Abstract: A system for enabling servicing of a rotor of a wind turbine has a rotor blade sling with at least one strap configured to be placed over the top of a rotor blade in a ten o'clock position or a two o'clock position. One or more rigid bars extend from the hub and out away from the hub, and the one or more rigid bars are coupled to the at least one strap. One or more support straps are coupled to the at least one strap, and the one or more support straps are configured to couple and support a rotor blade in a six o'clock position.

Abstract: A method for removing a rotor blade from a wind turbine may generally include installing a blade sock around an outer perimeter of the rotor blade, coupling a support cable to the blade root, lowering the rotor blade relative to the hub using the support cable, coupling at least one pulley cable between the rotor blade and a winch using at least one pulley, moving the pulley cable relative to the pulley to lower the rotor blade relative to the hub, applying a force through the blade sock as the pulley cable is moved relative to the pulley in order to control an orientation of the rotor blade and further lowering the rotor blade to a location on or adjacent to the support surface.

Abstract: A system for enabling servicing of a rotor of a wind turbine has a rotor blade sling with at least one strap configured to be placed over the top of a rotor blade in a ten o'clock position or a two o'clock position. One or more rigid bars extend from the hub and out away from the hub, and the one or more rigid bars are coupled to the at least one strap. One or more support straps are coupled to the at least one strap, and the one or more support straps are configured to couple and support a rotor blade in a six o'clock position.

Abstract: A method for enabling servicing of a wind turbine rotor includes coupling a support cable to the blade root, the support cable extends from the blade root to a hub of the wind turbine. A lowering step lowers a rotor blade relative to the hub using the support cable so the rotor blade is spaced apart from the hub by an initial vertical distance. An installing step installs a rotor blade sling on the rotor, the rotor blade sling supports the rotor blade. Other steps are used for coupling the rotor blade to the rotor blade sling, lowering the rotor blade such that the rotor blade is spaced apart from the hub by a distance greater than the initial vertical distance, de-coupling the support cable from the blade root, and interposing a rotor servicing fixture between the rotor blade and hub. The rotor servicing fixture is configured to transport a rotor part.

Abstract: The present disclosure is directed to systems and methods for removing or installing a pitch bearing of a wind turbine. The method includes installing a first pulley block at an up-tower location of the wind turbine and configuring a second pulley block with the pitch bearing. A pulley cable is routed from a ground location over the first pulley block to the second pulley block such that the second pulley block is configured to slide along the pulley cable. The method also includes rotating the pitch bearing to a tilted position. Thus, the method further includes lowering or lifting the pitch bearing in the tilted position so as to prevent the pitch bearing from colliding with the tower.

Abstract: A method of replacing a wind turbine blade includes connecting a plurality of first hoisting devices between a wind turbine support hub and the wind turbine blade, 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 between the wind turbine support hub and the wind turbine blade, supporting the wind turbine support 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.

Abstract: A method for removing a rotor blade from a wind turbine may generally include installing a blade sock around an outer perimeter of the rotor blade, coupling a support cable to the blade root, lowering the rotor blade relative to the hub using the support cable, coupling at least one pulley cable between the rotor blade and a winch using at least one pulley, moving the pulley cable relative to the pulley to lower the rotor blade relative to the hub, applying a force through the blade sock as the pulley cable is moved relative to the pulley in order to control an orientation of the rotor blade and further lowering the rotor blade to a location on or adjacent to the support surface.

Abstract: The present disclosure is directed to a system and method for lifting and/or removing a rotor blade to and from a wind turbine. In one embodiment, the system includes an up-tower pulley mounted on an up-tower location of the wind turbine, first and second ground winches, a pulley cable from the first ground winch over the up-tower pulley and attached to the rotor blade, a guide line attached between an up-tower location of the wind turbine and the second ground winch, a guide pulley mounted on the guide line, and a guide cable from the guide line over the guide pulley to the rotor blade. Thus, the guide pulley is configured to move along the guide line during lifting and removing of the rotor blade so that the guide cable can control an orientation of the rotor blade relative to the tower during lifting and removing of the rotor blade.

