Patents by Inventor Peter Grabau

Peter Grabau 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).

  • Publication number: 20120009064
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a wind turbine blade for a rotor of a wind turbine having a substantially horizontal rotor shaft. The blade may comprise a profiled contour comprising a pressure side and a suction side as well as a leading edge and a trailing edge, a chord extending between the leading edge and the trailing edge, and the profiled contour generating a lift when being impacted by an incident airflow. In a cross section of the wind turbine blade perpendicular to a lengthwise direction of the wind turbine blade, a suction side point is defined on the suction side at the trailing edge of the blade, and a pressure side point is defined on the pressure side at the trailing edge of the blade. The suction side point is movable in relation to the pressure side point, and the blade is further provided with a displacement device configured to displace the pressure side point and the suction side point so that a distance between the suction side point and the pressure side point can be varied.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 1, 2011
    Publication date: January 12, 2012
    Applicant: LM GLASFIBER A/S
    Inventors: Peter BAEK, Peter GRABAU
  • Patent number: 7994652
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a method of increasing the output of a wind turbine, wherein one or more flow surfaces are placed at a wind turbine. At lower wind speeds, the flow surfaces are set to guide the wind up towards and/or out from the rotor of the wind turbine and hence use the venturi effect in the rotor to advantage. At higher wind speeds, the flow surfaces are completely or partially taken out of the flow of the wind. Moreover, the flow surfaces can be adjusted around the wind turbine based on measurements of the speed of the wind and direction of the wind and/or the power signal of the wind turbine. The invention further relates to a system comprising one or more flow surfaces and means for adjusting same to the effect that the output of a wind turbine can be maximized by using the venturi effect to advantage as described above.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 18, 2006
    Date of Patent: August 9, 2011
    Assignee: LM Glasfiber A/S
    Inventors: Peter Grabau, Tommy Sorensen
  • Publication number: 20110180209
    Abstract: A method of manufacturing a wind turbine blade shell part comprising fibre material impregnated with cured resin is described. The method comprises the steps of: a) providing a first mould part having a first forming surface with a contour that defines at least a part of an outer surface of turbine blade shell part, b) arranging fibre material in the first mould part, the fibre material comprising fibres of a magnetisable material, c) providing a resin in the first mould part simultaneous with and/or subsequent to step b), and d) curing the resin in order to form the wind turbine blade shell part or wind turbine blade. The fibre material is retained against the first forming surface by use of magnet means during step b) and/or step c).
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 14, 2009
    Publication date: July 28, 2011
    Applicant: LM GLASFIBER A/S
    Inventor: Peter Grabau
  • Publication number: 20110164987
    Abstract: A method of manufacturing a shell construction part of a wind turbine blade, the shell construction part being made of a fibre reinforced polymer material including a polymer matrix and fibre reinforcement material embedded in the polymer matrix. The method comprises the steps of a) providing a forming structure comprising a mould cavity and having a longitudinal direction, b) placing the fibre reinforcement material in mould cavity, c) providing a resin in the mould cavity simultaneously with and/or subsequently to step b), and d) curing the resin in order to form the composite structure, wherein at least 20% by volume of the fibre reinforcement material consists of metallic wires.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 14, 2009
    Publication date: July 7, 2011
    Applicant: LM GLASFIBER A/S
    Inventor: Peter Grabau
  • Publication number: 20110129646
    Abstract: This invention relates to a method for manufacturing a composite member, where a number of different material layers including at least one layer of gelcoat are applied in a mould, and where resin is applied for joining of the layers. The method is new in that particles are added to the gelcoat, whereby the gelcoat comprising such particles forms an outermost layer on at least a part of the manufactured composite member. Hereby is obtained a composite with a hydrophobic and lotus-like surface yielding good self-cleaning properties and which is on the same time self-regenerating. The invention furthermore relates to composite members comprising such a gelcoat layer with particles and to the use of gelcoat comprising particles for giving regenerating self-cleaning properties.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 4, 2009
    Publication date: June 2, 2011
    Applicant: LM GLASFIBER A/S
    Inventor: Peter Grabau
  • Publication number: 20110094428
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a method for transporting a blade for a wind turbine, comprising the steps of lowering said wind turbine blade into water, whereby it floats, and transporting said blade in the water. The invention further relates to a wind turbine blade with its holes sealed, making the blade transportable by floating, and a blade comprising a keel, propeller and a rudder.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 3, 2008
    Publication date: April 28, 2011
    Applicant: LM GLASFIBER A/S
    Inventor: Peter Grabau
  • Patent number: 7802961
    Abstract: Offshore wind turbine (14) including a tower (1) rising above sea level (12) and one or ore blades (4), which can be put into rotation by wind. The offshore wind turbine includes a pump (6), which is adapted to pump sea water (13) up form the sea. At the delivery side the pump (6) communicates with nozzles (8, 9), said nozzles being adapted to direct sea water to the surface of the blades (4).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 21, 2005
