A device for mounting wind turbine components and mounting method using the device is disclosed. The device is used to lift the components, such as the segments (1) forming the tower and the nacelle (2) of a wind turbine, these components are mounted to the structure of the wind turbine, the device having a lower portion (3) and an upper portion (4) coupled by a swivel joint (5), the lower portion (3) associated with a telescopic assembly (6) fastening to the segments (1) of the already-mounted tower portion of the wind turbine, while a lift (10) is movable along the whole of both portions (3) and (4), securing the components (1, 2) of the wind turbine to be mounted, to lift these components (1, 2) of the wind turbine to be mounted to the mounting positions thereof, in movements from the lower portion of the tower.

A method for mounting a rotor to a drive shaft of a wind turbine, the method comprising placing a hub on a surface, attaching a first, a second, and a third rotor blade to the hub to thereby make a rotor in situ. To protect the blades and to avoid fixed lifting lugs on the rotor, the method includes the step of wrapping a sling about each of the blades, attaching each sling to a fitting, lifting each fitting to thereby raise the rotor from the surface, and attaching the rotor to the drive shaft while the position and orientation of the rotor is controlled by the slings.

A method of handling a wind turbine component (112) in a wind turbine (101) comprising a tower (102) extending in an upwards direction, a load carrying structure (103, 103′, 103″) fixed to the tower and extending in an outwards direction transverse to the upwards direction. According to the method, a crane (21) with a fixation structure (22) is provided and raised to the level of the load carrying structure by use of a hoisting rope. Once in position, the crane is used for handling the wind turbine component.

A method of installing a rotor on a nacelle (44) on a wind turbine generally includes providing a rotor hub counterweight assembly (10, 10′) which are rotated and lifted from a downtower location to an uptower location at which wind turbine blades (50, 52, 54) are progressively attached and the counterweights (14, 16), (14′, 16′) are progressively removed. The rotor hub and counterweight assembly (10, 10′) for use when installing a rotor on a wind turbine (46) generally includes a rotor hub (12) having first, second and third flanges (18, 20, 22), a first counterweight (14, 14′), a second counterweight (16, 16′), and a lifting apparatus connecting member (26, 26′). A lifting apparatus connecting member (26) is configured with at least two connection points (60, 62) being configured for allowing at least two of three operations including installation, rotating and lifting the rotor hub (12), and removal of the lifting apparatus connecting member (26′).

Described herein is a device for upending a tubular element with a longitudinal direction at an outer end. The device has a cross-shaped support structure of mutually coupled beams. The support structure is pivotable round a lifting member connected thereto for connection to a lifting means such as a crane. Clamping members slidable along the beams from a clear position to a clamping position can provide for coupling to a wall part of the outer end of the tubular element in the clamping position. In the clamping position the beams extend substantially transversely of the longitudinal direction of the tubular element. Also described herein is a method which makes use of the device.

A stability frame for the installation of a wind turbine on an offshore substructure, wherein the wind turbine comprises a tower configured to be anchored to a rigging assembly below the barycenter of the wind turbine, has a main body configured to be mounted about the upper part of the tower; and a plurality of guides, which extend outwardly from the main body and are configured for constraining parts of the rigging assembly so as to laterally support the wind turbine by the rigging assembly.

A method of performing maintenance on a wind turbine component (18, 22, 24) of a wind turbine (10) having an integrated lifting apparatus (40). The method includes lifting a first temporary support (104) using the integrated lifting apparatus (40), coupling the first temporary support (104) to the nacelle (12) or the hub (16) and the integrated lifting apparatus (40), removing the wind turbine component (18, 22, 24) using the integrated lifting apparatus (40) and the first temporary support (104) in combination. The method may further include installing a replacement wind turbine component (18, 22, 24) using at least a part of the integrated lifting apparatus (40) and the first temporary support (104) in combination, decoupling the first temporary support (104) from the nacelle (12) or the hub (16) and the integrated lifting apparatus (40), and removing the first temporary support (104) from the wind turbine (10) using the integrated lifting apparatus (40). A system for performing maintenance on a wind turbine component (18, 22, 24) is also disclosed.

A lift system mountable in a nacelle of a wind turbine has a boom having a proximal end mountable in the nacelle and a distal end extending over a hub of a rotor of the wind turbine when the lift system is mounted in the nacelle. The lift system has a frame structure for mounting the proximal end of the boom in the nacelle, a winch mounted to the boom, a fastener situated below the boom and operatively connected to the winch by at least one cable, and a trolley movably mounted to the boom to permit translation of the trolley longitudinally along the boom thereby permitting longitudinal movement of the fastener with respect to the boom.

Provided is a lifting tool for lifting a wind turbine blade by means of a crane for subsequent assembly with a wind turbine, the lifting tool having at least one attachment means for attachment to the crane and at least one holding device for holding the wind turbine blade, whereby the at least one holding device is connected to a controller of the lifting tool and the holding device includes at least one movable supporting element for supporting the wind turbine blade and at least one actuator connected to the at least one movable supporting element and controlled by the controller so that the movable supporting element is movable by means of the actuator. Further provided is a lifting arrangement, a wind turbine installation environment and a method for assembling a wind turbine blade with a hub of a wind turbine.

A method of handling a wind turbine component (54) for assembly or maintenance, comprises coupling one or more unmanned air vehicles (20) with the wind turbine component (54) so that at least a portion of the weight of the wind turbine component (54) can be supported and lifted by the one or more unmanned air vehicles (20). The method further comprises coupling one or more cranes (50) with the wind turbine component (54) so that at least a portion of the weight of the wind turbine component (54) can be supported and lifted by the one or more cranes (50). The method further comprises controlling the one or more unmanned air vehicle (20) and crane (50) in coordination to lift the wind turbine component (54) and manoeuvre said component (54) with respect to a wind turbine (52).