Abstract: A system for transporting wind turbine blades includes a root support structure for supporting a wind turbine blade root and a tip section support structure for supporting a wind turbine blade tip. Each of the root and tip support structures includes upper and lower frames, first and second side frames, a set of upper corner fittings disposed at upper corners of the support structure, and a set of lower fittings disposed at lower corners of the support structure. The sets of corner fittings allow the root and tip support structures to be coupled to vertically or horizontally adjacent root and tip support structures to form an array of support structures for transporting multiple wind turbine blades. The sets of corner fittings also allow for attachment to handling equipment, as well as to reinforcing structures for reinforcing an array of tip support structures.

Abstract: A bumper beam extension for a bumper beam having left and right bumper beam extensions and a method for manufacturing the bumper beam extensions to provide impact crush resistance is disclosed. The bumper beam extensions include an insert end contoured and sized to fit in the end of the bumper beam and a main body portion having substantially a rearwardly facing saddle shape that includes an upper wing and a lower wing joined at a bight section. The main body portion is blow molded to configure the bight section to taper from a preselected distance from a forward wall of the main body portion until it is face to face with the forward wall. For increased stiffness, the bumper beam may be welded to a frame of a vehicle.