    Date of Patent: September 28, 2010
    Assignee: LM Glasfiber A/S
    Inventor: Peter Grabau
  • Publication number: 20100129229
    Abstract: the present invention relates to a table for a wind turbine equipped with attachment devices 103 for attaching servicing equipment, 401, 402, said attachment means being attached at and accessible from the blade exterior. They may be located in cavities and be covered when not in use. Hereby it is accomplished that the blade can be serviced and repaired while positioned horizontally without the attachment devices as such otherwise influencing the aerodynamic properties of the blade. One possibility is that during manufacturing such a cavity is closed but the cavity can later be broken open. Additionally, the invention relates to a wind turbine featuring such blade and a method of servicing a blade when mounted on a wind turbine, wherein servicing equipment is attached to at least one attachment device in the blade. It is furthermore mentioned, that the attachment devices might be used when mounting a blade.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 20, 2006
    Publication date: May 27, 2010
    Inventor: Peter Grabau
  • Patent number: 7690875
    Abstract: A method of transporting and storing a wind turbine blade includes providing a wind turbine blade including a blade root having a longitudinal central axis and a blade tip. The wind turbine blade curves in an unloaded state in such a manner that the blade presents a substantially concave face and a substantially convex face, and such that the blade tip is spaced apart from the longitudinal central axis of the blade root. The wind turbine blade is prestressed at a distance from the blade root in such a manner that the blade tip is brought closer to the longitudinal central axis of the blade root.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 9, 2004
    Date of Patent: April 6, 2010
    Assignee: LM Glasfiber A/S
    Inventor: Peter Grabau
  • Publication number: 20100014970
    Abstract: A blade (10) for a wind turbine rotor with a hub is described. The blade extends in a longitudinal direction along a longitudinal axis and having a root area (16) closest to the hub and a tip region furthest away from the hub. The blade (10) along at least a portion of the longitudinal direction of the blade has an envelope, which defines an airfoil profile having, in normal operation, a pressure side (20) and a suction side (19), and further having a leading edge (18) and a trailing edge (17), which edges define an airfoil chord line extending between them. The blade (10) comprises adjustable lift-regulating means extending in the longitudinal direction of the blade (10), and activating means by means of which the lift-regulating means can be adjusted and thus alter the aerodynamic properties of the blade (10).
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 4, 2008
    Publication date: January 21, 2010
    Applicant: LM GLASFIBER A/S
    Inventors: Stefano Bove, Peter Grabau
  • Publication number: 20090295164
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a method of increasing the output of a wind turbine, wherein one or more flow surfaces are placed at a wind turbine. At lower wind speeds, the flow surfaces are set to guide the wind up towards and/or out from the rotor of the wind turbine and hence use the venturi effect in the rotor to advantage. At higher wind speeds, the flow surfaces are completely or partially taken out of the flow of the wind. Moreover, the flow surfaces can be adjusted around the wind turbine based on measurements of the speed of the wind and direction of the wind and/or the power signal of the wind turbine. The invention further relates to a system comprising one or more flow surfaces and means for adjusting same to the effect that the output of a wind turbine can be maximised by using the venturi effect to advantage as described above.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 18, 2006
    Publication date: December 3, 2009
    Inventors: Peter Grabau, Tommy Sorensen
  • Publication number: 20090285691
    Abstract: A blade (1) for a wind turbine rotor having a substantially horizontal rotor shaft, said rotor comprising a hub, comprises, seen in longitudinal direction along a longitudinal axis (10), a root area (2) closest to the hub, an airfoil area (4) furthest away from the hub and a transition area (3) between the root area (2) and the airfoil area (4). Seen in transverse direction, the blade (1) comprises a leading edge (5) and a trailing edge (6) as well as a chord plane (K) extending between the leading edge (5) and the trailing edge (6) of the blade (1). A surface zone with a plurality of indentations (7) and/or projections is provided in at least the root area (2), said indentations and/or projections being formed and dimensioned to improve the wind flow across the surface of the blade (1).
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 5, 2006
    Publication date: November 19, 2009
    Inventor: Peter Grabau
  • Publication number: 20090232656
    Abstract: A blade (1) 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 from said rotor when mounted. The blade (1) has a chord plane (K) extending between the leading edge (5) and the trailing edge (S) of the blade (1). The blade (1) comprises a root area (2) closest to the hub, an airfoil area (4) furthest away from the hub and a transition area (3) between the root area (2) and the airfoil area (4), and comprises a single airfoil along substantially the entire airfoil area (4). The blade (1) comprises at least a first root segment (7) and a second root segment (8) along substantially the entire root area (2), said segments being arranged with a mutual distance, as seen transverse to the chord plane (K). At least one of the root segments (7, 8) has an airfoil profile.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 17, 2006
    Publication date: September 17, 2009
    Inventor: Peter Grabau
  • Publication number: 20090129927
    Abstract: A wind power plant (1) having a lightning protection arrangement comprises a plurality of blades (2) extending radially outwards from a hub (3) and together with said hub forming the rotor. An electrically conductive lightning protection means (4) is arranged between two adjacent blades (2).
