Patents Assigned to Carter Wind Power
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Patent number: 4522561Abstract: Disclosed is a wind-driven generator apparatus with variable pitch blades. The apparatus includes a yaw damping arrangement for resisting weathervaning rotation of a head assembly of the apparatus about a vertical axis and the apparatus further includes a pitch control mechanism for the blades which maintains the pitch substantially constant during normal operating r.p.m. of the blades but allows the blades to pitch up in an overspeed condition, and a brake mechanism for the generator shaft which includes an adjusting mechanism that compensates for wear in the brake.Type: GrantFiled: June 6, 1983Date of Patent: June 11, 1985Assignee: Carter Wind PowerInventors: J. Warne Carter, Jr., J. Warne Carter, Sr.
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Patent number: 4522564Abstract: Disclosed is a wind-driven generator apparatus with variable pitch blades. The apparatus includes a yaw damping arrangement for resisting weathervaning rotation of a head assembly of the apparatus about a vertical axis and the apparatus further includes a pitch control mechanism for the blades which maintains the pitch substantially constant during normal operating r.p.m. of the blades but allows the blades to pitch up in an overspeed condition, and a brake mechanism for the generator shaft which includes an adjusting mechanism that compensates for wear in the brake.Type: GrantFiled: June 6, 1983Date of Patent: June 11, 1985Assignee: Carter Wind PowerInventors: J. Warne Carter, Jr., J. Warne Carter, Sr.
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Patent number: 4431375Abstract: Disclosed is a wind-driven generator apparatus with variable pitch blades. The apparatus includes a yaw damping arrangement for resisting weathervaning rotation of a head assembly of the apparatus about a vertical axis and the apparatus further includes a pitch control mechanism for the blades which maintains the pitch substantially constant during normal operating r.p.m. of the blades but allows the blades to pitch up in an overspeed condition, and a brake mechanism for the generator shaft which includes an adjusting mechanism that compensates for wear in the brake.Type: GrantFiled: July 30, 1980Date of Patent: February 14, 1984Assignee: Carter Wind PowerInventors: J. Warne Carter, Jr., J. Warne Carter, Sr.
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Patent number: 4409050Abstract: Wind generator apparatus employs an induction generator with a wind-driven rotor. Connection of the induction generator to AC power lines is controlled by apparatus that compares generator rpm and line frequency. The rotor blades have a pretwisted, varying-chord inboard portion and an untwisted, constant-chord outboard portion. The blades are self-starting, operate efficiently over a range of wind speeds with constant pitch maintained by a torsional biasing mechanism, and pitch up automatically when the normal rpm operating range is exceeded. An improved blade-supporting spar of low torsional stiffness has an I-beam configuration with filament-wound flanges. A pitch damper prevents torsional oscillations while permitting the blades to pitch up readily. The rotor, which includes a teetering hub, is free to weather-vane about the axis of a supporting tower, but a yaw damper limits angular velocity. A guy wire and gin pole arrangement stabilizes the tower and permits easy relating and lowering of the tower.Type: GrantFiled: December 7, 1981Date of Patent: October 11, 1983Assignee: Carter Wind PowerInventors: J. Warne Carter, Jr., J. Warne Carter, Sr.
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Patent number: 4366387Abstract: Wind generator apparatus employs an induction generator with a wind-driven rotor. Connection of the induction generator to AC power lines is controlled by apparatus that compares generator rpm and line frequency. The rotor blades have a pretwisted, varying-chord inboard portion and an untwisted, constant-chord outboard portion. The blades are self-starting, operate efficiently over a range of wind speeds with constant pitch maintained by a torsional biasing mechanism, and pitch up automatically when the normal rpm operating range is exceeded. An improved blade-supporting spar of low torsional stiffness has an I-beam configuration with filament-wound flanges. A pitch damper prevents torsional oscillations while permitting the blades to pitch up readily. The rotor, which includes a teetering hub, is free to weather-vane about the axis of a supporting tower, but a yaw damper limits angular velocity. A guy wire and gin pole arrangement stabilizes the tower and permits easy raising and lowering of the tower.Type: GrantFiled: May 10, 1979Date of Patent: December 28, 1982Assignee: Carter Wind PowerInventors: J. Warne Carter, Jr., J. Warne Carter, Sr.