Patents by Inventor Roland Weitkamp
Roland Weitkamp 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: 9169830Abstract: A rotor blade (10) of a wind power plant having a first and a second duct (16, 17) running inside the rotor blade (10) for conducting an air flow (21, 22) is provided. A method for de-icing a rotor blade (10) of a wind power plant is also provided. The rotor blade has a partition device (15) which separates the ducts (16, 17) from one another, such that the first duct (16) is arranged on a first side of the partition device (15) at the pressure side (26) of the rotor blade (10), and the second duct (17) is arranged on a second side of the partition device (15) at the suction side (25) of the rotor blade (10). In the method, the flow speed of the air flow provided in the first and second duct (16, 17) is predefined at least in portions of the rotor blade (10).Type: GrantFiled: December 14, 2012Date of Patent: October 27, 2015Assignee: SENVION SEInventors: Roland Weitkamp, Peter Quell
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Patent number: 8247913Abstract: A method for operating a wind energy installation and a system for implementing the method. An oblique incident flow value, which represents the difference between the wind direction and the direction of a rotor axis of the wind energy installation, and a load value, which represents the load state of the wind energy installation, are determined. A total load value is determined based on the load value and the oblique incident flow value. The rotor rotation speed is reduced when the total load value is above a first limit value. The wind energy installation is shut down when, in addition, a second limit value is exceeded. The method makes it possible to react objectively to oblique incident flows and can reduce a load on a wind energy installation without causing large yield losses.Type: GrantFiled: April 22, 2009Date of Patent: August 21, 2012Assignee: REpower Systems AGInventors: Martin von Mutius, Roland Weitkamp, Jochen Anemueller
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Patent number: 8169097Abstract: A method for the operation of a wind power plant (10), wherein in particular the wind power plant (10) will be or is switched off after a shutdown signal is triggered by a safety shutdown device (20) that is logically superordinate to an operating control system. The wind power plant (10) is released for operation by means of an operating device (41) that is spatially separated from the wind power plant (10) after a safety shutdown. An energy supply system with at least one wind power plant (10) and safety chain on a wind power plant are also described.Type: GrantFiled: July 5, 2007Date of Patent: May 1, 2012Assignee: Repower Systems AGInventor: Roland Weitkamp
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Publication number: 20100013227Abstract: The invention relates to a method for the operation of a wind power plant (10), wherein in particular the wind power plant (10) will be or is switched off after a shutdown signal is triggered by a safety shutdown device (20) that is logically superordinate to an operating control system. The method is characterized in that the wind power plant (10) is released for operation by means of an operating device (41) that is spatially separated from the wind power plant (10) after a safety shutdown. The invention also relates to an energy supply system with at least one wind power plant (10). Moreover, the invention relates to a safety chain on a wind power plant.Type: ApplicationFiled: July 5, 2007Publication date: January 21, 2010Applicant: REPOWER SYSTEMS AGInventor: Roland Weitkamp
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Publication number: 20090261588Abstract: A method for operating a wind energy installation and a system for implementing the method. An oblique incident flow value, which represents the difference between the wind direction and the direction of a rotor axis of the wind energy installation, and a load value, which represents the load state of the wind energy installation, are determined. A total load value is determined based on the load value and the oblique incident flow value. The rotor rotation speed is reduced when the total load value is above a first limit value. The wind energy installation is shut down when, in addition, a second limit value is exceeded. The method makes it possible to react objectively to oblique incident flows and can reduce a load on a wind energy installation without causing large yield losses.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 22, 2009Publication date: October 22, 2009Applicant: REpower Systems AGInventors: Martin VON MUTIUS, Roland WEITKAMP, Jochen ANEMUELLER
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Patent number: 7603202Abstract: A method for optimizing the operation of wind energy installations includes operating target and reference wind energy installations to optimize the target installation first using a first set of operating parameters and then using a second set of operating parameters different from the first operating parameters, recording target variables for the target wind energy installation and recording reference results of the reference wind energy installation in each case for both sets of operating parameters, performing an automated evaluation of the target variables by calculation of a quality measure taking account of the reference results, and determining in an automated manner based on the automated evaluation which of the sets of operating parameters has better quality measure. Each wind installation includes comprise a rotor, a generator driven by the rotor to produce electrical energy, and a controller operating the wind energy installation on the basis of a set of operating parameters.Type: GrantFiled: November 22, 2005Date of Patent: October 13, 2009Assignee: REpower Systems AGInventor: Roland Weitkamp
