Method of conducting service on a wind turbine using equipment mounted on the hub

Equipment for servicing a wind turbine after a hub of a wind turbine has been mounted and fixed against rotation, said equipment comprising:

• a crane including a mast for lowering and hoisting wind turbine appliances from and to the hub, the crane having an end,
• wherein the end of the crane is adapted to removably attach to a generally upwardly facing region of a curved surface of the hub such that the load of the crane is received thereon, and an entirety of the crane extends upwardly from the hub,
• further comprising a connecting element adapted to be secured to the generally upwardly facing curved surface of the hub and project upwardly therefrom,
• the end of the crane and the connecting element adapted to be removably secured together.

Equipment for servicing a wind turbine after a hub of the wind turbine has been mounted, comprising:

• a crane for lowering and hoisting wind turbine appliances from and to the hub;
• and
• connecting means for removably securing the equipment, including the crane, to a surface of the hub such that the connecting means receives substantially the entire load of the crane thereon,
• wherein the connecting means comprises a substantially cylindrical element, the crane secured to the substantially cylindrical element,
• wherein the substantially cylindrical element is removably secured to the hub with bolts fastened in already available holes in the hub, the holes formerly used for hoisting the hub to a main shaft of the wind turbine.

Equipment for servicing a wind turbine after a hub of the wind turbine has been mounted, comprising:

• a crane for lowering and hoisting wind turbine appliances from and to the hub;
• and
• connecting means for removably securing the equipment, including the crane, to a surface of the hub such that the connecting means receives substantially the entire load of the crane thereon,
• wherein the equipment further comprises a gangway, and wherein the connecting means comprises a substantially cylindrical element and a plate-like element, the crane secured to the substantially cylindrical element and the gangway secured to the plate-like element,
• wherein the substantially cylindrical element and the plate-like element are removably secured to the hub with bolts fastened in already available holes in the hub, the holes formerly used for hoisting the hub to a main shaft of the wind turbine.

Equipment for servicing a wind turbine after a hub of the wind turbine has been mounted and fixed against rotation, comprising:

• a crane for lowering and hoisting wind turbine appliances from and to the hub, the crane having an end;
• and
• connecting means for removably securing the equipment, including the crane, to a surface of the hub such that the connecting means receives substantially the entire load of the crane thereon, the connecting means adapted to be secured to an external surface of the hub and project outwardly therefrom,
• the end of the crane and the connecting means adapted to be removably secured together such that an entirety of the crane projects outwardly from the external surface of the hub.

Equipment for servicing a wind turbine after a hub of the wind turbine has been mounted, comprising:

• a crane for lowering and hoisting wind turbine appliances from and to the hub;
• and
• connecting means for primarily securing the equipment, including the crane, to an upwardly facing region of a curved surface of the hub, and receiving substantially the entire load of the crane thereon, the connecting means having a lower surface adapted to conform to the generally upwardly facing curved hub surface,
• further comprising fastening means for securing the equipment to already available holes, said holes formerly used for hoisting the hub to a main shaft of the wind turbine.