Abstract: A method for removing a rotor blade from a wind turbine may generally include installing a blade sock around an outer perimeter of the rotor blade, coupling a support cable to the blade root, lowering the rotor blade relative to the hub using the support cable, coupling at least one pulley cable between the rotor blade and a winch using at least one pulley, moving the pulley cable relative to the pulley to lower the rotor blade relative to the hub, applying a force through the blade sock as the pulley cable is moved relative to the pulley in order to control an orientation of the rotor blade and further lowering the rotor blade to a location on or adjacent to the support surface.

Abstract: The present disclosure is directed to systems and methods for removing or installing a pitch bearing of a wind turbine. The method includes installing a first pulley block at an up-tower location of the wind turbine and configuring a second pulley block with the pitch bearing. A pulley cable is routed from a ground location over the first pulley block to the second pulley block such that the second pulley block is configured to slide along the pulley cable. The method also includes rotating the pitch bearing to a tilted position. Thus, the method further includes lowering or lifting the pitch bearing in the tilted position so as to prevent the pitch bearing from colliding with the tower.

Abstract: Fixtures, maintenance assemblies, and methods for maintaining a wind turbine gearbox are provided. The gearbox includes a sun pinion and a bull gear surrounding the sun pinion. The sun pinion and the bull gear each define a central aperture therethrough and have a central axis. The gearbox further includes a casing, at least a portion of the casing coupled to the bull gear. The fixture includes a frame member and a shaft extending from the frame member. The shaft is insertable through the central aperture of the sun pinion. The fixture further includes an attachment mechanism removably attachable to the sun pinion. Upon attachment of the attachment mechanism to the sun pinion, the fixture is configured for moving the sun pinion along the central axis of the sun pinion.

Abstract: The present disclosure is directed to a system and method for lifting and/or removing a rotor blade to and from a wind turbine. In one embodiment, the system includes an up-tower pulley mounted on an up-tower location of the wind turbine, first and second ground winches, a pulley cable from the first ground winch over the up-tower pulley and attached to the rotor blade, a guide line attached between an up-tower location of the wind turbine and the second ground winch, a guide pulley mounted on the guide line, and a guide cable from the guide line over the guide pulley to the rotor blade. Thus, the guide pulley is configured to move along the guide line during lifting and removing of the rotor blade so that the guide cable can control an orientation of the rotor blade relative to the tower during lifting and removing of the rotor blade.

Abstract: A method for enabling servicing of a wind turbine rotor includes coupling a support cable to the blade root, the support cable extends from the blade root to a hub of the wind turbine. A lowering step lowers a rotor blade relative to the hub using the support cable so the rotor blade is spaced apart from the hub by an initial vertical distance. An installing step installs a rotor blade sling on the rotor, the rotor blade sling supports the rotor blade. Other steps are used for coupling the rotor blade to the rotor blade sling, lowering the rotor blade such that the rotor blade is spaced apart from the hub by a distance greater than the initial vertical distance, de-coupling the support cable from the blade root, and interposing a rotor servicing fixture between the rotor blade and hub. The rotor servicing fixture is configured to transport a rotor part.

Abstract: A method for removing a rotor blade from a wind turbine may generally include installing a blade sock around an outer perimeter of the rotor blade, coupling a support cable to the blade root, lowering the rotor blade relative to the hub using the support cable, coupling at least one pulley cable between the rotor blade and a winch using at least one pulley, moving the pulley cable relative to the pulley to lower the rotor blade relative to the hub, applying a force through the blade sock as the pulley cable is moved relative to the pulley in order to control an orientation of the rotor blade and further lowering the rotor blade to a location on or adjacent to the support surface.

Abstract: A method of replacing a wind turbine blade includes connecting a plurality of first hoisting devices between a wind turbine support hub and the wind turbine blade, 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 between the wind turbine support hub and the wind turbine blade, supporting the wind turbine support 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.

Abstract: Fixtures, maintenance assemblies, and methods for maintaining a wind turbine gearbox are disclosed. The gearbox includes a sun pinion and a bull gear surrounding the sun pinion. The sun pinion and the bull gear each define a central aperture therethrough and have a central axis. The gearbox further includes a casing, at least a portion of the casing coupled to the bull gear. The fixture includes a frame member and a shaft extending from the frame member. The shaft is insertable through the central aperture of the sun pinion. The fixture further includes an attachment mechanism removably attachable to the sun pinion. Upon attachment of the attachment mechanism to the sun pinion, the fixture is configured for moving the sun pinion along the central axis of the sun pinion.