Having Pitch Adjustment Patents (Class 416/89)
  • Patent number: 11897592
    Abstract: A propeller pitch adjustment assembly is provided with a base hub operatively connected by blade shafts to propeller blades in which each blade rotates about an axis of each shaft. Each blade shaft is radially disposed about a propeller drive shaft and parallel to a pressure flange of a base hub spring plate. The spring plate counterforces the blade rotation with a lever screw that impacts the plate. An opposing spring transfers a load to the plate. The equilibrium position of the plate is determined by the spring force on the lever and a counteracting force exerted on the lever by a lift force generated by fluid flow over a propeller blade. A capping mechanism can provide a preload to the spring. A force exerted by the lift of the blade on the lever screw results in a blade pitch change.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 21, 2023
    Date of Patent: February 13, 2024
    Inventor: Russell M Sylvia
  • Patent number: 11866150
    Abstract: A propeller safety device is provided. The propeller safety device is configured to insert a moving part of a propeller into a fixed part during a crash of an air mobility to allow a reduction in the total length of the propeller, thereby preventing the propeller from hitting the ground. Accordingly, a secondary accident due to fragments formed when the rotating propeller hits the ground is prevented.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 22, 2021
    Date of Patent: January 9, 2024
    Assignees: Hyundai Motor Company, Kia Corporation
    Inventors: Ji Woo Yoo, Youn Sic Nam, Keon Woo Kim, Kwan Ho Moh, Young Heon Kim
  • Patent number: 11697996
    Abstract: Methods, apparatus, systems, and articles of manufacture are disclosed to adjust a pitch axis of a blade of an engine. An example blade apparatus includes: a hub to facilitate movement of blades in an engine, the engine having a radial center line; and a trunnion connected to the hub. The example trunnion includes a slot to accommodate a first blade, and at least one of the trunnion or the first blade is positioned with at least one of a tilt or a lean with respect to the radial center line to form a pitch axis offset from the radial center line such that the pitch axis is not parallel to or co-linear with the radial center line. The example hub is to rotate the first blade about the pitch axis.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 24, 2021
    Date of Patent: July 11, 2023
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Nicholas Joseph Kray, Ian F. Prentice
  • Patent number: 11661161
    Abstract: A propeller (1) and a respective use method are described, comprising a cylindrical casing (3), a hub (2) couplable to an engine and rotatably mounted at least partially in the cylindrical casing of the propeller, and at least one blade (4) rotatably pivoted to the cylindrical casing. The hub (2) is rotatable with respect to the cylindrical casing of the propeller, or vice versa, to adjust the fluid dynamic pitch of the at least one blade (4). The propeller further comprises at least one elastic element (8) interposed between the hub (2) and the cylindrical casing (3) and it is characterized in that the elastic element (8) is preloaded to prevent its deformation until the resistant torque opposing the propeller rotation is lower than the torque generated by the preload of the elastic element (8), wherein said at least one blade is arranged on at least one first fixed fluid dynamic pitch before the deformation of the elastic element (8) begins.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 3, 2016
    Date of Patent: May 30, 2023
    Inventor: Massimiliano Bianchi
  • Patent number: 11466663
    Abstract: A wind turbine (1) comprising a tower (2), a nacelle (3) and a hub (7) is disclosed. The hub (7) comprises a blade canying structure (4) with one or more wind turbine blades (5) connected thereto. Each of the wind turbine blades (5) is connected to the blade canying structure (4) via a hinge (6) at a hinge position of the wind turbine blade (5), each wind turbine blade (5) thereby being arranged to perform pivot movements relative to the blade carrying structure (4) between a minimum pivot angle and a maximum pivot angle. The wind turbine (1) further comprises a stop mechanism arranged to move the wind turbine blades (5) to a safe pivot angle in the case of an emergency, the stop mechanism comprising a release mechanism (8, 12, 14) and at least one wire (9, 10) interconnecting the release mechanism (8, 12, 14) and each of the wind turbine blades (5).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 12, 2019
    Date of Patent: October 11, 2022
    Assignee: Vestas Wind Systems A/S
    Inventors: Peter Bjørn Andersen, Thomas S. Bjertrup Nielsen, Aksel Petersen, Peng Wang
  • Patent number: 11448184
    Abstract: The twist morphing blade for wind turbine is a blade adapted for attachment to the hub of a wind turbine. The blade has a central shaft extending between the root and tip ends of the blade. A guide track is defined in the central shaft. A sliding mass is slidably disposed in the guide track and bears against a bias spring. A driven shaft is coaxially disposed around the sliding mass and bias spring and rotatably coupled to the sliding mass. Connecting rods extend between the driven shaft and root end of the blade and through active and passive ribs alternately spaced between the driven shaft and the root end of the blade. When incident wind rotates the rotor, centrifugal force linearly slides the mass, which rotates the driven shaft and the connecting rods to deflect the ribs, twist morphing the medial sections of the blade.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 26, 2022
