Patents Represented by Attorney, Agent or Law Firm Wood, Herron and Evans, L.L.P.
  • Patent number: 8100080
    Abstract: Apparatus for applying fluids such as adhesive, in particular hot melt adhesive, to a substrate. The apparatus includes a main body which can be connected to a fluid source, an application valve for selectively interrupting or enabling a flow of fluid, and a nozzle arrangement arranged on the main body for applying the fluid. The nozzle includes a distributor passage communicating with the fluid source, and the nozzle arrangement has at least one outlet opening for delivery of the fluid, which communicates with the distributor passage, and a closure body arranged movably in the distributor passage for varying the length, which can be acted upon with fluid, of the distributor passage. The distributor passage is provided in a one-piece portion of the nozzle arrangement.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 13, 2008
    Date of Patent: January 24, 2012
    Assignee: Nordson Corporation
    Inventors: Jorg-Olaf Bagung, Kai Luebbecke
  • Patent number: 8096051
    Abstract: This invention relates to a method of lifting a wind turbine nacelle (1), the method comprising: arranging a first and second anchoring point (2,3) on each of two opposing sides of the nacelle (1), the first point (2) of each side being arranged below the center of gravity (4) of the nacelle (1) and the second point (3) of each side being arranged above the center of gravity (4), wherein one of said first and second anchoring point (2,3) of each side is immovably arranged, and wherein the other one of said first and second anchoring point (2,3) of each side is movably arranged; interconnecting said first and second anchoring point (2,3) on respective side of the nacelle (1) by means of one connecting element (5) per each of the two sides; connecting each of said connecting elements (5) to a hoisting means (11); adjusting the position of each of the movable anchoring points such that each of the connecting elements (5) is vertically aligned when lifting the nacelle (1) by the hoisting means (11).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 13, 2009
    Date of Patent: January 17, 2012
    Assignee: Vestas Wind Systems A/S
    Inventor: Gunnar K. Storgaard Pedersen
  • Patent number: 8096483
    Abstract: A nozzle for a viscous liquid dispensing apparatus has a nozzle tip with a generally conical outer surface that tapers toward a dispensing orifice and forms an annular discharge air passage substantially parallel to the conical outer surface. Pressurized fluid is directed over the conical outer surface toward the dispensing orifice and thus, prevents viscous liquid dispensed from the dispensing orifice from being pulled back toward the nozzle tip and accumulating on the conical outer surface of the nozzle tip.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 9, 2009
    Date of Patent: January 17, 2012
    Assignee: Nordson Corporation
    Inventor: John Riney
  • Patent number: 8096762
    Abstract: A wind turbine is presented where the operation lifetime of the main bearing is extended by relieving the main bearing by reducing the mean bending moment on the bearing by means of individual pitch control of the blades of the rotor so as to create an aerodynamic mean tilt moment on the rotor by means of aerodynamic forces on the blades, the tilt moment at least partly counteracting the bending moment caused by the overhang load forces on the main bearing from the gravitational pull on the rotor mass.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 30, 2009
    Date of Patent: January 17, 2012
    Assignee: Vestas Wind Systems A/S
    Inventors: Lars Risager, Rasmus Svendsen, Erik Carl Miranda
  • Patent number: 8092364
    Abstract: Counterpulsation methods and systems for assisting the heart of a patient involve, for example, coordinating the operation of a pulsatile pump to suction blood from an artery through a first conduit while the heart is in systole and expel the blood into the first conduit and the artery while the heart is in diastole.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 30, 2010
    Date of Patent: January 10, 2012
    Inventor: Paul A. Spence
  • Patent number: 8093986
    Abstract: A self-powered electronic lock is provided having a housing, a lock element mounted in the housing for movement relative to the housing between a locked position and an unlocked position, a code input device operating with a first set of electronics, and an electric actuator operating with a second set of electronics. The electric actuator is operatively coupled with the lock element to allow movement of the lock element from the locked position to the unlocked position. A first electric power generator is operative by a user to supply electrical power for operating the code input device and the first set of electronics. A second electric power generator is operative to supply electrical power for operating the electric actuator and the second set of electronics. The first and the second set of electronics are electrically isolated and are synchronized to generate a common number for a combination code.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 20, 2009
    Date of Patent: January 10, 2012
    Assignee: Lock II, L.L.C.
