A system and method for a blade crane. The crane has a blade coupler which is used to attach to a blade. An arm extends outward from the blade coupler. A cable is coupled to the arm, and the cable is allowed to extend and retract.

A nacelle-mountable lift system for mounting and dismounting a rotor blade of a wind turbine involves a jib crane, the jib crane having a base removably mountable on a nacelle of the wind turbine and a jib mounted on the base. The jib has a boom arm supported on the base by at least one support strut extending between the base and the boom arm. A winch is mounted on the boom arm. At least two sheaves are rotatably mounted on the boom arm. A holder is connectable to the blade. At least two lift cables pass over the at least two sheaves connecting the holder to the winch. The boom arm is positionable to position the holder beyond a rotor hub of the wind turbine when the crane is mounted on the nacelle.

Disclosed are tower erection systems and tower climbing systems and associated methods of operation. A tower erection system, in accordance with various embodiments, includes a ground-installed lifting structure, and a lifting frame configured to latch onto individual tower sections and traveling vertically inside the ground-installed lifting structure, lifted by a winch-and-cable or other lifting mechanism. Using this system, a tower may be assembled from multiple sections from the top down. A tower climbing system, in accordance with various embodiments, includes upper and lower climbers that can latch onto the lateral surface of a tower and a lifting mechanism that can move the climbers vertically relative to each other. The system can be used to carry a crane or other heavy equipment up and down along the tower. A climbing crane may be used, for example, during tower construction, or to reach the top of the tower for maintenance or repair.

The present invention relates to a lifting assembly (1) for elevating components to a wind turbine (5). The lifting assembly comprises a plurality of tower segments (13) which together form an elongated tower (9), a support frame (11) for supporting the tower (9), a securing assembly (32) securing the tower (9) to the wind turbine (5). The lifting assembly (1) further comprises an upper platform (7) provided with and a crane (21) and vertically movable along the tower (9), and a lower platform (8) provided with a storage area (16) for supporting components and vertically movable along the tower (9) between the upper platform (7) and the support frame (11). The crane is adapted to move components to and from the storage area (16) of the lower platform (8).

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).

A lifting assembly for elevating components to a wind turbine. The lifting assembly comprises a plurality of tower segments adapted to be arranged on top of each other to form an elongated tower, and a lifting device including a support frame for supporting the tower, a securing assembly for securing the tower to the wind turbine, and a crane having a base part and a jib rotatably connected to the base part. The lifting device comprises a platform arranged vertically moveable between a lower and an upper position. The platform has a first storage area for supporting components with a weight of more than 10 tons. The crane is mounted on the platform and is configured to move the components between the platform and the wind turbine when the platform is in the upper position. The platform is provided with an opening adapted to receive the tower segments. The crane and the first storage area are arranged on opposite sides of the opening, and one of the tower segments is a top segment having an upper part provided with a second storage area for supporting components with a weight of more than 10 tons. The invention also relates to a method for using the lifting assembly for replacing an old component of a wind turbine with a new component.

A system for assembling/disassembling a windmill in a supporting tower, comprising a intermediate fixing structure with hydraulic supports for attachment, by pressure, to the tower; a main structure capable of being attached to the tower at various working positions by absorbing the diametral differences of the latter; two pivoting arms hinged to the main structure and capable of being positioned by hydraulic actuators; a secondary structure for hoisting tower segments, equipped with four cranes of a minor size for handling the main structure and the pivoting arms during hoisting/descent, and a counterbalancing group adjustable in height by means of capstans. The main structure and the intermediate structure include a detachable side for their withdrawal and separation from the tower during disassembly.

A lift system mountable in a nacelle of a wind turbine has a mounting interface removably securable to a generator in the nacelle of the wind turbine, and a knuckle boom rotatably and removably mounted on the mounting interface. The knuckle boom has an extendable boom arm having a translatable boom section slidably mounted on the boom arm. Modularity of the lift system permits lifting components of the lift system up to the nacelle using an existing service crane of the wind turbine, and rapidly dismounting the knuckle boom to permit closing doors of the nacelle in the event of inclement weather without dismounting all of the lift system components.

A lifting assembly for elevating components to a wind turbine. The lifting assembly comprises a plurality of tower segments adapted to be arranged on top of each other to form an elongated tower, and a lifting device including a support frame for supporting the tower, a securing assembly for securing the tower to the wind turbine, and a crane having a base part and a jib rotatably connected to the base part. The lifting device comprises a platform arranged vertically moveable between a lower and an upper position. The platform has a first storage area for supporting components with a weight of more than 10 tons. The crane is mounted on the platform and is configured to move the components between the platform and the wind turbine when the platform is in the upper position. The platform is provided with an opening adapted to receive the tower segments. The crane and the first storage area are arranged on opposite sides of the opening, and one of the tower segments is a top segment having an upper part provided with a second storage area for supporting components with a weight of more than 10 tons. The invention also relates to a method for using the lifting assembly for replacing an old component of a wind turbine with a new component.

A hoisting system for the installation of a wind turbine wherein said hoisting system comprises measures to achieve a load bearing connection to the tower of the wind turbine and comprises measures to move the hoisting system up and down along the tower wherein the hoisting system, when it is fixed to an already installed part of the wind turbine tower with said load bearing connection, is arranged to install or remove any of a tower segment, a nacelle, a generator, a hub, and a blade in one or more combined hoists or in a single hoist.