Patents by Inventor Ian David Wilson
Ian David Wilson 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: 11536361Abstract: A modular gearbox assembly for a wind turbine having improved up-tower serviceability includes a low-speed gear stage module, a separate, intermediate-speed gear stage module adjacent to the low-speed gear stage module, and a separate high-speed gear stage module adjacent to the intermediate-speed gear stage module. The gearbox assembly also includes a first flange removably connecting the intermediate and high-speed gear stage modules and a second flange removably connecting the intermediate and low-speed gear stage modules. Thus, the low-speed gear stage module converts a low-speed, high torque input from a rotor shaft of the wind turbine to a high-speed, low torque output for a generator of the wind turbine via the intermediate and high-speed gear stage modules. In addition, the first and second flanges allow for easy disassembly of the gear stage modules such that the various stages can be easily repaired, replaced, and/or inspected.Type: GrantFiled: March 8, 2018Date of Patent: December 27, 2022Assignee: General Electric CompanyInventors: Raed Zuhair Hasan, Ian David Wilson, Lawrence Keith Taliaferro, Boobalan Ayyasamy
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Patent number: 10619721Abstract: A drivetrain assembly for a wind turbine includes a main shaft, a bearing operatively coupled to an end of the main shaft, a bearing housing surrounding the bearing, and a gearbox having, at least, a ring gear. The ring gear is positioned adjacent to the bearing housing and includes an outer circumferential surface. The drivetrain assembly also includes at least one flexible member arranged at an interface between the bearing housing and the ring gear. As such, the flexible member(s) is configured to reduce vibrations generated by the gearbox.Type: GrantFiled: July 21, 2017Date of Patent: April 14, 2020Assignee: General Electric CompanyInventor: Ian David Wilson
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Publication number: 20190277393Abstract: A modular gearbox assembly for a wind turbine having improved up-tower serviceability includes a low-speed gear stage module, a separate, intermediate-speed gear stage module adjacent to the low-speed gear stage module, and a separate high-speed gear stage module adjacent to the intermediate-speed gear stage module. The gearbox assembly also includes a first flange removably connecting the intermediate and high-speed gear stage modules and a second flange removably connecting the intermediate and low-speed gear stage modules. Thus, the low-speed gear stage module converts a low-speed, high torque input from a rotor shaft of the wind turbine to a high-speed, low torque output for a generator of the wind turbine via the intermediate and high-speed gear stage modules. In addition, the first and second flanges allow for easy disassembly of the gear stage modules such that the various stages can be easily repaired, replaced, and/or inspected.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 8, 2018Publication date: September 12, 2019Inventors: Raed Zuhair Hasan, Ian David Wilson, Lawrence Keith Taliaferro, Boobalan Ayyasamy
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Patent number: 10385830Abstract: A drive train of a wind turbine is disclosed as having a rotatable hub, a gearbox, a rotatable rotor shaft extending between the rotatable hub and the gearbox, and a main bearing assembly supporting the rotatable rotor shaft, the main bearing assembly having a main bearing housing enclosing one or more compound bearings, each of the one or more compound bearings having at least two axial thrust bearings and a radial bearing.Type: GrantFiled: July 14, 2017Date of Patent: August 20, 2019Assignee: General Electric CompanyInventors: Ian David Wilson, Edward Lee McGrath
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Publication number: 20190024776Abstract: A drivetrain assembly for a wind turbine includes a main shaft, a bearing operatively coupled to an end of the main shaft, a bearing housing surrounding the bearing, and a gearbox having, at least, a ring gear. The ring gear is positioned adjacent to the bearing housing and includes an outer circumferential surface. The drivetrain assembly also includes at least one flexible member arranged at an interface between the bearing housing and the ring gear. As such, the flexible member(s) is configured to reduce vibrations generated by the gearbox.Type: ApplicationFiled: July 21, 2017Publication date: January 24, 2019Inventor: Ian David Wilson
