Entries |
Document | Title | Date |
20080206062 | Wind turbine multi-panel blade - A wind turbine blade ( | 08-28-2008 |
20080219851 | INTEGRATED SHEAR WEBS FOR WIND TURBINE BLADES - The present invention includes a method for fabricating elongated wind turbine blades and wind turbine blades formed by the method. The method includes providing a first shell reinforcing fiber structure. At least one shear web reinforcing fiber structure is positioned adjacent to the first shell reinforcing fiber structure. The method includes infusing the first shell reinforcing fiber structure and shear web reinforcing fiber structure with a matrix material and curing the matrix material to form a unitary composite first shell component. Thereafter a composite second shell component is attached to the composite first shell component to form an elongated composite airfoil suitable for use as a wind turbine blade. The wind turbine blades formed include unitary components providing reduced number of adhesive joints. | 09-11-2008 |
20080226459 | ROTOR BLADE FOR A BEARINGLESS ROTOR OF A ROTORCRAFT - A rotor blade for a bearingless rotor of a rotorcraft includes a flapwise-flexible and lead-lag-flexible rotor blade attachment region, an inner rotor blade segment, and an outer rotor blade segment. The inner rotor blade segment includes a blade root region and an aerodynamically effective rotor blade profile having a front profile region and a rear profile region relative to a blade depth direction. The front profile region includes a spar disposed in the blade root region and extending in the blade radius direction, the front profile region and spar embodied as a torsionally flexible hollow body in a region of the inner rotor blade segment, and the rear profile region being torsionally stiff. The front profile region and the rear profile are separated by a separation distance in the inner rotor blade segment. The torsional flexibility of the front profile region and the separation distance decreases with increasing blade radius in the inner rotor blade segment. In addition, in the outer rotor blade segment, the front and the rear profile segment are embodied as a closed, torsionally stiff profile. | 09-18-2008 |
20080310964 | Stuctural Beam for a Wind Generator Blade Production Method Thereof - Structural beam of a wind turbine blade comprising a body-root and a body-trunk in the form of a box with a section decreasing towards the blade tip, comprising various piles each formed by various layers of carbon fibre impregnated with a synthetic resin, located on the upper and lower areas, intercalated between various layers of fibre glass impregnated with synthetic resin arranged along its perimeter, including between two piles, at least one layer of reinforcing material on each of the side areas enveloped by an adhesive resin film. | 12-18-2008 |
20090010764 | BLADE PROVIDED WITH A HORIZONTALLY-WOUND SPAR, AND A METHOD OF FABRICATING SUCH A SPAR - The present invention relates to a rotorcraft blade ( | 01-08-2009 |
20090087318 | WIND TURBINE SPARS WITH JOINTED SHEAR WEBS - A spar for a wind turbine blade includes at least one shear web extending between pressure and suction sides of the blade; and a joint, arranged substantially midway between ends of the shear web, for sizing the shear web. The joint may include a resilient and/or expandable spacer. | 04-02-2009 |
20090136355 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR JOINING TURBINE BLADES - A blade assembly including an outboard blade segment is provided. The outboard blade segment includes an outboard blade shell, first and second outboard bulkheads situated within the outboard blade shell, and an outer box supported by and aligned by the outboard bulkheads. The blade assembly also includes an inboard blade segment including an inboard blade shell, first and second inboard bulkheads situated within the inboard blade shell, and an inner box supported by and aligned by the inboard bulkheads. Further, the inner and the outer boxes are tapered to facilitate insertion of the inner box into the outer box and coupling of the inner and outer boxes. | 05-28-2009 |
20090148303 | MAIN ROTOR BLADE WITH INTEGRAL TIP SECTION - A main rotor blade assembly includes a tip spar which defines a tip spar non-straight form, an upper blade skin which defines an upper blade skin non-straight form adjacent to the tip spar non-straight form and a lower blade skin which defines a lower blade skin non-straight form adjacent to the tip spar non-straight form. | 06-11-2009 |
20090155086 | ROTORCRAFT BLADE, A ROTORCRAFT ROTOR PROVIDED WITH SAID BLADE, AND A METHOD OF FABRICATING SAID BLADE - A rotorcraft rotor blade ( | 06-18-2009 |
20090162208 | MULTI-SEGMENT WIND TURBINE BLADE AND METHOD FOR ASSEMBLING THE SAME - A multi-segment wind turbine blade comprises at least two blade segments. A first spar cap segment is attached to a first blade segment and a second spar cap segment is attached to a second blade segment. The first and second spar cap segments are configured to form a scarf joint. First and second spar cap brackets are attached in locations of the first and second spar cap segments, respectively, selected to facilitate alignment of the first and second spar cap segments at the scarf joint. At a field site, the first and second spar cap segments are bonded after fastening the first and second spar cap brackets. | 06-25-2009 |
20090191062 | ROTORCRAFT BLADE PROVIDED WITH A SPAR INCORPORATING A FASTENER ATTACHMENT, AND A METHOD OF FABRICATING SUCH A SPAR - A rotorcraft blade is provided with a rigid attachment filler ( | 07-30-2009 |
20090196755 | Modular Construction for Wind Turbine Blade - A vertical axis wind turbine including a blade having a modular structure, comprising at least two connectable blade sections. Each section has an upper and lower panel with a cavity formed therebetween through which extends a spar. | 08-06-2009 |
20090196756 | Wind turbine blades and method for forming same - A method of forming a wind turbine blade includes forming a root portion, a tip portion, and an airfoil portion extending radially outward from the root portion to the tip portion. The method also includes forming a spar cap extending radially outward from the root portion through at least a portion of the airfoil portion. At least a portion of the spar cap is oriented substantially longitudinally and extends generally linearly from a first end of the spar cap to a second end of the spar cap. The method also includes forming at least one spar cap extension that extends from the spar cap, wherein at least a portion of the spar cap extension is oriented nonlinearly relative to the spar cap. | 08-06-2009 |
20090202355 | Replaceable blade tip shroud - One embodiment of the present invention is a blade with a replaceable blade tip shroud that includes an airfoil shaped spar extending from a leading edge to a trailing edge between a root end and a tip end. It can also include a plurality of tiles coupled to an exterior of the spar; a tip shroud positioned to overlap at least a portion of the tip end of the spar; and means for anchoring the tip shroud to the tip end of the spar. | 08-13-2009 |
20090269205 | MAIN ROTOR BLADE WITH INTEGRAL CUFF - A main rotor blade assembly includes a main spar with an integral cuff. The main spar is directly to a rotor hub assembly through the integral cuff. | 10-29-2009 |
20090297356 | METHOD OF REPLACING A COMPOSITE AIRFOIL - A method of replacing a portion of a composite airfoil in a turbine. The method comprises the steps of providing a turbine with a plurality of composite airfoils mounted on a wheel. At least one of the composite airfoils has a core made of a non-plastic material and a plastic airfoil portion to envelope at least a portion of the core. A composite airfoil having an airfoil portion in need of replacement is accessed. The plastic airfoil portion is removed to expose the core while the core is mounted on the wheel. A plastic airfoil portion is molded to envelope the core while the core is mounted on the wheel. | 12-03-2009 |
20100054950 | WIND TURBINE BLADES WITH CROSS WEBS - A blade for a wind turbine includes a spar having a shear web, and at least one cross web extending from the spar. | 03-04-2010 |
20100104446 | FABRICATED HYBRID TURBINE BLADE - A blade for a turbine includes: a support structure of high strength material as a central portion of the blade, the support structure including a root and a body extending to a tip, the body providing a leading edge, a trailing edge and mounting section; and a honeycomb skin attached to the mounting section for providing a lightweight airfoil portion of the blade. A method and a turbine are included. | 04-29-2010 |
20100135815 | SPAR CAP FOR WIND TURBINE BLADES - A blade of a wind turbine is provided having an improved spar cap. The spar cap includes at least one trench extending in a substantially span-wise direction in at least a portion of the spar cap. At least one shear web is connected to the spar cap. At least a portion of the shear web is positioned within the trench of the spar cap. | 06-03-2010 |
20100135816 | BRAIDED WIND TURBINE BLADES AND METHOD OF MAKING SAME - A blade for a wind turbine and a method for making same are provided. The blade includes a skin having a braided fiber sock. One or more stiffeners are attached to the braided fiber sock. | 06-03-2010 |
20100135817 | WIND TURBINE BLADE AND METHOD FOR MANUFACTURING THEREOF - A wind turbine blade includes an upper shell with a first portion molded to a second portion by a seamless connection extending along at least a majority of the width of the upper shell. The wind turbine blade also includes a lower shell with a third portion molded to a fourth portion by a seamless connection extending along at least a majority of the width of the lower shell. The first, second, third and fourth portions are made of a fiber reinforced resin construction. A first insert is enveloped within the upper shell between the first portion and the second portion, the enveloped first insert defining a first spar portion. A second insert is enveloped within the lower shell between the third portion and the fourth portion, the enveloped second insert defining a second spar portion. The inserts defining a density lower than the density of the fiber reinforced resin material. The upper shell is bonded to the lower shell adjacent the right and left sides thereof. The first spar portion is also bonded to the second spar portion to form a reinforcement structure of the wind turbine blade. | 06-03-2010 |
20100135818 | SYSTEMS AND METHODS OF ASSEMBLING A ROTOR BLADE FOR USE IN A WIND TURBINE - A method of assembling a rotor blade for use with a wind turbine. The method includes coupling a first sparcap to at least one first panel wall to form a first blade section, wherein the first sparcap has a first chordwise width. A second sparcap is coupled to at least one second panel wall to form a second blade section. The second sparcap has a second chordwise width that is larger than the first chordwise width. The first blade section is coupled to the second blade section to form the rotor blade. | 06-03-2010 |
