Wind turbine fluid application apparatus

Abstract

A wind turbine tower cleaning or coating apparatus is provided. The apparatus includes a frame which circumferentially extends at least partially around a wind turbine tower. A separator structure can be attached to the frame and extends between the frame and the wind turbine tower to position the frame at a predetermined distance away from the wind turbine tower. The separator structure can also include an attachment end which is attached to the frame and a slidabe end positionable near the wind turbine tower. A slider can be attached to the slidabe end of the separator structure and can slide on the surface of the wind turbine tower as the frame is raised and lowered on the wind turbine tower. A frame lift device can raise and lower the frame on the wind turbine tower. A plurality of sprayers can be positioned circumferentially along the frame and configured to selectively spray fluid onto the wind turbine tower. In one embodiment, a hoist device is attached to the frame to hoist the wind turbine cleaning or coating device vertically up and down the wind turbine tower.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A wind turbine lift apparatus, comprising:
 a frame configured to circumferentially extend at least partially around a wind turbine tower, the frame further comprising:
 a frame expansion member coupled to the frame and configured to allow expansion and contraction of a circumference of the frame; and 
 a restraining device extending between the frame expansion member and elsewhere on the frame, and configured to allow the frame to expand and cause the frame to contract based on a diameter of the wind turbine tower; 
   a slider or roller attached to the frame and configured to slide or roll, respectively, on the surface of the wind turbine tower as the frame is raised and lowered on the wind turbine tower; and   a hoist attached to the frame and configured to raise and lower the frame on the wind turbine tower.   
     
     
         2 . An apparatus in accordance with  claim 1 , further comprising
 a separator structure attached to the frame and configured to extend between the frame and the wind turbine tower to position the frame a predetermined distance away from the wind turbine tower, the separator structure comprising an attachment end attached to the frame and a traversing end positionable near the wind turbine tower, and   a slider or roller attached to the traversing end of the separator structure and configured to slide or roll, respectively, along the surface of the wind turbine tower as the frame is raised and lowered on the wind turbine tower.   
     
     
         3 . An apparatus in accordance with  claim 1 , further comprising a plurality of sprayers configured to spray fluid onto the wind turbine tower. 
     
     
         4 . An apparatus in accordance with  claim 3 , wherein the plurality of sprayers are connected to one another through a pipe or tubing, and wherein one or more valve is placed along the pipe or tubing to shut off a portion of the plurality of sprayers while leaving another portion of the plurality of sprayers active. 
     
     
         5 . An apparatus in accordance with  claim 3 , further comprising a camera supported by the frame. 
     
     
         6 . A method for cleaning, treating, or painting a wind turbine tower, comprising:
 positioning a frame at least partially around a circumference of a wind turbine tower, wherein the frame comprises a plurality of sprayers;   moving the frame along a height of the wind turbine tower; and   spraying a fluid onto the tower from only a first portion of the plurality of sprayers as the frame is moved vertically along the wind turbine tower.   
     
     
         7 . A method in accordance with  claim 6 , further comprising the step of spraying the fluid onto the tower from a second portion of the plurality of sprayers. 
     
     
         8 . A method in accordance with  claim 7 , wherein the step of spraying the fluid onto the tower from the second portion of the plurality of sprayers includes the step of shutting off one or more sprayer from the first portion of the plurality of sprayers. 
     
     
         9 . A method in accordance with  claim 6 , further comprising adjusting a circumference of the frame automatically according to a diameter of the wind turbine tower as the frame is moved vertically along the wind turbine tower. 
     
     
         10 . A method in accordance with  claim 6 , further comprising using a hoist attached to the frame to move the frame vertically along the wind turbine tower. 
     
     
         11 . A method for cleaning, treating, or painting a wind turbine tower, comprising:
 positioning a frame at least partially around a circumference of a wind turbine tower, wherein the frame comprises a plurality of sprayers;   moving the frame along a height of the wind turbine tower using a hoist attached to the frame and configured to raise and lower the frame on the wind turbine tower; and   spraying a fluid onto the tower from a plurality of sprayers as the frame is moved vertically along the wind turbine tower.   
     
     
         12 . A method in accordance with  claim 11 , further comprising spraying a fluid onto the tower from only a first portion of the plurality of sprayers as the frame is moved vertically along the wind turbine tower. 
     
     
         13 . A method in accordance with  claim 12 , further comprising the step of spraying the fluid onto the tower from a second portion of the plurality of sprayers. 
     
     
         14 . A method in accordance with  claim 13 , wherein the step of spraying the fluid onto the tower from the second portion of the plurality of sprayers includes the step of shutting off one or more sprayer from the first portion of the plurality of sprayers. 
     
     
         15 . A method in accordance with  claim 11 , further comprising adjusting a circumference of the frame automatically according to a diameter of the wind turbine tower as the frame is moved vertically along the wind turbine tower.