Abstract: An apparatus for a self-centering plunger for a hydraulic yaw brake having improved load distribution and ability to accommodate system forces, torques, stresses, etc. is disclosed. A lower section of the self-centering hydraulic plunger has a reduced diameter and does not include a bottom collar, which minimizes torque transfer from a brake piston. A brake piston seat washer is thicker, more robust and has increased surface area to better distribute the load onto the brake piston. The geometry of the piston seat washer also minimizes the torque transferred from the brake piston to the self-centering hydraulic plunger. A friction sleeve assembly improves load distribution at a plunger-housing interface by improving sliding contact surface area.

Abstract: A yaw brake apparatus includes a first surface disposed on an end of a yaw piston for a wind turbine, the first surface including a first pattern formed by one or more of a plurality of first recesses and a plurality of first protrusions. The yaw brake apparatus may also include a yaw pad including a second surface structurally configured to engage with the first surface and a third surface opposite the second surface that is structurally configured to engage with a slew ring of the wind turbine, the second surface including a second pattern formed by one or more of a plurality of second recesses and a plurality of second protrusions corresponding to one or more of the plurality of first recesses and the plurality of first protrusions on the first pattern such that the first pattern and second pattern fit together when aligned in a predetermined orientation.

Abstract: A system for slew ring repair includes a drive mechanism and a tool coupled thereto. The tool may include a fixture structurally configured to secure the tool to a frame on a top end of a wind tower, and a rotatable shaft having a proximal end and a distal end, where the proximal end is coupled to the drive mechanism and the distal end is structurally configured to insert within a housing on the top end of the wind tower that contains a slew ring of a wind turbine disposed on the wind tower. The tool may further include a grinder disposed on the distal end of the rotatable shaft, where the grinder is structurally configured to engage the slew ring while being rotated by the drive mechanism for repair or maintenance of the slew ring.

Abstract: A caliper brake featuring a hydraulic piston assembly includes a housing, a movable piston within a chamber of the housing, a first port providing a first fluid pathway into the chamber, and a redundant seal assembly. The redundant seal assembly may include a first pressure seal disposed about a first interior circumference of the chamber disposed above the first port, a second pressure seal disposed about a second interior circumference of the chamber disposed above the first pressure seal, and a second port disposed between the first pressure seal and the second pressure seal, the second port providing a second fluid pathway from inside of the chamber to outside of the chamber, and the second port establishing a bleed-off for fluid traversing above the first pressure seal such that the second pressure seal experiences a lower fluid pressure than the first pressure seal during normal operation of the caliper brake.

Abstract: A yaw assembly for a wind turbine may include a bushing configured for securement within a yaw cylinder containing a yaw piston and a yaw pad having a first side configured for engagement with a slew ring of the wind turbine and a second side configured for engagement with the yaw piston, a thrust stem engaged with the bushing and configured to apply force to the yaw pad against the slew ring, the thrust stem biased away from the yaw pad by one or more springs residing within the yaw piston, and an anti-rotation collar disposed at an interface between the thrust stem and the yaw piston, the anti-rotation collar including a flange extending from a bottom-center portion thereof, the flange disposed between the one or more springs and a bottom end of the yaw piston.

Abstract: A caliper brake featuring a hydraulic piston assembly includes a housing, a movable piston within a chamber of the housing, a first port providing a first fluid pathway into the chamber, and a redundant seal assembly. The redundant seal assembly may include a first pressure seal disposed about a first interior circumference of the chamber disposed above the first port, a second pressure seal disposed about a second interior circumference of the chamber disposed above the first pressure seal, and a second port disposed between the first pressure seal and the second pressure seal, the second port providing a second fluid pathway from inside of the chamber to outside of the chamber, and the second port establishing a bleed-off for fluid traversing above the first pressure seal such that the second pressure seal experiences a lower fluid pressure than the first pressure seal during normal operation of the caliper brake.

Abstract: A caliper brake featuring a hydraulic piston assembly includes a housing, a movable piston within a chamber of the housing, a first port providing a first fluid pathway into the chamber, and a redundant seal assembly. The redundant seal assembly may include a first pressure seal disposed about a first interior circumference of the chamber disposed above the first port, a second pressure seal disposed about a second interior circumference of the chamber disposed above the first pressure seal, and a second port disposed between the first pressure seal and the second pressure seal, the second port providing a second fluid pathway from inside of the chamber to outside of the chamber, and the second port establishing a bleed-off for fluid traversing above the first pressure seal such that the second pressure seal experiences a lower fluid pressure than the first pressure seal during normal operation of the caliper brake.

Abstract: A yaw brake apparatus includes a first surface disposed on an end of a yaw piston for a wind turbine, the first surface including a first pattern formed by one or more of a plurality of first recesses and a plurality of first protrusions. The yaw brake apparatus may also include a yaw pad including a second surface structurally configured to engage with the first surface and a third surface opposite the second surface that is structurally configured to engage with a slew ring of the wind turbine, the second surface including a second pattern formed by one or more of a plurality of second recesses and a plurality of second protrusions corresponding to one or more of the plurality of first recesses and the plurality of first protrusions on the first pattern such that the first pattern and second pattern fit together when aligned in a predetermined orientation.

