公开(公告)号：US20190017495A1

公开(公告)日：2019-01-17

申请号：US15651109

申请日：2017-07-17

Applicant: General Electric Company

Inventor： Don Conrad Johnson ,  Daniel Leroy Olson ,  Adam Sean Davis

IPC: F03D13/40 ,  F03D80/50 ,  F03D1/06

CPC classification number: F03D13/40 ,  F03D1/0658 ,  F03D80/50 ,  F05B2230/61 ,  F05B2230/70 ,  F05B2230/80 ,  F05B2240/913 ,  F05B2240/916 ,  F05B2240/917

Abstract: A method for suspending a rotor blade uptower includes mounting a first end of a support structure at a first uptower location of the wind turbine. The method also includes securing the rotor blade to a second end of the support structure. Further, the method includes mounting at least one pulley block assembly between a second uptower location and the support structure. Moreover, the method includes routing at least one pulley cable from at least one winch over the at least one pulley block assembly. In addition, the method includes detaching the rotor blade from the hub of the wind turbine. Once the rotor blade is detached, the method includes rotating the support structure about the first end via coordinated winch operation so as to lower the rotor blade a predetermined distance away from the hub. Thus, the method also includes suspending the rotor blade at the predetermined distance away from the hub via the support structure.

公开(公告)号：US10822207B2

公开(公告)日：2020-11-03

申请号：US15995310

申请日：2018-06-01

Applicant: General Electric Company

Inventor： Daniel Lopez-Benedito ,  John Carl Bell ,  Gaylon Mitchell Pfeiffer ,  Theodore Steven Wilmot ,  Adam Sean Davis ,  Marc Cavalle ,  Jordi Escola Belarte ,  Bart Jan Veldkamp ,  Christoph Lammen

IPC: B66C13/46 ,  F03D13/10 ,  B66C1/10 ,  B66C13/18 ,  B66C13/16 ,  F03D1/06

Abstract: The present disclosure is directed to a lift system for a rotor blade of a wind turbine. The lift system includes a lifting device having at least one cradle. The cradle has a profile that corresponds to at least one of the exterior surfaces of the rotor blade so as to support at least a portion of the rotor blade. Further, the lift system includes a positioning assembly having at least one distance sensor mounted to the hub and at least one visual sensor mounted to the lifting device. Thus, the distance sensor is configured to identify a distance from the hub to the lifting device and the visual sensor is configured to identify a position of the rotor blade in the cradle.

公开(公告)号：US10598158B2

公开(公告)日：2020-03-24

申请号：US15654833

申请日：2017-07-20

Applicant: General Electric Company

Inventor： Paul Howard Davidson ,  Stephanie Lohberg Willman ,  Santiago Murcia ,  Joshua Adam Klinghagen ,  Gregory Clarence Thomas ,  Michael Royce Johnson ,  Don Conrad Johnson ,  Ulrich Werner Neumann ,  Adam Sean Davis ,  Dean Thomas Roney ,  Kathleen Lynne Bentzel

IPC: F03D80/50 ,  F03D80/70 ,  F03D13/20 ,  F03D13/10 ,  B25J11/00 ,  B25J15/00 ,  B25J15/02 ,  F03D1/06

Abstract: A method for detaching or installing a rotor blade from or to a hub of a wind turbine includes positioning the rotor blade toward a ground location between a three o'clock position and a nine o'clock position. The method also includes mounting a mechanical arm to an uptower location of the wind turbine. Further, the mechanical arm includes a torqueing tool at a distal end thereof. Thus, the method also includes removing or installing, via the torqueing tool, each of the plurality of hub fasteners so as to detach or attach the rotor blade from or to the hub.

公开(公告)号：US10508645B2

公开(公告)日：2019-12-17

申请号：US15651109

申请日：2017-07-17

Applicant: General Electric Company

Inventor： Don Conrad Johnson ,  Daniel Leroy Olson ,  Adam Sean Davis

IPC: F03D13/40 ,  F03D80/50 ,  F03D1/06

Abstract: A method for suspending a rotor blade uptower includes mounting a first end of a support structure at a first uptower location of the wind turbine. The method also includes securing the rotor blade to a second end of the support structure. Further, the method includes mounting at least one pulley block assembly between a second uptower location and the support structure. Moreover, the method includes routing at least one pulley cable from at least one winch over the at least one pulley block assembly. In addition, the method includes detaching the rotor blade from the hub of the wind turbine. Once the rotor blade is detached, the method includes rotating the support structure about the first end via coordinated winch operation so as to lower the rotor blade a predetermined distance away from the hub. Thus, the method also includes suspending the rotor blade at the predetermined distance away from the hub via the support structure.

公开(公告)号：US20190024639A1

公开(公告)日：2019-01-24

申请号：US15654833

申请日：2017-07-20

Applicant: General Electric Company

Inventor： Paul Howard Davidson ,  Stephanie Lohberg Willman ,  Santiago Murcia ,  Joshua Adam Klinghagen ,  Gregory Clarence Thomas ,  Michael Royce Johnson ,  Don Conrad Johnson ,  Ulrich Werner Neumann ,  Adam Sean Davis ,  Dean Thomas Roney ,  Kathleen Lynne Bentzel

IPC: F03D80/50 ,  F03D13/10 ,  F03D1/06 ,  B25J11/00 ,  B25J15/02 ,  B25J15/00

CPC classification number: F03D80/50 ,  B25J11/005 ,  B25J15/0019 ,  B25J15/0095 ,  B25J15/022 ,  F03D1/0658 ,  F03D13/10 ,  F03D13/20 ,  F03D80/70 ,  F05B2230/60 ,  F05B2230/70 ,  F05B2230/80 ,  F05B2240/221 ,  F05B2260/507 ,  F05B2270/604 ,  F05B2270/606

Abstract: A method for detaching or installing a rotor blade from or to a hub of a wind turbine includes positioning the rotor blade toward a ground location between a three o'clock position and a nine o'clock position. The method also includes mounting a mechanical arm to an uptower location of the wind turbine. Further, the mechanical arm includes a torqueing tool at a distal end thereof. Thus, the method also includes removing or installing, via the torqueing tool, each of the plurality of hub fasteners so as to detach or attach the rotor blade from or to the hub.