Prior art

Here's an analysis of the most relevant prior art for US Patent 12104578, based on the citations provided within the patent text.

Most Relevant Prior Art

The patent itself identifies German Patent Application DE 102006013539 A1 as particularly relevant.

1. German Patent Application DE 102006013539 A1

• Full Citation: DE102006013539A1, Nordex Energy Gmbh, "Rotor shaft support for wind powered generator has support frame to hold the shaft for access to the bearing and gearbox"
• Publication/Filing Date: Priority date: 2006-03-24, Publication date: 2007-09-27
• Brief Description: This patent discloses a rotor shaft support (main shaft fixture) for a wind turbine generator. It features a support frame designed to hold the main shaft, enabling access for servicing the bearing and gearbox. The fixture is divided into multiple sections for installation on stable structural parts within the wind turbine nacelle, including the bottom frame.
• Potential Anticipation (35 U.S.C. § 102): DE102006013539A1 directly anticipates the introductory clause of independent Claims 1, 15, and 16 of US12104578, which describes a "Main shaft fixture for fixation of a main shaft on a wind turbine during execution of installation and repair work on heavy parts of a wind turbine, where the fixture is divided up into a number of sections for mounting on stable structural parts in a nacelle of a wind turbine, including a bottom frame of the nacelle". The distinguishing features of US12104578's independent claims (e.g., adjustable pressure mandrels with tap shoes, displaceable between passive/active positions, and mounting facilities for a crane, or a specific rotor lock structure) appear to be the inventive aspects over DE102006013539A1.

Other Cited Prior Art

Below are other patent citations from US12104578, with their details and potential anticipations. Due to the high number of citations, this section will focus on those whose titles suggest a direct relevance to key elements of US12104578's independent claims (Claims 1, 13, 15, 16).

2. US 7759815 B2

• Full Citation: US7759815B2, Nordex Energy Gmbh, "Wind motor with a holding device for a rotor shaft"
• Publication/Filing Date: Priority date: 2004-12-17, Publication date: 2010-07-20
• Brief Description: This patent describes a wind motor equipped with a holding device for its rotor shaft, likely for maintenance or assembly purposes.
• Potential Anticipation (35 U.S.C. § 102): Similar to DE102006013539A1, this patent likely anticipates the general concept of a main shaft fixture or holding device for a wind turbine's rotor shaft for maintenance. It could potentially anticipate the broad scope of the pre-characterizing clauses of Claims 1, 15, and 16, regarding a fixture for fixing a main shaft during installation/repair.

3. EP 1101934 A2

• Full Citation: EP1101934A2, Enron Wind GmbH, "Wind turbine having a movable crane in the nacelle"
• Publication/Filing Date: Priority date: 1999-11-18, Publication date: 2001-05-23
• Brief Description: This patent describes a wind turbine that includes a movable crane located within its nacelle.
• Potential Anticipation (35 U.S.C. § 102): This patent is relevant to the "mounting facilities adapted for anchoring a crane on/in a nacelle of a wind turbine" aspect of Claims 1, 13, 15, and 16. It suggests that the concept of having a crane (or facilities for one) within the nacelle for wind turbine work is known.

4. US 20100021278 A1

• Full Citation: US20100021278A1, Ge Wind Energy Gmbh, "Portable crane system for wind turbine components"
• Publication/Filing Date: Priority date: 2008-07-24, Publication date: 2010-01-28
• Brief Description: This patent describes a portable crane system specifically designed for handling components within wind turbines.
• Potential Anticipation (35 U.S.C. § 102): Similar to EP1101934A2, this patent anticipates the idea of having crane systems for wind turbine components, further reinforcing that the "mounting facilities adapted for anchoring a crane" element of Claims 1, 13, 15, and 16 may be a known component or system in the prior art.

5. US 20120217089 A1

• Full Citation: US20120217089A1, Liftra Aps, "Device for establishing admittance and transport of cargo to and from a wind turbine construction above ground level"
• Publication/Filing Date: Priority date: 2009-10-28, Publication date: 2012-08-30
• Brief Description: This patent describes a device for facilitating access and transport of cargo to and from a wind turbine at elevated heights.
• Potential Anticipation (35 U.S.C. § 102): While not directly about a main shaft fixture, this patent by the same original assignee (Liftra Aps) indicates prior art related to handling and transporting components in wind turbines, which is contextually relevant to the overall purpose of US121045578. The general concept of facilities for handling heavy components is broadly known.

6. US 10378518 B2

• Full Citation: US10378518B2, Liftra Ip Aps, "Main shaft fixture"
• Publication/Filing Date: Priority date: 2014-10-07, Publication date: 2019-08-13
• Brief Description: This patent, by the same assignee and sharing the same priority date (2014-10-07) as US12104578, also describes a "Main shaft fixture". Given the shared priority and title, it is highly likely to be a related family member or an earlier issued patent with significant overlap.
• Potential Anticipation (35 U.S.C. § 102): As a family member with the same priority date, this patent likely covers very similar or identical subject matter. If it was published before the critical date for US12104578 (which it was, 2019-08-13 vs. 2024-01-24 filing of US12104578), it could potentially anticipate many or all claims of US12104578, depending on the specific claim differences between the two patents and if it is indeed prior art under 35 U.S.C. § 102(a)(1) or (2). The description of US12104578 states it is a "Continuation of U.S. application Ser. No. 16/452,617, filed Jun. 26, 2019, which is a Divisional of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 15/517,288 filed Apr. 6, 2017, which is a 371 of International Patent Application No. PCT/DK2015/000040 filed Oct. 6, 2015, which claims the benefit of priority to Denmark Patent Application No. PA 2015 00527 filed Sep. 4, 2015, and to Denmark Patent Application No. PA 2014 00573 filed Oct. 7, 2014". US10378518B2 is the granted patent from US15/517,288. Therefore, US10378518B2 would not be prior art in a §102 sense against US12104578, as both share the same priority date and are part of the same patent family, meaning US12104578 can claim priority back to the same earlier applications.

The remaining citations, such as chucks, workholders, or general methods for repairing components, are less directly focused on the specific combination of features claimed in US12104578 for a wind turbine main shaft fixture. They may provide background art for individual components or general mechanical principles, but are less likely to anticipate the specific claims in their entirety.