Patent ID: 8584355

Claim:
A method of releasing a rotor blade ( 200 ) of a wind turbine, wherein the rotor blade ( 200 ) is mounted during operation of the wind turbine on a hub ( 100 ) of the wind turbine by means of a slewing ring bearing ( 110 ) such that a pitch angle of the turbine blade is adjustable, and a movable slewing bearing part ( 120 ) is joined rotatably to the hub ( 100 ) and fixedly to a flange ( 210 ) of the rotor blade ( 200 ) by a plurality of threaded bolts, said method comprising the following steps: positioning the rotor blade ( 200 ) in a position pointing at least approximately vertically downward as seen from the hub ( 100 ), screwing in at least one threaded rod ( 300 , 310 , 320 ) into a tapped hole in the rotor blade flange ( 210 ), holding the rotor blade, by means of a hoisting means ( 400 ) which is connected to the at least one threaded rod, in a position in which the rotor blade flange ( 210 ) abuts the slewing ring bearing ( 110 , 120 ), releasing all of the threaded bolts, lowering the rotor blade ( 200 ) by means of the hoisting means ( 400 ), fastening at least one adapter ( 500 , 550 ) for holding the rotor blade ( 200 ) to the hub ( 100 ) and to the rotor blade ( 200 ) after the rotor blade ( 200 ) has been lowered, and disconnecting the at least one adapter ( 500 , 550 ) from the rotor blade ( 200 ) and hub ( 100 ) prior to hoisting the rotor blade ( 200 ).