Patents Represented by Attorney, Agent or Law Firm Woods,Herron&Evans,L.L.P.
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Patent number: 8177514Abstract: A sectional blade for a wind turbine comprising a first and a second blade section extending in opposite directions from a blade joint, and each blade section comprising a spar section forming a structural member of the blade. The blade sections are structurally connected by a spar bridge over a spar joint, which comprises a center beam of two extending beam caps joined by one or more extending beam webs. The spar joint further comprises at least two extending spar caps and one or more extending spar webs connecting the spar caps to opposite sides of the center beam. A method of manufacturing such a sectional blade is also disclosed.Type: GrantFiled: September 30, 2010Date of Patent: May 15, 2012Assignee: Vestas Wind Systems A/SInventor: Paul Hibbard
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Patent number: 8172538Abstract: A method of manufacturing a wind turbine blade shell member (2) having an incorporated fastening member (4) near the root is provided. According to the method, a fastening member 4 is positioned in a mold (14) with pre-fabricated sticks (8, 10) surrounding a substantial longitudinal part of the fastening member (4) prior to resin infusion. Furthermore, a wind turbine blade comprising a wind turbine blade shell member (2) with a fastening member (4) is provided. Finally, a guiding means for aligning a fastening member (4) relative to a further fastening member and/or relative to the mold during molding and a subassembly comprising a guiding means is provided.Type: GrantFiled: December 29, 2004Date of Patent: May 8, 2012Assignee: Vestas Wind Systems A/SInventors: Mark Hancock, Anton Bech
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Patent number: 8172531Abstract: A plain bearing assembly for mounting a blade to a hub of a wind turbine includes an outer member mountable to one of the blade or hub, and an inner member mountable to the other of the blade or hub and movable relative to the outer member. The plain bearing further includes fluid cavities associated with one of the outer or inner member and arranged to confront the other of the outer or inner member. The fluid cavities are coupled to a pressure source for establishing a pressurized fluid film between the inner and outer members. A method includes monitoring at least one parameter of the fluid film, comparing the at least one parameter to a threshold criteria, and altering a dynamic state of the wind turbine and/or altering the state of the blade bearing assembly if the threshold criteria is exceeded.Type: GrantFiled: January 10, 2011Date of Patent: May 8, 2012Assignee: Vestas Wind Systems A/SInventor: Jörg Wadehn
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Patent number: 8172100Abstract: The present invention relates to an overhead travelling crane (2) for a nacelle (1) of a wind turbine, said travelling crane comprising at least a first suspension beam (3); a second suspension beam (4), said suspension beams being arranged with a space between them; a cross beam (5), said cross beam being movably connected to said first and second suspension beams so that the cross beam can be moved along the suspension beams; and at least one lifting device (6), said lifting device being movably connected to the cross beam. Said first and second suspension beams are parts of concentric circles, said -concentric circles sharing the same center and having different radii. The cross beam may be inclined.Type: GrantFiled: June 26, 2009Date of Patent: May 8, 2012Assignee: Vestas Wind Systems A/SInventors: Lars Vinther Kappel, Michael Christensen
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Patent number: 8171973Abstract: A nozzle for dispensing molten thermoplastic material includes non-circular outlets spaced apart from one another in a predetermined pattern. The nozzle may be used to dispense patterns of adhesive that form closed geometric shapes, such as for use in making hermetic seals.Type: GrantFiled: January 29, 2008Date of Patent: May 8, 2012Assignee: Nordson CorporationInventors: Charles P. Ganzer, Edward C. Taylor, Leslie J. Varga
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Patent number: 8167543Abstract: A method of manufacturing a wind turbine rotor blade is provided. Anticipated primary load paths within the rotor blade are predicted. Fibers of reinforcing material are dispensed onto a mold, having an orientation pattern of the fibers which is selected in dependence on the predicting step. Resin is also dispensed into the mold. A wind turbine rotor blade is provided. The blade comprises fibers of reinforcing material which are embedded in resin. The fibers are short, say in the range of 5 to 200 mm, and are orientated in dependence on an anticipated structural loading pattern of the rotor blade.Type: GrantFiled: January 26, 2009Date of Patent: May 1, 2012Assignee: Vestas Wind Systems A/SInventor: Paul Hibbard
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Patent number: 8162590Abstract: The invention relates to a wind turbine blade comprising one or more turbulence generating strips, where the strips are placed on a surface of the blade. The blade is characterized in that at least one joint area of the turbulence generating strips and the surface of the blade are completely or partially covered by sealing means. The invention further relates to a pitch controlled wind turbine comprising at least two pitch controlled wind turbine blades and pitch controlling means for pitching the blades. The pitch controlled wind turbine is characterized in that the blades comprises one or more turbulence generating strips, wherein at least one joint area of the turbulence generating strips and a surface of the blades are completely or partially covered by sealing means.Type: GrantFiled: December 9, 2008Date of Patent: April 24, 2012Assignee: Vestas Wind Systems A/SInventor: Michael Drachmann Haag
