZ, 4 September 2017 (2017-09-04), pages 1 - 4, XP093375298, Retrieved from the Internet <URL:https://www.offshorewind.biz>

- ANONYMOUS: "Sea Installer Ready for Rentel Turbine Pick-Up", OFFSHOREWIND.BIZ, 2 May 2018 (2018-05-02), pages 1 - 3, XP093375302, Retrieved from the Internet <URL:https://www.offshorewind.biz/2018/05/02/sea-installer-ready-for-rentel-turbine-pick-up/>

- ANONYMOUS: "Sea Installer Ticks 33 Turbines Off Rentel List", OFFSHOREWIND.BIZ, 15 August 2018 (2018-08-15), pages 1 - 2, XP093375328, Retrieved from the Internet <URL:https://www.offshorewind.biz/2018/08/15/sea-installer-ticks-33-turbines-off-rentel-list/>

- ANONYMOUS: "A2Sea Installs Last Rentel Turbine", OFFSHOREWIND.BIZ, 3 September 2018 (2018-09-03), pages 1 - 2, XP093375333, Retrieved from the Internet <URL:https://www.offshorewind.biz/2018/09/03/a2sea-installs-last-rentel-turbine/>

- DAMEN: "DEME Sea Installer @ Damen Shiprepair Dunkerque", YOUTUBE, 11 June 2018 (2018-06-11), XP093384111, Retrieved from the Internet <URL:https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7GXd8z9uEpc>

- ANONYMOUS: "YouTube Data Viewer", DYTLARGE, 1 January 2018 (2018-01-01), pages 1 - 11, XP093375351

- D09: Affadavit signed by Mads Møller Gram

Worldwide Patent Family

Related applications and patents in the same INPADOC worldwide family.

8 Family Members

Country	Publication Number	Kind	Publication Date	Action
EP	EP3623645A1	A1	2020-03-18	Espacenet
EP	EP3623645B1	B1	2024-06-19	Espacenet
EP	EP3623645C0	C0	2024-06-19	Espacenet
BE	BE1025747B1	B1	2019-06-27	Espacenet
TW	TW202014616A	A	2020-04-16	Espacenet
TW	TWI831832B	B	2024-02-11	Espacenet
US	US2020087945A1	A1	2020-03-19	Espacenet
US	US10920443B2	B2	2021-02-16	Espacenet

Official File Inspection EPC Art. 128 Public Dossier

Complete European Patent Register Dossier (148 Total Documents)

The full inspection file for Application EP19187096 contains 148 total documents, including all notices of opposition, proprietor counter-statements, examination communications, third-party observations, and procedural forms. Below are all major recorded procedural filings and publication specifications.

Open 148-Doc Register Dossier

Dossier Filing

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SUPPORT STRUCTURE FOR A WIND TURBINE MAST AND METHOD FOR REALIZING A BOLT CONNECTION BETWEEN CONNECTING FLANGES OF A WIND TURBINE MAST AND A SUPPORT STRUCTURE FOR A WIND TURBINE MAST

Patent Abstract / Summary

IPC Classifications

Priority Claims

Designated Contracting States (38 EPC States)

Parties & Representation

Applicants

Inventors (3)

Representatives / Agents

Key Procedural Dates

Patent Oppositions

Vestas Wind Systems A/S

Legal Status & Event History

Patent & Non-Patent Citations

Cited Patent Documents

Non-Patent Scientific Literature (NPL)

Worldwide Patent Family

Complete European Patent Register Dossier (148 Total Documents)

Recorded Filings & Patent Specifications

European Patent Specification - Granted Patent (B1)

Official European Patent Register Full Dossier

European Patent Application with Search Report (A1)

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