20100143142 | SPARCAP SYSTEM FOR WIND TURBINE ROTOR BLADE AND METHOD OF FABRICATING WIND TURBINE ROTOR BLADE - A rotor blade for a wind turbine having a first blade section and a second blade section coupled to the first blade section to form the rotor blade. Each of the first blade section and the second blade section has a leading edge and a trailing edge. A first sparcap including a carbon material is positioned on an inner surface of the first blade section. A second sparcap including a glass material is positioned on the first blade section. The second sparcap is positioned with respect to the first sparcap in a leading edge direction or a trailing edge direction. | 06-10-2010 |
20100143143 | SEGMENTED WIND TURBINE BLADE - A rotor blade for a wind turbine includes a plurality of individual blade segments, with each blade segment defining an internal passage extending between the longitudinal ends of the blade segment. A rigid spar member extends longitudinally through the internal passages of the individual blade segments such that the blade segments are aligned and connected end-to-end on said spar member to define a complete rotor blade from a root to a blade tip. The spar member has a cross-sectional profile that is keyed to the cross-sectional profile of the internal passage in the blade segments. The spar member includes oppositely facing spar caps that engage against the inside surfaces of the blade segments within the internal passages. | 06-10-2010 |
20100166565 | TURBINE VANE FOR GAS TURBINE ENGINE - The present invention provides a turbine vane for a gas turbine engine. The turbine vane may include a composite airfoil structure. The composite airfoil structure may have an opening. The turbine vane may include a spar. The spar may have a body, which may be disposed within the opening. A standoff structure may be disposed within the opening. In some non-limiting embodiments, a cooling air gap may be defined between the body and an internal surface of the composite airfoil structure. | 07-01-2010 |
20100232973 | HELICOPTER BLADE MANDREL - Methods and apparatus are provided for making a rotor blade spar from composite material wherein a multi-component mandrel is used to form the composite spar. The mandrel is made using a number of components, which are assembled to provide a structure that is sufficiently strong to maintain the spar shape during pre-cure lay up, compaction and curing of the composite material. The multiple components used to form the mandrel can be separated from each other and easily removed from the spar either before or after curing of the composite material. The mandrel components can then be re-assembled and re-used to form additional composite spars. | 09-16-2010 |
20100239426 | Wind Turbine Blade with Damping Element - A blade for a wind turbine generally comprises a shell body defined by first and second shells extending between a leading edge and a trailing edge, an inner spar supporting at least a portion of the shell body, and a damping element coupled to at least one of the shell body or inner spar. The damping element is configured to move relative to the shell body to dissipate vibrations of the blade, and has a greater degree of freedom in a flapwise direction between the first and second shells than in an edgewise direction between the leading and trailing edges. | 09-23-2010 |
20100260611 | WIND TURBINE BLADE | 10-14-2010 |
20100266415 | HYBRID STRUCTURE FAN BLADE - A hybrid fan blade for a gas turbine engine is provided that includes an airfoil and a composite panel. The airfoil has a first side and a second side orientated opposite the first side. The first and second sides extend between a tip, a base, a leading edge and a trailing edge. The airfoil includes a plurality of cavities disposed in the first side of the airfoil, which cavities extend inwardly toward the second side. The cavities collectively form an opening. At least one rib is disposed between the cavities. A shelf is disposed around the opening. The composite panel is attached to the shelf first mounting surface and to the rib, and is sized to enclose the opening. The first composite panel is a load bearing structure operable to transfer loads to the airfoil and receive loads from the airfoil. | 10-21-2010 |
20100266416 | Rotor Blade and Method of Making Same - A helicopter rotor blade includes a structural composite skin defining a cavity therein; a composite spar disposed within the cavity and adhesively bonded to the skin, a portion of the spar exhibiting a C-shape in cross section; and a foam core disposed within the cavity and adhesively bonded to the skin. The structural composite skin forms an external, closed box structure configured to transmit mechanical loads encountered by the rotor blade. | 10-21-2010 |
20100272574 | DUAL CURE RESIN COMPOSITE SYSTEM AND METHOD OF MANUFACTURING THE SAME - A system including a dual cure composite structure is disclosed. The system also includes a first layer comprising a resin having a first and a second functional group. The system further includes a second layer comprising the resin having the first and the second functional group. The system also includes a third layer comprising the resin having the first and the second functional group. The system further includes a first covalent bond across an interface of the first and the second layer and a second covalent bond across another interface of the second and the third layer. The system further includes more than two layers comprising the resin having the first and second functional group. A method of manufacturing a system including a dual cure composite structure is also disclosed. The method includes providing a first layer comprising a resin having a first functional group and a second functional group. The method also includes applying a first curing source to partially cure the first layer. The method further includes providing a second layer comprising the resin having the first and the second functional group onto the first layer and applying a second curing source to fully cure the first layer and partially cure the second layer simultaneously. | 10-28-2010 |
20100278654 | WIND TURBINE BLADE WITH PREFABRICATED LEADING EDGE SEGMENTS - A wind turbine rotor blade includes first and second shell components joined together at a trailing edge of the blade. Each shell component includes a forward edge. At least one leading edge segment is joined to the shell components and aligned along a longitudinal length of the blade. The leading edge segment has an open-ended cross-sectional profile defined by an arcuate skin having first and second longitudinal edges and first and second end faces. The longitudinal edges of the leading edge segment are joined to the forward edge of the first shell component at a first bond line, and joined to the forward edge of the second shell component at a second bond line. The leading edge of the blade between the first and second bond lines is a continuous unbroken surface between the bond lines. | 11-04-2010 |
20100290917 | Spar and shell blade with segmented shell - A turbine rotor blade with a spar and shell construction, where the shell has an airfoil shape and is formed of two shell segments with an upper shell half and a lower shell half. The upper shell half is radially supported by a tip of the spar while the lower shell half is radially loaded by an attachment so that its load is not carried by the upper shell half and the tip of the spar in order to reduce overall stress levels. | 11-18-2010 |
20100296940 | SHELL STRUCTURE OF WIND TURBINE BLADE HAVING REGIONS OF LOW SHEAR MODULUS - The torsional rigidity of a wind turbine blade affects the twist response of the blade induced by bending moments within the blade. By including regions having a lower modulus of rigidity than the remainder of the blade shell, the torsional rigidity of the blade shell can be decreased, and the twist response thereby increased. In blades having a single shear web, this twist response may be more pronounced. The regions of low modulus may comprise additional shell panels, or thick regions of low modulus joining material. | 11-25-2010 |
20100296941 | OPTIMIZATION OF PREMIUM FIBER MATERIAL USAGE IN WIND TURBINE SPARS - The use of premium material in the construction of wind turbine blades may provide increases in blade efficiency and enable the use of thinner blades. By providing a spar cap having a section of premium material having a constant thickness, the use of the premium material may be optimized to provide a more effective use of premium material. Additional material, which may be less expensive as well as heavier, may be added near the blade root to provide additional strength and stiffness to the blade. | 11-25-2010 |
20100303631 | Wind Turbine Rotor Blade Having Segmented Tip - A wind turbine rotor blade is provided. The rotor blade comprises a root portion located in a proximal region of the rotor blade and a tip portion connected to the root portion and located in a distal region of the rotor blade. A spar extends from the root portion to the tip portion. The spar is a unitary member at the root portion and separates into a primary spar and a sub-spar towards the tip region of the rotor blade. Each spar and sub-spar has a respective lifting surface of the rotor blade associated therewith, each lifting surface being distinct from each other lifting surface. | 12-02-2010 |
20110020131 | MANUFACTURING WTG BLADE HAVING A SPAR - Within the field of wind turbine generators (WTG), to provide a consistent way of manufacturing a WT blade there is disclosed a blade mould and a blade spar fixture to support the spar in the mould so as to provide a fixed predetermined relative position, and preferably also orientation, between at least a root end, such as a bushing in the root end of the blade spar, and a root end of the mould. Overall consistency is also obtained in that hereby a blade with anticipated aerodynamic and strength characteristics is provided, among others in that at least adjacent to the root of the spar there is substantially the same distance for a cured adhesive between an innermost surface of each of blade shells and an outermost surface of the spar. | 01-27-2011 |
20110052403 | WIND-TURBINE BLADE - A wind-turbine blade that prevents foreign matter from entering the inside thereof during transportation and that can be efficiently assembled in good condition is provided. A wind-turbine blade includes a skin that forms a long and hollow shape, and a main spar that extends in the longitudinal direction and reinforces the skin from the inside thereof. The main spar is divided into a blade-root-side main spar and a blade-tip-side main spar in the longitudinal direction; the blade-root-side main spar and the blade-tip-side main spar have connection sections that are connected to each other; the skin is divided into a connection-section skin, located at a position corresponding to the connection sections, a blade-root-side skin, and a blade-tip-side skin; and openings formed in the blade-root-side skin and the blade-tip-side skin are blocked off by blanking plates. | 03-03-2011 |