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Publication number: 20070299548Abstract: A method for optimizing the operation of wind energy installations includes operating target and reference wind energy installations to optimize the target installation first using a first set of operating parameters and then using a second set of operating parameters different from the first operating parameters, recording target variables for the target wind energy installation and recording reference results of the reference wind energy installation in each case for both sets of operating parameters, performing an automated evaluation of the target variables by calculation of a quality measure taking account of the reference results, and determining in an automated manner based on the automated evaluation which of the sets of operating parameters has better quality measure. Each wind installation includes comprise a rotor, a generator driven by the rotor to produce electrical energy, and a controller operating the wind energy installation on the basis of a set of operating parameters.Type: ApplicationFiled: November 22, 2005Publication date: December 27, 2007Applicant: REpower Systems AGInventor: Roland Weitkamp
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Patent number: 7276808Abstract: Disclosed is a tower for a wind power station comprising a machine pod disposed on the tower and a rotor mounted on the machine pod so as to be rotatable about an essentially horizontal axis. Said rotor is provided with at least one blade. The tower is composed of a tubular upper section that is connected to a lower section which is embodied as a lattice tower in a transition zone. The lattice tower encompasses at least three corner posts. The upper tower section forms at least one sixth of the entire tower. The cross section of the lower tower section below the transition zone is greater than the cross section of the upper tower section while the transition zone is configured such that the cross section of the lower tower section is adjusted to the cross section of the upper tower section so as to optimize power flux.Type: GrantFiled: August 25, 2004Date of Patent: October 2, 2007Assignee: Repower Systems AGInventors: Roland Weitkamp, Uwe Hinz, Stephan Schäfer
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Publication number: 20060267348Abstract: Disclosed is a tower for a wind power station comprising a machine pod disposed on the tower and a rotor mounted on the machine pod so as to be rotatable about an essentially horizontal axis. Said rotor is provided with at least one blade. The tower is composed of a tubular upper section that is connected to a lower section which is embodied as a lattice tower in a transition zone. The lattice tower encompasses at least three corner posts. The upper tower section forms at least one sixth of the entire tower. The cross section of the lower tower section below the transition zone is greater than the cross section of the upper tower section while the transition zone is configured such that the cross section of the lower tower section is adjusted to the cross section of the upper tower section so as to optimize power flux.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 25, 2004Publication date: November 30, 2006Applicant: REPOWER SYSTEMS AGInventors: Roland Weitkamp, Uwe Hinz, Stephan Schafer
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Patent number: 6940186Abstract: The invention relates to a wind power plant with a tower, a rotor having at least one rotor blade being substantially radially distant with respect to a rotor axis and being rotatably supported with respect to a substantially horizontal rotation axis in a portion at the top of said tower, preferably at machine nacelle rotatably supported on a rotation axis extending substantially along the gravitational direction, a sensor means associated to said rotor for generating sensor signals depending on the mechanical load of the rotor, and an analysis means, especially a data processing means, wherein at least two, preferably pair-wise mounted, sensor elements are associated to at least one, preferably to each, rotor blade of the rotor and the evaluation means is designed for determining evaluation signals representing the mechanical loads of at least one rotor blade on the basis of the sensor signals generated by the sensor elements associated to this rotor blade.Type: GrantFiled: May 2, 2003Date of Patent: September 6, 2005Assignee: General Electric CompanyInventor: Roland Weitkamp
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Patent number: 6879055Abstract: To facilitate transport and assembly during the erecting of wind power plants, a two-part base frame is proposed for the azimuthal adjustment of the gondola on the tower of the wind power plant, the lower part of which 16 has the azimuthal drive device 23 and the upper part 6 of which has the drive train 1, 2, 12, 13, 14. Both parts are pre-assembled at the factory, set onto the tower, and screwed tight onto each other at their connection point 15.Type: GrantFiled: April 19, 2002Date of Patent: April 12, 2005Assignee: General Electric CompanyInventors: Markus Becker, Roland Weitkamp, Vincent Schellings
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Patent number: 6870281Abstract: The invention concerns wind newer plant stabilization. An embodiment of a wind power plant includes a rotor to rotate about a rotor axis, a rotor blade coupled with the rotor, the rotor blade including a torque adjustment, and a stabilizing system to stabilize the rotor in a position, the stabilizing system including a control to adjust the torque of the rotor blade to counteract changes in a rotational position of the rotor.Type: GrantFiled: August 21, 2002Date of Patent: March 22, 2005Assignee: General Electric CompanyInventor: Roland Weitkamp
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Patent number: 6850821Abstract: A control system for a wind power plant that includes a damage module and a control module. The damage module compares existing stress conditions on one or more component parts of the wind power plant to current energy generating costs. The control module alters electric power generated by the wind power plant based upon the comparison.Type: GrantFiled: January 28, 2003Date of Patent: February 1, 2005Assignee: General Electric CompanyInventor: Roland Weitkamp
