Method and apparatus for transporting wind turbine blades

A system for transporting a set of one or more wind turbine blades, comprising:

• a frame assembly that forms an interior area that in turn retains the set of one or more wind turbine blades therein, the frame, having:
• a top rack having side members integral with a bottom member and configured to form a U-shaped structure;
• and
• a bottom rack having side members integral with a bottom member and configured to form a U-shaped structure;
• wherein the side members of the top rack are releasably attached to the side members of the bottom rack via a plurality of connectors positioned at a plurality of ends of the side members of the bottom rack and the side members of the top rack;
• wherein, when assembled, the top rack and the bottom rack form a rigid enclosed structure for carrying the set of one or more turbine blades within the interior area;
• a support bracket secured to the bottom rack;
• a mechanical fastener removably secured to the support bracket and configured to directly attach an end of one of the one or more turbine blades to the support bracket;
• a plurality of inflatable devices disposed within the interior area and coupled to the frame assembly, the plurality of inflatable devices being inflated to support a portion of the one or more wind turbine blades and the plurality of inflatable devices are pre-formed to the specific contouring of the one or more wind turbine blades when the plurality of inflatable devices are inflated;
• and
• a flexible tension member positioned within the interior area and configured to support and retain the set of one or more wind turbine blades;
• wherein the combination of the plurality of inflatable devices and flexible tension member support and retain the set of one of more wind turbine blades in a relatively fixed position during transport.