Back to results
US 8,281,442 B2Granted
Wind turbine blade inspection and cleaning system
AssigneeGeneral Electric Company
InventorEric Eggleston
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
In one embodiment, a system includes a blade maintenance vehicle. The blade maintenance vehicle includes a self-contained balance configured to stabilize the blade maintenance vehicle on an upwardly facing edge of a horizontally positioned wind turbine blade.
Claims22
A system comprising:
- an automated vehicle configured to traverse an upwardly facing edge of a wind turbine blade when the wind turbine blade is oriented in a substantially horizontal position, comprising:
- a plurality of wheels configured to engage the wind turbine blade;
- a drive unit configured to rotate at least one of the plurality of wheels;
- a balance configured to stabilize the automated vehicle on the upwardly facing edge of the wind turbine blade by distributing weight about a center of gravity;
- and
- a cleaning system configured to clean the upwardly facing edge of the wind turbine blade;
- wherein the automated vehicle is configured to be supported by only an upper portion of the wind turbine blade extending lengthwise along the wind turbine blade, and the upper portion includes the upwardly facing edge.
4 more elements
A system comprising:
- a blade maintenance vehicle, comprising:
- a blade maintenance system configured to perform one or more maintenance functions associated with a wind turbine blade;
- a self-contained drive configured to move the blade maintenance vehicle along the wind turbine blade;
- and
- a self-contained support configured to balance the blade maintenance vehicle on the wind turbine blade by distributing weight about a center of gravity;
- wherein the blade maintenance vehicle is configured to be supported by only an upper portion of the wind turbine blade extending lengthwise along the wind turbine blade, and the upper portion includes the upwardly facing edge.
3 more elements
A system comprising:
- a blade maintenance vehicle, comprising:
- a self-contained balance configured to stabilize the blade maintenance vehicle on an upwardly facing edge of a horizontally positioned wind turbine blade by distributing weight about a center of gravity;
- wherein the blade maintenance vehicle is configured to be supported by only an upper portion of the wind turbine blade extending lengthwise along the wind turbine blade, and the upper portion includes the upwardly facing edge.
A system comprising:
- an automated vehicle configured to traverse an upwardly facing edge of a wind turbine blade when the wind turbine blade is oriented in a substantially horizontal position, comprising:
- a plurality of wheels configured to engage the wind turbine blade;
- a drive unit configured to rotate at least one of the plurality of wheels;
- a balance configured to stabilize the automated vehicle on the upwardly facing edge of the wind turbine blade by distributing weight about a center of gravity, wherein the balance comprises wings extending from each lateral side and angled downwardly;
- and
- a cleaning system configured to clean the upwardly facing edge of the wind turbine blade.
3 more elements
A system comprising:
- a blade maintenance vehicle, comprising:
- a blade maintenance system configured to perform one or more maintenance functions associated with a wind turbine blade;
- a self-contained drive configured to move the blade maintenance vehicle along the wind turbine blade;
- and
- a self-contained support configured to balance the blade maintenance vehicle on the wind turbine blade by distributing weight about a center of gravity, wherein the self-contained support comprises a plurality of wings configured to stabilize the blade maintenance vehicle on the wind turbine blade.
2 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.