Scissor lift system and plug-in mobility mechanism for wind turbine blade rotating device
A wind turbine blade handling apparatus for rotating and lifting a blade. The apparatus includes a root device having a root support member with a concave upper surface and rollers having a longitudinal axis parallel to the longitudinal axis of the blade and configured to rotate the blade; a base, and a scissor-lift mechanism with intersecting struts which converts from a lowered position wherein the struts are disposed in a generally coplanar configuration, to an elevated position wherein the struts are disposed in an angled configuration.
1. A wind turbine blade apparatus comprising:
a root device, the root device including:
a root support member, the root support member having an upper surface with a radius of curvature and configured to receive a portion of a wind turbine blade,
at least one roller, the roller having a longitudinal axis parallel to the longitudinal axis of the blade and configured to rotate the blade, the at least one roller displaced from a first position extending outwardly from the root support member when no blade is present, to a second depressed position when a blade is positioned on the root device;
a base,
a lift mechanism disposed below the root support member, the lift mechanism at least partially disposed within the base and configured to adjust the height of the root support member; and
a tip device, the tip device configured to receive a portion of the blade tip, the tip device rotating at the same speed as at least one roller of the root device;
wherein a position indicating mechanism conveys the relative position of the root device and tip device to detect if the root device or tip device are aligned with respect to a longitudinal axis of the blade.
2. The wind turbine blade apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the lift mechanism includes a scissor lift having a plurality of struts.
3. The wind turbine blade apparatus of claim 2 , wherein at least two struts are connected at respective midpoints thereof.
4. The wind turbine blade apparatus of claim 2 , wherein the struts are pivotably connected to the base and transition from a first horizontal position to a second angled position.
5. The wind turbine blade apparatus of claim 4 , wherein the second angled position is approximately 45 degrees.
6. The wind turbine blade apparatus of claim 1 , wherein scissor lift is actuated via telescoping pistons.
7. The wind turbine blade apparatus of claim 1 , wherein at least one piston has a first end attached to a frame and a second end attached to a strut.
8. The wind turbine blade apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the lift mechanism includes a locking feature to secure the root support member at a predetermined height.
9. The wind turbine blade apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the lift mechanism changes elevation of the root support member simultaneously with the rotation of the blade.
10. The wind turbine blade apparatus of claim 1 , wherein at least one roller is configured as a conveyor belt.
11. A wind turbine blade apparatus comprising:
a root device, the root device including:
a root support member, the root support member having an upper surface with a radius of curvature and configured to receive a portion of a wind turbine blade,
at least one roller, the roller having a longitudinal axis parallel to the longitudinal axis of the blade and configured to rotate the blade;
a base,
a lift mechanism having at least one pair of intersecting struts, the lift mechanism having a first position wherein the struts are disposed in a generally coplanar configuration, and a second position wherein the struts are disposed in an angled configuration; and
wherein the lift mechanism is programmed to prevent the lift mechanism from operating when the root support member engages a blade.
12. The wind turbine blade apparatus of claim 11 , wherein the lift mechanism is housed within the base when in the first position.
13. The wind turbine blade apparatus of claim 11 , wherein the lift mechanism includes a frame, the frame surrounding the struts.
14. The wind turbine blade apparatus of claim 13 , further comprising at least one actuator having a first and second end, the first end attached to the frame and second end attached to a strut.
15. The wind turbine blade apparatus of claim 14 , wherein the actuator is a pneumatic actuator.
16. The wind turbine blade apparatus of claim 11 , wherein the root device includes a removable mobility system.
17. The wind turbine blade apparatus of claim 16 , wherein the removable mobility system includes a mounting plate and casters.
18. The wind turbine blade apparatus of claim 17 , wherein the mounting plate is removably attached to the base.
19. The wind turbine blade apparatus of claim 11 , wherein the root device includes a propulsion mechanism for rotating the wind turbine blade.