Patents by Inventor Brandon Shane Gerber
Brandon Shane Gerber has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).
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Patent number: 8753092Abstract: In one aspect, a method for manufacturing a rotor blade for a wind turbine is disclosed. The method may generally include assembling a blade blank comprising a shear member and a volume of core material and removing material from the blade blank to form a body having a pressure side and a suction side extending between a leading edge and a trailing edge. The shear member may have a first end disposed adjacent to the pressure side and a second end disposed adjacent to the suction side. In addition, the method may include positioning a skin around an outer perimeter of the body.Type: GrantFiled: December 27, 2012Date of Patent: June 17, 2014Assignee: General Electric CompanyInventors: Eric Lee Bell, Brandon Shane Gerber, Alexander William Vossler
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Patent number: 8704393Abstract: A method and system for controlling a wind turbine generator at wind speeds in excess of rated wind speed to detect wind speeds and, at rated wind speed, control generator torque and generator rotational speed to achieve a rated power for the wind turbine generator. As wind speed increases beyond the rated wind speed, one of generator torque or generator rotational speed is increased and the other of generator rotational speed or generator torque is proportionally decreased to maintain the generator power substantially constant at rated power.Type: GrantFiled: August 9, 2012Date of Patent: April 22, 2014Assignee: General Electric CompanyInventors: Thomas Franklin Perley, Brandon Shane Gerber, Aaron Yarbrough
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Publication number: 20140086747Abstract: A method and system for reducing a torsional movement and/or a torsional loading of a tower of a wind turbine is disclosed includes generating a tower torsion signal with a detection system and providing the signal to an asymmetric load control assembly. The tower torsion signal may correspond to an actual torsional movement of the tower or a torsional loading of the tower. The asymmetric load control assembly is configured to mitigate an asymmetric load acting on the wind turbine using the tower torsion signal.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 27, 2012Publication date: March 27, 2014Applicant: GENERAL ELECTRIC COMPANYInventors: Thomas Franklin Perley, Brandon Shane Gerber
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Publication number: 20140050579Abstract: A system and method for braking a wind turbine includes monitoring rotation of the wind turbine generator rotor. A braking torque is applied to reduce the rotational speed of the rotor at a first setpoint rotational speed. The braking torque is proportionally increased as the rotational speed of the rotor increases beyond the first detected setpoint rotational speed up to a maximum braking torque.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 16, 2012Publication date: February 20, 2014Applicant: GENERAL ELECTRIC COMPANYInventors: Thomas Frank Perley, Brandon Shane Gerber, Aaron Yarbrough
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Publication number: 20140042745Abstract: A method and system for controlling a wind turbine generator at wind speeds in excess of rated wind speed to detect wind speeds and, at rated wind speed, control generator torque and generator rotational speed to achieve a rated power for the wind turbine generator. As wind speed increases beyond the rated wind speed, one of generator torque or generator rotational speed is increased and the other of generator rotational speed or generator torque is proportionally decreased to maintain the generator power substantially constant at rated power.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 9, 2012Publication date: February 13, 2014Applicant: GENERAL ELECTRIC COMPANYInventors: Thomas Franklin Perley, Brandon Shane Gerber, Aaron Yarbrough
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Publication number: 20130193686Abstract: A method for determining pitch angles for at least one rotor blade of a wind turbine during peak shaving is disclosed. The method may generally include receiving a signal with a controller associated with a peak shaving parameter of the wind turbine and determining a target pitch angle for the at least one rotor blade based on a mathematical relationship between the target pitch angle and the peak shaving parameter, wherein the mathematical relationship is modeled as a non-linear function.Type: ApplicationFiled: January 27, 2012Publication date: August 1, 2013Applicant: GENERAL ELECTRIC COMPANYInventors: Thomas Franklin Perley, Bruce Clark Busbey, Brandon Shane Gerber
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Patent number: 8360733Abstract: 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.Type: GrantFiled: September 9, 2011Date of Patent: January 29, 2013Assignee: General Electric CompanyInventors: Eric Lee Bell, Brandon Shane Gerber, Alexander William Vossler
