Abstract: In one aspect, a method for installing a blade sock onto a rotor blade of a wind turbine may generally include positioning the blade sock adjacent to a blade tip of the rotor blade, wherein the blade sock comprises a sock strap forming a closed-shape. In addition, the method may include moving the blade sock relative to the rotor blade such that the blade tip is received within the closed-shape formed by the sock strap and moving the blade sock spanwise along the rotor blade towards a blade root of the rotor blade until the blade sock is positioned at an intermediate location defined between the blade root and the blade tip, wherein the sock strap is configured to fit tightly around an outer perimeter of the rotor blade at the intermediate location.

Abstract: The present disclosure is directed to a suspension system for a wind turbine rotor blade and methods for suspending said rotor blade from a hub thereof. The method includes positioning the rotor blade in a substantially six o'clock position. Another step includes removing at least one root attachment assembly from an adjacent rotor blade and providing at least one passageway from an exterior surface of the adjacent rotor blade to the root attachment assembly. Still another step includes inserting a cable through the passageway such that the cable engages an interior surface of the adjacent rotor blade and extends from within the adjacent rotor blade to the lowered rotor blade. The method further includes securing the cable to the rotor blade at an attachment location. Next, the method includes lowering the rotor blade a vertical distance from the hub until the blade is supported by the cable.

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 is provided for re-indexing a pitch bearing configured with a rotor blade of a wind turbine. A hoisting system is anchored within the rotor hub and includes a plurality of support elements connected to a drive system. The support elements are connected to the root flange of the rotor blade, and the rotor hub is rotated so that the rotor blade is in a vertical six o'clock position. The root flange is disconnected from the inner race such that the rotor blade is fully supported by the hoisting system. With the hoisting system, the rotor blade is lowered a predetermined distance from the hub and the pitch bearing is re-indexed to a position so as to engage a new set of pitch bearing teeth with a pitch drive that engages the pitch bearing.

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 is provided for re-indexing a pitch bearing configured with a rotor blade of a wind turbine. A hoisting system is anchored within the rotor hub and includes a plurality of support elements connected to a drive system. The support elements are connected to the root flange of the rotor blade, and the rotor hub is rotated so that the rotor blade is in a vertical six o'clock position. The root flange is disconnected from the inner race such that the rotor blade is fully supported by the hoisting system. With the hoisting system, the rotor blade is lowered a predetermined distance from the hub and the pitch bearing is re-indexed to a position so as to engage a new set of pitch bearing teeth with a pitch drive that engages the pitch bearing.

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: The present disclosure is directed to a suspension system for a wind turbine rotor blade and methods for suspending said rotor blade from a hub thereof. The method includes positioning the rotor blade in a substantially six o'clock position. Another step includes removing at least one root attachment assembly from an adjacent rotor blade and providing at least one passageway from an exterior surface of the adjacent rotor blade to the root attachment assembly. Still another step includes inserting a cable through the passageway such that the cable engages an interior surface of the adjacent rotor blade and extends from within the adjacent rotor blade to the lowered rotor blade. The method further includes securing the cable to the rotor blade at an attachment location. Next, the method includes lowering the rotor blade a vertical distance from the hub until the blade is supported by the cable.

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: In one aspect, a method for installing a blade sock onto a rotor blade of a wind turbine may generally include positioning the blade sock adjacent to a blade tip of the rotor blade, wherein the blade sock comprises a sock strap forming a closed-shape. In addition, the method may include moving the blade sock relative to the rotor blade such that the blade tip is received within the closed-shape formed by the sock strap and moving the blade sock spanwise along the rotor blade towards a blade root of the rotor blade until the blade sock is positioned at an intermediate location defined between the blade root and the blade tip, wherein the sock strap is configured to fit tightly around an outer perimeter of the rotor blade at the intermediate location.