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 6, 2006
    Publication date: May 21, 2009
    Inventor: Peter Grabau
  • Publication number: 20090104038
    Abstract: A wind turbine rotor blade comprising a series of profiles is presented, which series of profiles comprises a number of profiles describing the outline of the blade transversally of its longitudinal axis, wherein some of the profiles of the series of profiles comprise approximately the same profile rear edge which describes at least a portion of the rear edge of the blade. The rear edge of the blade is configured in one piece and/or of a flexible material. Moreover a method of designing a series of profiles for a wind turbine rotor blade is presented.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 20, 2006
    Publication date: April 23, 2009
    Inventor: Peter Grabau
  • Publication number: 20080317583
    Abstract: Offshore wind turbine (14) including a tower (1) rising above sea level (12) and one or ore blades (4), which can be put into rotation by wind. The offshore wind turbine includes a pump (6), which is adapted to pump sea water (13) up form the sea. At the delivery side the pump (6) communicates with nozzles (8, 9), said nozzles being adapted to direct sea water to the surface of the blades (4).
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 21, 2005
    Publication date: December 25, 2008
    Inventor: Peter Grabau
  • Patent number: 7364407
    Abstract: The invention relates to a wind turbine blade and a transitional shell blank for the manufacture of the shell of a wind turbine blade, the blade or the transitional shell blank being made of fibre-reinforced polymer including a first type of fibres (1, 3, 6) of a first stiffness and a first elongation at breakage, and a second type of fibres (2, 5, 7) of a different stiffness and a different elongation at breakage. According to the invention the two types of fibres are distributed in the polymer matrix. When seen in a sectional view perpendicular to longitudinal direction of the blade or the transitional shell blank, the quantitative ratio of the two types of fibres varies continuously in the longitudinal direction of the blade or of the transition shell blank.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 19, 2003
    Date of Patent: April 29, 2008
    Assignee: LM Glasfiber A/S
    Inventors: Peter Grabau, Lars Fuglsang Andersen
  • Patent number: 7293959
    Abstract: Wind turbine blade (10) including adjustable lift-regulating means (12, 13, 15, 17, 19, 21) arranged on or at the surface of the wind turbine blade (10), said lift-regulating means being provided with activating means by means of which they can be adjusted and thus alter the aerodynamic properties of the blade (10). The lift-regulating means (12, 13, 15, 17, 19, 21) and the activating means are adapted and arranged such that by activation of the activating means, the lift can be reduced in a zone extending in the longitudinal direction of the blade (10) from a first position adjacent the blade tip (14) to a second position between the position and the blade root (16) and this second position is variable in the longitudinal direction of the blade (10) by adjusting activate means. The lift-regulating means are formed of at least one flexible flap (12, 13, 15, 17, 19, 21).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 29, 2004
    Date of Patent: November 13, 2007
    Assignee: LM Glasfibeer A/S
    Inventors: Bernt Ebbe Pedersen, Jørgen Dahl Vestergaard, Peter Grabau, Ib Frydendal
  • Patent number: 7182575
    Abstract: A wind turbine has a generator (7) with a connected rotor (3) having a hub (4) and blades (5) rotatably connected to the hub for adjusting the pitch angle. In a method of operating such a wind turbine under climatic conditions, where there is a risk of icing on the blades and no or weak wind, the generator is used as a motor for driving the rotor and the pitch angle of the blades is adjusted to ensure that the resulting wind substantially hits the leading edge of the blades. It is thus ensured that any icing only occurs on the leading edge of the blades. Any ice formed may be removed by means of de-icing in a known manner.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 16, 2003
    Date of Patent: February 27, 2007
    Assignee: LM Glasfiber A/S
    Inventor: Peter Grabau
  • Publication number: 20070003403
    Abstract: Wind turbine blade (10) including adjustable lift-regulating means (12, 13, 15, 17, 19, 21) arranged on or at the surface of the wind turbine blade (10), said lift-regulating means being provided with activating means by means of which they can be adjusted and thus alter the aerodynamic properties of the blade (10). The lift-regulating means (12, 13, 15, 17, 19, 21) and the activating means are adapted and arranged such that by activation of the activating means, the lift can be reduced in a zone extending in the longitudinal direction of the blade (10) from a first position adjacent the blade tip (14) to a second position between the first position and the blade root (16) and this second position is variable in the longitudinal direction of the blade (10) by adjusting the activate means. The lift-regulating means are formed of at least one flexible flap (12, 13, 15, 17, 19, 21).
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 29, 2004
    Publication date: January 4, 2007
    Inventors: Bernt Pedersen, Jorgen Vestergaard, Peter Grabau, Ib Frydendal