    Date of Patent: September 20, 2022
    Assignee: UNITED ARAB EMIRATES UNIVERSITY
    Inventors: Md. Zishan Akhter, Farag Khalifa Omar, Ahmed Riyadh Ali
  • Patent number: 11332242
    Abstract: Aircraft capable of vertical takeoff and landing, hovering, and efficient forward flight are described. An aircraft includes two side mounted tiltable proprotors and a central rotor disposed above the proprotors. The proprotors are tiltable between at least a horizontal position for forward flight and a vertical position for vertical or hovering flight. The central rotor may be powered for vertical and transitional flight modes and may turn by free autorotation during forward flight. The proprotors may be differentially tilted during vertical or hovering flight to counter torque effects of the central rotor. The central rotor may be foldable and/or easily detachable from the aircraft to facilitate storage and transportation. Left and right proprotors may provide both forward thrust and attitude control. Control inputs to left and right proprotors may be connected directly to an autopilot creating closed loop actuation using motor RPM feedback.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 30, 2021
    Date of Patent: May 17, 2022
    Assignee: Unmanned Aerospace LLC
    Inventor: Gad Shaanan
  • Patent number: 11225317
    Abstract: A device for controlling pitch of fan blades of a turbine engine including an un-ducted fan, the device including: at least one set of fan blades of adjustable pitch, the set being constrained to rotate with a rotary ring centered on a longitudinal axis and mechanically connected to a turbine rotor, each blade of the set being mounted on a blade root support that is pivotally mounted on the rotary ring; and at least one radial control shaft adjusting pitch of at least two adjacent blades of the set, the control shaft being constrained to rotate with the rotary ring and being configured to pivot about an axis of the shaft, being coupled to the blade root supports of the at least two blades of the set to adjust their pitch via a transmission system including eccentrics connected together by at least one connecting rod.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 29, 2016
    Date of Patent: January 18, 2022
    Assignee: SAFRAN AIRCRAFT ENGINES
    Inventors: Tewfik Boudebiza, Olivier Belmonte, Gilles Alain Marie Charier, Emmanuel Pierre Dimitri Patsouris, Pierre-Alain Jean Philippe Reigner
  • Patent number: 11136110
    Abstract: A pitch control system characterized by a hub with at least two blade housings on the hub that are disposed around the hub axis. The blade housings have corresponding blades that engage with them. The blades spiral along housing longitudinal axes toward and away from the hub axis about a segment of helical path to effect a change in the pitch of each blade. One or more elastic members draw the blades toward the hub axis, either directly or indirectly. There are pitch mechanisms effective to facilitate blades to spiral around housing-longitudinal axes. A blade will spiral away from the hub axis when the centrifugal force exerted on the blade exceeds the opposing elastic force in the housing-longitudinal direction (neglecting other forces). Conversely, blades spiral toward the hub axis when said centrifugal force is less than said elastic force. There is an imaginary plane orthogonal to the hub axis. Housing-longitudinal axes have angles with respect to the imaginary plane of not more than 30 degrees.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 31, 2018
    Date of Patent: October 5, 2021
    Inventors: Ryan M. Randall, Chunmei Chen
  • Patent number: 10875637
    Abstract: Rotor assembly apparatus are disclosed. An example rotor assembly includes a twist actuator to drive a first rotation of a first shaft about a first axis, the twist actuator positioned at a center of rotation of the rotor assembly. A first gear assembly to convert the first rotation into a plurality of second rotations of a plurality of second shafts. Each of the second shafts to provide torque to a respective blade coupled to the rotor assembly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 10, 2018
    Date of Patent: December 29, 2020
    Assignee: THE BOEING COMPANY
    Inventor: Daniel M. Podgurski
  • Patent number: 10837423
    Abstract: A rotor reinforcing device to reinforce turbine rotor comprises a center connecting device which is fixed on a rotor hub, blade reinforcing members which are connected to the center connecting device and corresponding rotor blade, and guide structures which are configured to guide the blade reinforcing members to rotate around a longitudinal axis of the rotor blade. The rotor reinforcing device may be used to reinforce a rotor, a rotor-based wind turbine, a rotor-based ocean current turbine, a rotor-based tidal turbine and a rotor-based power generator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 11, 2016
    Date of Patent: November 17, 2020
    Inventor: Fang Zhou
  • Patent number: 10689103
    Abstract: A quick release propeller for model airplanes is disclosed including two or more blades mounted to a hub. For each blade, the hub includes a slot and a shoulder. Each blade includes a base portion having pins which slide into the slot in the hub. The slots are curved which prevents the blades from being removed unless they are rotated at predefined threshold angle with respect to the hub.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 22, 2018
    Date of Patent: June 23, 2020
    Assignee: Landing Products, Inc.