    Inventor: Michael P. Harvey
  • Patent number: 8091392
    Abstract: A high security lock includes a lock bolt movable between extended and retracted positions, a bolt retraction gear coupled to the lock bolt, and a manually-driven gear train. When a controller verifies that user-input information is correct for unlocking the lock, the bolt retraction gear and manually-driven gear train are operatively coupled such that the gear train can drive the lock bolt from the extended position to the retracted position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 4, 2009
    Date of Patent: January 10, 2012
    Assignee: Lock II, L.L.C.
    Inventors: J. Clayton Miller, Donald P. Cooke, Jr., Michael P. Harvey
  • Patent number: 8087895
    Abstract: A handling system for a wind turbine nacelle in connection with self-loading or self-unloading of the nacelle to or from a vehicle. Two or more lifting apparatus are provided for displacing the nacelle substantially vertically during the self-loading or self-unloading of the nacelle. The lifting apparatus has displacing apparatus for displacing the lifting apparatus or a part of the lifting apparatus. A method for transport of a wind turbine nacelle, a method for vertical displacement of a wind turbine nacelle, and use of a handling system, are also disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 29, 2007
    Date of Patent: January 3, 2012
    Assignee: Vestas Wind Systems A/S
    Inventor: Gunnar Kamp Storgaard Pedersen
  • Patent number: 8087896
    Abstract: A handling system for a wind turbine nacelle in connection with self-loading or self-unloading of the nacelle to or from a vehicle. The system uses two or more lifting apparatus, where the lifting apparatus are engaged with lifting areas of a load carrying structure of the nacelle. The lifting areas are a part of the load carrying structure or are integrated in the load carrying structure, and where the lifting apparatus lifts by applying linear force to the load carrying structure of the nacelle. A method is also provided for vertical displacement of a wind turbine nacelle and a wind turbine nacelle prepared for self-loading or self-unloading to or from a vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 29, 2007
    Date of Patent: January 3, 2012
    Assignee: Vestas Wind Systems A/S
    Inventor: Gunnar Kamp Storgaard Pederson
  • Patent number: 8083397
    Abstract: A mixer for mixing at least first and second fluids comprises a conduit configured to receive a stream of the first and second fluids. A first series of mixing elements are disposed within the conduit and configured to divide the stream in a first direction. A second series of mixing elements are disposed within the conduit and configured to divide the stream in a second direction different from the first direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 29, 2009
    Date of Patent: December 27, 2011
    Assignee: Nordson Corporation
    Inventor: Matthew E. Pappalardo
  • Patent number: 8079761
    Abstract: A plain bearing assembly for a wind turbine includes a bearing housing having a passageway configured to receive a shaft and a bearing surface defining the passageway and having a cylindrical configuration. The bearing surface includes lower and upper portions defined relative to a first midline plane and first and second sides defined relative to a second midline plane. A plurality of fluid cavities is in the bearing surface, wherein at least one fluid cavity is located in the lower portion and at least one fluid cavity is located in the upper portion. The at least one cavity in the lower portion includes first and second pairs of longitudinally spaced fluid cavities on the first and second sides of the bearing surface respectively. A wind turbine having such a plain bearing assembly is also disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 29, 2010
    Date of Patent: December 20, 2011
    Assignee: Vestas Wind Systems A/S
    Inventors: Jörg Wadehn, Patrik Hager
  • Patent number: 8074902
    Abstract: A nozzle for dispensing a random pattern of liquid adhesive filaments generally comprises an adhesive shim plate positioned between first and second air shim plates. The first air shim plate includes air slots configured to direct pressurized process air along a first angle relative to the adhesive shim plate, and the second air shim plate includes air slots configured to direct pressurized process air along a second angle relative to the adhesive shim plate. The first angle is different than the second angle so that the first and second air shim plates direct the pressurized process air asymmetrically toward adhesive filaments discharging from liquid slots in the adhesive shim plate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 14, 2008
    Date of Patent: December 13, 2011
    Assignee: Nordson Corporation
    Inventors: Thomas Burmester, Hubert Kufner
  • Patent number: 8075190
