Shipping fixture and method for transporting rotor blades
A shipping fixture and method for transporting a rotor blade are disclosed. The shipping fixture is configured for stacking thereon of an adjacent shipping fixture. The shipping fixture includes a first frame comprising a first support member and a first nesting feature. The first frame is further configured for stacking thereon of the adjacent shipping fixture. The shipping fixture further includes a second frame comprising a second support member, a second nesting feature, and a mounting feature. The second nesting feature mates with the first nesting feature to removably nest the second frame to the first frame at least partially within the first frame. The mounting feature is configured for mounting of the rotor blade thereon.
1. A shipping fixture for transporting a rotor blade, the shipping fixture configured for stacking thereon of an adjacent shipping fixture, the shipping fixture comprising:
a first frame comprising a plurality of support members and a first nesting feature, the first frame further configured for stacking thereon of the adjacent shipping fixture, the first frame further comprising a first frame portion and a second frame portion separable from the first frame portion, wherein each of the first frame portion and the second frame portion comprises at least one of the plurality of first support members; and,
a second frame comprising a second support member, a second nesting feature, and a mounting feature, the second nesting feature mating with the first nesting feature to removably nest the second frame to the first frame at least partially within the first frame, the mounting feature configured for mounting of the rotor blade thereon.
2. The shipping fixture of claim 1 , wherein one of the first nesting feature and the second nesting feature is an ISO corner and the other of the first nesting feature and the second nesting feature is a rod.
3. The shipping fixture of claim 1 , wherein the first frame further comprises a plurality of first support members and a plurality of nesting features, and wherein the second frame further comprises a plurality of second support members and a plurality of nesting features.
4. The shipping fixture of claim 1 , wherein the first frame portion is a lower frame portion and the second frame portion is an upper frame portion, and wherein the second frame is removably mated to the lower frame portion.
5. The shipping fixture of claim 1 , wherein the mounting feature comprises a cushion.
6. The shipping fixture of claim 1 , wherein the mounting feature comprises a bracket.
7. The shipping fixture of claim 1 , wherein the second frame is positioned entirely within the first frame when removably mated to the first frame.
8. The shipping fixture of claim 1 , wherein the mounting feature is configured for mounting of an inboard portion of the rotor blade thereon.
9. The shipping fixture of claim 1 , wherein the first frame further comprises a connection feature for connecting the first frame to the adjacent shipping fixture.
10. The shipping fixture of claim 9 , wherein the connection feature is an ISO corner.
11. A shipping fixture for transporting a plurality of rotor blades, the shipping fixture configured for stacking thereon of an adjacent shipping fixture, the shipping fixture comprising:
a first frame comprising a plurality of first support members and a plurality of first nesting features, the first frame further configured for stacking thereon of the adjacent shipping fixture; and,
a second frame comprising a plurality of second support members, a plurality of second nesting features, and a plurality of mounting features, at least one of the plurality of second nesting features mating with at least one of the first nesting features to removably nest the second frame to the first frame at least partially within the first frame, the plurality of mounting feature configured for mounting of the plurality of rotor blades thereon, wherein at least one of the plurality of mounting features is configured for mounting of an inboard portion of one of the plurality of rotor blades thereon, and wherein at least one of the plurality of mounting features is configured for mounting of an outboard portion of one of the plurality of rotor blades thereon.
12. The shipping fixture of claim 11 , wherein each of the plurality of first nesting features is an ISO corner and each of the plurality of second nesting feature is a rod.
13. The shipping fixture of claim 11 , wherein the first frame further comprises a first frame portion and a second frame portion, and wherein each of the first frame portion and the second frame portion comprises at least one of the plurality of first support members.
14. The shipping fixture of claim 11 , wherein at least one of the plurality of mounting feature comprises a cushion.
15. The shipping fixture of claim 11 , wherein at least one of the plurality of mounting feature comprises a bracket.
16. The shipping fixture of claim 11 , wherein the first frame further comprises a plurality of connection features for connecting the first frame to the adjacent shipping fixture.
17. A method for transporting a rotor blade, the method comprising:
removably nesting a second frame at least partially within a first frame, the first frame configured for stacking thereon of an adjacent shipping fixture and comprising a first frame portion and a second frame portion separable from the first frame portion, and wherein a rotor blade is mounted on the second frame; and,
transporting the rotor blade in a marine environment.
18. The method of claim 17 , further comprising transporting the rotor blade in a land environment, the rotor blade mounted on the second frame, the second frame removed from the first frame.