Apparatus and methods for the automated non-destructive inspection of wind turbine blades. In one embodiment, the automated apparatus includes: a cart comprising a cart frame, a multiplicity of wheels, and a cart motor for driving rotation of at least one wheel; a multiplicity of cables depending from the cart; a multiplicity of crawler vehicles respectively attached to the multiplicity of cables, each crawler vehicle comprising a crawler vehicle frame and a set of wheels; and a multiplicity of maintenance tools respectively coupled to the crawler vehicle frames of the multiplicity of crawler vehicles. The crawler vehicles are equipped with suction devices to enable adherence to the surface and may be configured for holonomic motion during such adherence.

A wind turbine including a generator with a stator and a rotor, a cooling arrangement, a wind turbine brake including a brake disk and a caliper with brake pads is provided. An air duct with a filter is located near the brake pads of the caliper. During the operation of the cooling arrangement, a part of the air flow is guided via the brake pads. The brake dust produced by the brake pads during operation of the brake will be reduced by the filter of the air duct.

A wind turbine including a generator with a stator and a rotor, a cooling arrangement, a wind turbine brake including a brake disk and a caliper with brake pads is provided. An air duct with a filter is located near the brake pads of the caliper. During the operation of the cooling arrangement, a part of the air flow is guided via the brake pads. The brake dust produced by the brake pads during operation of the brake will be reduced by the filter of the air duct.

A disk brake for a brake disk ring of an azimuth drive of a wind turbine includes a brake housing which has two housing halves that, on opposite sides, flank receiving jaws for the brake disk ring. At least two brake pistons which hydraulically act upon friction lining carriers assigned to the receiving jaws are mounted in each housing half. At least one housing half has a cleaning channel, extending from a rear side of the housing and towards a front housing area, in which the receiving jaws and the friction lining carriers are provided.

A system, a method and a tool kit are provided including an apparatus on a wire, for example for cleaning or repairing a wind turbine blade. The apparatus includes a base and an arm, the arm extending from the base and including a remote end, the remote end and the base, each including an attachment device for securing to a surface.

A system, a method and a tool kit are provided including an apparatus on a wire, for example for cleaning or repairing a wind turbine blade. The apparatus includes a base and an arm, the arm extending from the base and including a remote end, the remote end and the base, each including an attachment device for securing to a surface.

A method of adjusting a pitch angle of a rotor blade of a rotor of a wind turbine is provided. The method comprises varying the pitch angle of the rotor blade during wind operation of the wind turbine from a starting angle to reach a limit angle (1, 2) at which the rotor blade and/or an operational value (P) of the wind turbine reaches a predefined threshold limit (P1/2; 1, 2), deriving a safe angle (3, 4) dependent on the limit angle (1, 2), operating the rotor blade at the safe angle (3, 4) or an angle from the safe angle (3, 4) away from the limit angle (1, 2). A pitch angle adjustment system is also provided for the same purpose.

A method of adjusting a pitch angle of a rotor blade of a rotor of a wind turbine is provided. The method comprises varying the pitch angle of the rotor blade during wind operation of the wind turbine from a starting angle to reach a limit angle (1, 2) at which the rotor blade and/or an operational value (P) of the wind turbine reaches a predefined threshold limit (P1/2; 1, 2), deriving a safe angle (3, 4) dependent on the limit angle (1, 2), operating the rotor blade at the safe angle (3, 4) or an angle from the safe angle (3, 4) away from the limit angle (1, 2). A pitch angle adjustment system is also provided for the same purpose.

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)