US 12,270,384 B2
Connection system for attaching a blade access system to a nacelle of a wind turbine and method of using same
Payam Javadian, Aarhus N (DK); Thomas William Christophersen, Aarhus C (DK); Balachandar Mahalingam, Coimbatore (IN); Joris Kofman, Aalborg Øst (DK); and Niels Møller Madsen, Aarhus N (DK)
Assigned to Vestas Wind Systems A/S, Aarhus N. (DK)
Appl. No. 18/267,814
Filed by Vestas Wind Systems A/S, Aarhus N (DK)
PCT Filed Dec. 9, 2021, PCT No. PCT/DK2021/050360
§ 371(c)(1), (2) Date Jun. 16, 2023,
PCT Pub. No. WO2022/128029, PCT Pub. Date Jun. 23, 2022.
Claims priority of application No. 202011055222 (IN), filed on Dec. 18, 2020; and application No. PA 2021 70059 (DK), filed on Feb. 9, 2021.
Prior Publication US 2024/0052812 A1, Feb. 15, 2024
Int. Cl. F03D 80/50 (2016.01)
CPC F03D 80/502 (2023.08) [F05B 2230/80 (2013.01)] 31 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A blade access system for servicing at least one blade of a wind turbine, the wind turbine including a tower, a nacelle coupled to the tower, and a rotor coupled to the nacelle and having the at least one blade, the blade access system comprising:
a support frame configured to be coupled to the nacelle;
a plurality of lifting cables configured to be coupled to the support frame; and
a blade service platform configured to be coupled to the plurality of lifting cables and move along the at least one blade using the plurality of lifting cables,
wherein the support frame includes at least one support frame connecting member configured to be selectively attached to and detached from at least one nacelle connecting member included with the nacelle, and
wherein the at least one support frame connecting member is configured to cooperate with the at least one nacelle connecting member to define an unlocked position which is configured to allow the support frame to attach to and detach from the nacelle, and a locked position which is configured to prevent the support frame from detaching from the nacelle.