20110081247 | Wind Turbine Blade - A sectional blade for a wind turbine comprising a first and a second blade section extending in opposite directions from a blade joint, and each blade section comprising a spar section forming a structural member of the blade. The blade sections are structurally connected by a spar bridge over a spar joint, which comprises a center beam of two extending beam caps joined by one or more extending beam webs. The spar joint further comprises at least two extending spar caps and one or more extending spar webs connecting the spar caps to opposite sides of the center beam. A method of manufacturing such a sectional blade is also disclosed. | 04-07-2011 |
20110081248 | Wind Turbine Blade - A sectional blade for a wind turbine comprising a first and a second blade section extending in opposite directions from a blade joint, and each blade section comprising a spar section forming a structural member of the blade. The blade sections are structurally connected by a spar bridge extending into the first and second blade sections to facilitate joining of the blade sections. The spar bridge comprises a stiffening member protruding from the spar bridge in a chord wise direction of the blade for increasing the edgewise stiffness of the blade, and wherein a part of the surface of the stiffening member is shaped to follow an inner surface contour of the blade. A method of manufacturing such a sectional blade is also disclosed. | 04-07-2011 |
20110103962 | WIND TURBINE BLADE - A wind turbine blade comprising an elongate spar ( | 05-05-2011 |
20110123343 | WIND TURBINE BLADE AND METHODS, APPARATUS AND MATERIALS FOR FABRICATION IN THE FIELD - A wind turbine blade is provided with a core that has a plurality of sections, and a spar that has a plurality of sections and which is centrally positioned in the core. The exterior of the core is covered with a resin impregnated fabric cover that is cured. The spar and core sections of the blade may be sized to facilitate the assembly of the blade at a field construction site. | 05-26-2011 |
20110123344 | FLUID TURBINE BLADE AND METHOD OF PROVIDING THE SAME - A fluid turbine blade is provided. The fluid turbine blade includes a centrally disposed longitudinal spar having a substantially circumferential cross section. The fluid turbine blade also includes at least one rib assembly affixed to said longitudinal spar. The fluid turbine blade further includes a skin attached to the at least one rib. | 05-26-2011 |
20110135485 | SPAR FOR A WIND TURBINE ROTOR BLADE AND METHOD FOR FABRICATING THE SAME - A spar for a wind turbine rotor blade is provided. The spar includes a support member and a spar cap coupled to the support member. The spar cap includes a plurality of pultruded profile segments. | 06-09-2011 |
20110142662 | Spar Cap Assembly for a Wind Turbine Rotor Blade - A spar cap assembly for a rotor blade of a wind turbine is disclosed. In general, the spar cap assembly may include a tensile spar cap formed from a composite material and configured to engage an inner surface of the rotor blade. The tensile spar cap may generally have a first thickness and a first cross-sectional area. Additionally, the spar cap assembly may include a compressive spar cap formed from the same composite material and configured to engage an opposing inner surface of the rotor blade. The compressive spar cap may generally have a second thickness and a second cross-sectional area that is greater than the first cross-sectional area. Additionally, the composite material is generally selected so that at least one of a strength and a modulus of elasticity of the composite material differs depending on whether the material is in tension or in compression. | 06-16-2011 |
20110142663 | ASSEMBLY AND METHOD OF PREPARING AN ASSEMBLY - The invention relates to a method of preparing an assembly, comprising providing a first structure; providing a second structure; providing at least one flexible adhesive limiting member extending between said structures; and providing an adhesive between said structures to bind said structures to each other; wherein the adhesive is limited by the flexible adhesive limiting member such that a concave front line surface of the adhesive is defined. The invention also relates to such an assembly as well as to a wind turbine rotor blade, and to a wind turbine, comprising such an assembly. | 06-16-2011 |
20110171035 | WIND TURBINE ROTOR BLADE AND WIND-GENERATING WIND TURBINE - A wind turbine rotor blade including outer skin materials made of fiber-reinforced plastic, a crossbeam material, and a trailing edge sandwich material disposed closer to a trailing edge than a trailing edge end of the crossbeam material, wherein a reinforcing material is provided on an inner surface of the outer skin material on a front side located closer to the trailing edge than a trailing edge end of the trailing edge sandwich material. | 07-14-2011 |
20110189025 | METHOD OF MANUFACTURING A SPAR FOR A WIND TURBINE FROM ELEMENTS COMPRISING DIFFERENT MATERIALS - The invention provides a method of manufacturing a spar ( | 08-04-2011 |
20110200446 | MULTI-PANEL WIND TURBINE BLADE WITH INTEGRATED ROOT - A wind turbine multi-panel blade with the integrated root, with an aerodynamic profile made up of at least one lower shell ( | 08-18-2011 |
20110206529 | SPAR ASSEMBLY FOR A WIND TURBINE ROTOR BLADE - A spar assembly for a rotor blade of a wind turbine is disclosed. The spar assembly may generally include a first spar cap and a second spar cap spaced apart from the first spar cap such that a cross-sectional area is defined directly between the first and second spar caps. Additionally, the spar assembly may include a web having a first end disposed adjacent to the first spar cap and a second end disposed adjacent to the second spar cap. The web may be configured such that at least a portion of an inner surface of the web is disposed outside of the cross-sectional area. | 08-25-2011 |
20110211968 | ROTOR BLADE FOR A ROTARY-WING AIRCRAFT - A rotor blade for a rotary-wing aircraft includes a core member having a first end that extends to a second end, and a spar member positioned about the core member. The spar member includes a first end section that extends to a second end section. A tip core assembly is mounted at the second end section of the spar member. The tip core assembly is formed from a honeycombed material. The rotor blade also includes a rotor blade skin mounted about the spar member and the tip core assembly. | 09-01-2011 |
20110229336 | METHOD FOR MANUFACTURING A BLADE SPAR FOR A WIND TURBINE - A method for manufacturing a blade spar for a wind turbine blade includes positioning a first spar segment having a first adhering portion; positioning a second spar segment having a second adhering portion at the first spar segment such that the first adhering portion and the second adhering portion are at least partially overlapping, wherein an adhesive is at least partially provided between the overlapping adhering portions; providing at least one fiber layer impregnated with an uncured resin on the outer surfaces of the first and second spar segments at least in the joint region of the first and second spar segments; and simultaneously curing the adhesive and the resin, thereby fixating the first and the second spar segments to each other. | 09-22-2011 |
20110243750 | Wind Turbine Rotor Blade Components and Methods of Making Same - Structural preform layers of multiple rigid unidirectional strength elements or rods are constructed and arranged for use in fabricating load-bearing support structures and reinforcements of wind turbine blades. Individual preform layers include multiple elongate unidirectional strength elements or rods arranged in a single layer along a longitudinal axis of the preform layer. Each preform layer includes one or more fibrous carrier layers to which the multiple strength elements or rods are joined and arranged in the single layer. Each strength element or rod is longitudinally oriented and adjacent to other elements or rods. Individual strength elements or rods include a mass of substantially straight unidirectional structural fibers embedded within a matrix resin such that the elements or rods have a substantially uniform distribution of fibers and high degree of fiber collimation. The relative straightness of the fibers and fiber collimation provide strength elements or rods and the preform layers with high rigidity and significant compression strength. | 10-06-2011 |
20110262283 | METHOD OF MANUFACTURING A SPAR FOR A WIND TURBINE FROM ELEMENTS HAVING END PORTIONS EXTENDING TRANSVERSELY TO AN INTERMEDIATE PORTION - The invention provides a method of manufacturing a spar ( | 10-27-2011 |
20110293433 | ENHANCING STIFFNESS OF WIND TURBINE BLADES - Edgewise stiffness of a wind turbine blade is enhanced by arranging a tension element between anchor points at the ends of a load bearing member in the turbine blade such as a spar or a beam. The tension element is spaced away from the load bearing member on the trailing edge side of the load bearing member by struts and acts as a suspension cable. Several tension elements may be used and a similar tension element may be arranged on the leading edge side of the load bearing member. | 12-01-2011 |
20110299993 | COMPOSITE STRUCTURAL MEMBER WITH PROGRESSIVE RIGIDITY - The invention relates to a composite structural member with fiber reinforcement and its application in the production of a wing box for aircraft. More specifically, it relates to a composite structural member ( | 12-08-2011 |
20110305580 | Spar and shell blade with segmented shell - A turbine rotor blade with a spar and shell construction, where the shell has an airfoil shape and is formed of two shell segments with an upper shell half and a lower shell half. The upper shell half is radially supported by a tip of the spar while the lower shell half is radially loaded by an attachment so that its load is not carried by the upper shell half and the tip of the spar in order to reduce overall stress levels. | 12-15-2011 |
20120009069 | METHOD TO MANUFACTURE A COMPONENT OF A COMPOSITE STRUCTURE - A method to manufacture a component of a fibre reinforced structure is provided. A number of unconnected roving is used to form a roving bundle. A number of roving bundle is positioned automatically into a forming tool. The roving bundles are arranged in a way that at least one layer of the component is assembled. The roving bundles are aligned unidirectional into the forming tool. Each roving bundle is at least wetted with a matrix material before it is positioned into the forming tool. | 01-12-2012 |
20120027609 | WIND TURBINE ROTOR BLADE WITH PRECURED FIBER RODS AND METHOD FOR PRODUCING THE SAME - A wind turbine rotor blade comprises a rotor blade body, including a root portion, a leading edge, a trailing edge, and at least one spar cap; a plurality of parallel, elongated elements of a pre-cured composite material, which comprise fibers and a resin, and a resin connecting the plurality of elements. Further, a method for producing a rotor blade is provided. | 02-02-2012 |
