Embodiments of the present invention are directed to a method for cleaning a wind turbine blade or a solar panel with a wind cinch device. The method includes applying a cleaning solution to a surface of a wind turbine blade or solar panel; affixing a wind cinch device around a high point of the wind turbine blade or solar panel; applying tension to one or more lines attached to the wind cinch device to control the pressure the wind cinch device applies to the surface of the wind turbine blade or solar panel; and applying tension to the one or more lines attached to the wind cinch device to pull the wind cinch device from the high point on the wind turbine blade or solar panel to a low point on the wind turbine blade or solar panel. Other embodiments of the present invention are directed to a Wind Cinch device. The Wind Cinch device includes a main body, the main body being an elongated member having a cleaning surface sufficient in length to form a loop around a wind turbine blade when wrapped around a wind turbine blade. The Wind Cinch device also includes a plurality of rigging points, each rigging point adapted to receive a line. Applying tension to one or more of the lines attached to the rigging points changes the circumference of the loop formed by wrapping the wind cinch device around the wind turbine blade.

Embodiments of the present invention are directed to a method for cleaning a wind turbine blade or a solar panel with a wind cinch device. The method includes applying a cleaning solution to a surface of a wind turbine blade or solar panel; affixing a wind cinch device around a high point of the wind turbine blade or solar panel; applying tension to one or more lines attached to the wind cinch device to control the pressure the wind cinch device applies to the surface of the wind turbine blade or solar panel; and applying tension to the one or more lines attached to the wind cinch device to pull the wind cinch device from the high point on the wind turbine blade or solar panel to a low point on the wind turbine blade or solar panel. Other embodiments of the present invention are directed to a Wind Cinch device. The Wind Cinch device includes a main body, the main body being an elongated member having a cleaning surface sufficient in length to form a loop around a wind turbine blade when wrapped around a wind turbine blade. The Wind Cinch device also includes a plurality of rigging points, each rigging point adapted to receive a line. Applying tension to one or more of the lines attached to the rigging points changes the circumference of the loop formed by wrapping the wind cinch device around the wind turbine blade.

A dispenser tool (42) is provided with multiple cartridges for dispensing viscous material onto the surface (5) of a wind turbine blade (5). The dispenser tool (42) is advantageously part of a robot system used to work the surface (5) of the blade (5). The system is configured for bringing the nozzle of a selected cartridge into the vicinity of the surface (5) and orienting the dispenser tool (42) relatively to the surface (5) such that the nozzle (46) of the corresponding selected cartridge (44) is at the surface (5) for providing viscous material onto the surface (5) from the selected cartridge (44) while moving the nozzle (46) along the surface (5).

A dispenser tool (42) is provided with multiple cartridges for dispensing viscous material onto the surface (5) of a wind turbine blade (5). The dispenser tool (42) is advantageously part of a robot system used to work the surface (5) of the blade (5). The system is configured for bringing the nozzle of a selected cartridge into the vicinity of the surface (5) and orienting the dispenser tool (42) relatively to the surface (5) such that the nozzle (46) of the corresponding selected cartridge (44) is at the surface (5) for providing viscous material onto the surface (5) from the selected cartridge (44) while moving the nozzle (46) along the surface (5).

Apparatus for treating a surface of a wind turbine blade (14), comprising an expandable structure (22) that is deployable from a collapsed state into an expanded state in which the structure defines an elongated treatment zone (32) into which a blade (14) is receivable in use. The apparatus includes treating means (52) arranged to apply a treatment in the treatment zone. Also provided is a method for treating a wind turbine blade (14) including: positioning a wind turbine blade in a substantially vertical orientation; locating an expandable structure (22) adjacent the wind turbine blade; deploying the expandable structure (22) about the blade (14) such that the expandable structure (22) defines an elongated treatment zone (32) which receives at least part of the blade (14); and applying surface treatment to the surface of the blade (14) using the expandable structure (22).

Apparatus for treating a surface of a wind turbine blade (14), comprising an expandable structure (22) that is deployable from a collapsed state into an expanded state in which the structure defines an elongated treatment zone (32) into which a blade (14) is receivable in use. The apparatus includes treating means (52) arranged to apply a treatment in the treatment zone. Also provided is a method for treating a wind turbine blade (14) including: positioning a wind turbine blade in a substantially vertical orientation; locating an expandable structure (22) adjacent the wind turbine blade; deploying the expandable structure (22) about the blade (14) such that the expandable structure (22) defines an elongated treatment zone (32) which receives at least part of the blade (14); and applying surface treatment to the surface of the blade (14) using the expandable structure (22).

A cleaning apparatus suitable for cleaning a horizontally curved metal tower can include a fluid directing channel configured to receive pressurized fluid from a fluid source; a slider or wheel positioned to contact and vertically traverse the horizontally curved metal tower; and a standoff which separates the fluid directing channel spatially from the slider or wheel. The apparatus can also include sprayer nozzles fluidly coupled to the fluid directing channel which can be directed toward or beyond the slider or wheel. A magnet can also be positioned on the apparatus that is configured to interact magnetically to pull the cleaning apparatus toward the horizontally curved metal tower, but the magnet is not close enough to touch the horizontally curved metal tower when the slider or wheel is in contact with the horizontally curved metal tower.

A cleaning apparatus suitable for cleaning a horizontally curved metal tower can include a fluid directing channel configured to receive pressurized fluid from a fluid source; a slider or wheel positioned to contact and vertically traverse the horizontally curved metal tower; and a standoff which separates the fluid directing channel spatially from the slider or wheel. The apparatus can also include sprayer nozzles fluidly coupled to the fluid directing channel which can be directed toward or beyond the slider or wheel. A magnet can also be positioned on the apparatus that is configured to interact magnetically to pull the cleaning apparatus toward the horizontally curved metal tower, but the magnet is not close enough to touch the horizontally curved metal tower when the slider or wheel is in contact with the horizontally curved metal tower.

Offshore station, having a metal structure, wherein the metal structure (4) has watering regions (6) which are exposed to natural watering (22), wherein the metal structure (4) has sheltered regions (8) which are exposed to natural watering (22) only to a limited extent, if at all, having at least one cleaning device (14), wherein the cleaning device (14) has at least one collecting device (16), at least one line system (18) and outlet openings (20), wherein the collecting device (16) is designed for collecting rainwater (22), wherein the line system (18) is connected to the collecting device (16) and is designed for distributing the rainwater (22), and wherein the outlet openings (20) are designed for flushing the sheltered regions (8) with rainwater (22).

Offshore station, having a metal structure, wherein the metal structure (4) has watering regions (6) which are exposed to natural watering (22), wherein the metal structure (4) has sheltered regions (8) which are exposed to natural watering (22) only to a limited extent, if at all, having at least one cleaning device (14), wherein the cleaning device (14) has at least one collecting device (16), at least one line system (18) and outlet openings (20), wherein the collecting device (16) is designed for collecting rainwater (22), wherein the line system (18) is connected to the collecting device (16) and is designed for distributing the rainwater (22), and wherein the outlet openings (20) are designed for flushing the sheltered regions (8) with rainwater (22).