Wind turbine blade and method of assembling the same

1. A wind turbine blade comprising:

a first section;

a second section adjacent said first section; and

a hydraulic lift system, wherein at least one of said first section and said second section comprises a skin segment and a network of support members disposed within said skin segment, said network of support members configured for expansion, said hydraulic lift system configured to expand said network of support members to an expanded state, said network of support members comprising a telescopic spine, said telescopic spine comprising a first spine segment, a second spine segment, and a locking mechanism configured to permanently lock said first spine segment relative to said second spine segment after said network of support members is in the expanded state such that said network of support members cannot retract said network of support members remains in a state of permanent expansion; and wherein a filler material is injected into an interior space therefore embedding said support members such that the at least one of said first section and said second section is permanently fixed in its expanded state.

2. The wind turbine blade in accordance with claim 1 , wherein said first section comprises a base flange configured for attaching said first section to said second section.

3. The wind turbine blade in accordance with claim 1 , wherein said network of support members further comprises a plurality of airfoil-shaped ribs connected to said spine.

4. The wind turbine blade in accordance with claim 1 , wherein said at least one of said first section and said second section comprises said foam filler material between said network of support members when in the expanded state and said skin segment.

5. The wind turbine blade in accordance with claim 4 , wherein said at least one of said first section and said second section comprises a port for injecting said foam filer material.

6. The wind turbine blade in accordance with claim 1 , wherein said locking mechanism comprises an aperture defined by said first spine segment and a spring-loaded detent disposed on said second spine segment, and wherein said locking mechanism locks said first spine segment relative to said second spine segment by insertion of said spring-loaded detent into said aperture.

7. The wind turbine comprising:

a tower; and

a rotor mounted on said tower, wherein said rotor comprises a hub and a plurality of blades extending from said hub, one of said blades comprising:

a first section;

a second section adjacent said first section; and

a hydraulic lift system, wherein at least one of said first section and said second section comprises a skin segment and a network of support members disposed within said skin segment, said network of support members configured for expansion, said hydraulic lift system configured to expand said network of support members to an expanded state, said network of support members comprising a telescopic spine, said telescopic spine comprising a first spine segment, a second spine segment, and a locking mechanism configured to permanently lock said first spine segment relative to said second spine segment after said network of support members is in the expanded state such that said network of support members cannot retract said network of support members remains in a state of permanent expansion; and wherein a filler material is injected into an interior space therefore embedding said support members such that the at least one of said first section and said second section is permanently fixed in its expanded state.

8. The wind turbine in accordance with claim 7 , wherein said first section comprises a base flange configured for attaching said first section to said second section.

9. The wind turbine in accordance with claim 7 , wherein said network of support members further comprises a plurality of airfoil-shaped ribs connected to said spine.

10. The wand turbine in accordance with claim 7 , wherein said at least one of said first section and said second section comprises said foam filler material between said network of support members when in the expanded state and said skin segment.

11. The wind turbine in accordance with claim 10 , wherein said at least on of said first section and said second section comprises a port for injecting said foam filler material.

12. The wind turbine in accordance with claim 7 , wherein said locking mechanism comprises an aperture defined by said first spine segment and a spring-loaded detent disposed on said second spine second, and wherein said locking mechanism locks said first spine segment relative to said second spine segment by insertion of said spring-loaded detent into said aperture.

13. A method of assembling a wind turbine blade, said method comprising:

providing a collapsed network of support members for a section of the blade, the network of supports including a telescopically expandable spine, the telescopically expandable spine including a first spine segment, a second spine segment, and a locking mechanism configured to permanently lock the first spine segment relative to the second spine segment such that the network of support members cannot retract after expansion of the telescopically expandable spine to an expanded state using a hydraulic lift system; and

attaching a skin segment to the network of support members such that the network of support members is disposed within the skin segment, wherein the network of support members is configured for expansion to tension the skin segment such that an interior space is defined between the skin segment and the expanded network of support members said network of support members remains in a state of permanent expansion; and wherein a filler material is injected into the interior space therefore embedding said support members such that the at least one of said first spine segment and said second spine segment is permanently fixed in its expanded state.

14. The method in accordance with claim 13 , wherein the network of support members includes a plurality of ribs connected to the telescopically expandable spine, said method comprising fixedly attaching the skin segment to each of the ribs to configure the skin segment for incremental tensioning upon expansion of the telescopically expandable spine using the hydraulic lift system.

15. The method in accordance with claim 13 , further comprising providing the skin segment as a foldable, fluid impermeable material having a silicone-coated, glass-fiber fabric.

16. The method in accordance with claim 13 , further comprising providing a hollow second section of the blade, and configuring the network of support members to be stored within the hollow second section when the network is collapsed.