Patents by Inventor Alan M. Walker
Alan M. Walker has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).
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Patent number: 11958809Abstract: Provided are omecamtiv mecarbil dihydrochloride salt forms, compositions and pharmaceutical formulations thereof, and methods for their preparation and use.Type: GrantFiled: September 24, 2021Date of Patent: April 16, 2024Assignee: CYTOKINETICS, INC.Inventors: Sheng Cui, Henry Morrison, Karthik Nagapudi, Shawn D. Walker, Charles Bernard, Karl Bennett Hansen, Neil Fred Langille, Alan Martin Allgeier, Steven M. Mennen, Jacqueline C. S. Woo, Bradley Paul Morgan, Alex Muci
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Publication number: 20220065217Abstract: The present disclosure is directed to methods for manufacturing wind turbine rotor blades and components thereof. In one embodiment, the method includes forming an outer surface of a rotor blade panel from one or more fiber-reinforced outer skins. The method also includes printing and depositing at least one reinforcement structure onto an inner surface of the one or more fiber-reinforced outer skins to form the rotor blade panel, wherein the reinforcement structure bonds to the one or more fiber-reinforced outer skins as the reinforcement structure is being deposited.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 23, 2021Publication date: March 3, 2022Inventors: James Robert Tobin, Stephen Bertram Johnson, Jamie T. Livingston, Alan M. Walker
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Patent number: 11167507Abstract: A method for manufacturing a rotor blade root assembly includes placing outer skin layer(s) onto a blade mold and arranging a root plate with a plurality of through holes adjacent to an end face of the blade mold. The method also includes placing a plurality of root inserts atop the outer skin layer(s) and abutting against the root plate, with each of the root inserts defining a fastener hole. The method also includes inserting a root fastener into each of the aligned through holes and longitudinal fastener holes. Moreover, the method includes placing inner skin layer(s) atop the root inserts. Further, the root plate may include at least one fluid hole configured therethrough to provide a non-gas tight root plate. Alternatively, at least one seal may be arranged between the root plate and the blade mold that forms a non-gas tight connection with either or both of the root plate or the blade mold during a vacuum infusion process.Type: GrantFiled: March 16, 2018Date of Patent: November 9, 2021Assignee: General Electric CompanyInventors: Alan M. Walker, Andrew Mitchell Rodwell, David Patrick Cripps, James Paul Davidson, Miguel Cabrera Lange, Nicholas Michael Seruntine
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Patent number: 11098691Abstract: The present disclosure is directed to methods for manufacturing wind turbine rotor blades and components thereof. In one embodiment, the method includes forming an outer surface of a rotor blade panel from one or more fiber-reinforced outer skins. The method also includes printing and depositing at least one reinforcement structure onto an inner surface of the one or more fiber-reinforced outer skins to form the rotor blade panel, wherein the reinforcement structure bonds to the one or more fiber-reinforced outer skins as the reinforcement structure is being deposited.Type: GrantFiled: February 3, 2017Date of Patent: August 24, 2021Assignee: General Electric CompanyInventors: James Robert Tobin, Stephen Bertram Johnson, Jamie T. Livingston, Alan M. Walker
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Patent number: 11022094Abstract: The present disclosure is directed to a method of assembly of a rotor blade for a wind turbine. The method includes placing a first rotor blade section onto a first set location of an assembly fixture, wherein the first rotor blade includes a first locating datum such that the assembly fixture at the first set location constrains movement of the first rotor blade section at the first locating datum along a first direction; placing the first rotor blade section onto a second set location of the assembly fixture, wherein the first rotor blade includes a second locating datum such that the assembly fixture at the second set location constrains movement of the first rotor blade section at the second locating datum along a second direction; and positioning a second rotor blade section onto the first rotor blade section within the assembly fixture.Type: GrantFiled: May 24, 2017Date of Patent: June 1, 2021Assignee: General Electric CompanyInventors: Danilo Veljkovic, Brian Scott Redmon, Roland Joseph Menassa, Thomas Merzhaeuser, Daniel Alan Hynum, Alan M. Walker, Shridhar Champaknath Nath
