Method of attaching a repair platform to a wind turbine
The method comprises positioning a first blade ( 10 A) in substantially vertical position, connecting first ends of a first and a second cable section ( 24, 26 ), respectively, with a structure included by the nacelle ( 6 ), connecting second ends ( 30 ) of the first and the second cable section ( 24, 26 ), respectively, with the repair platform ( 18 ) and lifting the repair platform along said blade ( 10 A) by means of the first and second cable sections ( 24, 26 ). The first and second cable sections ( 24, 26 ) are positioned so that they extend over the hub ( 8 ) and are supported at a distance from each other between root regions ( 16 ) of a second and a third blade ( 10 B, 10 C), respectively.
1. A method of attaching a repair platform ( 18 ) to a wind turbine ( 2 ), the wind turbine comprising a tower ( 4 ), a nacelle ( 6 ) arranged at a top end ( 7 ) of the tower and including a structure ( 32 ), a hub ( 8 ) connected to a substantially horizontal rotor shaft and being located at a front end ( 9 ) of the nacelle ( 6 ) and at least three wind turbine blades ( 10 A, 10 B, 10 C) each having a root region ( 16 ) connected to the hub ( 8 ), the method comprising positioning a first blade ( 10 A) in substantially vertical position, connecting first ends ( 28 ) of a first and a second cable section ( 24 , 26 ), respectively, to the structure ( 32 ), connecting second ends ( 30 ) of the first and the second cable section ( 24 , 26 ), respectively, to the repair platform ( 18 ) and lifting the repair platform along said blade ( 10 A) by means of the first and second cable sections ( 24 , 26 ), and positioning the first and second cable sections ( 24 , 26 ) so that they extend over the hub ( 8 ) and are supported at a distance from each other between root regions ( 16 ) of a second and a third blade ( 10 B, 10 C), respectively.
2. A method of attaching a repair platform to a wind turbine according to claim 1 , whereby the first and second cable sections ( 24 , 26 ) are positioned so that they are supported at the root regions ( 16 ) of the second and the third blade ( 10 B, 10 C), respectively.
3. A method of attaching a repair platform to a wind turbine according to claim 1 , whereby the first and second cable sections ( 24 , 26 ) are positioned so that they are supported directly on a peripheral surface ( 38 ) of the hub ( 8 ).
4. A method of attaching a repair platform to a wind turbine according to claim 1 , whereby the first and second cable sections ( 24 , 26 ) are positioned so that they are supported directly on a surface ( 40 ) of the root region ( 16 ) of the second and the third blade ( 10 B, 10 C), respectively.
5. A method of attaching a repair platform to a wind turbine according to claim 1 , whereby the first and second cable sections ( 24 , 26 ) are positioned so that they are supported directly on a surface of a second and a third root region mounting connection of the hub ( 8 ), respectively.
6. A method of attaching a repair platform to a wind turbine according to claim 1 , whereby the second ends ( 30 ) of the first and second cable sections ( 24 , 26 ), respectively, are connected to a ring ( 42 ) which is connected with the repair platform ( 18 ) by means of at least one wire ( 44 ), and whereby the ring ( 42 ) is positioned at the top end ( 7 ) of the tower ( 4 ) and below the hub ( 8 ) or at a root region ( 16 ) of the first blade ( 10 A) in substantially vertical position.
7. A method of attaching a repair platform to a wind turbine according to claim 6 , whereby the ring ( 42 ) is provided with a first and a second wire ( 46 ) each having first ends ( 48 ) fixed to the ring ( 42 ) and second ends ( 50 ) provided with a connection mechanism ( 52 ), by means of which the connection between the second ends ( 30 ) of the first and second cable sections ( 24 , 26 ), respectively, and the ring ( 42 ) is established.
8. A method of attaching a repair platform to a wind turbine according to claim 6 , whereby the ring ( 42 ) connected with the repair platform ( 18 ) by means of a wire ( 44 ) is lifted from the ground to the top end ( 7 ) of the tower ( 4 ) by means of a hoisting device, in order to connect the second ends ( 30 ) of the first and second cable sections ( 24 , 26 ), respectively, to the ring ( 42 ).