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Patent number: 8157690Abstract: The invention relates to a lubrication system for a gearbox with stationary and rotating gearbox parts particularly in a wind turbine. The system includes lubrication distribution means in the stationary and rotating gearbox parts such as lubrication bores and openings. One or more rotary transmissions establish a transmission channel between lubrication distribution means in said stationary and rotating gearbox parts where said one or more rotary transmission include at least two connecting means. The invention also relates to a wind turbine with a drive train including a gearbox, and a lubrication system.Type: GrantFiled: June 20, 2008Date of Patent: April 17, 2012Assignee: Vestas Wind Systems A/SInventors: Jens Demtröder, Anders Reinewald Hansen
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Patent number: 8156889Abstract: A method for dispensing a foamed material onto a substrate surface, including: generating a relative movement between the substrate surface to be coated and an exit opening of a material dispensing apparatus, mixing at least two material components in a mixing device to provide a free-flowing, foamable dispensing material, generating a pressure differential between the mixing device and the dispensing region located downstream in the direction of flow from a discharge cross-section of the exit opening, conveying the dispensing material from the mixing device for the dispensing material to the exit opening, and discharging the dispensing material from the exit opening onto the substrate surface. The dispensing material be kept under such a pressure in the region adjacent to and upstream from the discharge cross-section of the exit opening that the dispensing material in this region has a foaming rate that is less than 10% of the foaming rate which ensues at the end of the foaming process.Type: GrantFiled: April 21, 2008Date of Patent: April 17, 2012Assignee: Nordson CorporationInventors: Ronald Burger, Frank Jones, Dirk Pannhausen
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Patent number: 8157623Abstract: A sausage casing gripping apparatus for use with gathered concertinaed sausage casings and a sausage filling machine. The apparatus includes two gripping elements which are movable relative to each other and which grip the concertinaed sausage casing by a reduction in the intermediate space between the gripping elements and which release the concertinaed sausage casing by an expansion of the intermediate space. The apparatus further includes a drive device for moving at least one of the gripping elements, and at least one lever element for coupling the drive device to at least one gripping element where the gripping element is mounted movably on the lever element.Type: GrantFiled: May 9, 2011Date of Patent: April 17, 2012Assignee: VEMAG Maschinenbau GmbHInventors: Frank Weller, Olaf Grote
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Patent number: 8157533Abstract: A wind turbine blade comprising an active elastic member arranged with access to the surface of the wind turbine blade is provided. The active elastic member is deformable from a first shape to a second shape and the lift coefficient of the airfoil with the active elastic member in the first shape is larger than the lift coefficient of the airfoil with the active elastic member in the second shape. Furthermore, a wind turbine comprising such a wind turbine blade and a method of operating a wind turbine comprising such a wind turbine blade are provided.Type: GrantFiled: October 17, 2005Date of Patent: April 17, 2012Assignee: Vestas Wind Systems A/SInventors: Kristian Balschmidt Godsk, Thomas S. Bjertrup Nielsen
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Patent number: 8147607Abstract: Coating compositions of the present invention comprise hydrophobic particles, an alcohol, a solvent, and an effective amount of water such that coatings formed therefrom are hydrophobic. The hydrophobic particles may comprise a metal oxide, such as silica (SiO2), alumina (Al2O3), titania (TiO2), or zinc oxide (ZnO), or combinations thereof. In one embodiment, the hydrophobic particles comprise fumed silica. The amount of hydrophobic particles is in the range of from about 0.3 wt. % to about 2 wt. %. In one embodiment, the effective amount of water is at least about 0.066 wt. %. The ratio of the amount of the solvent to the amount of the alcohol is slightly less than 100, and, in another embodiment, is at least about 50 to 50. A surface treated with the composition is characterized by a water contact angle of 115° or more, and more particularly 135° or more.Type: GrantFiled: October 26, 2009Date of Patent: April 3, 2012Assignee: Ashland Licensing and Intellectual Property LLCInventors: Richard J. Baumgart, Subbareddy Kanagasabapathy
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Patent number: 8147209Abstract: A wind turbine comprising a wind turbine blade with high lift and/or low solidity is provided. The blade is directed towards pitch regulated wind turbines, which are operated at variable rotor speed and have blades longer than about 30 meters. The blade is for example advantageous in that it may provide reduced extreme and fatigue loads at the same or near the same power production.Type: GrantFiled: February 22, 2005Date of Patent: April 3, 2012Assignee: Vestas Wind Systems A/SInventors: Kristian Balschmidt Godsk, Thomas S. Bjertrup Nielsen
