US 12,448,952 B2
System and method for repairing leading edge damage on a wind turbine blade
Ivar J. B. K. Jensen, Hornslet (DK); Christian Skov, Videbæk (DK); Claus Engholm Nielsen, Ringkøbing (DK); Rasmus Sole Nørgaard, Skanderborg (DK); and Aksel Petersen, Ringkøbing (DK)
Assigned to Vestas Wind Systems A/S, Aarhus N. (DK)
Appl. No. 18/576,788
Filed by BladeRobots A/S, Skanderborg (DK)
PCT Filed Jun. 24, 2022, PCT No. PCT/DK2022/050145
§ 371(c)(1), (2) Date Jan. 5, 2024,
PCT Pub. No. WO2023/280360, PCT Pub. Date Jan. 12, 2023.
Claims priority of application No. PA 2021 70370 (DK), filed on Jul. 9, 2021.
Prior Publication US 2024/0309854 A1, Sep. 19, 2024
Int. Cl. B64D 1/22 (2006.01); B29C 73/02 (2006.01); B64U 10/16 (2023.01); B64U 80/70 (2023.01); F03D 1/06 (2006.01); F03D 80/50 (2016.01); B64U 80/50 (2023.01); B64U 101/26 (2023.01); B64U 101/67 (2023.01)
CPC F03D 80/50 (2016.05) [B64D 1/22 (2013.01); B64U 10/16 (2023.01); B64U 80/70 (2023.01); F03D 1/0688 (2023.08); B29C 73/02 (2013.01); B64U 80/50 (2023.01); B64U 2101/26 (2023.01); B64U 2101/67 (2023.01); F05B 2230/80 (2013.01); F05B 2230/90 (2013.01); F05B 2240/303 (2020.08); Y02E 10/72 (2013.01)] 18 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A method for repairing damage around a leading edge of a wind turbine blade on a wind turbine, the method including:
operating the wind turbine to move one of the wind turbine blades to a generally horizontal orientation; and pitching the wind turbine blade in the generally horizontal orientation such that the leading edge of the blade is oriented to face vertically upward;
the method characterized by:
providing a robotic maintenance device and an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV);
securing the robotic maintenance device to the UAV with at least one support line extending therebetween;
moving the robotic maintenance device with the UAV from a storage position to an operation position in which the robotic maintenance device is mounted on the wind turbine blade proximate the leading edge;
performing repair actions with the robotic maintenance device as the robotic maintenance device moves along a length of the wind turbine blade, the UAV remaining connected with the robotic maintenance device by the at least one support line during the performing of repair actions; and
moving the robotic maintenance device with the UAV off of the wind turbine blade following the repair actions and returning the robotic maintenance device back to the storage position.