20120027610 | WIND TURBINE BLADE SHEAR WEB WITH SPRING FLANGES - A wind turbine blade has upper and lower shell members with a respective spar cap configured on an internal face of the shell members. A shear web extends between the spar caps along a longitudinal length of the blade. A connection assembly is configured between the transverse ends of the shear web and the spar caps. The connection assembly includes spring flange members that extend distally beyond the transverse ends of the shear web at opposite sides of the shear web so as to define a laterally extending float section. A bond paste layer is between the float sections and the spar cap and between the transverse end of the shear web and the spar cap as a result of compression of the spring flanges against the spar cap. | 02-02-2012 |
20120027611 | COMPRESSION MEMBER FOR WIND TURBINE ROTOR BLADES - A rotor blade for a wind turbine is disclosed. The rotor blade may include a body having a pressure side shell and a suction side shell extending between a leading edge and a trailing edge. A spar member may extend between the pressure and suction side shells. Additionally, a removable compression member may extend between the pressure and suction side shells. The compression member may be formed from a compliant material. | 02-02-2012 |
20120027612 | WIND TURBINE BLADE SHEAR WEB CONNECTION ASSEMBLY - A wind turbine blade has upper and lower shell members with a respective spar cap configured on an internal face of the shell members. A shear web extends between the spar caps along a longitudinal length of the blade. A connection assembly is configured between the transverse ends of the shear web and the spar caps. The connection assembly includes a spacer member configured on the spar cap. A male/female engagement interface is defined between transverse end of the shear web and the spacer member, and includes an axial extension length to accommodate for variances in shear web length. | 02-02-2012 |
20120027613 | WIND TURBINE BLADE SHEAR WEB CONNECTION ASSEMBLY - A wind turbine blade has upper and lower shell members with a respective spar cap configured on an internal face of the shell members. A shear web extends between the spar caps along a longitudinal length of the blade. A connection assembly is configured between the transverse ends of the shear web and the spar caps and includes a channel structure configured on the spar cap. The channel structure includes rigid side walls that extend from the spar cap along the longitudinal sides of the shear web. Bond paste is disposed between the channel structure side walls and the longitudinal sides of the shear web. | 02-02-2012 |
20120027614 | WIND TURBINE BLADE MULTI-COMPONENT SHEAR WEB WITH INTERMEDIATE CONNECTION ASSEMBLY - A wind turbine blade has upper and lower shell members with a respective spar cap configured on an internal face of the shell members. A shear web extends between the spar caps along a longitudinal length of the blade and includes first and second components extending from a respective spar cap. An intermediate connection assembly is provided between facing transverse ends of the first and second components, and includes bond paste retaining structure configured relative to the transverse ends to achieve a bond between the transverse ends having desired width and thickness dimensions. | 02-02-2012 |
20120027615 | ROTOR BLADE - A rotor blade for a wind turbine is disclosed. The rotor blade includes an outer shell having exterior surfaces and interior surfaces, the exterior surfaces defining a pressure side and a suction side each extending between a leading edge and a trailing edge, the interior surfaces defining a rotor blade interior. The rotor blade further includes a structural member extending through at least a portion of the interior, and a generally elastic material connecting the structural member to an interior surface. The generally elastic material allows movement of the outer shell with respect to the structural member. | 02-02-2012 |
20120034090 | Helicopter Blade Mandrel With Roller Assembly - Methods and apparatus are provided for making a rotor blade spar from composite material wherein a multi-component mandrel is used to form the composite spar. The mandrel is made using a number of components that are assembled and held in place using a roller assembly. The roller assembly is removed after pre-cure lay up and compaction of the composite material. Once the roller assembly is removed, the remaining mandrel components can be separated from each other and easily removed from the spar. The mandrel components, including the roller assembly, can then be re-assembled and re-used to form additional composite spars. | 02-09-2012 |
20120045343 | ROTOR BLADE FOR A WIND TURBINE AND A METHOD FOR MAKING THE SAME - The invention relates to a rotor blade for a wind turbine. The rotor blade comprises a shell and a spar forming a longitudinally extending hollow structure within the shell and comprising: a leading web, a trailing web, and one or more additional webs. Each additional web defines an intermediate portion between a hub end and a tip end. The intermediate portion of each additional web is spaced apart from the leading and trailing webs and at least one of the tip and the hub ends is connected to or integral with the leading or the trailing web. The invention further relates to a wind turbine comprising the rotor blade, and a method for manufacturing the rotor blade. | 02-23-2012 |
20120045344 | HELICOPTER COMPOSITE BLADE SPAR AND METHOD - A composite spar for a helicopter blade includes two or more layers of unidirectional laminate material. One or more upper plies of bi-directional laminate extend from an upper airfoil portion of the spar disposed between adjacent layers of the two or more layers of unidirectional laminate material. One or more lower plies of bi-directional laminate material extend from a lower airfoil portion of the spar disposed between adjacent layers of the two or more layers of unidirectional material. The upper plies and the lower plies overlap defining a crackstopper layer configured to prevent propagation of defects in the spar. | 02-23-2012 |
20120070300 | BLADE WITH MINIMIZED VULNERABILITY | 03-22-2012 |
20120082554 | EFFICIENT WIND TURBINE BLADES, WIND TURBINE BLADE STRUCTURES, AND ASSOCIATED SYSTEMS AND METHODS OF MANUFACTURE, ASSEMBLY AND USE - Wind turbine systems and methods are disclosed herein. A representative system includes a wind turbine blade having an inner region that has an internal load-bearing truss structure, and an outer region that has an internal, non-truss, load-bearing structure. In particular embodiments, the truss structure can include a triangular arrangement of spars, and/or can include truss attachment members that connect components of the truss without the use of holes in the spars. Spars can be produced from a plurality of pultruded composite members laminated together in longitudinally extending portions. The longitudinally extending portions can be connected at joints that interleave projections and recesses of each of the spar portions. The blades can include fan-shaped transitions at a hub attachment portion, formed by laminated layers and/or a combination of laminated layers and transition plates. | 04-05-2012 |
20120107129 | ROTOR BLADE OF A WIND POWER PLANT AND METHOD FOR FABRICATING A ROTOR BLADE OF A WIND POWER PLANT - A rotor blade ( | 05-03-2012 |
20120141283 | ROTOR BLADE FOR A WIND TURBINE AND METHODS OF MANUFACTURING THE SAME - A rotor blade for a wind turbine is disclosed. The rotor blade may generally include a body formed at least partially from a core material. The body may generally define a pressure side and a suction side extending between a leading edge and a trailing edge. The rotor blade may also include a plurality of shear members and a plurality of stiffening members. The shear members may generally extend between the pressure and suction sides of the body and may each include a first end and a second end. The stiffening members may be spaced apart around the pressure and suction sides of the body, with each stiffening member being disposed at the first end or the second end of one of the shear members. Additionally, the rotor blade may include a skin extending around an outer perimeter of the body. | 06-07-2012 |
20120141284 | DEVICE FOR ASSEMBLING SECTIONS OF WIND-TURBINE BLADES AND METHOD FOR LINKING SECTIONS OF WIND-TURBINE BLADES - A device for assembling sections of wind-turbine blades provided with casings, including at least one tie including a first portion and a second portion, the first portion being a portion for assembly with a casing of a first section and the second portion being a portion for mounting with a complementary tie supported by a casing of a second section, wherein the first portion includes at least one composite/metal shear link provided with a continuous fitting element on at least one surface of the casing which receives one end of the aformentioned surface of the casing, provided with attachment pins passing through the fitting and the end of the surface. According to a preferred embodiment, the composite/metal link has at least double shear and is additionally provided with a back-fitting element, the end of the aforementioned surface of the casing being received between the fitting and the back fitting, the attachment pins passing through the fitting, the end of the surface and the back fitting, the link also being provided with a means for attaching the back fitting to the fitting. | 06-07-2012 |
20120156050 | DETACHABLE ROTOR BLADE FAIRING APPARATUS AND METHOD - A rotor blade having a detachable fairing is disclosed. The rotor blade includes leading and trailing edge fairings secured to the blade spar and one or more control lines extending between of the fairings and the blade spar. A detachable fairing extends from one or both of the leading and trailing edge fairings toward one of the distal and proximal ends of the blade spar. The detachable fairing and blade spar form an airfoil contour. The detachable fairing may secure to a tip jet attachment fitting at a distal end of the blade spar. A mounting structure including upper and lower plates may secure near a proximal end of the blade spar and the detachable fairing may secure to both the upper and lower plates to form all or part of an airfoil contour. The mounting structure may include a spherical seat engaging a spherical surface of a hub shroud. | 06-21-2012 |
20120195765 | EFFICIENT WIND TURBINE BLADES, WIND TURBINE BLADE STRUCTURES, AND ASSOCIATED SYSTEMS AND METHODS OF MANUFACTURE, ASSEMBLY AND USE - Wind turbine systems and methods are disclosed herein. A representative system includes a wind turbine blade having an inner region that has an internal load-bearing truss structure, and an outer region that has an internal, non-truss, load-bearing structure. In particular embodiments, the truss structure can include a triangular arrangement of spars, and/or can include truss attachment members that connect components of the truss without the use of holes in the spars. Spars can be produced from a plurality of pultruded composite members laminated together in longitudinally extending portions. The longitudinally extending portions can be connected at joints that interleave projections and recesses of each of the spar portions. The blades can include fan-shaped transitions at a hub attachment portion, formed by laminated layers and/or a combination of laminated layers and transition plates. | 08-02-2012 |
