A manufacturing apparatus for manufacturing a blower blade including a plurality of blade portions having the same shape and arranged around a rotation axis line includes a machining device for machining the blower blade and a control device for controlling the machining device. The control device includes a command creation unit for creating an operation command to the machining device according to a machining program and a machining parameter, a balance measurement unit for measuring balance of the blower blade, and a machining amount adjustment unit configured to individually adjust a machining amount of each of the blade portions without changing the machining program, based on data of the balance of the blower blade measured by the balance measurement unit so as to reduce unbalance of the blower blade. A manufacturing method using the above-described manufacturing apparatus is also provided.

A rotorcraft service fixture includes a fixture body and one or more rotor assembly connectors rigidly attached to or integral with the fixture body. The one or more rotor assembly connectors are sized and shaped to provide an interference fit with a portion of a rotor assembly of a rotorcraft to removably attach the fixture body to the portion of the rotor assembly. The rotorcraft service fixture also includes one or more support connectors rigidly attached to or integral with the fixture body. The one or more support connectors are sized and shaped to provide an interference fit with a partially detached component of the rotor assembly to immobilize the partially detached component during inspection or maintenance of the rotor assembly.

An apparatus for moving blades of a wind turbine is provided. The apparatus for moving blades for a wind turbine includes: wire connectors formed at a plurality of blades; and a pair of wires that are attachable and detachable to and from first to third wire connectors so as to connect the first and second wire connectors formed at first and second blades and a third wire connector formed at the third blade.

A rotorcraft service fixture includes a fixture body and one or more rotor assembly connectors rigidly attached to or integral with the fixture body. The one or more rotor assembly connectors are sized and shaped to provide an interference fit with a portion of a rotor assembly of a rotorcraft to removably attach the fixture body to the portion of the rotor assembly. The rotorcraft service fixture also includes one or more support connectors rigidly attached to or integral with the fixture body. The one or more support connectors are sized and shaped to provide an interference fit with a partially detached component of the rotor assembly to immobilize the partially detached component during inspection or maintenance of the rotor assembly.

A method of fabricating a functionally graded turbine engine component is disclosed and includes the step of depositing layers of powder onto a base and solidifying/fusing each layer with a first directed energy beam to define a component. The method further includes varying a process parameter between deposited layers to define different material properties within the component. The method also proposes surface enhancement approach that can be used after depositing each layer to locally customize the material properties. The method also proposes machining the different internal surfaces to achieve the proper surface finishing required.

A lifting device for connecting two rotor blade segments of a wind turbine at the location of the wind turbine is adapted to move in the longitudinal direction of the rotor blade. The lifting device includes a frame structure, means for supporting and guiding the frame structure in relation to the rotor blade, means for lowering and/or lifting the frame structure in relation to the rotor blade, and means for lifting and/or lowering a rotor blade segment.

A grinding machine for finishing turned surfaces of a rotor disc for a gas turbine engine, including a retaining mechanism for retaining the rotor disc and rotatable about a rotational axis corresponding to a central axis of the rotor disc, a spindle engaged to a grinding wheel and rotatable about a rotational axis corresponding to a central axis of the grinding wheel, the grinding wheel having an outer super abrasive surface, a translating mechanism engaged to at least one of the retaining mechanism and the spindle and actuable to provide a relative translational motion between the retaining mechanism and the spindle along three perpendicular axes, and a pivoting mechanism engaged to one of the retaining mechanism and the spindle and actuable to provide a pivoting motion of the rotational axis of one of the retaining mechanism and the spindle around a pivot axis perpendicular thereto.

The invention relates to a lifting beam for lifting and handling a rotor blade of a wind energy plant, comprising a fastening means for fastening the lifting beam to a crane, at least one fastening means for fastening the lifting beam to the rotor blade a longitudinal pivoting means for pivoting the rotor blade which is supported by the lifting beam about a longitudinal axis of the rotor blade, and/or a transverse pivoting means for pivoting the rotor blade which is supported by the lifting beam about a transverse axis perpendicular to the longitudinal axis. The invention further relates to a method for mounting rotor blades of a wind energy plant using a lifting beam according to the invention.

A turbomachine rotor blade milling machine system includes a fixture having a body including first and second opposing surfaces and a slot. The fixture is configured and disposed to connect with first and second rotor blade sections mounted in a rotor wheel. A mounting system includes at least one mounting element coupled to one of the first and second opposing surfaces of the body at the slot. A milling machine is coupled to the one of the first and second opposing surfaces through the at least one mounting element. The milling machine includes a cutter and is configured and disposed to form an opening extending axially through a dovetail portion of a third rotor blade section arranged between the first and second rotor blade sections.

A method of assembling a rotor blade includes determining first spanwise and chordwise moments of a first component of the blade and comparing the first spanwise and chordwise moments to respective target first spanwise and chordwise moments. The first spanwise and/or chordwise moment(s) of the first component is/are adjusted based upon corresponding results of the comparison to provide balancing of the first component. Second spanwise and chordwise moments of a second component of the blade are determined and compared to respective target second spanwise and chordwise moments. The second spanwise and/or chordwise moment(s) of the second component is/are adjusted based upon corresponding results of the comparison to provide balancing of the second component. The balanced first and second components are assembled to each other so that target spanwise and chordwise moments of the blade are met.