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Patent number: 6833632Abstract: The invention involves a coupling device for a wind power plant with a rotor shaft that carries at least one rotor blade of the wind power plant, a gear shaft running coaxially to the rotor shaft, and a coupling device coupling the rotor shaft to the gear shaft, whereby the coupling device has at least one connection element that can be detachably affixed on the rotor shaft to an attachment element designed to create a positive locking connection, and one coupling element designed to create a friction-fit connection between the connection element, on the one hand, and an additional connection element and/or the gear shaft, on the other hand.Type: GrantFiled: April 19, 2002Date of Patent: December 21, 2004Assignee: General Electric CompanyInventors: Markus Becker, Roland Weitkamp, Vincent Schellings
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Patent number: 6783326Abstract: Two independent adjusting systems are recommended for each rotor blade (6) for blade angle adjustments of the rotor blades (6) of the rotor of a wind power plant, assuring full redundancy of the blade angle adjustment. By suitable control of the individual adjustment paths of the two adjustments systems, additional advantageous effects can be gained, such as good lubricant distribution and/or even load distribution over time (FIG. 1).Type: GrantFiled: August 20, 2002Date of Patent: August 31, 2004Assignee: General Electric CompanyInventors: Roland Weitkamp, Henning Lütze, André Riesberg, Jochen Anemüller
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Publication number: 20040108732Abstract: The invention relates to a wind power plant with a tower, a rotor having at least one rotor blade being substantially radially distant with respect to a rotor axis and being rotatably supported with respect to a substantially horizontal rotation axis in a portion at the top of said tower, preferably at machine nacelle rotatably supported on a rotation axis extending substantially along the gravitational direction, a sensor means associated to said rotor for generating sensor signals depending on the mechanical load of the rotor, and an analysis means, especially a data processing means, wherein at least two, preferably pair-wise mounted, sensor elements are associated to at least one, preferably to each, rotor blade of the rotor and the evaluation means is designed for determining evaluation signals representing the mechanical loads of at least one rotor blade on the basis of the sensor signals generated by the sensor elements associated to this rotor blade.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 2, 2003Publication date: June 10, 2004Inventor: Roland Weitkamp
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Publication number: 20030127862Abstract: A control system for a wind power plant comprises sensor means for the detection of measurement values to be used for direct or indirect quantification of the current loading and/or stress of the turbine occurring in dependence on the local and meteorological conditions. Downstream of said detection means, an electronic signal processing system is provided, operative to the effect that the power reduction required in the optimized condition of the wind power plant will be restricted to obtain optimum economical efficiency under the current operating conditions, both in cases of winds in the range of the nominal wind velocity and in cases of high wind velocities.Type: ApplicationFiled: January 28, 2003Publication date: July 10, 2003Inventor: Roland Weitkamp
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Publication number: 20030116970Abstract: Two independent adjusting systems are recommended for each rotor blade (6) for blade angle adjustment of the rotor blades (6) of the rotor of a wind power plant, assuring full redundancy of the blade angle adjustment. By suitable control of the individual adjustment paths of the two adjustment systems, additional advantageous effects can be gained, such as good lubricant distribution and/or even load distribution over time (FIG. 1).Type: ApplicationFiled: August 20, 2002Publication date: June 26, 2003Inventors: Roland Weitkamp, Henning Lutze, Andre Riesberg, Jochen Anemuller
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Publication number: 20030102677Abstract: The invention involves a coupling device for a wind power plant with a rotor shaft that carries at least one rotor blade of the wind power plant, a gear shaft running coaxially to the rotor shaft, and a coupling device coupling the rotor shaft to the gear shaft, whereby the coupling device has at least one connection element that can be detachably affixed on the rotor shaft to an attachment element designed to create a positive locking connection, and one coupling element designed to create a friction-fit connection between the connection element, on the one hand, and an additional connection element and/or the gear shaft, on the other hand.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 19, 2002Publication date: June 5, 2003Inventors: Markus Becker, Roland Weitkamp, Vincent Schellings
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Publication number: 20030080566Abstract: To facilitate transport and assembly during the erecting of wind power plants, a two-part base frame is proposed for the azimuthal adjustment of the gondola on the tower of the wind power plant, the lower part of which 16 has the azimuthal drive device 23 and the upper part 6 of which has the drive train 1, 2, 12, 13, 14. Both parts are pre-assembled at the factory, set onto the tower, and screwed tight onto each other at their connection point 15.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 19, 2002Publication date: May 1, 2003Inventors: Markus Becker, Roland Weitkamp, Vincent Schellings