Coating applicator tool and method for repairing leading edge damage on a wind turbine blade

1. An applicator tool for repairing damage to a wind turbine blade, comprising:

a spatula comprising:

a flexible extrusion plate having a front edge, a rear edge, opposed side edges, an outer surface, and an inner surface, the extrusion plate further having a central region defined by a central axis; and

one or more spacers positioned proximate the inner surface of the extrusion plate, wherein the one or more spacers are configured to define a gap between an outer surface of the wind turbine blade and the inner surface of the extrusion plate; and

a feed tube for supplying a coating material to the spatula,

wherein the spatula is configured to shape the coating material into a coating over a damaged area of the wind turbine blade.

2. The applicator tool according to claim 1 , wherein the one or more spacers define a height profile that corresponds to the shape of the coating from the applicator tool.

3. The applicator tool according to claim 2 , wherein the height profile has a maximum adjacent the central region of the extrusion plate and decays to substantially zero adjacent the side edges of the extrusion plate.

4. The applicator tool according to claim 1 , wherein the extrusion plate is selectively movable relative to the one or more spacers.

5. The applicator tool according to claim 4 , wherein relative movement between the extrusion plate and the one or more spacers varies a height profile of the one or more spacers.

6. The applicator tool according to claim 1 , wherein the one or more spacers include a plurality of ribs coupled to the inner surface of the extrusion plate and extending from the front edge toward the rear edge, and wherein the plurality of ribs defines grooves between adjacent ribs.

7. The applicator tool according to claim 6 , wherein the plurality of ribs is integrally formed with the extrusion plate.

8. The applicator tool according to claim 6 , wherein the plurality of ribs is positioned on the inner surface of the extrusion plate about the central region, and wherein regions of the inner surface adjacent the side edges are void of the plurality of ribs.

9. The applicator tool according to claim 6 , wherein a height of the plurality of ribs varies.

10. The applicator tool according to claim 9 , wherein the height of the plurality of ribs is at a maximum adjacent the central region of the extrusion plate and decreases in height away from the central region and toward the side edges.

11. The applicator tool according to claim 6 , wherein the plurality of ribs is symmetric about the central axis.

12. The applicator tool according to claim 1 , wherein the one or more spacers include one or more spines having a front edge, a rear edge, an upper edge, and a lower edge.

13. The applicator tool according to claim 12 , wherein the lower edge is angled relative to the upper edge by an acute angle, and wherein the lower edge is configured to engage the outer surface of the wind turbine blade.

14. The applicator tool according to claim 12 , wherein the one or more spines is separate from the extrusion plate.

15. The applicator tool according to claim 12 , wherein the one or more spines is positioned proximate the inner surface of the extrusion plate about the central region, and wherein the one or more spines extends in a direction generally parallel to the central axis.

16. The applicator tool according to claim 12 , wherein the extrusion plate is coupled to a rigid support, wherein the one or more spines is coupled to the feed tube, and wherein the rigid support is slidable relative to the feed tube.

17. A method of repairing damage to a wind turbine blade, comprising:

providing an applicator tool according to claim 1 ;

engaging the applicator tool to the outer surface of the wind turbine blade;

supplying the coating material to the applicator tool;

moving the applicator tool along the outer surface of the wind turbine blade; and

dispensing the coating material from the applicator tool to form the coating over the damaged area of the wind turbine blade.

18. The method according to claim 17 , wherein engaging the applicator tool further comprises engaging the applicator tool to a leading edge of the wind turbine blade.

19. The method according to claim 17 , wherein supplying the coating material further comprises supplying the coating material to a funnel-shaped space between the outer surface of the wind turbine blade and the inner surface of the extrusion plate.

20. The method according to claim 17 , wherein moving the applicator tool further comprises manually moving the applicator tool along the outer surface of the wind turbine blade or moving the applicator tool along the outer surface of the wind turbine blade using a robotic device.

21. The method according to claim 17 , wherein dispensing the coating material further comprises dispensing the coating material onto the outer surface of the wind turbine blade in strips, and wherein the strips merge together to form the coating.

22. The method of claim 17 , wherein the applicator tool is configured to dispense the coating material to form a coating having a first profile, the method further comprising reconfiguring the applicator tool to dispense the coating material to form a coating having a second profile different from the first profile.

23. The method of claim 22 , wherein reconfiguring the applicator tool further comprises:

removing the spatula from the applicator tool; and

inserting another spatula into the applicator tool.

24. The method of claim 22 , wherein reconfiguring the applicator tool further comprises selectively moving the extrusion plate relative to the one or more spacers.