Patents by Inventor David C. Magnuson

David C. Magnuson 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).

  • Resistive contact sensors for large blade and airfoil pressure and flow separation measurements
    Patent number: 8152440
    Abstract: A wind turbine blade instrumentation structure and method is provided for fluid dynamic polymer-based contact sensors measuring ambient pressure based on the resistivity changes across the sensor. The pressure sensors may applied in predetermined patterns to airfoil structures, such as wind turbine blades, without impacting the blade structure and fluid dynamic characteristics. The pressure sensors measure blade performance with high fidelity. The pressure measurements are transmitted to processing to determine blade characteristics and environment including flow separation, stagnation point, angle of attack, lift and drag and wind speed. Further processing of the pressure distribution may identify wind shear, up-flow and yaw error.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 25, 2008
    Date of Patent: April 10, 2012
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Danian Zheng, Brandon S. Gerber, David C. Magnuson, Lawrence D. Willey
  • RESISTIVE CONTACT SENSORS FOR LARGE BLADE AND AIRFOIL PRESSURE AND FLOW SEPARATION MEASUREMENTS
    Publication number: 20100054916
    Abstract: A wind turbine blade instrumentation structure and method is provided for fluid dynamic polymer-based contact sensors measuring ambient pressure based on the resistivity changes across the sensor. The pressure sensors may applied in predetermined patterns to airfoil structures, such as wind turbine blades, without impacting the blade structure and fluid dynamic characteristics. The pressure sensors measure blade performance with high fidelity. The pressure measurements are transmitted to processing to determine blade characteristics and environment including flow separation, stagnation point, angle of attack, lift and drag and wind speed. Further processing of the pressure distribution may identify wind shear, up-flow and yaw error.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 25, 2008
    Publication date: March 4, 2010
    Inventors: Danian Zheng, Brandon S. Gerber, David C. Magnuson, Lawrence D. Willey