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Patent number: 10865769Abstract: A method for manufacturing a rotor blade panel of a wind turbine includes placing one or more fiber-reinforced outer skins into a mold of the rotor blade panel. The method also includes printing and depositing, via a computer numeric control (CNC) device, a plurality of rib members that form at least one three-dimensional (3-D) reinforcement grid structure onto an inner surface of the one or more fiber-reinforced outer skins. Further, the grid structure bonds to the one or more fiber-reinforced outer skins as the grid structure is deposited. Moreover, the method includes printing at least one additional feature into the grid structure.Type: GrantFiled: November 21, 2017Date of Patent: December 15, 2020Assignee: General Electric CompanyInventors: James Robert Tobin, Norman Arnold Turnquist, Stephen Bertram Johnson, Don Conrad Johnson, Thomas Merzhaeuser, Peggy Lynn Baehmann, Stefan Herr, Murray Fisher, Andrew McCalip, Alan M. Walker, Todd Anderson
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Patent number: 10830206Abstract: The present disclosure is directed to methods for manufacturing wind turbine rotor blades and components thereof, e.g. using 3D printing. In one embodiment, the method includes forming a rotor blade structure having a first surface and an opposing, second surface, the first and second surfaces being substantially flat. Another step includes printing a leading edge segment of the rotor blade onto the first surface, wherein heat from the printing bonds the leading edge segment to the first surface. The method also includes rotating the rotor blade structure having the leading edge segment attached thereto. A further step includes printing a trailing edge segment of the rotor blade onto the second surface, wherein heat from the printing bonds the trailing edge segment to the second surface. Another step includes securing one or more fiber-reinforced outer skins to the leading and trailing edge segments so as to complete the rotor blade.Type: GrantFiled: February 3, 2017Date of Patent: November 10, 2020Assignee: General Electric CompanyInventors: James Robert Tobin, Stephen Bertram Johnson, Jamie T. Livingston, Shridhar Champaknath Nath, Alan M. Walker
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Patent number: 10605227Abstract: The present disclosure is directed to a rotor blade assembly for a wind turbine having a first rotor blade segment with a first spar cap segment and a second rotor blade segment with a second spar cap segment. The first and second spar cap segments are arranged together at an interface and are constructed of a composite material. Further, the rotor blade assembly includes a joint assembly at the interface of the first and second spar cap segments. The joint assembly is constructed of a first metal joint secured to the first spar cap segment and a second metal joint secured to second spar cap segment. Moreover, the first and second metal joints are welded together at a weld area.Type: GrantFiled: April 12, 2017Date of Patent: March 31, 2020Assignee: General Electric CompanyInventors: Stephen Bertram Johnson, Xu Chen, Alan M. Walker
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Publication number: 20190283347Abstract: A method for manufacturing a rotor blade root assembly includes placing outer skin layer(s) onto a blade mold and arranging a root plate with a plurality of through holes adjacent to an end face of the blade mold. The method also includes placing a plurality of root inserts atop the outer skin layer(s) and abutting against the root plate, with each of the root inserts defining a fastener hole. The method also includes inserting a root fastener into each of the aligned through holes and longitudinal fastener holes. Moreover, the method includes placing inner skin layer(s) atop the root inserts. Further, the root plate may include at least one fluid hole configured therethrough to provide a non-gas tight root plate. Alternatively, at least one seal may be arranged between the root plate and the blade mold that forms a non-gas tight connection with either or both of the root plate or the blade mold during a vacuum infusion process.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 16, 2018Publication date: September 19, 2019Inventors: Alan M. Walker, Andrew Mitchell Rodwell, David Patrick Cripps, James Paul Davidson, Miguel Cabrera Lange, Nicholas Michael Seruntine