    Inventor: Robert Holik
  • Patent number: 10675932
    Abstract: A dual-mode vehicle, wheels for the vehicle, and a method of transitioning the vehicle from a land mode to a flight mode. In the land mode, the method includes rotating a pair of spaced wheel arms about a central pivot to lower a body of the dual-mode vehicle to a ground surface. Each wheel arm extends from the central pivot to a wheel. The method also includes rotating the central pivot about a longitudinal vehicle axis to raise the wheel arms and the wheels above the ground surface. After raising the wheel arms and wheels above the ground surface, the method includes rotating the wheel arms about the central pivot to position the wheels for use as rotors in the flight mode. In the flight mode, the method includes rotating the wheels in order to extract rotor blades positioned within the wheels to extend beyond the wheels.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 8, 2017
    Date of Patent: June 9, 2020
    Assignee: Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing North America, Inc.
    Inventors: Taewoo Nam, Yasuo Uehara
  • Patent number: 10583914
    Abstract: Sounds are generated by an aerial vehicle during operation. For example, the motors and propellers of an aerial vehicle generate sounds during operation. Systems, methods, and apparatus may actively adjust the position and/or configuration of one or more propeller blades of a propulsion mechanism to generate different sounds and/or lifting forces from the propulsion mechanism.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 27, 2016
    Date of Patent: March 10, 2020
    Assignee: Amazon Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Brian C. Beckman, John Raymond Brodie, Vedran Coralic, Taylor David Grenier, Gur Kimchi, Dominic Timothy Shiosaki, Ricky Dean Welsh, Richard Philip Whitlock
  • Patent number: 10174741
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a blade pitch control apparatus for a small size wind power generator. More specifically, the present invention relates to a blade pitch control apparatus for a small size wind power generator configured to accomplish continuous generation by continuously maintaining the necessary rotating force of the blade by systematically operating the ball screw, spinner driver, and pitch angle controller when the rotation number of blades exceeds the reference rotation number by over wind speed, so that the blade pitch is automatically controlled.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 27, 2016
    Date of Patent: January 8, 2019
    Assignee: GU CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Jong Rai Lee
  • Patent number: 9506358
    Abstract: Disclosed is a variable pitch propeller having a blade pivoted rotatably to a cylindrical propeller casing, a drive shaft, coupled to a propulsor and positioned coaxially inside the propeller casing, a kinematic mechanism coupled to the drive shaft, or to the propeller casing, and to the blade, for adjusting the rotary motion of the blade about its axis of pivoting to the propeller casing, and means for coupling in rotation the drive shaft to the propeller casing. The propeller provides a non-null angular range of relative rotation of the blade about its axis of pivoting, with respect to the propeller casing, or vice versa. The means for coupling in rotation the drive shaft to the cylindrical propeller casing include an elastic element interposed between the drive shaft and the cylindrical casing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 15, 2010
    Date of Patent: November 29, 2016
    Assignee: MAX PROP S.R.L.
