# US 12,006,917 B2 · Multiple up-tower lifting appliances on wind turbines > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 12,006,917 B2 - Document ID: US12006917B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 17/795,334 - Filed: 2021-02-22 - Published: 2023-03-23 - Granted: 2024-06-11 - Earliest claimed: 2020-02-28 - Assignees: LiftWerx Holdings Inc. - Applicants: LiftWerx Holdings Inc. - Inventors: Glen D. Aitken - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US12006917B2 ## CPC - F03D 80/50: Maintenance or repair - B66C 1/108: {for lifting parts of wind turbines} - B66C 23/207: {with supporting couples provided by wind turbines} - F03D 1/141: {Supporting structures, i.e. load carrying structures} - F03D 13/122: {of auxiliary arrangements inside tower or nacelle, e.g. generators or transmission} - F03D 13/139: {Assembling or erecting wind motors by using lifting means} - F03D 80/88: {of mechanical components} - B66C 23/185: {for use erecting wind turbines (B66C23/207 takes precedence)} - F05B 2230/61: using auxiliary equipment for lifting or holding - F05B 2230/80: Repairing, retrofitting or upgrading methods - F05B 2240/14: Casings, housings, nacelles, gondels or the like, protecting or supporting assemblies there within - F05B 2240/916: with provision for hoisting onto the structure - Y02E 10/72: Wind turbines with rotation axis in wind direction - Y02P 70/50: Manufacturing or production processes characterised by the final manufactured product - F03D: WIND MOTORS - B66C: CRANES; LOAD-ENGAGING ELEMENTS OR DEVICES FOR CRANES, CAPSTANS, WINCHES, OR TACKLES ({specially adapted for lifting invalids A61G7/10;} rope, cable, or chain winding mechanisms, braking or detent devices therefor B66D; specially adapted for nuclear reactors G21) - F05B: INDEXING SCHEME RELATING TO WIND, SPRING, WEIGHT, INERTIA OR LIKE MOTORS, TO MACHINES OR ENGINES FOR LIQUIDS COVERED BY SUBCLASSES F03B, F03D AND F03G - Y02E: REDUCTION OF GREENHOUSE GAS [GHG] EMISSIONS, RELATED TO ENERGY GENERATION, TRANSMISSION OR DISTRIBUTION - Y02P: CLIMATE CHANGE MITIGATION TECHNOLOGIES IN THE PRODUCTION OR PROCESSING OF GOODS ## Abstract A nacelle-mounted multiple-appliance lift system has a first lifting appliance and a second lifting appliance mounted in a nacelle of a wind turbine. The first and second lifting appliances are each mounted on main bearing housing securements, gearbox pillow blocks, or both the main bearing housing securements and the gearbox pillow blocks. The first and second lifting appliances share one or both of the main bearing housing securements and the gearbox pillow blocks. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A nacelle-mounted multiple-appliance lift system, the lift system comprising: a first lifting appliance mounted in a nacelle of a wind turbine on both at least two main bearing housing securements and at least two gearbox pillow blocks; and, a second lifting appliance mounted in the nacelle of the wind turbine on both the at least two main bearing housing securements and the at least two gearbox pillow blocks, the first and second lifting appliances sharing both the at least two main bearing housing securements and the at least two gearbox pillow blocks, wherein the first and second lifting appliances are mounted on a common support mounted on both the at least two main bearing housing securements and the at least two gearbox pillow blocks, the common support bearing weight of both the first and second lifting appliances, wherein the common support comprises: at least two pillow block bridges secured to the at least two gearbox pillow blocks and spaced apart transversely in the nacelle; at least two main bearing supports secured to the at least two main bearing housing securements and spaced apart transversely in the nacelle; at least two longitudinal beams extending between and supported on the at least two main bearing supports and the at least two gearbox pillow blocks; at least two longitudinally spaced apart transverse beams situated on top of, secured to and connecting the at least two longitudinal beams, the at least two longitudinal beams supporting the at least two transverse beams from below the at least two transverse beams, the at least two transverse beams situated longitudinally between the at least two pillow block bridges and the at least two main bearing supports; and, at least two support bases for supporting the lifting appliances, each of the at least two support bases mounted on at least one of the longitudinal beams or at least one of the transverse beams. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The lift system of claim 1, further comprising a third lifting appliance mounted in the nacelle on at least one of the main bearing housing securements, at least one of the gearbox pillow blocks, a dedicated mounting platform, a bedplate, a torque arm, a generator housing or any combination thereof. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The lift system of claim 1, further comprising a third lifting appliance mounted on at least one of the gearbox pillow blocks. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The lift system of claim 1, wherein the common support comprises: a first pair of vertically oriented pillow block bridges secured to the gearbox pillow blocks and spaced apart transversely in the nacelle; a first transverse beam secured to and connecting the first pair of the transversely spaced apart pillow block bridges; at least one first support base for supporting at least one of the lifting appliances, the at least one first support base mounted on the first transverse beam; a second pair of vertically oriented pillow block bridges secured to the gearbox pillow blocks and spaced apart transversely in the nacelle; a second transverse beam secured to and connecting the second pair of the transversely spaced apart pillow block bridges; and, at least one second support base for supporting at least one of the lifting appliances, the at least one second support base mounted on the second transverse beam. ### Claim 5 (depends on 4) The lift system of claim 4, wherein the common support is mounted on the at least two gearbox pillow blocks and in at least two yaw drive pockets. ### Claim 6 (depends on 5) The lift system of claim 5, further comprising at least two support pillars connected to the first or second transverse beam, the support pillars mounted in the yaw drive pockets.