Patent ID: 8720058

Claim:
A method of repairing a wind turbine blade ( 100 ) while mounted on a tower ( 500 ) without removing the blade ( 100 ) from the tower ( 500 ), comprising: positioning the blade ( 100 ) in a substantially vertical orientation; suspending a containment structure ( 620 ) from a nacelle ( 400 ) via a hoisting system ( 1600 ) including at least one cable and at least one hoist, and further including the step of operating the hoist to raise the containment structure ( 620 ) to a damaged portion ( 230 ) of the blade ( 100 ); enclosing the damaged portion ( 230 ) of the blade ( 100 ) within the containment structure ( 620 ) and creating a seal above and below the damaged portion ( 230 ) of the blade ( 100 ); controlling the temperature of the air within the containment structure ( 620 ); removing the damaged portion ( 230 ) of the blade ( 100 ); installing a repair portion ( 240 ) to the blade ( 100 ) where the damaged portion ( 230 ) was removed; and releasing the seal and operating the hoist to remove the containment structure ( 620 ) from the blade ( 100 ).