    Inventor: Massimiliano Bianchi
  • Patent number: 8899921
    Abstract: A wind turbine blade is configured such that the lift force from the blade airfoil is always normal, or nearly normal, to the shaft torque. This condition maximizes energy conversion. This objective may be achieved by a) having the airfoil chord always aligned to the actual wind direction (subject only to small angle of attack variations), and b) slowing the turbine rotation rate so that no blade twist is needed. As a result, blade tip speed due to shaft rotation is less than the wind speed, and preferably much less. This low tip speed eliminates any hazard to birds. The lift force from the blade airfoil directly drives the torque on the shaft, so the control problem simplifies to adjusting the blade angle of attack to keep the lift constant across varying wind speeds.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 6, 2011
    Date of Patent: December 2, 2014
    Inventor: Earl McCune
  • Publication number: 20140308124
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for controlling a propeller of a contra-rotation open fan (CROF) engine of an aircraft is provided. A diameter of the propeller is set to be at a first diameter during at least a portion of a first flight condition of the aircraft. The diameter of the propeller is set to be at a second diameter, different from the first diameter, during at least a portion of a second flight condition of the aircraft.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 13, 2013
    Publication date: October 16, 2014
    Applicant: The Boeing Company
    Inventors: Matthew David Moore, Kelly L. Boren, Robin Blair Langtry
  • Patent number: 8851842
    Abstract: A retractable rotor blade for a flying vehicle is configured to undergo extension and retraction movement and includes an interlink assembly, a helical ribbon assembly for reinforcing the interlink assembly, and a flexible and elastic sleeve configured to cover the interlink assembly and the helical ribbon assembly in the extended and retracted states of the rotor blade. The interlink assembly has interconnected link base subassemblies each configured to be translated along a span of the rotor blade such that each subsequent link base subassembly becomes stacked one atop the other while remaining connected to a next link base subassembly. Each of the link base subassemblies has a damper configured to dampen movement of the interlink assembly during extension and retraction of the rotor blade.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 10, 2013
    Date of Patent: October 7, 2014
    Inventor: Esteban A Caraballoso
  • Patent number: 8821121
    Abstract: A rotor assembly for a wind turbine includes a hub adapted to be carried by a shaft of the wind turbine, a plurality of prop arms extending from the hub, a plurality of blades carried by the plurality of prop arms, and a rotor speed regulating mechanism adapted to alter a pitch of the plurality of blades responsive to varying wind speeds, thereby regulating the speed of the plurality of blades.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 13, 2010
    Date of Patent: September 2, 2014
    Inventor: Mac E. Carter
  • Patent number: 8807939
    Abstract: An adjustable fan with a rotary hub capable of supporting rotary blades in a plurality of orientations relative to a rotational axis of the fan.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 15, 2011
    Date of Patent: August 19, 2014
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventor: Ravindra Gardas
  • Patent number: 8702390
    Abstract: A wind turbine includes a hub including at least three spaced projections and a hub cap; at least three blades each including a root plate at one end, with the root plate including a sleeve having a hole on a windward side; at least three shaft members each interconnecting the root plate and a corresponding projection; at least three sets of four abutment plates each secured to either side of the root plate or either side of the projection; U-shaped steel torsion bars each having both ends at an inclined angle of about 15 to 25 degrees fastened in the abutment plate and disposing the root plate at an angle of about 4 to 10 degrees with respect to the corresponding projection; a spring on the rotation shaft on a leeward side of the hub; and pins each installed in a hub cap and sticking into the hole.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 23, 2010
    Date of Patent: April 22, 2014
    Assignee: Chang Gung University
    Inventor: Ming-Tsung Sun
  • Patent number: 8647063
    Abstract: Provided is a multi-element rotor blade, including a primary element and at least one complimentary element, each having an aerodynamic profile. The primary element is joined by fastening elements to the at least one complimentary element such that the at least one complimentary element is adjacent to the primary element in a chordwise direction perpendicular to an axis of rotation of the blade and perpendicular to a longitudinal length of the blade. The at least one complimentary element is disposed closer to a blade root end of the primary element than to an opposite end of the primary element.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 13, 2007
    Date of Patent: February 11, 2014
    Assignee: Tecsis Tecnologia Sistemas Avançados S.A.