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Publication number: 20190153994Abstract: A method for manufacturing a rotor blade panel of a wind turbine includes placing one or more fiber-reinforced outer skins into a mold of the rotor blade panel. The method also includes printing and depositing, via a computer numeric control (CNC) device, a plurality of rib members that form at least one three-dimensional (3-D) reinforcement grid structure onto an inner surface of the one or more fiber-reinforced outer skins. Further, the grid structure bonds to the one or more fiber-reinforced outer skins as the grid structure is deposited. Moreover, the method includes printing at least one additional feature into the grid structure.Type: ApplicationFiled: November 21, 2017Publication date: May 23, 2019Inventors: James Robert Tobin, Norman Arnold Turnquist, Stephen Bertram Johnson, Don Conrad Johnson, Thomas Merzhaeuser, Peggy Lynn Baehmann, Stefan Herr, Murray Fisher, Andrew McCalip, Alan M. Walker, Todd Anderson
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Publication number: 20180340511Abstract: The present disclosure is directed to a method of assembly of a rotor blade for a wind turbine. The method includes placing a first rotor blade section onto a first set location of an assembly fixture, wherein the first rotor blade includes a first locating datum such that the assembly fixture at the first set location constrains movement of the first rotor blade section at the first locating datum along a first direction; placing the first rotor blade section onto a second set location of the assembly fixture, wherein the first rotor blade includes a second locating datum such that the assembly fixture at the second set location constrains movement of the first rotor blade section at the second locating datum along a second direction; and positioning a second rotor blade section onto the first rotor blade section within the assembly fixture.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 24, 2017Publication date: November 29, 2018Inventors: Danilo Veljkovic, Brian Scott Redmon, Roland Joseph Menassa, Thomas Merzhaeuser, Daniel Alan Hynum, Alan M. Walker, Shridhar Champaknath Nath
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Publication number: 20180298879Abstract: The present disclosure is directed to a rotor blade assembly for a wind turbine having a first rotor blade segment with a first spar cap segment and a second rotor blade segment with a second spar cap segment. The first and second spar cap segments are arranged together at an interface and are constructed of a composite material. Further, the rotor blade assembly includes a joint assembly at the interface of the first and second spar cap segments. The joint assembly is constructed of a first metal joint secured to the first spar cap segment and a second metal joint secured to second spar cap segment. Moreover, the first and second metal joints are welded together at a weld area.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 12, 2017Publication date: October 18, 2018Inventors: Stephen Bertram Johnson, Xu Chen, Alan M. Walker
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Publication number: 20180223795Abstract: The present disclosure is directed to methods for manufacturing wind turbine rotor blades and components thereof, e.g. using 3D printing. In one embodiment, the method includes forming a rotor blade structure having a first surface and an opposing, second surface, the first and second surfaces being substantially flat. Another step includes printing a leading edge segment of the rotor blade onto the first surface, wherein heat from the printing bonds the leading edge segment to the first surface. The method also includes rotating the rotor blade structure having the leading edge segment attached thereto. A further step includes printing a trailing edge segment of the rotor blade onto the second surface, wherein heat from the printing bonds the trailing edge segment to the second surface. Another step includes securing one or more fiber-reinforced outer skins to the leading and trailing edge segments so as to complete the rotor blade.Type: ApplicationFiled: February 3, 2017Publication date: August 9, 2018Inventors: James Robert Tobin, Stephen Bertram Johnson, Jamie T. Livingston, Shridhar Champaknath Nath, Alan M. Walker
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Publication number: 20180223794Abstract: The present disclosure is directed to methods for manufacturing wind turbine rotor blades and components thereof. In one embodiment, the method includes forming an outer surface of a rotor blade panel from one or more fiber-reinforced outer skins. The method also includes printing and depositing at least one reinforcement structure onto an inner surface of the one or more fiber-reinforced outer skins to form the rotor blade panel, wherein the reinforcement structure bonds to the one or more fiber-reinforced outer skins as the reinforcement structure is being deposited.Type: ApplicationFiled: February 3, 2017Publication date: August 9, 2018Inventors: James Robert Tobin, Stephen Bertram Johnson, Jamie T. Livingston, Alan M. Walker