Bulkhead removal device and method

1. A bulkhead removal device, for removing at least one bulkhead from a wind turbine blade, the device comprising:

a bulkhead cutting system for cutting at least one bulkhead in a wind turbine blade, wherein the at least one bulkhead is peripherally attached to an interior wall of the wind turbine blade;

a positioning system, physically connected to the bulkhead cutting system, for positioning a cutting tool of the bulkhead cutting system at the bulkhead; and

a deployment assembly for moving the bulkhead cutting system inside the wind turbine blades.

2. The bulkhead removal device of claim 1 , wherein the deployment assembly further comprises a pivotally coupled adjustable support member, wherein the adjustable support member can be positioned to brace against a wall inside the wind turbine blade.

3. The bulkhead removal device of claim 2 , wherein the adjustable support member is tapered to allow for the adjustable support member to collapse when the deployment assembly is pulled out of the wind turbine blade.

4. The bulkhead removal device of claim 1 , wherein the deployment assembly further comprises a rod configured to allow insertion of the bulkhead removal device inside a wind turbine blade.

5. The bulkhead removal device of claim 1 , wherein the bulkhead cutting system further comprises a sensor to detect the position of the bulkhead cutting system when cutting the bulkhead.

6. The bulkhead removal device of claim 1 , wherein the bulkhead cutting system further comprises a motor to turn the cutting tool, a driver to convert voltage into pulses that rotate the motor, and a controller to store programs to run the driver.

7. The bulkhead removal device of claim 1 , wherein the bulkhead cutting system further comprises a retrieval tool that is configured to anchor the bulkhead cutting system to the bulkhead while cutting and retrieve the bulkhead after cutting is complete.

8. The bulkhead removal device of claim 7 , wherein the retrieval tool comprises at least one of the group comprising an adhesive, a drill, and a suction.

9. A bulkhead removal device, for removing at least one bulkhead peripherally attached to an interior wall of a wind turbine blade, the device comprising:

a tool assembly further comprising a bulkhead cutting system and a positioning system,

wherein the bulkhead cutting system is physically connected to the positioning system;

wherein the bulkhead cutting system further comprises a cutting tool configured to cut a bulkhead;

wherein the positioning system is adjustable in size and allows for positioning the cutting tool at the bulkhead cutting system to cut the bulkhead; and

a deployment assembly connected to the tool assembly,

wherein the deployment assembly comprises a rod configured to allow insertion of the bulkhead removal device inside a wind turbine blade, a pivotally coupled adjustable support member, a plurality of non-adjustable support members, wherein the adjustable support member can be positioned to brace against a wall inside the wind turbine blade and the adjustable and non-adjustable support members centrally position the bulkhead removal device inside the wind turbine blade when the adjustable support member is braced against the wall inside the wind turbine blade.

10. The bulkhead removal device of claim 9 wherein the bulkhead cutting system further comprises a sensor to detect the position of the bulkhead cutting system when cutting the bulkhead.

11. A method of removing a bulkhead inside a wind turbine blade comprising:

moving the bulkhead removal device of claim 1 inside a wind turbine blade using the deployment assembly;

positioning the bulkhead cutting system with the positioning system; and

cutting a bulkhead with the bulkhead cutting system.

12. The method of claim 11 , wherein the bulkhead removal device is centered inside the wind turbine blade prior to cutting the bulkhead.

13. A bulkhead removal method comprising:

moving the bulkhead cutting system of claim 1 inside a wind turbine blade;

positioning the bulkhead cutting system; and

cutting a bulkhead with the cutting tool of the bulkhead cutting system of claim 1 .

14. The bulkhead removal method of claim 13 further comprising rotating the cutting tool while cutting the bulkhead.

15. The bulkhead removal method of claim 13 further comprising using a retrieval tool to retrieve the bulkhead.

16. The bulkhead removal method of claim 13 , wherein the cutting tool is anchored to the bulkhead prior to cutting.

17. The bulkhead removal method of claim 13 , wherein a sensor is used to detect proximity of the cutting tool to a wall of the wind turbine blade.

18. The bulkhead removal method of claim 17 , wherein the sensor is a camera sensor for providing a visual of the position of the cutting tool while cutting the bulkhead.

19. The bulkhead removal method of claim 17 , wherein the sensor is a sound navigation ranging (SONAR) sensor.

20. The bulkhead removal method of claim 13 further comprising cutting the bulkhead using a pre-programmed cutting path.