# US 2014/0193255 A1 · Apparatus for Manipulating a Wind Turbine Blade and Method of Blade Handling > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 2014/0193255 A1 - Document ID: US20140193255A1 - Status: Published application - Kind: A1 - Application number: 14/122,597 - Filed: 2012-05-25 - Published: 2014-07-10 - Earliest claimed: 2011-05-27 - Assignees: Vestas Wind System - Inventors: Mark Hancock; Anton Bech; Peter Frans Thomsen - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20140193255A1 ## CPC - F03D 7/022: {Adjusting aerodynamic properties of the blades} - F03D 13/10: Assembly of wind motors; Arrangements for erecting wind motors - F03D 13/40: Arrangements or methods specially adapted for transporting wind motor components - F05B 2230/61: using auxiliary equipment for lifting or holding - 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 - 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 Apparatus for manipulating a wind turbine blade and method of blade handling An apparatus for manipulating a wind turbine blade having fixed lifting points (2) on the blade has a blade turner base (36,62,82,100), a frame like support structure (34,64,84,112) carried on the base and connecting structures such as brackets (32,138) which engage in the lifting points (2) on the blade extending into openings in the blade, the support structure (34,64,84,112) having a part-circular portion or periphery at which it connects to the base, being movably supported on the base so as to rotate relative thereto about a substantially horizontal axis in order to vary the orientation of a blade supported thereon. ## Claims ### Claim 1 An apparatus for manipulating a wind turbine blade having lifting points on the blade, the apparatus comprising: a base; a support structure carried on the base; and a connecting structure on the support structure for engaging lifting points on the blade having protruding elements for engagement in openings in the blade at lifting points thereof; wherein the support structure is movably supported on the base so as to pivot or rotate relative thereto about a substantially horizontal axis in order to vary the orientation of a blade supported thereon. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) An apparatus according to claim 1 wherein the connecting structures comprise brackets having protruding legs for engagement in openings in the blade at lifting points thereof. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) An apparatus according to claim 1 wherein the connecting structures comprise a pair of brackets each having two protruding legs for engaging lifting points on the blade. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) An apparatus according to claim 1 wherein the connecting structures comprise brackets each having a single protruding leg for engaging lifting points on the blade. ### Claim 5 (depends on 3) An apparatus according to claim 3 wherein the brackets are releasably connected to the support structure. ### Claim 6 (depends on 3) An apparatus according to claim 3 wherein the brackets are connected to the support structure through releasable locking pins. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) An apparatus according to claim 1 wherein the brackets are further provided with clamping structures for engaging the outer surface of the blade to spread the load. ### Claim 8 (depends on 3) An apparatus according to claim 3 wherein the brackets are provided with lifting points by which they may be attached to a lifting crane or other lifting device. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) An apparatus according to claim 1 wherein the support structure comprises a frame or frames having a curved element or periphery at which it is supported on the base. ### Claim 10 (depends on 9) An apparatus according to claim 9 wherein the curved element or periphery of the or each frame is part-circular or circular. ### Claim 11 (depends on 9) An apparatus according to claim 9 wherein the support structures comprise a pair of frames each of generally C-shaped form defining a side opening through which a blade can be introduced. ### Claim 12 (depends on 11) An apparatus according to claim 11, wherein the connecting structures extend across the frames in a direction generally perpendicular to the side opening. ### Claim 13 (depends on 11) An apparatus according to claim 11 wherein the frames comprise a peripheral part-circular member and a pair of webs joined to the part-circular member arranged on opposite sides of the side opening, the connecting structures extending between the webs. ### Claim 14 (depends on 9) An apparatus according to claim 9 wherein there is provided a pair of frames each having a part-circular periphery and a supporting portion extending from an end of the part-circular periphery to which the blade connecting structures are joined. ### Claim 15 (depends on 14) An apparatus according to claim 14 wherein the frames each comprise a part-circular member one end of which is joined to an inwardly extending supporting portion. ### Claim 16 (depends on 15) An apparatus according to claim 15 wherein the frames carry an interconnecting crosspiece extending between the supporting portions of the two frames, and on which the connecting structures are arranged. ### Claim 17 (depends on 9) An apparatus according to claim 9 wherein there is provided a pair of frames each having a part circular periphery, both ends of which are joined to a respective pair of opposed inwardly-extending supporting portions defining an opening therebetween, and to which the blade connecting structures are connected. ### Claim 18 (depends on 17) An apparatus according to claim 17 wherein the inwardly extending supporting portions carry a pair of interconnecting crosspieces extending between respective corresponding ends each having the blade connecting structures thereon, for engagement of opposite sides of a blade. ### Claim 19 (depends on 1) An apparatus according to claim 1 wherein the support structure is driven to rotate relative to the base. ### Claim 20 (depends on 9) An apparatus according to claim 9 wherein the base is provided with drive wheels which engage the part-circular element or periphery of the frame. ### Claim 21 (depends on 20) An apparatus according to claim 20 wherein the drive wheels frictionally engage the part-circular element or periphery. ### Claim 22 (depends on 9) An apparatus according to claim 9 wherein a gear arrangement is provided between the base and the part-circular element or periphery. ### Claim 23 (depends on 1) An apparatus according to claim 1 wherein the base is provided with wheels whereby the apparatus is a mobile unit. ### Claim 24 (canceled) ### Claim 25 (canceled) ### Claim 26 (depends on 1) A method of manipulating a wind turbine blade using the apparatus of claim 1, the method comprising engaging the blade with the connecting structure, and rotating the support structure relative to the base to vary the orientation of the blade thereon. ### Claim 27 (depends on 26) A method according to claim 26 wherein the connecting structure is releasably connected to the support frames, the method further comprising engaging the connecting structure with the blade prior to connection of the connecting structure to the support structure. ### Claim 28 (depends on 26) A method according to claim 26 wherein the support structure is separable from the base, the method further comprising engaging the support structure with the blade prior to engagement of the support structure on the base. ### Claim 29 (depends on 27) A method according to claim 27 wherein the connecting structure is provided with lifting points, the method further comprising the step of lifting the blade by the lifting points on the connecting structures. ### Claim 30 (depends on 29) A method according to claim 29 wherein the support structure is engaged with the connecting structures by lifting the support structure over the blade into engagement with the connecting structure and locking the support structure thereto. ### Claim 31 (depends on 30) A method according to claim 30 wherein the blade with support structure thereon is lifted onto the base.