Althoff, SC
Nicholas Althoff, Ware Shoals, SC US
Patent application number | Description | Published |
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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 |
20110142669 | 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. | 06-16-2011 |
Nicholas K. Althoff, Ware Shoals, SC US
Patent application number | Description | Published |
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20090035148 | Wind Turbine Blade Drainage - A wind turbine includes a tower supporting a drive train with a rotor, at least one hollow blade extending radially from the rotor; a drain hole arranged in a tip portion of the blade; a baffle, arranged inside the blade and inboard of the drain hole, for impeding a flow of particulate matter to the drain hole; a flexible drain conduit arranged inside the blade for connecting to the drain hole; and a non-flexible drain conduit arranged inside the blade for connecting to the flexible drain conduit, the non-flexible conduit having a plurality of openings for receiving fluid from inside the blade. | 02-05-2009 |
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 |
20090148291 | MULTI-SECTION WIND TURBINE ROTOR BLADES AND WIND TURBINES INCORPORATING SAME - A multi-section blade for a wind turbine comprising a hub extender connected to a hub of the wind turbine is provided. The blade includes at least one pitchable outboard section. The hub extender can have a pitch bearing located near the interface between the hub and hub extender, or the hub extender and outboard blade section. The hub extender can be configured to pitch or not pitch with the outboard blade sections. An aerodynamic fairing is configured to mount over the hub extender and is configured to not pitch with the outboard blade sections. | 06-11-2009 |
20090184811 | METHODS AND SYSTEM FOR AN IMPACT AVOIDANCE SYSTEM - A system and methods of impact avoidance for a load transport system are provided. The method includes coupling an elongated load to a transport vehicle, wherein the load includes a supported portion and a cantilevered portion such that the cantilevered portion exceeds a support dimension of the transport vehicle. The method further includes coupling at least one proximity sensor to the load, determining a distance from either the proximity sensor or the load to an object in the field of view of the sensor, transmitting the signal corresponding to the determined distance to a control unit, comparing the determined distance to a predetermined allowable clearance distance and generating a signal based on the comparison. | 07-23-2009 |
20090196751 | WIND TURBINE BLADE WITH LIGHTNING RECEPTOR - A wind turbine blade having two shell portions bonded together to form a wind turbine blade having an interior space having an axial length. A web disposed between the shell portions in the interior space and extending substantially the axial length thereof. Lightning receptors are disposed on the shell portions and a conductor is disposed in the interior space. The conductor is configured to contact the lightning receptors. One shell portion of the two shell portions has a removable section, e.g. a plug, receptor or panel, to provide access to the opposite conductor. A cable mounted on the web is configured to extend substantially the axial length of the wind turbine blade and is in electrical contact with the conductor. | 08-06-2009 |
20090232658 | BLADE HAVING A DAMPING ELEMENT AND METHOD OF FABRICATING SAME - A blade for a wind turbine includes a body adapted for movement in response to wind flow past the blade body. The body has an inner surface defining an interior chamber and an opposite outer surface. At least one damping element extends from the inner surface of the body. The at least one damping element is configured to facilitate reducing an amount of noise generated by and propagating through the blade. | 09-17-2009 |
Nicholas Keane Althoff, Ware Shoals, SC US
Patent application number | Description | Published |
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20090116966 | WIND TURBINE BLADES AND METHODS FOR FORMING SAME - A method of forming a wind turbine blade includes forming a fiber-reinforced resin body. The fiber-reinforced resin body includes a fiber-resin matrix formed with, at least partially, at least one of at least one resin/additive mixture produced by mixing at least one first opaque additive within a first quantity of resin and a first layer of fibers having a plurality of pigmented fibers. The pigmented fibers are formed by at least one of impregnating at least a portion of the first layer of fibers with at least one second opaque additive and forming at least one layer of opaque coating over at least a portion of the first layer of fibers. The opaque coating has a third opaque additive. | 05-07-2009 |
20090146433 | Method and apparatus for fabricating wind turbine components - A method of assembling a wind turbine blade includes forming a preform pressure surface member and a preform suction surface member. The method also includes forming at least one of a leading edge and a trailing edge. One method of forming the leading edge or the trailing edge includes coupling a preform cap member to one of a portion of the preform pressure surface member and a portion of the preform suction surface member. At least a portion of one of the preform pressure surface member and the preform suction surface member overlap at least a portion of the preform bond cap member. Another method of forming the leading edge or the trailing edge includes coupling the preform pressure surface member to the preform suction surface member wherein at least a portion of the preform pressure surface member overlaps at least a portion of the preform suction surface member. | 06-11-2009 |
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 |