20120213640 | COMPOSITE STRUCTURE - A composite structure has a first section, a second section, and a curved corner joining the first and second sections. The structure has a stack of fibre-reinforced plies including first and second external plies which run from the first section into the second section on an inside and an outside of the corner, respectively. A discontinuous first internal ply is sandwiched between the first and second external plies so that more of the first internal ply is located within the first section than within the second section. A second internal ply is sandwiched between the first and second external plies. The fibres of the first internal ply run at an angle θ to the fibres of the second internal ply. In some embodiments the angle θ is greater than 3° but less than 20°. In one embodiment the angle θ is between 35° and 42°. | 08-23-2012 |
20120219424 | METHOD FOR MANUFACTURE OF AN INFUSED SPAR CAP USING A LOW VISCOSITY MATRIX MATERIAL - Embodiments of the present application generally provide for wind turbine blade spar caps comprising composite materials prepared using a low viscosity resin system and a high density fabric and methods for their manufacture. In particular embodiment, the low viscosity resin system has a viscosity in the range of about 1 to about 100 centipoises at a temperature in the range of about 0° C. to about 125° C. during the preparation of the composite material. By using low viscosity resin systems, composite materials have been prepared having a fiber volume fraction of greater than about 65% and a composite modulus of greater than 48000 MPa. | 08-30-2012 |
20120219425 | WIND TURBINE WITH MULTI-PANEL BLADE - A wind turbine blade transversely divided in an inboard module ( | 08-30-2012 |
20120237355 | TURBINE BLADE ASSEMBLY - A turbine blade assembly is disclosed. In one embodiment, the turbine blade assembly may generally include a turbine blade having a root portion and an airfoil. The airfoil may extend radially from the root portion to an airfoil tip. Additionally, the turbine blade assembly may include a composite rod extending within the turbine blade. The composite rod may include a first end coupled to the airfoil at the airfoil tip and a second end coupled to the root portion. Moreover, the coefficient of thermal expansion of the composite rod may be designed to be less than or equal to the coefficient of thermal expansion of the airfoil. | 09-20-2012 |
20120257982 | BLADE FOR A WIND TURBINE ROTOR - Provided is a blade for a rotor of a wind turbine having a substantially horizontal rotor shaft, said rotor comprising a hub, from which the blade extends substantially radially when mounted, said blade having a chord plane extending between a leading edge and a trailing edge of said blade, a root area closest to the hub, an airfoil area furthest away from the hub, a transition area between the root area and the airfoil area, a first airfoil extending substantially along the entire airfoil area, and a second airfoil separately mounted to the blade, said second airfoil arranged at a mutual distance transverse to the chord plane and extending along the root area of the blades. | 10-11-2012 |
20120269643 | SECTIONAL WIND TURBINE BLADE - The invention relates to a sectional blade for a wind turbine, the blade comprising at least a first blade section and a second blade section extending in opposite directions from a blade joint, where each blade section comprises a spar section forming a structural member and extending in the longitudinal direction of the blade, and where the first and second blade sections are connected by fastening means restraining any movement of the first blade section relative to the second blade section length ways. The first and the second blade sections are structurally connected by a spar bridge protruding from one of the blade sections and terminating axially in an end portion, which is received in the spar section of the other blade section. The spar bridge and the spar section have interlocking shapes by which rotation of the spar bridge in the spar section is prevented thereby preventing rotation of one of the blade sections relative to the other. Further, the spar section of the other blade section comprises a receiving section extending from the blade joint and inwards into the spar section of that blade, which receiving section holds the spar bridge such that movement of the end portion of the spar bridge relative to the receiving section is enabled in the longitudinal direction. The invention further relates to a method of manufacturing a sectional blade as mentioned above. | 10-25-2012 |
20120308394 | Wind Turbine Rotor Blade Components and Methods of Making Same - Structural preform layers of multiple rigid unidirectional strength elements or rods are constructed and arranged for use in fabricating load-bearing support structures and reinforcements of wind turbine blades. Individual preform layers include multiple elongate unidirectional strength elements or rods arranged in a single layer along a longitudinal axis of the preform layer. Each preform layer includes one or more fibrous carrier layers to which the multiple strength elements or rods are joined and arranged in the single layer. Each strength element or rod is longitudinally oriented and adjacent to other elements or rods. Individual strength elements or rods include a mass of substantially straight unidirectional structural fibers embedded within a matrix resin such that the elements or rods have a substantially uniform distribution of fibers and high degree of fiber collimation. The relative straightness of the fibers and fiber collimation provide strength elements or rods and the preform layers with high rigidity and significant compression strength. | 12-06-2012 |
20120321479 | METHOD FOR PRODUCTION OF A ROTOR BLADE FOR A WIND TURBINE GENERATOR AND A ROTOR BLADE - A method of production of a rotor blade ( | 12-20-2012 |
20130039774 | HYBRID STRUCTURE AIRFOIL - A hybrid airfoil for a gas turbine engine is provided that includes a body and a panel. The body has a first side and a second side orientated opposite the first side. The first and second sides extend between a tip, a base, a leading edge and a trailing edge. The body includes a plurality of cavities disposed in the first side of the body, which cavities extend inwardly toward the second side. The cavities collectively form an opening. At least one rib is disposed between the cavities. A shelf is disposed around the opening. The panel is attached to the shelf first mounting surface and to the rib, and is sized to enclose the opening. The panel is a load bearing structure operable to transfer loads to the body and receive loads from the body. | 02-14-2013 |
20130064674 | ROTOR WITH BLADES INCLUDING OUTER BLADE SHELL AND INNER STRUCTURAL MEMBER - A rotor for use in an aircraft includes an inner hub; and a plurality of blades arranged around the inner hub, each of the plurality of blades comprising an inner structural member; an outer blade shell surrounding the inner structural member; and a centering block located at a base of the inner structural member proximal to the inner hub, wherein the centering block is located between a first lateral portion of the inner structural member and a second lateral portion of the inner structural member, wherein the centering block is further connected to the outer blade shell, and wherein the centering block allows the outer blade shell to rotate about an axis approximately corresponding to the inner structural member. | 03-14-2013 |
20130064675 | WIND TURBINE ROTOR BLADE - The invention concerns a wind power installation rotor blade. The rotor blade has a rotor blade root, a rotor blade tip, a rotor blade leading edge and a rotor blade trailing edge. The rotor blade further has a pressure side and a suction side as well as at least one web at least partially between the suction and pressure sides. The rotor blade has a longitudinal direction between the rotor blade root and the rotor blade tip. The web is of a wave-shaped configuration in the longitudinal direction of the rotor blade. | 03-14-2013 |
20130108453 | LIGHTWEIGHT COMPOSITE TRUSS WIND TURBINE BLADE | 05-02-2013 |
20130115093 | Wide faced propeller / turbine blade assembly - An improved propeller/turbine blade assembly with wide faced blades in order to more efficiently convert a moving fluid's kinetic energy into mechanical rotational energy by optimizing the bladed assembly's frontal surface interaction with the swept blade area of a moving fluid. This improved blade surface interaction is accomplished through new and novel design features of the assembly's blades. These design features include the following; that the designed assembly has a much larger total blade footprint than prior bladed assemblies, that the assembly's blades overlap each other with the leading edge of the following blade overlapping the trailing edge of the preceding blade, that the assembly has multiple designed blade twist angles that occur within each blade and at segmented lengths along each blade and that the assembly's blades are dimensionally segmented with width to length ratios as a percentage of overall length. | 05-09-2013 |
20130129517 | AEROGENERATOR BLADE AND MANUFACTURING METHOD THEREOF - Aerogenerator blade and method of manufacturing thereof, the aerogenerator blade comprising an intrados shell, an extrados shell and a structural beam, the structural beam comprising a root spar, a transitional spar and a box spar, wherein the root spar has a substantially circular cross section configured to support the connection of the blade to the aerogenerator hub; the transitional spar tapers from the root spar towards the box spar; and the box spar tapers towards the blade tip; and wherein the aerogenerator blade is characterized by comprising: a first section of the structural beam including at least a root spar portion, a transitional spar portion and a box spar portion, the portions forming a first integral structural beam section; a second section including at least the counterparts of the root spar portion, the transitional spar portion and the box spar portion, said counterpart portions forming a second integral structural beam section; and wherein the first section of the structural beam is joined with the second section of the structural beam, forming the structural beam; and the intrados shell and the extrados shell are assembled on the structural beam. | 05-23-2013 |
20130129518 | WIND TURBINE BLADE - A wind turbine blade comprising an aerodynamic fairing supported along at least a portion of its axial length by a spar ( | 05-23-2013 |
20130142658 | ROTOR BLADE | 06-06-2013 |
