A method for mounting or dismounting components of a wind turbine is provided. The mounting or dismounting is accomplished by fastening at least one retaining rope or guide rope to a component to be mounted by fastening the retaining rope or the guide rope to a rope winch unit and by raising or lowering the component to be mounted or to be dismounted by means of a crane. The component to be mounted or to be dismounted is held or guided by means of the retaining rope or guide rope. The rope winch unit comprises a base, a pivot arm and a retaining unit. The pivot arm is pivot-ably coupled to the base at its first end. A rope winch for receiving the retaining rope or guide rope is provided at its second free end. The retaining unit is pivotably coupled to the pivot arm. The base comprises a plurality of latching units for receiving a first end of the retaining unit.

A man over board rescue system 100 may comprise a main body 200 with the main body quickly and easily being attached and detached to a ship's bitt. Thus, the system may be quickly set up prior to departing and quickly put away at the end of a voyage. The system allows for the fast and efficient rescue of a person overboard without need for a rescuer to enter the water or to risk bodily injury in retrieving a person in the water. The system provides secure mechanical means allowing for a winch to be used in the support of a person which is a significant departure from the prior art.

The invention provides a method for handling a load (2) comprising a wind turbine component (202), the method comprising,—while a crane (1) is supported by a supporting element (G), arranging a control arrangement (501, 502), which is at least partly elongated and flexible, so as to extend, while the load (2) is lifted in a suspended manner with the crane (1), from the load (2) to an actuator (511, 512), located on the supporting element (G), at a distance from the crane (1),—the actuator (511, 512) controlling the orientation of the load (2) by means of the control arrangement (501, 502),—wherein the control arrangement (501, 502) is extended, during the load orientation control, via a redirection device (531, 532) which is connected to the supporting element (G).

A man over board rescue system 100 may comprise a main body 200 with the main body quickly and easily being attached and detached to a ship's bitt. Thus, the system may be quickly set up prior to departing and quickly put away at the end of a voyage. The system allows for the fast and efficient rescue of a person overboard without need for a rescuer to enter the water or to risk bodily injury in retrieving a person in the water. The system provides secure mechanical means allowing for a winch to be used in the support of a person which is a significant departure from the prior art.

An actuating device is provided for a manually actuatable winch for operating a line. A first end of an actuating lever is configured for interaction with the winch, and the actuating lever is substantially elongate. A line deflection element is mounted on the actuating lever at a predeterminable distance from the first end of the actuating lever. Here, the actuating lever is connected to a resetting device by means of which a predeterminable force is exerted in a predeterminable direction on the actuating lever. A winch may be provided with the actuating device interconnected therewith.

A method for handling a load (2) including a wind turbine component (202). The method includes, while a crane (1) is supported by a supporting element (G), arranging a control arrangement (501, 502), which is at least partly elongated and flexible, so as to extend, while the load (2) is lifted in a suspended manner with the crane (1), from the load (2) to an actuator (511, 512), located on the supporting element (G), at a distance from the crane (1). The actuator (511, 512) controls the orientation of the load (2) by the control arrangement (501, 502), and the control arrangement (501, 502) is extended, during the load orientation control, via a redirection device (531, 532) which is connected to the supporting element (G).

Apparatuses for controlling payload descent are described herein. For example, in one embodiment, a puck is provided that includes a top planar surface, a bottom planar surface opposite the top planar surface and an inner peripheral surface that is substantially perpendicular to the top planar surface and the bottom planar surface. The inner peripheral surface, the top planar surface and the bottom planar surface define a centrally located bore that is substantially perpendicular to the top planar surface and the bottom planar surface. Puck teeth are located on the inner peripheral surface. An outer peripheral surface bounds the top planar surface and the bottom planar surface. An exit port surface is substantially perpendicular to the top planar surface and the bottom planar surface. The exit port surface is between the inner peripheral surface and the outer peripheral surface and couples the top planar surface to the bottom planar surface.

A method for mounting or dismounting components of a wind turbine is provided. The mounting or dismounting is accomplished by fastening at least one retaining rope or guide rope to a component to be mounted by fastening the retaining rope or the guide rope to a rope winch unit and by raising or lowering the component to be mounted or to be dismounted by means of a crane. The component to be mounted or to be dismounted is held or guided by means of the retaining rope or guide rope. The rope winch unit comprises a base, a pivot arm and a retaining unit. The pivot arm is pivot-ably coupled to the base at its first end. A rope winch for receiving the retaining rope or guide rope is provided at its second free end. The retaining unit is pivotably coupled to the pivot arm. The base comprises a plurality of latching units for receiving a first end of the retaining unit.