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Publication number: 20190017496Abstract: A drive train of a wind turbine is disclosed as having a rotatable hub, a gearbox, a rotatable rotor shaft extending between the rotatable hub and the gearbox, and a main bearing assembly supporting the rotatable rotor shaft, the main bearing assembly having a main bearing housing enclosing one or more compound bearings, each of the one or more compound bearings having at least two axial thrust bearings and a radial bearing.Type: ApplicationFiled: July 14, 2017Publication date: January 17, 2019Inventors: Ian David Wilson, Edward Lee McGrath
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Publication number: 20180038350Abstract: A method for refurbishing a wind turbine includes removing an existing machine head from the wind turbine, and providing a new machine head and an adapter. The new machine head includes a base frame, and further includes a plurality of fastener holes defined in the base frame. The adapter includes an outer sidewall and defining a first plurality of fastener holes and a second plurality of fastener holes, the first plurality of fastener holes disposed in a first hole pattern, the second plurality of fastener holes disposed in a second hole pattern different from the first hole pattern. The method further includes connecting the new machine head and the adapter such that the adapter is connected to and between a yaw bearing and one of the base frame or a top flange of a tower of the wind turbine.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 8, 2016Publication date: February 8, 2018Inventors: Jay F. Leonard, Ian David Wilson
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Patent number: 9856966Abstract: The present disclosure is directed to a drivetrain assembly for a wind turbine. The drivetrain assembly includes a gearbox having a ring gear, an annular torque support, and at least one flexible component configured therebetween. More specifically, the ring gear includes opposing inner and outer circumferential surfaces separated by side circumferential edges. The side circumferential edges include a rotor-side edge and a generator-side edge. The rotor-side edge has a first set of circumferentially-spaced teeth. The torque support has a generator-side surface having a second set of circumferentially-spaced teeth. Thus, the first set of teeth of the ring gear are configured to engage the second set of teeth of the torque support so as to couple the ring gear to the torque support. In addition, the flexible component is configured between the first and second sets of teeth so as to control vibrations in the wind turbine, e.g. transmission of gearbox-generated vibrations.Type: GrantFiled: August 27, 2014Date of Patent: January 2, 2018Assignee: General Electric CompanyInventor: Ian David Wilson
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Patent number: 9353729Abstract: An aerodynamic hub assembly for a wind turbine is disclosed. The hub assembly may include a hub extension, a rotor blade having a blade root and a blade tip, and a hub airfoil section mounted at least partially over the hub extension. The hub airfoil section may be fixed relative to the rotor blade or may be configured to rotate about a common pitch axis with the rotor blade. The hub extension may be connected to and extend radially from a center of the hub assembly. Further, the hub assembly may include a pitch bearing having an inner race and an outer race, wherein the pitch bearing may be coupled between the hub extension and the blade root. Additionally, the hub assembly may also include an aerodynamically-shaped spinner, wherein the spinner may house at least a portion of a root structure extending radially from the center of the hub assembly.Type: GrantFiled: July 2, 2013Date of Patent: May 31, 2016Assignee: General Electric CompanyInventors: Ian David Wilson, Kevin Wayne Kinzie, James Henry Madge, Daniel Jason Erno, Michael Colan Moscinski, Zaeem Ashraf Khan, Dmytro Floriyovych Opaits
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Publication number: 20160061191Abstract: The present disclosure is directed to a drivetrain assembly for a wind turbine. The drivetrain assembly includes a gearbox having a ring gear, an annular torque support, and at least one flexible component configured therebetween. More specifically, the ring gear includes opposing inner and outer circumferential surfaces separated by side circumferential edges. The side circumferential edges include a rotor-side edge and a generator-side edge. The rotor-side edge has a first set of circumferentially-spaced teeth. The torque support has a generator-side surface having a second set of circumferentially-spaced teeth. Thus, the first set of teeth of the ring gear are configured to engage the second set of teeth of the torque support so as to couple the ring gear to the torque support. In addition, the flexible component is configured between the first and second sets of teeth so as to control vibrations in the wind turbine, e.g. transmission of gearbox-generated vibrations.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 27, 2014Publication date: March 3, 2016Inventor: Ian David Wilson