20130149164 | Method and Apparatus for Fabricating Large Scale Integrated Airfoils - An airfoil is fabricated by assembling cured skins with spars having cured spar webs and uncured spar chords. The skins are bonded to the spars by curing the spar chords. | 06-13-2013 |
20130164142 | Propeller blade with reinforcing spars and boxes, and propeller comprising at least one such blade - The invention relates to a propeller blade which comprises a hollow casing ( | 06-27-2013 |
20130177433 | MULTI-MATERIAL RETROFITTED WIND TURBINE ROTOR BLADE AND METHODS FOR MAKING THE SAME - Multi-material retrofitted wind turbine rotor blades include a shell having a leading edge opposite a trailing edge and a structural support member that supports the shell and is disposed internal the wind turbine rotor blade between the leading edge and the trailing edge and extends for at least a portion of a rotor blade span length, wherein the structural support member includes an original structural support portion including a first material and a retrofitted structural support portion extending from the original structural support portion at a joint and including a second material. | 07-11-2013 |
20130189112 | JOINING METHOD OF COMPOSITE PARTS HAVING A THERMOSET MATRIX, AND WIND TURBINE BLADE MANUFACTURED USING THIS SAID METHOD - A method of fabricating a composite joint from a first cured composite component ( | 07-25-2013 |
20130189113 | WIND TURBINE ROTOR BLADE WITH TRAILING EDGE COMPRISING ROVINGS - A method for manufacturing a wind turbine rotor blade having a trailing edge by Vacuum Assisted Resin Transfer Moulding is described. A number of layers having fibre material are laid up onto the inner surface of a first mould part. A plurality of fibre rovings is laid up onto the number of layers at a position which forms the trailing edge of the blade. The blade is cast using Vacuum Assisted Resin Transfer Moulding. | 07-25-2013 |
20130216388 | BOX-SHAPED SHEAR WEB FOR WIND TURBINE BLADES AND METHOD OF MAKING - A wind turbine blade includes a pressure side shell member with an internal side spar cap, and a suction side shell member with an internal side spar cap. A box-shaped shear web assembly spans between the spar caps and has a generally hollow interior volume. The shear web assembly includes end walls affixed to a respective spar cap and spaced-apart side walls extending transversely between the end walls. The end walls and side walls define a continuous box-shaped assembly structurally interposed between the spar caps. Methods are also provided for making the box-shaped shear web assembly. | 08-22-2013 |
20130266452 | PROPELLER BLADE WITH REINFORCED SPAR CORE - A propeller blade spar core includes a leading edge spar foam section surrounded by a first structural layer, a trailing edge spar foam surrounded by a second structural layer, and a third structural layer surrounding both the first and second structural layers. | 10-10-2013 |
20130272893 | BLADE HAVING AN INTEGRATED COMPOSITE SPAR - A blade including a structure with aerodynamic profile including two opposite skins obtained by three-dimensional weaving of a fibrous reinforcement densified by a matrix, and a longeron including a fibrous reinforcement obtained by three-dimensional weaving and densified by a matrix, the longeron including a first part extending outside the structure with aerodynamic profile and designed to be connected to a drive hub in rotation of the blade and a second part arranged inside the structure with aerodynamic profile between the two skins. The second part of the longeron has a thickness substantially similar to that of the skins of the structure with aerodynamic profile. In addition, the fibrous reinforcement of the second part of the longeron has the same weaving armour as that of the reinforcement of the skins of the structure with aerodynamic profile. | 10-17-2013 |
20130280084 | PROPELLER BLADE WITH INTERNAL STIFFENER - A propeller blade includes a foam core having a slot formed through it from a camber side to a face side, an internal stiffener disposed through the slot and including flanges in contact with both the camber and face sides and a structural layer that surrounds at least a portion of the foam core and in contact with the flanges on both the camber and face sides. | 10-24-2013 |
20130287584 | PROPELLER BLADE WITH MODIFIED SPAR LAYUP - According to one embodiment, a propeller blade includes a foam core and a structural layer formed of multiple layers that surrounds at least a portion of the foam core. The structural layer includes a mid-thickness location defined between the foam core and an outer edge of the structural layer and the multiple layers include at least one unidirectional layer and at least one biased layer disposed asymmetrically about the mid-thickness location. | 10-31-2013 |
20130309095 | WIND TURBINE BLADE HAVING IMPROVED STRUCTURAL AND AERODYNAMIC CHARACTERISTICS - A wind turbine blade is provided which is attached to a hub of a wind turbine. The wind turbine blade includes a spine. The spine can have various cross-sections, such as square, rectangular, triangular, “I” beam, or other suitable cross-sections. An attachment member is connected to one end of the spine. Ribs are provided and the spine extends through apertures in each of the ribs. A facing is attached to the plurality of ribs. The facing forms a convex surface on one side and a substantially flat surface on the other side. The flat surface is at an angle of between 24 degrees and 28 degrees from a plane perpendicular to the axis of rotation of the blades near a proximal end of the blade and the flat surface is at an angle of between 8 degrees and 12 degrees at the distal end of the blade. | 11-21-2013 |
20130323068 | PROPELLER BLADE WITH SPAR RIB - A propeller blade includes a foam core having a groove formed therein, a fibrous material filling at least a portion of the groove and a structural layer that surrounds the fibrous material and at least a portion of the foam core. | 12-05-2013 |
20130343898 | PROPELLER BLADE WITH CARBON FOAM SPAR CORE - According to one embodiment, a propeller blade includes a carbon foam core and a structural layer that surrounds at least a portion of the carbon foam core. | 12-26-2013 |
20140023512 | THERMOPLASTIC ROTOR BLADE - A blade comprises a lightweight core, a composite material disposed on the core, and a skin located on the composite material. The composite material comprises fibers incorporated into a thermoplastic resin matrix in the form of a prepreg sheet or wet layup. The rotor blade may also comprise a front edge member attached along at least a portion of a leading edge of the core, a rear edge member attached along at least a portion of a trailing edge of the core, and a skin located over the core, the front edge member, and the rear edge member. The rotor blade may also comprise a spar extending through the core along a longitudinal axis of the rotor blade, and a skin located over the core and the spar. The edge members and the spars may be fabricated from thermoplastic material. | 01-23-2014 |
20140050589 | HYBRID STRUCTURE AIRFOIL - A hybrid airfoil for a gas turbine engine is provided that includes a body and a panel. The body has a first side and a second side orientated opposite the first side. The first and second sides extend between a tip, a base, a leading edge and a trailing edge. The body includes a plurality of cavities disposed in the first side of the body, which cavities extend inwardly toward the second side. The cavities collectively form an opening. At least one rib is disposed between the cavities. A shelf is disposed around the opening. The panel is attached to the shelf first mounting surface and to the rib, and is sized to enclose the opening. The panel is a load bearing structure operable to transfer loads to the body and receive loads from the body. | 02-20-2014 |
20140064980 | ROTOR BLADES WITH INFUSED PREFABRICATED SHEAR WEBS AND METHODS FOR MAKING THE SAME - Rotor blades include a first shell reinforcing fiber structure, a prefabricated shear web reinforcing fiber structure having a first end and a second end, wherein the first end is infused with the first shell reinforcing fiber structure at a resin infused joint, and, a second shell reinforcing fiber structure attached to the first shell reinforcing fiber structure and the second end of the prefabricated shear web reinforcing fiber structure. | 03-06-2014 |
20140086752 | WIND TURBINE ROTOR - A wind turbine rotor comprising a hub ( | 03-27-2014 |
20140112796 | COMPOSITE BLADE WITH UNI-TAPE AIRFOIL SPARS - A gas turbine engine composite blade includes an airfoil having pressure and suction sides extending outwardly in a spanwise direction from a blade root along a span to a blade tip. A core section of the blade including composite quasi-isotropic plies extends spanwise outwardly through the blade. One or more spars including a stack of uni-tape plies having predominately a 0 degree fiber orientation with respect to the span and extending spanwise outwardly through the root and a portion of the airfoil towards the tip. Spars may include pressure and suction side spars sandwiching a chordwise extending portion of the core section in the airfoil and which be located near or along the pressure and suction sides respectively. Chordwise extending portion may be centered about a maximum thickness location of the airfoil. Spars may have height, width, and thickness that avoids flexural airfoil modes. | 04-24-2014 |
20140119933 | WIND TURBINE ROTOR BLADE WITH FABRIC SKIN AND ASSOCIATED ATTACHMENT METHOD - A rotor blade for a wind turbine includes an internal support structure including a plurality of fixed, spaced support members extending in a chord-wise and span-wise direction and defining a generally aerodynamic contour of the rotor blade. A plurality of the support members have an outer surface with a longitudinally extending slot defined therein. A plurality of fabric strips are attached over the internal support structure in a tensioned state and define an aerodynamic outer skin. The fabric strips extend over and are attached to the support members with a longitudinally extending insert member that presses the fabric strips into the slot and lockingly engages within the slot. | 05-01-2014 |
20140133995 | PROPELLER BLADE WITH MODIFIED SPAR STIFFNESS - A propeller blade includes a foam core, a structural layer formed of multiple layers that surrounds at least a portion of the foam core and at least one section of fibers formed separately from the structural layer located between two of the multiple layers. | 05-15-2014 |
