Transport vehicle for a rotor blade of a wind-energy turbine

A wind power system rotor blade having an inboard and an outboard end and comprising:

• a rotor blade root at the inboard end;
• an intermediate device fixedly coupled to the rotor blade root at one end and rotatably coupled to a rotary support member at the other end;
• a plurality of stiffening members to support the rotor blade to intermediate device transition region;
• means for captively locking the rotor blade in a frame toward the outboard end of the rotor blade;
• one or more warning devices to alert the driver of potential obstacles with height restriction;
• means for selective rotation of the intermediate device;
• and
• means for automatic rotation of the intermediate device.

A transport vehicle trailer comprising:

• a trailer bed mounted on plurality of wheels;
• a trailer attach frame rotatably mounted on the trailer bed;
• one or more radial frames rotatably mounted on the trailer attach frame;
• and
• a cargo holding frame fixedly coupled to the radial frames to captively receive the outboard end of a rotor blade of a wind power system.

A method for transporting wind power system rotor blades comprising:

• fixedly coupling a rotor blade root to an intermediate device;
• rotatably coupling the intermediate device to a rotary support member;
• captively securing the rotary support member in a tractor cargo holding device;
• captively locking the rotor blade toward the outboard end of the rotor blade in a frame that is rotatably mounted on a trailer such that the tractor and the trailer are connected by the rotor blade and the trailer frame can rotate freely upon rotation of the rotor blade;
• coupling a rotary drive to the intermediate device;
• furnishing remote control means for actuating the rotary drive from the tractor cabin;
• installing one or more warning devices on the transport vehicle to alert the driver of potential obstacles with height restriction;
• and
• rotating the rotor blade until the rotor blade maximum width is horizontal to allow passage under obstacles with height limitation.