Temporary maintenance enclosures and methods of maintaining turbine blades

1. A temporary maintenance enclosure for the maintenance of at least part of a turbine blade, said enclosure comprising a platform arranged, in use, to border at least part of the circumference of a blade in need of maintenance; at least one wall and a roof which together are carried by said platform; said at least one wall extending from said platform; wherein said roof extends from said wall towards said blade; and wherein said enclosure further comprises a flexible sheath which seals onto said blade to provide a sealed volume for maintenance of said blade.

2. A temporary maintenance enclosure in accordance with claim 1 , wherein said enclosure is at least partially inflatable.

3. A temporary maintenance enclosure in accordance with claim 1 , wherein said roof is inflatable.

4. A temporary maintenance enclosure in accordance with claim 1 , wherein said wall is collapsible.

5. A temporary maintenance enclosure in accordance with claim 1 , wherein said flexible sheath comprises an adjustable strap arranged around the circumference of the blade.

6. A temporary maintenance enclosure in accordance with claim 1 , comprising a number of side walls which substantially surround the circumference of a blade in need of maintenance.

7. A temporary maintenance enclosure in accordance with claim 1 , wherein said roof comprises an aperture through which said blade is received; and wherein said enclosure comprises a platform which is bounded by each of said side walls.

8. A temporary maintenance enclosure according to claim 1 , wherein said platform incorporates a barrier, and said barrier is collapsible.

9. A temporary maintenance enclosure for the maintenance of at least part of a turbine blade, said enclosure comprising a platform, a wall located on a first side of said enclosure and a roof; said first side being distal from said blade when the temporary maintenance enclosure is brought, in use, in close proximity to the side of a blade;

wherein said enclosure comprises a removable side covering portion which when secured to said enclosure is located on a second side of said platform; said second side being proximal to said blade when the temporary maintenance enclosure is brought, in use, in close proximity to the side of a blade; wherein said side covering portion comprises a seal for sealing a volume about at least part of said blade for maintenance of said blade from within said enclosure.

10. A temporary maintenance enclosure in accordance with claim 9 , wherein said side covering portion is collapsible independently from said wall and said roof.

11. A temporary maintenance enclosure in accordance with claim 9 , wherein said side covering portion has an upper portion which surrounds the entire periphery of a blade.

12. A temporary maintenance enclosure in accordance with claim 9 , wherein said side covering portion has a lower portion which projects sufficiently sideways to envelope the entirety of a blade.

13. A temporary maintenance enclosure in accordance with claim 9 , wherein said seal is annular and is adjustable to accommodate changes in the profile of a blade.

14. A temporary maintenance enclosure in accordance with claim 9 , wherein said enclosure is at least partially inflatable.

15. A temporary maintenance enclosure in accordance with claim 9 , wherein said platform comprises an internal barrier extending across the width of said platform.

16. A method of maintaining a turbine blade, comprising the steps of:

a. providing a temporary maintenance enclosure of the kind defined in claim 9 ;

b. deploying said temporary maintenance enclosure to one side of said blade; and

c. sealing a side covering portion onto said blade in order to provide a sealed volume for maintenance of said blade.

17. A method according to claim 16 , comprising the step of removing said side covering portion.

18. A method according to claim 16 , comprising the step of inflating an inflatable portion of said roof.