9. A method of attaching a repair platform to a wind turbine according to claim 6 , whereby the second ends ( 30 ) of the first and second cable sections ( 24 , 26 ), respectively, are slung over a blade ( 10 B, 10 C) at either side of the hub ( 8 ) so that part of the cable sections ( 24 , 26 ) are positioned at the root regions ( 16 ) of the second and third blades, respectively, and subsequently, the second ends ( 30 ) of the first and second cable sections ( 24 , 26 ), respectively, are connected to the ring ( 42 ), thereby positioning the ring hanging in a position under the hub ( 8 ).
10. A method of attaching a repair platform to a wind turbine according to claim 9 , whereby the first ends ( 28 ) of the first and second cable sections ( 24 , 26 ), respectively, are connected with the structure ( 32 ) before that part of the cable sections ( 24 , 26 ) are positioned at the root regions ( 16 ) of the second and third blades ( 10 B, 10 C), respectively.
11. A method of attaching a repair platform to a wind turbine according to claim 6 , whereby the second ends ( 30 ) of the first and second cable sections ( 24 , 26 ), respectively, are maintained at the top of the nacelle ( 6 ) as central parts ( 54 ) of both the first and second cable sections ( 24 , 26 ), respectively, are slung over a blade ( 10 B, 10 C) at either side of the hub ( 8 ) so that said central parts ( 54 ) of the cable sections are positioned at the root regions ( 16 ) of the second and third blades ( 10 B, 10 C), respectively, whereby, before or after slinging said central parts ( 54 ) of the cable sections ( 24 , 26 ), the second ends ( 30 ) of the first and second cable sections ( 24 , 26 ), respectively, are connected to the ring ( 42 ) which is connected with the repair platform ( 18 ) by means of a wire ( 44 ), and, after slinging said central parts ( 54 ) of the cable sections ( 24 , 26 ), the ring ( 42 ) is slung over the hub ( 8 ), thereby positioning the ring ( 42 ) hanging in a position under the hub ( 8 ).
12. A method of attaching a repair platform to a wind turbine according to claim 6 , whereby the ring ( 42 ) has the form of a solid steel ring and is accompanied by a wire ring ( 56 ) to which the first ends ( 48 ) of the first and second wires ( 46 ), respectively, are also fixed, and which is also connected with the repair platform ( 18 ) by means of the at least one wire ( 44 ).
13. A method of attaching a repair platform to a wind turbine according to claim 6 , whereby the ring ( 42 ) is provided with a first and a second wire ( 46 ) each having first ends ( 48 ) fixed to the ring ( 42 ) and second ends ( 50 ) provided with a sling hook, by means of which the sling hook between the second ends ( 30 ) of the first and second cable sections ( 24 , 26 ), respectively, and the ring ( 42 ) is established.
14. A method of attaching a repair platform to a wind turbine according to claim 6 , whereby the ring ( 42 ) connected with the repair platform ( 18 ) by means of a wire ( 44 ) is lifted from the ground to the top end ( 7 ) of the tower ( 4 ) using a winch and a rope, in order to connect the second ends ( 30 ) of the first and second cable sections ( 24 , 26 ), respectively, to the ring ( 42 ).
15. A method of attaching a repair platform to a wind turbine according to claim 1 , whereby the first and second cable sections ( 24 , 26 ) are lead through a door opening ( 58 ) in a roof ( 60 ) of the nacelle ( 6 ) or through an open nacelle roof in general in order to connect the first ends ( 28 ) of the first and second cable sections ( 24 , 26 ) with the structure ( 32 ).
16. A method of attaching a repair platform to a wind turbine according to claim 1 , whereby the structure ( 32 ) is a gear box, a generator or a nacelle frame and whereby, preferably, the first cable section ( 24 ) is connected to a first anchorage point ( 34 ) of the gear box, generator or nacelle frame and the second cable section ( 26 ) is connected to a second anchorage point ( 36 ) of the gear box, generator or nacelle frame.
17. A method of attaching a repair platform to a wind turbine according to claim 1 , whereby the first and second cable sections ( 24 , 26 ) have the form of textile slings, wires or belts, such as nylon wires or belts.
18. A method of attaching a repair platform to a wind turbine according to claim 1 , whereby the second ends ( 30 ) of the first and second cable sections ( 24 , 26 ), respectively, are connected to a ring ( 42 ) which is connected with the repair platform ( 18 ) by means of two wires ( 44 ), and whereby the ring ( 42 ) is positioned at the top end ( 7 ) of the tower ( 4 ) and below the hub ( 8 ) or at a root region ( 16 ) of the first blade ( 10 A) in substantially vertical position.