A segmented wind turbine rotor blade includes sleeve-shaped pressure pieces arranged between rotor blade segments, each of which is mounted on a connecting bolt. Each pressure piece includes one or more cylindrical sections and a tool engaging section for an assembly tool). Each pressure piece is connected to a corresponding connecting bolt in a form fit manner, so that a screwing force can be applied to the corresponding connecting bolt via the assembly tool via the pressure piece. A diameter of the cylindrical section(s) is less than a diameter of the tool engaging section. Each two adjacent pressure pieces are arranged rotated by 180 relative to one another.

A component platform lock for holding a wind turbine blade component during attachment of the wind turbine blade component to a wind turbine blade shell part, the component platform lock comprising a first and second moving pin, first and second inner cone stud and first and second collets surrounding the inner cone stud, the collets expanding based on the movement of the inner cone stud relative to the collets.

A method of mounting a wind turbine rotor blade to a partial assembly is provided, the partial assembly including a number of rotor blades mounted to a hub which in turn is connected to a rotor shaft of a wind turbine, the method including the steps of A) effecting a rotation of the rotor shaft to turn the partial assembly from its starting position through an initial arc (.sub.0); B1) allowing the partial assembly to swing through a free swing arc in the opposite direction; B2) effecting a rotation of the rotor shaft to extend the free swing arc () by a further arc (); and C) repeating steps B1 and B2 until the partial assembly has reached a final position at an angular displacement of 120 to the initial position.

A method of dismounting or mounting a rotor blade of a wind turbine involves: supporting a rotor blade of a wind turbine with a ground-based lift system at a tip-side position on the rotor blade in relation to a center of gravity of the rotor blade, and supporting the rotor blade with a nacelle-mounted lift system at a hub-side position on the rotor blade in relation to the center of gravity of the rotor blade, so that the rotor blade is supported by the ground-based lift system and the nacelle-mounted lift system in a substantially non-vertical orientation with respect to the ground; and, then separating the rotor blade from or connecting the rotor blade to a rotor hub of the wind turbine.

A method for assembling a rotor bearing of a wind turbine, includes the method steps: providing a rotor shaft; providing an outer ring element; providing individual sliding bearing pads; positioning the rotor shaft and the outer ring element relative to one another, such that the rotor shaft is arranged in its desired axial position within the outer ring element; subsequent individual insertion of the sliding bearing pads in an intermediate space between the rotor shaft and the outer ring element.

A wind turbine assembly includes a falling weight system to store potential energy within the wind turbine assembly. The falling weight system utilizes a pair of gears that can rotate to raise and lower weights within a cavity of the tower section. In addition, an assembly ring that is configured to climb a tower section of a wind turbine assembly may be used to assemble a wind turbine assembly or to perform maintenance on wind turbine assemblies. In some examples, a ballast weight system utilizing a ballast weight tank that lowers by being filled with water may be used to input rotational energy into a generator to create electricity.

A method (100) of servicing or installing a component of a wind turbine (10) using a crane (50), the wind turbine (10) comprising a nacelle (16) and a rotor hub (20) coupled to the nacelle (16) and rotatable about a rotor axis, the method (100) comprising rotating the rotor hub (20) about the rotor axis to a first rotational position; lifting the crane (50) to the rotor hub (20) while the rotor hub (20) is positioned at the first rotational position; mounting the crane (50) to a mounting portion (21) of the rotor hub (20) while the rotor hub (20) is positioned at the first rotational position; and rotating the rotor hub (20) together with the crane (50) from the first rotational position to a second rotational position.

A hub hydraulic assembly for a wind turbine rotor is provided that includes plural support structures distributed circumferentially about a rotation axis of the hub is provided. In a first angular section of the circumferential distribution, a first support structure is provided and in a second different angular section of the circumferential distribution, a second support structure is provided. The first support structure includes at least a first support cantilever having a mounting end configured to be mounted to the hub and a free end, wherein at least one hydraulic component of the hub hydraulic assembly is mounted to the first support cantilever. The second support structure includes at least a second support cantilever having a mounting end configured to be mounted to the hub and a free end, wherein at least one hydraulic component of the hub hydraulic assembly is mounted to the second support cantilever.

In a method for installing a blade on a horizontal axis rotational hub of an offshore wind turbine, use is made of a blade installation device that is temporarily installed on the offshore wind turbine. The device includes a mounting part that is mounted on the foundation of the offshore wind turbine and/or on a lower portion of the wind turbine mast. A guide mast having a track is supported by the mounting part and extends parallel and adjacent to the wind turbine mast. A support bracket laterally supports the guide mast. The blade installation device further includes a blade manipulator assembly with a trolley that is movable along the track and a blade manipulator including blade engagement members. The blade manipulator is supported by the trolley via an actuating assembly including actuators. A positioning system controls the actuators.

A vacuum material handler (10) is adapted to lift a wind turbine rotor blade for connection to a wind turbine tower. A first and second vacuum system (60) are connected to a main beam (30) of the handler and include a vacuum tank (61), valves (67), and vacuum lifting pads (21). Each lifting pad or pair of pads is in communication with one of the vacuum tanks (60A or 60B) and adjacent lifting pads or pairs of pads are in communication with the other vacuum tank (60B or 60A). Each lifting pad pivots in a upward and a downward direction fore and aft and side to side to accommodate and conform to the contour of the blade. The handler is lighter in weight than cradle and gripper systems, can be delivered by hotshot trailer, and does not require a cradle or the like to support the blade.