20140154091 | EFFICIENT WIND TURBINE BLADES, WIND TURBINE BLADE STRUCTURES, AND ASSOCIATED SYSTEMS AND METHODS OF MANUFACTURE, ASSEMBLY AND USE - Wind turbine systems and methods are disclosed herein. A representative system includes a wind turbine blade having an inner region that has an internal load-bearing truss structure, and an outer region that has an internal, non-truss, load-bearing structure. In particular embodiments, the truss structure can include a triangular arrangement of spars, and/or can include truss attachment members that connect components of the truss without the use of holes in the spars. Spars can be produced from a plurality of pultruded composite members laminated together in longitudinally extending portions. The longitudinally extending portions can be connected at joints that interleave projections and recesses of each of the spar portions. The blades can include fan-shaped transitions at a hub attachment portion, formed by laminated layers and/or a combination of laminated layers and transition plates. | 06-05-2014 |
20140161621 | ATTACHMENT OF COMPOSITE ARTICLE - A composite article including composite component mounted on a spar including a shank extending heightwise from below component base up into composite component. Tab at an upper end of shank substantially or fully embedded in the composite component and at least one ply surface pattern of the composite component contacting and generally conforming to at least one spar surface pattern on the tab. | 06-12-2014 |
20140169978 | ROTOR BLADE ASSEMBLIES AND METHODS FOR ASSEMBLING THE SAME - Methods of assembling rotor blades include providing a first blade segment comprising a first shell portion and at least two first spar cap segments and providing a second blade segment comprising a second shell portion and at least two second spar cap segments. An access region is defined in at least one of the first shell portion and the second shell portion. The second blade segment is then inserted into the first blade segment, such that a spar cap cavity is formed between each set of corresponding first and second spar cap segments, and wherein an access window is defined by the access region at an interface between the first blade segment and the second blade segment, the access window providing access to the spar cap cavities. The method further includes sealing the spar cap cavities and injecting an adhesive into the spar cap cavities to bond the blade segments together, wherein a scarf joint is formed between each set of corresponding first and second spar cap segments. | 06-19-2014 |
20140234114 | WIND TURBINE BLADE WITH ASYMMETRICAL SPAR CAPS - A wind turbine blade ( | 08-21-2014 |
20140234115 | WIND TURBINE BLADE HAVING TWISTED SPAR WEB - A radially twisted wind turbine blade ( | 08-21-2014 |
20140234116 | DEVICE FOR CONNECTING WING SECTIONS AND METHOD FOR ASSEMBLING SUCH SECTIONS - A device for connecting sections of wings such as wind turbine blades, which has, at the ends of adjacent sections, central box structures that are placed end-to-end and are clamped together by clamping rods, and a method for producing sections of wings such as wind turbine blades, which includes a step of producing devices for connecting the sections in the form of central joining box structures | 08-21-2014 |
20140241895 | FLUID TURBINE BLADE AND METHOD OF PROVIDING THE SAME - A fluid turbine blade and method of fabrication are provided. The fluid turbine blade includes a centrally disposed longitudinal spar having a substantially circumferential cross section. The fluid turbine blade also includes at least one chord stiffener coupled to the longitudinal spar. The fluid turbine blade further includes a torsionally compliant segmented skin coupled to the at least one chord stiffener. The centrally disposed longitudinal spar and the torsionally compliant segmented skin are functionally decoupled to relieve the torsionally compliant segmented skin of one or more of a flapwise load condition, an edgewise load condition and a torsional load condition. | 08-28-2014 |
20140271217 | EFFICIENT WIND TURBINE BLADE DESIGN AND ASSOCIATED MANUFACTURING METHODS USING RECTANGULAR SPARS AND SEGMENTED SHEAR WEB - A wind turbine blade internal structure system is disclosed herein. A representative system includes span wise spar elements, thru thickness web elements, and an aerodynamic shell. In particular embodiments, the spars may be constructed of pre-cured planks and either adhesively bonded together or assembled using layers of laminates between planks. The laminate layers may be used for structural purposes either to increase the stiffness of the spar, increase the effective bond area of the spar to the shell, or to form a transition region at the plank termination. The spars can be incorporated into the shell assembly layup. The shear web may contain segmentation along the span wise axis of the blade, splitting the shear web into pressure and suction halves that are joined by a connector element that allows for alignment between the web halves in the span wise, chord wise, and thickens directions. The spar and web design elements discussed herein can be applied to either a segments or monolithic blade assembly. | 09-18-2014 |
20140294591 | WIND TURBINE BLADE SHEAR WEB CONNECTION ASSEMBLY - A wind turbine blade has upper and lower shell members with a respective spar cap configured on an internal face of the shell members. A shear web extends between the spar caps along a longitudinal length of the blade. A connection assembly is configured between the transverse ends of the shear web and the spar caps and includes a channel structure configured on the spar cap. The channel structure includes side walls that extend from the spar cap along the longitudinal sides of the shear web. A pliant actuation line is attached between the side walls of the channel structure and bond paste is deposited in the channel structure. Movement of the transverse end of the shear web into the channel structure results in the actuation line pulling the side walls of the channel structure against the longitudinal sides of the shear web. | 10-02-2014 |
20140341746 | MAIN ROTOR BLADE WITH COMPOSITE INTEGRAL SKIN AND CUFF - A main rotor blade assembly is provided including a spar which comprises a main section. A main core is positioned adjacent a trailing side of the main section of the spar. A tip assembly includes a main tip core and a tip end pocket core. The tip assembly is positioned adjacent an outboard end of the main core and the spar such that the main tip core is substantially aligned with a longitudinal axis of the main core and the tip end pocket core is substantially aligned with a longitudinal axis of the spar. At least a portion of both the main tip core and the tip end pocket core comprises a high density core. An upper composite skin and a lower composite skin extend over the spar, the main core, the main tip core, and the tip end pocket core. A portion of the upper composite skin and the lower composite skin has a thickness sufficient to be load bearing. | 11-20-2014 |
20140363303 | WIND TURBINE BLADE WITH BIPLANE SECTION - A hybrid turbine blade having a box beam assembly structure and method of designing such a hybrid turbine blade are disclosed. The box beam assembly provides the primary structure for supporting loads on the blade, and comprises oppositely positioned spar caps joined by oppositely positioned shear webs. For a portion of the blade, the box beam assembly further comprises a root buildup. In one embodiment, the shear webs comprise foam core sandwiched between two biaxial fiber-reinforced plastic laminates (FRP), the spar caps comprise uniaxial FRP laminates, and the root buildup comprises triaxial FRP laminates. The blades are designed using a novel inside-out method, wherein the box beam is first designed to support expected loads, and an aerodynamic surface is then designed to be supported by the box beam. The blade may be constructed in segments that are joined with connectors that engage the box beam structure. | 12-11-2014 |
20140377076 | JOINT ASSEMBLY AND METHOD OF FORMING THEREOF - A joint assembly is provided. The joint assembly includes a first component formed from a first material and a second component including a portion that extends at least partially into the first component and that has an uneven outer profile. The first material is configured to form the first component into a shape that is substantially complementary to a shape of the portion to facilitate restricting movement of the second component in an axial direction. | 12-25-2014 |
20150023799 | Structural Member with Pultrusions - Disclosed is an engineered structure which includes pultrusions usable for resisting a bending load. | 01-22-2015 |
20150050156 | INFUSED SPAR CAP USING A LOW VISCOSITY MATRIX MATERIAL - Embodiments of the present application generally provide for wind turbine blade spar caps comprising composite materials prepared using a low viscosity resin system and a high density fabric and methods for their manufacture. In particular embodiment, the low viscosity resin system has a viscosity in the range of about 1 to about 100 centipoises at a temperature in the range of about 0° C. to about 125° C. during the preparation of the composite material. By using low viscosity resin systems, composite materials have been prepared having a fiber volume fraction of greater than about 65% and a composite modulus of greater than 48000 MPa. | 02-19-2015 |
20150064013 | Systems and Methods of Constructing Composite Assemblies - A composite assembly has an outer spar component having an outer spar component inner profile, an inner spar component having an inner spar component outer profile substantially complementary to the outer spar component inner profile, and an adhesive disposed between the outer spar component and the inner spar component. | 03-05-2015 |
20150098833 | FIBRE REINFORCED COMPOSITES - Prepregs and stacks of prepregs based on reactive epoxy resins that can be cured at lower externally applied temperatures such as from 70° C. to 110° C. with acceptably short cycle times comprise epoxy resins of epoxy equivalent weight from 200 to 500 containing a curing agent but no hardener. | 04-09-2015 |
20150292479 | SPAR CAP ASSEMBLY FOR A WIND TURBINE ROTOR BLADE - A spar cap assembly is for a wind turbine rotor blade. The spar cap assembly has a spar cap reinforced with carbon fibers, comprising a lightning conductor, which is arranged so as to run along the spar cap, and at least one potential-equalizing element, which establishes an electrical connection between the spar cap and the lightning conductor. The carbon fibers of the spar cap, the lightning conductor and the at least one potential-equalizing element are embedded in a common polymer matrix and are configured as a prefabricated assembly for integration into a wind turbine rotor blade half-shell after the curing of the polymer matrix. | 10-15-2015 |
20150298802 | BLADE WITH REDUCED TORSIONAL RIGIDITY, AND ROTOR EQUIPPED WITH SUCH A BLADE | 10-22-2015 |
20150316026 | ROTOR BLADE JOINT ASSEMBLY WITH MULTI-COMPONENT SHEAR WEB - A wind turbine rotor blade joint assembly and method of manufacturing same is disclosed. The rotor blade includes an upper shell member having a spar cap configured on an internal face thereof and a lower shell member having a spar cap configured on an internal face thereof. A shear web extends between the spar caps along a longitudinal length of the blade. The shear web includes first and second longitudinally aligned components that extend from and are integral with respective spar caps. A joint assembly is configured between facing transverse ends of the first and second components of the shear web. The joint assembly includes a connecting structure configured to receive the transverse ends of the first and second components. The connecting structure is infused and integral with the first component of the shear web and bonded with the second component of the shear web. | 11-05-2015 |
