US 12,233,439 B2
Device, system, and method for performing maintenance on object
Keitaro Hamamura, Tokyo (JP); Sumio Ito, Tokyo (JP); Daichi Kanawa, Tokyo (JP); Toshinobu Takei, Aomori (JP); and Shunsuke Hayashi, Aomori (JP)
Assigned to LEBO ROBOTICS, INC., Tokyo (JP)
Filed by LEBO ROBOTICS, INC.
Filed on Oct. 9, 2020, as Appl. No. 17/067,507.
Application 17/067,507 is a continuation of application No. 16/488,557, abandoned, previously published as PCT/JP2018/007197, filed on Feb. 27, 2018.
Claims priority of application No. 2017-035323 (JP), filed on Feb. 27, 2017; and application No. 2017-142289 (JP), filed on Jul. 21, 2017.
Prior Publication US 2021/0107036 A1, Apr. 15, 2021
Int. Cl. B08B 1/10 (2024.01); B08B 3/04 (2006.01); B25J 5/02 (2006.01); B25J 11/00 (2006.01); F03D 80/50 (2016.01)
CPC B08B 1/10 (2024.01) [B08B 3/04 (2013.01); B25J 5/02 (2013.01); B25J 11/0065 (2013.01); F03D 80/50 (2016.05)] 15 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A method for performing maintenance on a blade of a wind turbine, the wind turbine comprising a tower and multiple blades, the method comprising: positioning one blade of the multiple blades of the wind turbine for maintenance so as to extend the one blade vertically downwards, thereby a leading edge of the one blade is inclined to a vertical direction; stretching at least one rope over the one blade of the wind turbine; attaching a device for performing maintenance onto the leading edge of the one blade of the wind turbine, comprising connecting the at least one rope to the device, fixing at least two ropes different from the at least one rope to the device, and attaching, by at least one frame on each side of the blade, the device onto the leading edge of the one blade, wherein the at least one rope and the at least two ropes assist in stabilizing the posture of the device before the device comes into contact with the one blade, the device not being in contact with the tower; moving the device on the leading edge of the one blade along a direction in which the at least one rope is stretched while the device is pushed against the leading edge of the one blade by gravity acting on the device, the at least two ropes assisting in stabilizing the posture of the device while the device is moving on the leading edge of the one blade along the direction; and performing, by the device, maintenance on the one blade of the wind turbine during movement of the device along the direction in which the at least one rope is stretched; wherein the at least two ropes are used to control an inclination of the device by adjusting at least an angle of the at least two ropes, wherein the at least one frame on a first side of the one blade is biased to press on to the one blade from the first side and the at least one frame on a second side of the one blade is biased to press on to the one blade from the second side, wherein each rope of the at least two ropes comprises a first end and a second end opposite the first end, wherein the first end of each rope of the at least two ropes is connected to the device, and wherein each rope of the at least two ropes extends in a direction from the first end connected to the device toward a worker or a movable robot manipulating the second end of said each rope.