Fastener retention assembly for a wind turbine rotor

A method for retaining fasteners within a wind turbine rotor, the method comprising:

• aligning each of a plurality of pitch bearing race apertures defined by a pitch bearing race with one of a plurality of rotor hub apertures defined by a rotor hub to define a plurality of passages extending from an annular slot defined by one of the pitch bearing race or the rotor hub through the pitch bearing race and the rotor hub;
• inserting each of a plurality of fasteners into one of the plurality of passages;
• and,
• partially positioning a retaining ring within the slot to retain the plurality of fasteners within the plurality of passages.

A wind turbine, comprising:

• a tower;
• a nacelle mounted atop the tower;
• a rotor rotatably coupled to the nacelle, the rotor comprising:
• a rotor hub;
• a pitch bearing race coupled to the rotor hub, one of the pitch bearing race or the rotor hub defining an annular slot, the pitch bearing race and the rotor hub further defining a plurality of passages extending from the slot through the pitch bearing race and the rotor hub;
• a plurality of fasteners coupling the rotor hub and the pitch bearing race, each of the plurality of fasteners at least partially positioned within the slot and one of the plurality of passages;
• and,
• a retaining ring partially positioned within the slot to retain the plurality of fasteners within the plurality of passages.