Lifting frame for a wind turbine blade

A method of lifting a wind turbine blade transport frame by means of a lifting yoke, the method comprising:

• providing said wind turbine blade transport frame, said frame having a longitudinal, lateral and upright extent, and comprising four upright frame struts which together define a generally cuboid internal space having a said longitudinal extent between two pairs of said upright struts,
• wherein said frame is configured for transporting a root end or tip portion of a longitudinally extending wind turbine blade, said frame being stackable with similar frames, said frame having four top shoulders and four feet, said feet of said frame being conformed to be stackable on corresponding said shoulders of another similar frame,
• wherein each said shoulder is provided with a locating finger, each said finger having a height above said shoulder, and wherein each said foot is provided with a recess conformed to receive a said locating finger, and
• wherein each said finger is provided with a lifting aperture configured as a load bearing lifting point for lifting a said frame or a stack of said frames;
• providing said lifting yoke, wherein said lifting yoke is generally rectangular and comprises:
• four corner posts connected by struts, wherein each corner post is configured to internally receive therein a locating finger, wherein said corner post comprises:
• a housing enclosing an internal space and extending between a lower foot face and a top, wherein at said lower foot face, an aperture dimensioned to receive a said locating finger into said internal space;
• and
• guide surfaces enclosed within said housing and spaced apart to define a locking space and configured to snugly receive a said locating finger, wherein each guide surface comprises:
• a locking aperture, wherein a movable locking element is configured to engage both said locking apertures to thereby bridge said locking space, wherein said locking element being configured to engage a lifting point at said locating finger, and wherein said movable locking element constituting the primary lifting element of said lifting yoke;
• aligning said four corner posts with said locating fingers;
• receiving each said locating finger within said locking space in a respective said corner post;
• actuating respective said locking mechanisms to engage said locating fingers through respective said lifting apertures;
• and
• lifting a first said frame by means of said lifting yoke suspended from a lifting apparatus.

A lifting yoke comprising:

• four corner posts connected by struts in a generally rectangular arrangement, wherein each corner post is configured to internally receive therein a locating finger, and wherein said corner post comprises:
• a housing enclosing an internal space and extending between a lower foot face and a top, wherein at said lower foot face is located an aperture dimensioned to receive said locating finger into said internal space;
• and
• a plurality of guide surfaces enclosed within said housing, spaced apart to define a locking space, and configured to snugly receive said locating finger therein, wherein each guide surface comprises a locking aperture, wherein a movable locking element is configured to engage said locking apertures to thereby bridge said locking space, wherein said locking element is configured to engage a lifting point at said locating finger, and wherein said movable locking element constitutes the primary lifting element of said lifting yoke.