METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR HANDLING A ROTOR BLADE

• US 20150028608A1
• Filed: 07/29/2013
• Published: 01/29/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 07/29/2013
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: General Electric Company
• Original Assignee: General Electric Company
• Inventors: Wubbelmann, Marcus Paul
• Application Number:
  US13/952,920
• Publication Number:
  US 20150028608A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 294/81.2
• CPC Class Codes: B66C 1/108 for lifting parts of wind turbines
• CPC Class Codes: B66C 1/447 by hydraulic or pneumatic motors
• CPC Class Codes: F03D 13/10 Assembly of wind motors; Arrangements for erecting wind motors
• CPC Class Codes: F03D 13/40 Arrangements or methods specially adapted for transporting wind motor components
• CPC Class Codes: F05B 2230/61 using auxiliary equipment for lifting or holding
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 10/72 Wind turbines with rotation axis in wind direction
• CPC Class Codes: Y02P 70/50 Manufacturing or production processes characterised by the final manufactured product

Abstract

Described herein is a blade holding device for handling the rotor blade of a wind turbine, the rotor blade including a root portion and an outer portion. The blade holding device comprising a first device adapted to grip the root portion of the rotor blade and a second device adapted to support the outer portion of the rotor blade.

Claims

1. A blade holding device for handling the rotor blade of a wind turbine, the rotor blade including a root portion and an outer portion, the blade holding device comprising:

a first device adapted to grip the root portion of said rotor blade and a second device adapted to support the outer portion of said rotor blade.

2. The blade holding device according to claim 1, wherein said second device is adapted to grip the outer portion of said rotor blade.

3. The blade holding device according to claim 1, wherein at least one of said first device and said second device includes a hydraulic mechanism for gripping said rotor blade.

4. The blade holding device according to claim 1, further comprising a spreader which said first device and said second device are connected to.

5. The blade holding device according to claim 4, wherein said spreader has a length from 10 m to 50 m.

6. The blade holding device according to claim 4, wherein said spreader is adjustable in its axial length.

7. The blade holding device according to claim 1, wherein at least one of said first device and said second device includes a rigid arm for supporting said rotor blade and an adjustable clamping arm for clamping said rotor blade.

8. The blade holding device according to claim 7, wherein said adjustable clamping arm includes a hydraulic mechanism for clamping said rotor blade.

9. The blade holding device according to claim 1, wherein at least one of said first device and said second device is adapted to clamp said rotor blade using a clamping force, wherein said clamping force results from the weight of said rotor blade.

10. The blade holding device according to claim 1, wherein at least one of said first device and said second device include a roller assembly which allows said rotor blade to be rotatable along its longitudinal axis when held by the blade holding device.

11. The blade holding device according to claim 10, wherein at least one of said first device and said second device include a locking mechanism that prevents the rotation of said rotor blade along its longitudinal axis when held by the blade holding device.

12. A lifting system comprising at least one lifting machine, hoisting device and a blade holding device suspended via said hoisting device for handling the rotor blade of a wind turbine, the rotor blade including a root portion and an outer portion, the blade holding device comprising:

a first device adapted to grip the root portion of said rotor blade and a second device adapted to support the outer portion of said rotor blade.

13. The lifting system according to claim 12, wherein at least one of said first device and said second device includes a rigid arm for supporting said rotor blade and an adjustable clamping arm for clamping said rotor blade.

14. The lifting system according to claim 12, wherein at least one of said first device and said second device is adapted to clamp said rotor blade using a clamping force, wherein said clamping force results from the weight of said rotor blade.

15. The lifting system according to claim 12, wherein said blade holding device further includes a spreader to which said hoisting device is connected.

16. The lifting system according to claim 15, wherein said spreader is adjustable in its axial length.

17. The lifting system according to claim 15, wherein said hoisting device is adjustably connected to said spreader.

18. A method for handling the rotor blade of a wind turbine, the rotor blade including a root portion and an outer portion, said method comprising:

gripping the root portion of said rotor blade; and

supporting the outer portion of said rotor blade.

19. The method according to claim 18, wherein supporting the outer portion of said rotor blade includes gripping the outer portion of said rotor blade.

20. The method according to claim 18, further comprising rotating said rotor blade around its longitudinal axis whilst it is gripped and supported in order to shift the center of gravity of said rotor blade.