System and method for locking of a rotor of a wind turbine during extended maintenance

A method for performing a maintenance or repair procedure on a component of a wind turbine, the method comprising:

• coupling at least one removable rotor lock to a main bearing housing, the housing comprising an opening, a mounting portion, a bushing element, and a bushing securing mechanism, the bushing element positioned within the opening, the bushing securing mechanism oriented to engage a corresponding feature of the bushing element and to secure the bushing element within the opening, the opening extending from a first end to a second end of the housing, the mounting portion adapted for mounting to a bearing housing adjacent to a rotor lock plate of the rotor;
• preventing rotation of the rotor;
• advancing a built-in low-speed rotor lock of the wind turbine so as to engage a first corresponding feature of the rotor lock plate;
• advancing a pin shaft of the at least one removable rotor lock to an advanced position so as to engage a second corresponding feature of the rotor lock plate;
• and,
• securing the pin shaft in the advanced position through the engagement of a locking mechanism.

A wind turbine repair system comprising:

• a rotor lock plate circumferentially mounted to a rotor shaft of the wind turbine, the rotor lock plate defining a plurality of openings, each of the plurality of openings having an axis parallel to and offset from the rotor shaft;
• a low-speed rotor lock coupled to a bedplate support frame perpendicular to the rotor lock plate;
• a bearing housing;
• and,
• a removable rotor lock mounted to the bearing housing, the removable rotor lock comprising:
• a housing comprising an opening, a mounting portion, a bushing element, and a bushing securing mechanism, the bushing element positioned within the opening, the bushing securing mechanism oriented to engage a corresponding feature of the bushing element and to secure the bushing element within the opening, the opening extending from a first end to a second end of the housing, the mounting portion adapted for mounting to the bearing housing adjacent to a rotor lock plate of the rotor;
• and,
• a pin shaft positioned within the opening, the pin shaft comprising a proximal end and a distal end, the pin shaft being movable within the opening such that the distal end moves toward and engages the rotor lock plate of the rotor, and
• a locking mechanism for locking the pin shaft in place.