The BIRD (Bearing Installation & Removal Device)

Vernacular in the crane industry typically uses the word “fly” when lifting an object.  “We just flew the powertrain…  or “we are about to fly the rotor”.  Well, how appropriate to name one our wind maintenance tools the BIRD.  The BIRD is a time saving maintenance tool utilized when swapping blade bearings.  The typical historical method for replacement is as follows:

1. remove the blade in the 3 o’clock position
2. rotate the hub (which requires a not always available turning device) to the 12 o’clock position
3. rig to and lift out the old bearing bringing it to the ground
4. rig to the new bearing and fly it back up to be installed
5. rotate the hub back to the 3 o’clock position
6. reinstall the blade.

How the BIRD saves time…  the hub never has to rotate and you save a lift up and down

Now the steps are:

1. remove the blade as normal.
2. hoist the BIRD with the new bearing facing out on the backside of the lifting device and attach to the old bearing and swap lifting lug locations on the BIRD given the new combined CG of old and new bearing.
3. While still at hub height – lift and horizontally swing out the old bearing… called “Flipping the BIRD” by rotating the lifting device 180 degrees while it has the old and new bearing attached to it.
4. Attach the new bearing and readjust lifting location on the BIRD and then lower the old bearing to ground.
5. Reinstall the blade as normal.