Patent ID: 9745953
Date: 2017-08-29
CPC Classifications: F03D,F05B,Y02E,Y10T

Claim:
1. A method of replacing a wind turbine blade comprising: connecting a plurality of first hoisting devices between a wind turbine support hub and the wind turbine blade, each of the first hoisting devices having a member connected at one end to the wind turbine blade and an opposite end to a discrete location on the wind turbine support hub, the discrete locations of the first hoisting devices spaced circumferentially around the wind turbine support hub; suspending the wind turbine blade from the wind turbine support hub through the plurality of first hoisting devices; connecting a plurality of second hoisting devices separate from the first hoisting devices between the wind turbine support hub and the wind turbine blade, each of the second hoisting devices having a cable with a first end connected to the wind turbine support hub and an opposite free end that hangs to ground, the second hoisting devices spaced circumferentially around the wind turbine support hub; supporting the wind turbine blade with the plurality of second hoisting devices; disconnecting the plurality of first hoisting devices from the wind turbine blade; and lowering the wind turbine blade to the ground with the cables of the second hoisting devices.