Patent ID: 7261517

Claim:
A device for adjusting a rotor blade of a wind energy turbine, comprising a driving device for driving an adjusting element for selectably rotating the rotor blade in both directions about its longitudinal axis, an energy storage unit, and a free-running mechanism adapted to be selectively activated, said free-running mechanism to allow, in its activated state, rotation of the rotor blade by use of energy stored in the energy storage unit only in one of the two directions of rotation up to a desired rotational position, wherein the free-running mechanism is adapted to be selectively activated without electrical energy, wherein the free-running mechanism comprises: a first element adapted to be freely movable in two opposite directions; and a second element adapted to be placed in and out of engagement with the first element, wherein the second element, when in engagement with the first element, allows the first element to be moved only in one of its two directions, wherein the second element is pivotable about an axis between a locking position and a release position, wherein a meshing end of the second element engages with the first element when in the locking position, wherein the second element is positioned and maintained in the release position with an actuator, and wherein the meshing end automatically engages with the first element when power to the actuator is turned off.