The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Apr. 12, 2022
Filed:
Sep. 06, 2016
Barnhart Crane and Rigging Co., Memphis, TN (US);
Kevin Reynolds, Millington, TN (US);
Eric Barnhart, Millington, TN (US);
Thomas A. Pepin, III, Southhaven, MS (US);
William Parker DePriest, Memphis, TN (US);
Barnhart Crane and Rigging Co., Memphis, TN (US);
Abstract
An apparatus for removing and installing a blade for a wind turbine is provided, comprising a first set of cable guides mounted within the nacelle, and a second set of cable guides positioned on an exterior surface of the rotor hub. An upper pulley block is suspended from a first hub flange and a second hub flange, wherein the upper pulley block is positioned above a third hub flange in a position for accepting the blade. A winch is positioned at a ground level, and the winch contains a lifting cable guided by the cable guides, and then reeved through the upper pulley block and a lower pulley block on a blade holding bracket, allowing the lower pulley block to be raised and lowered relative to the upper pulley block. The blade holding bracket attaches to the root end of the blade, and the lower pulley block is allowed to pivot and swivel relative to the blade holding bracket.