    Inventor: Bento Massahiko Koike
  • Patent number: 8540485
    Abstract: A cycloidal rotor system having airfoil blades travelling along a generally non-circular, elongated and, in most embodiments, dynamically variable orbit. Such non-circular orbit provides a greater period in each revolution and an optimized relative wind along the trajectory for each blade to efficiently maximize lift when orbits are elongated horizontally, or thrust/propulsion when orbits are vertically elongated. Most embodiments, in addition to having the computer system controlled actuators to dynamically vary the blade trajectory and the angle of attack, can also have the computer system controlled actuators for dynamically varying the spatial orientation of the blades; enabling their slanting motion upward/downward and/or backsweep/forwardsweep positioning to produce and precisely control a variety of aerodynamic effects suited for providing optimum performance for various operating regimes, counter wind gusts and enable the craft to move sideways.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 4, 2008
    Date of Patent: September 24, 2013
    Inventor: Philip Bogrash
  • Patent number: 8459948
    Abstract: A retractable rotor blade for a flying vehicle includes an interlink assembly having interconnected link base subassemblies, a helical ribbon assembly reinforcing the interlink assembly, and a flexible and elastic sleeve that covers the interlink and helical ribbon assemblies in extended and retracted states of the rotor blade. Each link base subassembly has a damper for dampening movement of the interlink assembly during extension and retraction of the rotor blade, a pair of retractable links by which the link base subassembly is interconnected with another of the link base subassemblies, a link hub, and a pair of locking arms housed in the link hub for locking the rotor blade in the extended state. The helical ribbon assembly has sequentially overlapped ribbons helically wound around the interlink assembly. The flexible and elastic sleeve has a flexible and elastic skin and elastic ribs for imparting rigidity to the flexible and elastic skin.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 21, 2009
    Date of Patent: June 11, 2013
    Inventors: Esteban A. Caraballoso, Ali M. Sadegh
  • Patent number: 8403641
    Abstract: The invention relates to a wind turbine blade tip and actuator assembly and method for controlling the speed of a wind turbine rotor blade. The invention consists of a moveable and turnable blade tip, an actuator assembly for turning the blade tip, control rods, cables and springs for controlling the blade tip, a magnet assembly for holding the blade tip in position and a hydraulic damping cylinder for controlling the rate at which the blade tip deploys.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 12, 2009
    Date of Patent: March 26, 2013
    Inventor: Paul Lewis Gay
  • Patent number: 8240991
    Abstract: A method, system and computer program product for operating a wind turbine is disclosed. For operating the wind turbine a set of operational data points are sensed via a sensing module. The set of operational data points may include bending stress values. Based on the bending stress values, a load scenario indicator value may be computed. Further, based on the set of operational data points a loading threshold value may be obtained. At least one operating parameter of the wind turbine is changed if the load scenario indicator value exceeds the loading threshold.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 23, 2011
    Date of Patent: August 14, 2012
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Matthijs Leonardus Gerardus Boerlage, Leonardo Cesar Kammer
  • Patent number: 8133023
    Abstract: An apparatus and method for reducing wind turbine damage includes a propeller having a plurality of blades projecting radially from a hub. The blades may be adjustably combined to form variable cross-sections that either increase or decrease propeller rotation speed dependent on wind speed and weather conditions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 3, 2009
    Date of Patent: March 13, 2012
    Assignee: Lockheed Martin Corporation
    Inventor: Elliott Reitz
  • Patent number: 8122586
    Abstract: A method for connecting a tension-torsion strap. The method includes sliding a sleeve into an arm of a hub; aligning holes in the sleeve with holes in the hub; installing a bushing in each aligned hole in the sleeve; sliding a first end of the tension-torsion strap through the sleeve; and placing a pin through the bushings and the tension-torsion strap.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 18, 2008
    Date of Patent: February 28, 2012
    Assignee: The Boeing Company
    Inventors: Neal W. Muylaert, Lyndon Claudius Lamborn
  • Publication number: 20120027593
    Abstract: The apparatus of the present invention comprises a user adjustable variable axial length and variable pitch ceiling fan blade arm. The blade arm includes a pair of extension elements. Each element is threadably engaged with each other. At the other end of the extension elements are custom flanges for the purpose of attaching a fan blade and connecting the blade arm to a ceiling fan motor. The user can adjust the axial length and radial pitch of the blade arm by screwing in or out a threaded connection between the extension elements, and once the desired length and pitch is selected, the connection is secured by a connector, such as a hand adjustable threaded lock.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 12, 2011