    Abstract: A plain bearing assembly for a wind turbine includes a bearing housing having a passageway configured to receive a shaft and a bearing surface defining the passageway and having a generally spherical configuration. The bearing surface includes lower and upper portions defined relative to a first midline plane and first and second sides defined relative to a second midline plane. A plurality of fluid cavities is in the bearing surface including a first group of fluid cavities located at a first longitudinal position and a second group of fluid cavities located at a second longitudinal position. The first group of fluid cavities defines a cavity pattern that is different than the cavity pattern defined by the second group of fluid cavities. A wind turbine having such a plain bearing assembly is also disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 29, 2010
    Date of Patent: December 13, 2011
    Assignee: Vestas Wind Systems A/S
    Inventors: Jörg Wadehn, Patrik Hager
  • Patent number: 8070000
    Abstract: An apparatus for assembling a wind turbine includes a crane boom having a main bearing cable coupled to a component for lifting the component during assembly of the wind turbine, and a control mechanism coupled to the crane boom for controlling the orientation of the wind turbine component during the lift. The control mechanism includes a guide member coupled to the crane boom, a movable member coupled to the guide member and configured to be movable relative to the crane boom, a coupling member configured to couple the movable member to the wind turbine component being lifted by the crane boom, and a drive mechanism configured to actively move the movable member relative to the crane boom independent of the movement of the main bearing cable. A method for assembling a wind turbine includes using the coupling member to change the orientation of the component.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 23, 2009
    Date of Patent: December 6, 2011
    Assignee: Vestas Wind Systems A/S
    Inventors: Adrian Botwright, Henning Nørholm Just, Kristian Kaagaard Hansen
  • Patent number: 8070437
    Abstract: A method for damping edgewise oscillations in one or more blades of a wind turbine includes the steps of detecting if one or more of the blades oscillates edgewise during operation of the wind turbine, and substantially cyclically generating a pitch angle difference between at least two of the blades. Further provided is an active stall controlled wind turbine and use hereof.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 8, 2009
    Date of Patent: December 6, 2011
    Assignee: Vestas Wind Systems A/S
    Inventors: Thomas Steiniche Bjertrup Nielsen, Bo Juul Pedersen, Christopher John Spruce
  • Patent number: 8070077
    Abstract: A method and an apparatus for dispensing liquid material to a substrate comprising a housing having a bore and an inlet for supplying liquid material from a material source to the bore. A nozzle communicates with the inlet and includes a discharge opening for dispensing the liquid material. A movable plunger is mounted for reciprocal movement between a closed and an open position. In the open position, liquid material is dispensed from the discharge opening and in the closed position, liquid material is prevented from being dispensed from the discharge opening. An actuator moves the plunger between the closed and the open position. The plunger has at least one slot extending from the outer periphery toward the center of the plunger.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 27, 2007
    Date of Patent: December 6, 2011
    Assignee: Nordson Corporation
    Inventor: Victor de Leeuw
  • Patent number: 8066024
    Abstract: An emergency shutoff valve includes a fluid conduit having a frangible area defined therein, a valve member operatively coupled to said conduit upstream of the frangible area, an expansible chamber having the frangible area defined therein, a movable member defining at least a portion of the expansible chamber, and a linkage operatively coupled to the movable member and the valve member for shutting the valve upon movement of the movable member in response to leakage of fluid through the frangible area. A method of shutting off fuel includes defining an expansible chamber about a frangible area in the conduit, moving a member defining a portion of the expansible chamber in response to leaking fuel, and shutting off a fuel valve in response to moving the movable member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 9, 2009
    Date of Patent: November 29, 2011
    Assignee: Delaware Capital Formation, Inc.
    Inventors: Matthew R. Lauber, James E. Kesterman
  • Patent number: 8061564
    Abstract: An apparatus for dispensing an adhesive generally comprises a dispensing module, a liquid supply component configured to supply the adhesive to the dispensing module, and an attachment system. The attachment system includes a stationary component and an attachment member pivotally coupled to the stationary component. The attachment member is configured to apply a clamping force to the dispensing module to couple the dispensing module to the liquid supply component.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 30, 2007
    Date of Patent: November 22, 2011
    Assignee: Nordson Corporation
    Inventor: Paul S. Frates
  • Patent number: D649920
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 10, 2009
    Date of Patent: December 6, 2011
    Assignee: Huffy Corporation
    Inventor: Donald K. Jessie, Jr.
  • Patent number: D650730
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 31, 2011
    Date of Patent: December 20, 2011
    Assignee: Kraco Enterprises
    Inventors: Nick Jeackjuntra, Oscar E. Garcia, Steve Eastwood