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Patent number: 8148868Abstract: The present invention relates to a slip ring assembly for providing electricity to or from a rotor rotating in relation to a stator in a generator or an electrical motor. The slip ring unit rotates around a centre axis and has at least one first slip ring with an outer surface, a diameter, and a width. Also, the assembly has at least one conductive means, such as a brush, having conductive contact with the surface of the slip ring, and a housing in which the slip ring unit and the conductive means are situated. Furthermore, the assembly has a suction means in connection with the housing for suction of gas from within the housing out through a suction outlet in the housing. In addition, the housing has a suction inlet which is connected with a guiding means. The guiding means has an aperture facing the slip ring surface, and the aperture is positioned at a predetermined distance from the surface of the slip ring so that the gas is able to cool the surface of the slip ring.Type: GrantFiled: September 28, 2009Date of Patent: April 3, 2012Assignee: Vestas Wind Systems A/SInventors: Lars Krogh, Steen Bjerg Lauridsen
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Patent number: 8147202Abstract: The invention relates to a wind turbine including at least two blade units. Each blade unit has a pitch controlled wind turbine blade and at least one pitch bearing including at least one outer ring, at least one center ring and at least one inner ring. The wind turbine further includes a hub comprising a mount area for each of the blade units (31). The mount area comprises at least two concentric load transferring surfaces for attaching the blade unit, via the at least one pitch bearing. The invention further relates a hub and a use hereof.Type: GrantFiled: July 8, 2005Date of Patent: April 3, 2012Assignee: Vestas Wind Systems A/SInventor: Anton Bech
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Patent number: 8142162Abstract: An aerodynamic profile and a wind turbine comprising a wind turbine blade with reduced sensitivity towards surface irregularities are provided. The invention is mainly directed towards pitch-regulated wind turbines, which are operated at variable rotor speed and have blades longer than about 30 meters.Type: GrantFiled: July 15, 2005Date of Patent: March 27, 2012Assignee: Vestas Wind Systems A/SInventors: Kristian Balschmidt Godsk, Thomas S. Bjertrup Nielsen
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Patent number: 8143739Abstract: A wind turbine includes a wind-driven rotor and a drive chain for transmitting the driving force to a power converter, the drive chain including at least one rotatable driving element, including e.g. a gear with associated input and output shafts. The rotor and the driving element of the drive chain define a torsional resonance frequency, which is controlled or influenced by a detuner of the wind turbine. The detuner comprises a mass element and an elastic element. The resonance frequency is controlled or influenced by the detuner, so that it does not coincide with frequencies occurring in the drive chain during operation of the wind turbine, so as to thereby reduce undesired loads in the drive chain and/or tonality, i.e. noise.Type: GrantFiled: June 8, 2007Date of Patent: March 27, 2012Assignee: Vestas Wind Systems A/sInventor: Erik Billeskov Sloth
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Patent number: 8136707Abstract: A fluid dispensing system having a fluid dispenser supporting a barrel containing liquid to be dispensed. The barrel has a slidable piston therein with the liquid on a forward piston side and a chamber on a rear piston side. Positive and negative pressure fluid circuits have components operable to apply respective positive and negative fluid pressures to the rear side of the piston. A pressure transducer is operable to sense a fluid pressure in the chamber; and a dispenser control is operative to store a pressure-time relationship during a first dispensing cycle and thereafter, operate a component in the positive pressure fluid circuit to maintain the pressure-time relationship during a subsequent dispensing cycle.Type: GrantFiled: April 3, 2006Date of Patent: March 20, 2012Assignee: Nordson CorporationInventor: Michael A. Vidal
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Patent number: 8137234Abstract: A gearbox for a wind turbine. The gearbox includes at least one first epicyclical gear stage, at least one second gear stage, and a torque transferring shaft including a shaft part and a connection part, wherein the torque transferring shaft is adapted for connecting a first gear of the first epicyclical gear stage with a second gear of the second gear stage and wherein the torque transferring shaft is connected to the second gear stage via the connection part to form a torque-transferring connection area between the connection part and the second gear stage and wherein the outer diameter of the shaft part of the torque transferring shaft is smaller than an inner diameter of the connection area between said torque transferring shaft and said second gear stage.Type: GrantFiled: April 23, 2010Date of Patent: March 20, 2012Assignee: Vestas Wind Systems A/SInventors: Anton Bech, Jens Demtrôder
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Patent number: D658954Type: GrantFiled: August 30, 2011Date of Patent: May 8, 2012Assignee: Nordson CorporationInventors: Benjamin J. Bondeson, Christopher R. Chastine, Brett A. Pearson, Paula E. Ruse