    Publication date: February 2, 2012
    Inventor: John C. DeLeon
  • Patent number: 8055390
    Abstract: Controller for a blade adjustment angle for at least one rotor blade of a wind power plant, in which a first controller branch is switched for the determination of the blade adjustment angle depending on the operating states of the wind power plant, wherein at least one differentiating member is provided in the switched first controller branch.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 9, 2008
    Date of Patent: November 8, 2011
    Assignee: Nordex Energy GmbH
    Inventor: Wolfgang Kabatzke
  • Publication number: 20110211957
    Abstract: A wind turbine for use in a wide range of wind conditions is disclosed. The wind turbine uses blade pitch change and/or blade folding to accommodate wind conditions and maintain a substantially constant speed. The blades are configured to fold in unison for balanced wind turbine operation.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 6, 2010
    Publication date: September 1, 2011
    Inventors: Mark Folsom, Curt Higgins
  • Patent number: 7997864
    Abstract: A user adjustable variable axial length and variable pitch ceiling fan blade arm. The blade arm includes a pair of extension elements. Each element is threadably engaged with each other. At the other end of the extension elements are custom flanges for the purpose of attaching a fan blade and connecting the blade arm to a ceiling fan motor. The user can adjust the axial length and radial pitch of the blade arm by screwing in or out a threaded connection between the extension elements, and once the desired length and pitch is selected, the connection is secured by a connector, such as a hand and/or tool adjustable threaded lock.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 7, 2009
    Date of Patent: August 16, 2011
    Inventor: John C. DeLeon
  • Patent number: 7956482
    Abstract: The present patent application concerns wind turbine having a rotor with a first rotor blade and a pitch control system with a controller and a first drive system for adjusting a pitch angle of the first rotor blade, wherein the drive system is adapted to transform rotational energy of the rotor blade rotating about its longitudinal axis into another form of energy such that a counter torque against the rotating direction is induced.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 18, 2008
    Date of Patent: June 7, 2011
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Jacob Johannes Nies, Patrick Achenbach, Peter Rogall, Axel Braicks, Stefan Rieken
  • Patent number: 7914258
    Abstract: The present teachings relate to a fluid mechanical converter having at least one energy-accumulator mass system that can be powered by a power drive. To provide a fluid mechanical converter, which improves overall efficiency using the simplest components, it is proposed according to the present teachings that the displacement of the driven energy accumulator-mass system is overlaid with a displacement that is caused by at least one inertial force.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 18, 2008
    Date of Patent: March 29, 2011
    Assignee: bionic motion GmbH
    Inventor: Robert Spillner
  • Publication number: 20100158687
    Abstract: A wind turbine may be controlled in a variety of manners to optimize operating parameters. In one arrangement, for example, the length or the pitch of a wind turbine rotor blade may be adjusted to avoid harmonic resonance frequencies. In another example, the length of a rotor blade may be modified to reduce noise or to optimize profits or both. The controls may be based on data from various types of sensors including accelerometers, sound meters, strain gauges and the like. Actuation of extendable rotor blades can rotate wind turbine rotors without wind or generator pulsing affording multiple advantages. A battery test control may also be used to determine the operational readiness of a battery useful for a variety of purposes in a turbine.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 19, 2008
    Publication date: June 24, 2010
    Applicant: Frontier Wind, LLC
    Inventors: Mark Dawson, Jack Wallace
  • Publication number: 20100104437
    Abstract: An extendable/retractable rotor for vertical lift has plural rotor blades, each with a rotor hub assembly, blade top and bottom hinged casings and a pitch disc rotateable about its longitudinal axis to change the rotor blade pitch angle. An interlink assembly has a blade base, a link base subassembly of top and bottom link hubs, two locking arms, a retracting reel assembly having exterior and interior rotor axles, a breaking actuator having plural outer breaking notches, plural recoiling spools forming a reel cage and a locking mechanism preventing blade retraction. A helical ribbon assembly with plural sequentially overlapped ribbons has pin restraints, plural layers each helically wound around the interlink assembly and a flexible and elastic sleeve of plural elastic ribs.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 21, 2009
    Publication date: April 29, 2010
    Inventors: ESTEBAN A. CARABALLOSO, Ali M. Sadegh
  • Patent number: 7632070