20150369210 | METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR TENSIONING TENSION FABRICS IN WIND-TURBINE - A wind blade includes a self-supporting structural framework, having a span-wise member, a plurality of chord-wise members, a fabric skin, and at least one of a stiffener and a mechanical element. The plurality of chord-wise members is coupled to the span-wise member and each chord-wise member and the span-wise member maintains an aerodynamic contour of the wind blade. Further, the fabric skin is disposed over the self-supporting structural framework. The stiffener and/or the mechanical element are coupled to the self-supporting structural framework, and are operable to provide a relative movement to the self-supporting structural framework for adjusting the aerodynamic contour and provide pretension to the fabric skin. | 12-24-2015 |
20150369212 | EFFICIENT WIND TURBINE BLADES, WIND TURBINE BLADE STRUCTURES, AND ASSOCIATED SYSTEMS AND METHODS OF MANUFACTURE, ASSEMBLY AND USE - Wind turbine systems and methods are disclosed herein. A representative system includes a wind turbine blade having an inner region that has an internal load-bearing truss structure, and an outer region that has an internal, non-truss, load-bearing structure. In particular embodiments, the truss structure can include a triangular arrangement of spars, and/or can include truss attachment members that connect components of the truss without the use of holes in the spars. Spars can be produced from a plurality of pultruded composite members laminated together in longitudinally extending portions. The longitudinally extending portions can be connected at joints that interleave projections and recesses of each of the spar portions. The blades can include fan-shaped transitions at a hub attachment portion, formed by laminated layers and/or a combination of laminated layers and transition plates. | 12-24-2015 |
20160016365 | METHOD OF FABRICATING A SPAR FOR A BLADE, AND A METHOD OF FABRICATING A BLADE - A method of fabricating a spar for a blade, which spar includes transversely at least one arrangement. A male former is defined for each arrangement that is to be fabricated and each arrangement is subdivided into a pressure-side subassembly and a suction-side subassembly, each comprising a plurality of hanks, each hank comprising a plurality of U-shaped tape segments stacked on one another. Each subassembly of an arrangement is fabricated outside a mold for fabricating the blade on a single former adapted to that particular arrangement, fabrication being by stacking tape segments on the former using a fiber placement method implemented by a placement head. | 01-21-2016 |
20160016662 | METHOD OF FABRICATING A SPAR FOR A BLADE, A METHOD OF FABRICATING A BLADE, AND A BLADE - A method of fabricating a blade spar that includes transversely at least one arrangement. A pressure-side mold and a suction-side mold are defined for each arrangement that is to be fabricated. Each mold includes at least one removable slide and a base. Each slide is then removed from a mold and the tape segments of a hank are laid by a fiber-placement method on each mold. Each mold is closed by putting the slides into place on the mold. During a finalizing step, the molds are juxtaposed and the spar is heated. | 01-21-2016 |
20160040651 | METHODS OF MANUFACTURING ROTOR BLADES OF A WIND TURBINE - Methods of manufacturing rotor blades for a wind turbine and rotor blades produced in accordance with such methods are disclosed. In one embodiment, the method includes forming a first spar cap of the rotor blade from a first resin material. Another step includes placing the first spar cap within a first shell mold of the rotor blade. A further step includes infusing a second resin material into the first shell mold to form a first shell member of the rotor blade. Thus, at least a portion of the first spar cap is infused within the first shell member. Further, the second resin material is different than the first resin material. The method also includes infusing the second resin material into a second shell mold to form a second shell member of the rotor blade. Another step includes bonding the first and second shell members together so as to form the rotor blade. | 02-11-2016 |
20160047246 | MORPHING TRAILING EDGE DEVICE FOR AN AIRFOIL - A morphing trailing edge device for an airfoil includes a skin member, an actuator, and a torsion element. The skin member is configured to extend on a surface of a trailing edge region of an airfoil and includes a load introduction point within a reinforced area. The skin member further includes a stiffening member arranged essentially perpendicular to the load introduction point, wherein the load introduction point, the reinforced area and the stiffening member are integrated into the skin member. The actuator is configured to drive the torsion element with an actuation load. The torsion element is configured to translate the actuation load to the load introduction point, so that the actuation load morphs the trailing edge region up- or downwardly relative to a horizontal plane. A morphing airfoil for an aircraft, an aircraft with a morphing airfoil and a method for manufacturing a morphing airfoil are also described. | 02-18-2016 |
20160108736 | A TRIBRID WIND TURBINE BLADE - A tribrid wind turbine blade is described, wherein the blade is formed from three separate parts made using three different manufacturing approaches. A root section of the blade is formed by a load-bearing central spar having an aerodynamic shell or fairing fitted to the spar. A mainboard portion is formed from a load-bearing shell structure. A tip portion is formed as an integrally-formed element from a one-shot closed moulding process. | 04-21-2016 |
20160159460 | COMPOSITE PROPELLER BLADE FOR AN AIRCRAFT - An aircraft propeller blade including a streamlined structure constituted by at least one piece of fiber reinforcement obtained by three-dimensionally weaving yarns and densified by a matrix, together with a spar including an enlarged portion extending outside the fiber reinforcement and forming the root of the blade, and a shaping portion present in a housing arranged inside the fiber reinforcement. The fiber reinforcement includes a non-interlinked zone forming the housing inside the fiber reinforcement. The non-interlinked zone opens out into the bottom portion and into the rear edge of the fiber reinforcement so as to form an opening for inserting the shaping portion of the spar into the housing of the fiber reinforcement. The opening present in the rear edge of the fiber reinforcement extends over a height that is less than the height of the housing. | 06-09-2016 |
20160160837 | PULTRUDED ROTOR BLADE COMPONENTS HAVING INTERLOCKING EDGES - Rotor blade components for wind turbines having interlocking edges and methods of manufacturing same are disclosed. In one aspect of the present disclosure, the rotor blade component includes a plurality of pultruded members arranged in one or more layers. Each of the pultruded members are constructed of a plurality of fibers joined together via a cured resin material. Further, each of the plurality of pultruded members includes one or more interlocking edges. Thus, adjacent pultruded members may be aligned via corresponding interlocking edges. The pultruded members are further secured together to create a single structural member. | 06-09-2016 |
20160169194 | SPAR CAP FOR A WIND TURBINE ROTOR BLADE | 06-16-2016 |
20160177917 | WIND TURBINE ROTOR BLADES WITH LOAD-TRANSFERRING EXTERIOR PANELS | 06-23-2016 |
20160177918 | WIND TURBINE ROTOR BLADES WITH SUPPORT FLANGES | 06-23-2016 |
20160377049 | STRUCTURAL SUPPORT MEMBERS WITH DIFFERENT AREAL WEIGHT FIBER REINFORCING LAYERS FOR WIND TURBINE ROTOR BLADES - Structural support members includes a plurality of fiber reinforcing layers positioned on top of one another, wherein a plurality of intermediate fiber reinforcing layers are disposed between a top fiber reinforcing layer and a bottom fiber reinforcing layer, and wherein at least one of said fiber reinforcing layers comprises a first areal weight, and wherein at least one of said fiber reinforcing layers comprises a second areal weight different than the first areal weight. The structural support members further include a resin infused throughout the plurality of fiber reinforcing layers. | 12-29-2016 |
20160377050 | MODULAR WIND TURBINE ROTOR BLADES AND METHODS OF ASSEMBLING SAME - The present disclosure is directed to a modular rotor blade for a wind turbine and methods of assembling same. The rotor blade includes a blade root section, a blade tip section, at least one leading edge segment having a forward pressure side surface and a forward suction side surface, and at least one trailing edge segment having an aft pressure side surface and an aft suction side surface. Further, the leading edge segment and the trailing edge segment are arranged between the blade root section and the blade tip section in a generally span-wise direction. In addition, the leading edge segment and the trailing edge segment are joined at a pressure side seam and a suction side seam. | 12-29-2016 |
20160377051 | STRUCTURAL COMPONENT FOR A MODULAR ROTOR BLADE - The present disclosure is directed to a pre-formed, continuous structural component for use in assembling a modular rotor blade for a wind turbine. Further, the structural component provides support to the modular rotor blade during operation. The pre-formed structural component includes a root portion and a body portion. The root portion is configured for mounting the structural component to a blade root section of the rotor blade. The body portion is configured to extend in a generally span-wise direction. Further, the body portion defines a predetermined cross-section having a flatback portion with a first end and a second end. In addition, the first and second ends each have a flange extending perpendicularly therefrom. Thus, each flange defines a mounting surface for one or more blade segments. | 12-29-2016 |
20160377052 | BLADE ROOT SECTION FOR A MODULAR ROTOR BLADE AND METHOD OF MANUFACTURING SAME - The present disclosure is directed to a pre-formed blade root section for a modular rotor blade of a wind turbine and methods of manufacturing same. More specifically, the blade root section includes a root end portion and one or more longitudinal spar caps co-infused with the root end portion and extending in a generally span-wise direction. In addition, the root end portion includes a first end and second end, wherein the first end is configured for mounting the rotor blade to a rotor of the wind turbine. | 12-29-2016 |
20170234295 | Blade for a wind turbine | 08-17-2017 |