Abstract: A system for slew ring repair includes a drive mechanism and a tool coupled thereto. The tool may include a fixture structurally configured to secure the tool to a frame on a top end of a wind tower, and a rotatable shaft having a proximal end and a distal end, where the proximal end is coupled to the drive mechanism and the distal end is structurally configured to insert within a housing on the top end of the wind tower that contains a slew ring of a wind turbine disposed on the wind tower. The tool may further include a grinder disposed on the distal end of the rotatable shaft, where the grinder is structurally configured to engage the slew ring while being rotated by the drive mechanism for repair or maintenance of the slew ring.

Abstract: A yaw assembly for a wind turbine may include a bushing configured for securement within a yaw cylinder containing a yaw piston and a yaw pad having a first side configured for engagement with a slew ring of the wind turbine and a second side configured for engagement with the yaw piston, a thrust stem engaged with the bushing and configured to apply force to the yaw pad against the slew ring, the thrust stem biased away from the yaw pad by one or more springs residing within the yaw piston, and an anti-rotation collar disposed at an interface between the thrust stem and the yaw piston, the anti-rotation collar including a flange extending from a bottom-center portion thereof, the flange disposed between the one or more springs and a bottom end of the yaw piston.

Abstract: A wind turbine yaw assembly has a yaw piston and a yaw bearing pad. A spring resides inside the yaw piston and applies spring pressure to the yaw bearing pad. A threaded yaw piston bushing applies adjustable pressure to the spring. The threaded yaw bushing has a plurality of at least three force adjustment screws distributed symmetrically about the threaded yaw piston bushing. The spring pressure is adjusted by tightening or loosening the plurality of force adjustment screws. This abstract is not to be considered limiting, since other embodiments may deviate from the features described in this abstract.

Abstract: An electrical power generating system includes a wind deflecting structure having a contour at a proximal end formed by a plurality of sail segments that in a first position define the contour, a turbine positioned in proximity to a distal end of the wind deflecting structure such that the turbine is driven by wind passing around the wind deflecting structure, and an energy converter coupled to the turbine that converts rotary motion from the turbine into electrical energy, wherein at least one of the plurality of sails is movable between the first position defining a corresponding portion of the contour of the wind deflecting structure and a second position that reduces a wind drag coefficient of the wind deflecting structure.

Abstract: A method of repairing a wind turbine blade while mounted on a tower without removing the blade from the tower is provided. The method includes positioning the wind turbine blade in a substantially vertical orientation. Next, a containment structure is positioned adjacent to a damaged portion of the blade. The damaged portion is at least partially enclosed by the containment structure and the temperature of the air within the containment structure heated. The blade is repaired by removing a damaged portion of the blade, installing a repair portion to the blade where the damaged portion was removed, and the repair portion is cured in the heated containment structure.

Abstract: A method of repairing a wind turbine blade while mounted on a tower without removing the blade from the tower is provided. The method includes positioning the wind turbine blade in a substantially vertical orientation. Next, a containment structure is positioned adjacent to a damaged portion of the blade. The damaged portion is at least partially enclosed by the containment structure and the temperature of the air within the containment structure heated. The blade is repaired by removing a damaged portion of the blade, installing a repair portion to the blade where the damaged portion was removed, and the repair portion is cured in the heated containment structure.

Abstract: A method of repairing a wind turbine blade while mounted on a tower without removing the blade from the tower is provided. The method may begin by positioning the wind turbine blade in a substantially vertical orientation. Next, a containment structure is suspended from a nacelle via a hoisting system that positions the containment structure at a damaged portion of the blade. The damaged portion is enclosed within the containment structure and the temperature of the air within the containment structure is controlled. The blade is repaired by removing a damaged portion of the blade, and installing a repair portion to the blade where the damaged portion was removed. The method may conclude by operating the hoisting system to remove the containment structure from the blade.

Abstract: A method of repairing a wind turbine blade while mounted on a tower without removing the blade from the tower is provided. The method may begin by positioning the wind turbine blade in a substantially vertical orientation. Next, a containment structure is suspended from a nacelle via a hoisting system that positions the containment structure at a damaged portion of the blade. The damaged portion is enclosed within the containment structure and the temperature of the air within the containment structure is controlled. The blade is repaired by removing a damaged portion of the blade, and installing a repair portion to the blade where the damaged portion was removed. The method may conclude by operating the hoisting system to remove the containment structure from the blade.

Abstract: A method of repairing a wind turbine blade while mounted on a tower without removing the blade from the tower is provided. The method may begin by positioning the wind turbine blade in a substantially vertical orientation. Next, a blade reinforcement structure is secured to the blade to reduce stress on a portion of the blade. The blade is repaired by removing a damaged portion of the blade, and installing a repair portion to the blade where the damaged portion was removed. The method may conclude by removing the blade reinforcement structure from the blade.