    Abstract: A wind turbine blade made of a fixed blade section with an integral mounting flange for attachment to a wind turbine hub. A moveable blade section is attached to the fixed blade section and is free to move in a longitudinal direction relative to the fixed blade section. A positioning device controllably positions the moveable blade section to vary the overall length of the blade. This allows the wind turbine's rotor diameter to be adjusted. The rotor diameter can be increased in order to provide high power output in low wind conditions and it can be decreased in order to minimize loads in high wind conditions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 7, 2005
    Date of Patent: December 15, 2009
    Inventors: Mark H. Dawson, Jack A. Wallace
  • Publication number: 20090274557
    Abstract: The proposed propeller consists of the rotor disc assembly 1, two or more flexible variable-length blades 2, a precise number of which depends on the desired lifting force; carrying capacity and the airflow involved in the process of the aircraft take off and retention in the air, device or devices, which control retraction of blades, and devices which controls blade pitches 3. The blade represents a flexible strip made of steel composite or any other suitable material. The flexible nature of the strip and the fixture of the inner end of each blade on the barrel 4 located within the rotor disc assembly on which blades are reeled when retracted; provides for the blades pulling out automatically with minimal effort and no additional effort or engine force. This effect is reached through the blades being dragged out by the centrifugal force created by the rotation of the rotor and amplified by the load attached to the outer end of each blade.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 5, 2008
    Publication date: November 5, 2009
    Inventor: Khymych Vasyl
  • Patent number: 7186083
    Abstract: A wind energy conversion device includes a propeller in which each of the propeller blades includes a proximal (radially inward) non-airfoil mounting section, a medial section and a distal tip section mounted to pivot relative to the medial section about a pitch axis running lengthwise of the blade. At low wind speeds, each tip section and its associated medial section cooperate to provide a single airfoil. When the propeller rpm exceeds a predetermined threshold, each of the tip sections begins to pivot toward a full governing position, which tends to reduce the propeller rpm. To permit wind tracking, the device is mounted to pivot on a vertical axis. The propeller blades are downwind of the vertical axis, and slightly inclined to define a cone diverging in the downwind direction. The electrical power generating components are located upwind of the propeller and centered about the propeller axis, and have a radius less than the length of the proximal blade sections.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 6, 2002
    Date of Patent: March 6, 2007
    Inventor: Elliott Bayly
  • Patent number: 7131812
    Abstract: A sky turbine, having impeller blades with a plurality of panels that can telescope inward and outward. The pitch of the panels can be adjusted, and the pitch of each panel on a blade, passing from the innermost panel to the outermost panel, differs from the pitch of the previous panel by a certain adjustable amount. The sky turbine is preferably mounted above a city at a sufficiently high elevation that air current will be generally faster than just above the ground. In the preferred embodiments, a wing with two pods is pivotally mounted on a tower. Each pod has front and rear shafts, from which four blades extend. Servomotors cause the wing to turn so that its center of symmetry is parallel to the direction the sky is moving, cause the pitch of the panels of the blades to change, and cause the panels of the blades to telescope.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 1, 2005
    Date of Patent: November 7, 2006
    Inventor: Manfred Karl Brueckner
  • Patent number: 6972498
    Abstract: A system and method for changing wind turbine rotor diameters to meet changing wind speeds and control system loads is disclosed. The rotor blades on the wind turbine are able to adjust length by extensions nested within or containing the base blade. The blades can have more than one extension in a variety of configurations. A cable winching system, a hydraulic system, a pneumatic system, inflatable or elastic extensions, and a spring-loaded jack knife deployment are some of the methods of adjustment. The extension is also protected from lightning by a grounding system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 28, 2002
    Date of Patent: December 6, 2005
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Peter McKeich Jamieson, Chris Hornzee-Jones, Emilian M. Moroz, Ralph W. Blakemore
  • Patent number: 6923622
    Abstract: A power generating system wherein a turbine is mounted on top of a tower or tethered underwater. The turbine includes a rotor having a main blade section connected to a rotor hub and an extender section. An adjusting device positions the extender section between a retracted position within the main blade section and to an extended position to expose more or less of the rotor to the fluid flow. The adjusting device includes a first web-engaging wheel anchored at a hub end of the main blade section and a second web-engaging wheel anchored at a distal end of the main blade section. A web is wound around the first and second web-engaging wheels. The extender section is attached to the web at a hub end of the extender section. A generator is connected to the turbine for generating electrical energy.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 15, 2003
    Date of Patent: August 2, 2005
    Assignee: Clipper Windpower Technology, Inc.