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Patent number: 9249776Abstract: An aerodynamic dome structure that is placed in front of a wind turbine hub includes a plurality of arcuate panels. The arcuate panels are interconnected to form a dome-shaped structure. A plurality of arcuate radial spar supports may be employed to support the arcuate panels.Type: GrantFiled: February 19, 2014Date of Patent: February 2, 2016Assignee: General Electric CompanyInventors: Peggy Lynn Baehmann, Fulton Jose Lopez, Ian David Wilson, Robert Michael Zirin
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Publication number: 20150233342Abstract: An aerodynamic dome structure that is placed in front of a wind turbine hub includes a plurality of arcuate panels. The arcuate panels are interconnected to form a dome-shaped structure. A plurality of arcuate radial spar supports may be employed to support the arcuate panels.Type: ApplicationFiled: February 19, 2014Publication date: August 20, 2015Applicant: GENERAL ELECTRIC COMPANYInventors: Peggy Lynn Baehmann, Fulton Jose Lopez, Ian David Wilson, Robert Michael Zirin
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Publication number: 20150010403Abstract: An aerodynamic hub assembly for a wind turbine is disclosed. The hub assembly may include a hub extension, a rotor blade having a blade root and a blade tip, and a hub airfoil section mounted at least partially over the hub extension. The hub airfoil section may be fixed relative to the rotor blade or may be configured to rotate about a common pitch axis with the rotor blade. The hub extension may be connected to and extend radially from a center of the hub assembly. Further, the hub assembly may include a pitch bearing having an inner race and an outer race, wherein the pitch bearing may be coupled between the hub extension and the blade root. Additionally, the hub assembly may also include an aerodynamically-shaped spinner, wherein the spinner may house at least a portion of a root structure extending radially from the center of the hub assembly.Type: ApplicationFiled: July 2, 2013Publication date: January 8, 2015Inventors: Ian David Wilson, Kevin Wayne Kinzie, James Henry Madge, Daniel Jason Erno, Michael Colan Moscinski, Zaeem Ashraf Khan, Dmytro Floriyovych Opaits
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Patent number: 8845284Abstract: An apparatus for restricting fluid flow in a turbo-machine is disclosed. The apparatus includes: a first inter-stage sealing member configured to be located between a first rotating airfoil stage and a second rotating airfoil stage attached to a rotor shaft, the first inter-stage sealing member including a segmented structure that includes a plurality of segments forming a circumferential surface, the first inter-stage sealing member including: a first base portion including a securing mechanism configured to at least substantially radially and tangentially secure the inter-stage sealing member to an inter-stage support structure; a first axial retention mechanism; and a first axially extending sealing portion configured to be outwardly radially loaded against at least one of the first rotating airfoil stage and the second rotating airfoil stage.Type: GrantFiled: July 2, 2010Date of Patent: September 30, 2014Assignee: General Electric CompanyInventors: Thomas Raymond Farrell, Gary Charles Liotta, Ian David Wilson
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Patent number: 8777566Abstract: A casing includes an inner shell and an outer shell that surrounds the inner shell and comprises a plurality of inflection points. An annular flange is between the inner shell and the outer shell, and a plurality of joints attach the inner shell to the annular flange. A connector is between the annular flange and the outer shell at each of the plurality of inflection points. A method for assembling a casing includes joining a plurality of curved sections to one another to generally define an arcuate inner shell and surrounding the arcuate inner shell with an outer shell. The method further includes attaching the arcuate inner shell to an annular flange at first attachment points and connecting the annular flange to the outer shell at second attachment points spaced approximately equidistantly from the first attachment points.Type: GrantFiled: September 19, 2011Date of Patent: July 15, 2014Assignee: General Electric CompanyInventors: Stephen Christopher Chieco, Henry Grady Ballard, Ian David Wilson, Martel Alexander McCallum, Kenneth Damon Black, Christopher Paul Cox
