Movement and positioning adaptor for handling root-ring of wind turbine blade

1. A wind turbine blade handling system comprising:

a forklift adaptor, the forklift adaptor including a base and an endwall, the base configured to engage at least one tine of a forklift;

a root handling apparatus, the root handling apparatus including a plurality of struts;

at least one tension rod, the at least one tension rod coupled to the at least one strut;

wherein at least a portion of the root handling apparatus and at least one tension rod is configured to be disposed within a root ring and receive a spanwise portion of a flange of the root ring.

2. The wind turbine blade handling system of claim 1 , wherein the root handling apparatus and root ring are coupled together.

3. The wind turbine blade handling system of claim 1 , wherein the root handling apparatus and root ring are elevated together.

4. The wind turbine blade handling system of claim 1 , wherein the root handling apparatus and root ring are rotated together.

5. The wind turbine blade handling system of claim 1 , wherein the tension rod includes an actuator on a first end and a dampening shoe on a second end thereof.

6. The wind turbine blade handling system of claim 5 , wherein the dampening shoe includes a shape complimentary to the shape of the root ring.

7. The wind turbine blade handling system of claim 1 , wherein a plurality of tension rods are selectively actuatable to engage an interior surface of the root ring.

8. The wind turbine blade handling system of claim 1 , wherein the at least one tension rod applies a force to the root ring.

9. The wind turbine blade handling system of claim 1 , wherein the root handling apparatus and tension rod are separate components.

10. The wind turbine blade handling system of claim 1 , wherein the root handling apparatus and root ring are rotatable 360 degrees about a longitudinal axis.

11. The wind turbine blade handling system of claim 1 , wherein the root handling apparatus has a first end and a second end, at least one end having a length equal to or greater than a diameter of the root ring.

12. A method of handling a wind turbine blade comprising:

providing a forklift adaptor, the forklift adaptor including a base and an endwall,

coupling the base of the forklift adaptor to at least one tine of a forklift;

placing a root handling apparatus within a root ring of a wind turbine blade, the root handling apparatus including a plurality of struts and at least one tension rod, and

actuating the at least one tension rod to engage a surface of the root ring,

wherein the root handling apparatus receives a spanwise portion of a flange of the root ring.

13. The method of claim 12 , further comprising coupling at least one side of the root handling apparatus to the root ring.

14. The method of claim 13 , wherein coupling includes connecting a mechanical fastener between the root handling apparatus and the root ring.

15. The method of claim 12 , further comprising elevating the root handling apparatus and root ring simultaneously.

16. The method of claim 15 , wherein elevating includes attaching a cable to the root handling apparatus.

17. The method of claim 12 , further comprising rotating the root handling apparatus and root ring simultaneously.

18. The method of claim 12 , wherein actuating the at least one tension rod includes elongating the at least one tension rod to apply a tensile force on the root ring.

19. The method of claim 18 , wherein the at least one tension rod includes a plurality of tension rods, with each tension rod actuated independently.

20. The method of claim 19 , wherein at least two tension rods are elongated to different lengths.