    Inventor: James G. P. Dehlsen
  • Patent number: 6910873
    Abstract: A machine that is a self regulating rotor with a set of cups or vanes that are pivotally attached about a central axis such that they form a closed three dimensional shape when closed, and when rotated into an open orientation form an S-shaped rotor, when viewed as a horizontal cross section, a cup shaft to which each cup is attached, such that the cup can pivot or rotate from a closed shape to an open S-shaped rotor, end plates through which cup shafts are pivotally supported, a central shaft to which end plates are attached, a rotational energy connecting element attached to the cup shafts, that control rotation of cup shafts, a rotational speed sensor, and a braking device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 20, 2003
    Date of Patent: June 28, 2005
    Inventor: Arthur Kaliski
  • Patent number: 6752595
    Abstract: A plurality of wind turbine blades (3) are distributed equiangularly within a plane perpendicular to a horizontal rotating shaft (2) and around a hub (1) provided on the horizontal rotating shaft (2); the blade body of each turbine blade includes therewithin a tip auxiliary blade (6) housed to be capable of extending toward and retracting away from a tip of the blade, and an auxiliary blade extension-and-retraction unit (8) for protruding the tip auxiliary blade (6) to increase the overall length of the blade; and when an airflow comes in at a low speed, the tip auxiliary blades (6) are protruded toward the tips to generate even greater rotating torque, thereby increasing a power generation output by the wind turbine.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 21, 2002
    Date of Patent: June 22, 2004
    Assignee: Hitachi Zosen Corporation
    Inventor: Mitsunori Murakami
  • Patent number: 6726439
    Abstract: A wind or water flow energy converter comprising a wind or water flow actuated rotor assembly. The rotor comprises a plurality of blades, wherein the blades of are variable in length to provide a variable diameter rotor. The rotor diameter is controlled to fully extend the rotor at low flow velocity and to retract the rotor as flow velocity increases such that the loads delivered by or exerted upon the rotor do not exceed set limits.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 25, 2001
    Date of Patent: April 27, 2004
    Assignee: Clipper Windpower Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Amir S. Mikhail, Geoffrey F. Deane
  • Patent number: 6655915
    Abstract: A drive system for a variable diameter rotor (VDR) system includes a plurality of rotor blade assemblies with inner and outer rotor blade segments. The outer blade segment being telescopically mounted to the inner blade segment. The VDR retraction/extension system includes a drive housing mounted at the root of each blade. The housing supports a spool assembly, a harmonic gear set and an electric motor. The spool assembly includes a pair of counter rotating spools each of which drive a respective cable which extends through the interior of the inboard rotor blade section and around a pulley mounted to the outboard rotor blade section. In operation, the electric motor drives the harmonic gear set which rotates the counter rotating spools. Rotation of the spools causes the cables to be wound onto or off their respective spool consequently effecting retraction/extension of the pulley and the attached outboard rotor blade section relative the inboard rotor blade section.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 1, 2002
    Date of Patent: December 2, 2003
    Assignee: Sikorsky Aircraft Corporation
    Inventor: Yuriy Gmirya
  • Publication number: 20030044274
    Abstract: A wind or water flow energy converter comprising a wind or water flow actuated rotor assembly. The rotor comprises a plurality of blades, wherein the blades of are variable in length to provide a variable diameter rotor. The rotor diameter is controlled to fully extend the rotor at low flow velocity and to retract the rotor as flow velocities increases such that the loads delivered by or exerted upon said rotor do not exceed set limits.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 25, 2001
    Publication date: March 6, 2003
    Inventors: Geoffrey F. Deane, Amir S. Mikhail
  • Patent number: 6113350
    Abstract: A vertical-axle wind power machine comprises a vertical axle, a plurality of jointed radial arms, a plurality of counterbalanced oblique blades at the support points thereof, a friction-rewarding rotary speed multiplying transmission, and an automatic rotary speed regulating means to be performed by either a wind-operated or an alternative digital controlled rotary speed regulating device; the combination of which provides the oblique blades with great sensitivity to the alternation of lee wind and head wind for automatic swinging to the most efficient lee angle at upstanding and overturned positions to sail nearly three quarters and streamline against the head wind resistance for the remaining quarter every circle of rotation, is able to convert the centripetal and centrifugal component forces to the same torque direction of the tangential component force from the same blade by an eccentric-guided angular bracket means and a fork-rooted radial arm, is able to offset the friction loss in the rotary speed mult
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 31, 1998
    Date of Patent: September 5, 2000
    Assignee: Stokwang Windpower Industrial Inc.
    Inventor: Hsun-Fa Liu
  • Patent number: 6030177
    Abstract: A drive system for a variable diameter rotor system that includes a plurality of rotor blade assemblies with inner and outer blade segments. The outer blade segment being telescopically mounted to the inner blade segment. The drive system engaging a jackscrew for telescoping the outer blade segment with respect to the inner blade segment. The drive system includes a rotor hub that is pivotally mounted to the upper end of a main rotor shaft about a pivot point. A gimbaled bearing is disposed between and attached to the main rotor shaft and the rotor hub. The gimbaled bearing permits the rotor hub to pivot about the pivot point. A blade actuation shaft is concentrically disposed within the main rotor shaft. The blade actuation shaft has a constant velocity joint pivotally attached to its upper end about the pivot point. A planetary gearset engages the blade actuation shaft with the jackscrew.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 18, 1998
    Date of Patent: February 29, 2000
    Assignee: Sikorsky Aircraft Corporation
    Inventor: Lee N. Hager