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Patent number: 8651809Abstract: A casing includes an inner shell and an outer shell that surrounds the inner shell and comprises a plurality of inflection points. An annular flange is between the inner shell and the outer shell, and a plurality of joints attach the inner shell to the annular flange. A connector is between the annular flange and the outer shell at each of the plurality of inflection points. A method for assembling a casing includes joining a plurality of curved sections to one another to generally define an arcuate inner shell and surrounding the arcuate inner shell with an outer shell. The method further includes attaching the arcuate inner shell to an annular flange at first attachment points and connecting the annular flange to the outer shell at second attachment points spaced approximately equidistantly from the first attachment points.Type: GrantFiled: October 13, 2010Date of Patent: February 18, 2014Assignee: General Electric CompanyInventors: Henry Grady Ballard, Jr., Ian David Wilson, Martel Alexander McCallum, Stephen Christopher Chieco, Kenneth Damon Black, Christopher Paul Cox
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Patent number: 8511976Abstract: In accordance with one embodiment, a system includes a multi-stage turbine including a first turbine stage including a first wheel having multiple first slots spaced circumferentially about the first wheel, and multiple first blade segments each coupled to at least one of the multiple first slots. The multi-stage turbine also includes a second turbine stage including a second wheel having multiple second slots spaced circumferentially about the second wheel, and multiple second blade segments each coupled to at least one of the multiple second slots. The multi-stage turbine further includes a one-piece interstage seal extending axially between the first and second turbine stages, wherein the one-piece interstage seal comprises a first radial support coupled to the first wheel and a second radial support coupled to the second wheel, and the one-piece interstage seal extends circumferentially across at least two of the multiple first slots or at least two of the multiple second slots.Type: GrantFiled: August 2, 2010Date of Patent: August 20, 2013Assignee: General Electric CompanyInventors: Josef Scott Cummins, Ian David Wilson
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Patent number: 8348603Abstract: A gas turbine inner flow path cover piece for a gas turbine a first turbine wheel and a second turbine wheel is provided is provided. The gas turbine inner flow path cover piece can include a main body having an first surface and a second surface, side pieces disposed on the first surface of the main body and mating pairs disposed on the second surface of the main body.Type: GrantFiled: April 2, 2009Date of Patent: January 8, 2013Assignee: General Electric CompanyInventors: Andres Jose Garcia-Crespo, Bradley Taylor Boyer, John Wesley Harris, Jr., Brian Denver Potter, Ian David Wilson
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Patent number: 8267649Abstract: A system is disclosed that includes a turbine engine having a first rotary component having a first annular coupling disposed about a rotational axis of the engine. The first annular coupling has an axially converging surface relative to the rotational axis. The system also includes a second rotary component having a second annular coupling disposed about the rotational axis of the turbine engine, wherein the second annular coupling comprises an axially diverging surface such that the axially converging surface of the first annular coupling mates with the axially diverging surface.Type: GrantFiled: May 15, 2009Date of Patent: September 18, 2012Assignee: General Electric CompanyInventor: Ian David Wilson
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Patent number: 8251667Abstract: A retaining system is provided for circumferential entry rotor dovetails inserted into dovetail slot in a rotor. A plurality of rotor blade dovetails are circumferentially slidable into and along the dovetail slot, with each rotor blade dovetail having a neck and a pair of oppositely oriented lobes. A plurality of rail segments are circumferentially slid into channels in the dovetail slot between the dovetail lobes and the respective disk hoops. The rail segments define a first pressure face that engages against an outward pressure face of the dovetail lobes, and a second pressure face that engages against an inward pressure face of the respective disk hoop component.Type: GrantFiled: May 20, 2009Date of Patent: August 28, 2012Assignee: General Electric CompanyInventors: Ian David Wilson, Kenneth Damon Black, Bradley Scott Carter