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Patent number: 8317483Abstract: In one embodiment, a rotor blade includes a tip, a root, and a body extending between the tip and the root. The body has surfaces defining a pressure side, a suction side, a leading edge, and a trailing edge. The body further defines an inboard portion, an outboard portion, and a bend therebetween. The bend is defined such that the outboard portion extends outwardly with respect to the inboard portion. The bend is stiffened to reduce opening of the bend during deflection of the rotor blade.Type: GrantFiled: December 15, 2010Date of Patent: November 27, 2012Assignee: General Electric CompanyInventors: Brandon Shane Gerber, Eric Lee Bell
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Patent number: 8215906Abstract: The present invention relates to a method of controlling the aerodynamic load of a wind turbine blade by controlling the tip speed ratio (TSR) and/or blade pitch setting of the wind turbine blade so as to optimize power production. A wind turbine blade undergoes an aero-elastic response including deflection and twist that is a function of the blade loading. The blade loading is dependent on the wind speed, TSR, and pitch setting. The aero-elastic response requires a different TSR and/or pitch to be selected throughout the power curve in order to maintain the optimum power production and to improve energy capture.Type: GrantFiled: February 29, 2008Date of Patent: July 10, 2012Assignee: General Electric CompanyInventors: Kirk Gee Pierce, Brandon Shane Gerber, Stefan Herr
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Publication number: 20120141287Abstract: A joint for connecting a first blade segment and a second blade segment of a wind turbine rotor blade is disclosed. The joint includes a body, the body including an outer surface and an inner surface. The outer surface has an aerodynamic contour that generally corresponds to an aerodynamic contour of the first blade segment and the second blade segment. The body includes a pressure side and a suction side extending between a leading edge and a trailing edge. In some embodiments, the joint further includes a channel defined in the outer surface of the body. The channel includes a generally continuous base wall extending between opposing sidewalls. The inner surface includes the base wall. In other embodiments, the joint further includes a channel defined in the body, and a shell extending from the body in a generally span-wise direction.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 29, 2011Publication date: June 7, 2012Applicant: GENERAL ELECTRIC COMPANYInventors: Daniel Alan Hynum, Charles Erklin Seeley, Bruce Clark Busbey, Brandon Shane Gerber, Peggy Lynn Baehmann, Roger Neal Johnson
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Publication number: 20120141283Abstract: 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.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 9, 2011Publication date: June 7, 2012Applicant: GENERAL ELECTRIC COMPANYInventors: Eric Lee Bell, Brandon Shane Gerber, Alexander William Vossler
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Patent number: 8186964Abstract: 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.Type: GrantFiled: December 10, 2010Date of Patent: May 29, 2012Assignee: General Electric CompanyInventors: Eric Lee Bell, Jamie Livingston, Matthew G. Gann, Brandon Shane Gerber
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Publication number: 20110223034Abstract: A rotor blade for a wind turbine is disclosed. In one embodiment, the rotor blade includes a tip, a root, and a body extending between the tip and the root. The body has surfaces defining a pressure side, a suction side, a leading edge, and a trailing edge. The body further defines an inboard portion, an outboard portion, and a bend therebetween. The bend is defined such that the outboard portion extends outwardly with respect to the inboard portion. The bend is stiffened to reduce opening of the bend during deflection of the rotor blade.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 15, 2010Publication date: September 15, 2011Applicant: GENERAL ELECTRIC COMPANYInventors: Brandon Shane Gerber, Eric Lee Bell
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Publication number: 20110206529Abstract: 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.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 10, 2010Publication date: August 25, 2011Applicant: GENERAL ELECTRIC COMPANYInventors: Eric Lee Bell, Jamie Livingston, Matthew G. Gann, Brandon Shane Gerber
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Publication number: 20090220340Abstract: The present invention relates to a method of controlling the aerodynamic load of a wind turbine blade by controlling the tip speed ratio (TSR) and/or blade pitch setting of the wind turbine blade so as to optimize power production. A wind turbine blade undergoes an aero-elastic response including deflection and twist that is a function of the blade loading. The blade loading is dependent on the wind speed, TSR, and pitch setting. The aero-elastic response requires a different TSR and/or pitch to be selected throughout the power curve in order to maintain the optimum power production and to improve energy capture.Type: ApplicationFiled: February 29, 2008Publication date: September 3, 2009Applicant: GENERAL ELECTRIC COMPANYInventors: Kirk Gee PIERCE, Brandon Shane GERBER, Stefan HERR
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Publication number: 20090116966Abstract: 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.Type: ApplicationFiled: November 6, 2007Publication date: May 7, 2009Inventors: Nicholas Keane Althoff, Brandon Shane Gerber, Uli Ramm