Patents by Inventor Anders Niels Hansen

Anders Niels Hansen 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).

  • Publication number: 20240110547
    Abstract: The present invention provides a wind turbine comprising a lightning protection system for providing an electrical conduction path suitable for conducting lightning from the rotor to electrical ground. The lightning protection system comprises a shroud which is electrically coupled to a wind turbine bearing housing and a wind turbine hub and/or the front end of the main shaft. The shroud forms part of the electrical conduction path so to electrically couple a wind turbine rotor to the bearing housing via a short circuit path that bypasses the bearing arrangement.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 7, 2020
    Publication date: April 4, 2024
    Inventors: Nathan A. Brilliant, Anders Niels Hansen
  • Patent number: 10480490
    Abstract: A lightning current transfer unit for a wind turbine, the wind turbine comprising a first part and a second part being rotatable relative to each other, wherein the lightning current transfer unit is arranged to provide electrical contact between the first and second parts, the lightning current transfer unit comprising: a first current transfer portion comprising a first slider and configured to be electrically coupled to a first electrically conducting slideway of the first part of the wind turbine, the first slider being rotatable relative to the first slideway; a second current transfer portion configured to be electrically coupled to an electrically conducting portion of the second part of the wind turbine; a first main spring biasing the first slider towards the first slideway; wherein the first slider comprises: a primary contact biased towards the first slideway by the first main spring; a secondary contact arranged to move relative to the primary contact; and a secondary spring arranged between the f
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 18, 2015
    Date of Patent: November 19, 2019
    Assignee: VESTAS WIND SYSTEMS A/S
    Inventors: Anders Niels Hansen, Morten Bagger Søgaard, Claus Grøn Lyngby, Gert Lading
  • Patent number: 10066607
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a lightning current transfer system (100) adapted for usage in a wind turbine (W) having a hub (20) that is rotatably supported relative to a generator in a nacelle (30) and a plurality of blades (10) that are pivotably connected with the hub, wherein the hub (20) is covered by a spinner (20A). The lightning current transfer system (100) comprises a blade band (10A) mountable to the root of the blade (10); a lightning ring (80) mountable to the spinner (20A) facing the nacelle (30); a first contact device (70) mountable to the spinner (20A) adapted for providing lightning current transfer from the blade band (10A); a connecting device (75) for connecting the first contact device (70) with the lightning ring (80); and a second contact device (30B) mountable to the nacelle (30) and adapted for providing lightning current transfer from the lightning ring (80) to ground.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 3, 2014
    Date of Patent: September 4, 2018
    Assignee: Vestas Wind Systems A/S
    Inventors: Morten Bagger Søgaard, Anders Niels Hansen, Claus Gron Lyngby, Niels Martin Henriksen, Benjamin Haastrup, Carsten Christensen, Jesper Lykkegaard Christensen, Martin Ahlmann
  • Publication number: 20170350373
    Abstract: A lightning current transfer unit for a wind turbine, the wind turbine comprising a first part and a second part being rotatable relative to each other, wherein the lightning current transfer unit is arranged to provide electrical contact between the first and second parts, the lightning current transfer unit comprising: a first current transfer portion comprising a first slider and configured to be electrically coupled to a first electrically conducting slideway of the first part of the wind turbine, the first slider being rotatable relative to the first slideway; a second current transfer portion configured to be electrically coupled to an electrically conducting portion of the second part of the wind turbine; a first main spring biasing the first slider towards the first slideway; wherein the first slider comprises: a primary contact biased towards the first slideway by the first main spring; a secondary contact arranged to move relative to the primary contact; and a secondary spring arranged between the f
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 18, 2015
    Publication date: December 7, 2017
    Inventors: Anders Niels HANSEN, Morten Bagger SØGAARD, Claus Grøn LYNGBY, Gert LADING
  • Patent number: 9835141
    Abstract: The invention generally relates to a blade for a wind turbine, and to a blade for a wind turbine comprising a lightning measurement system. In particular, a lightning measurement system is provided, comprising a lightning current sensor located in the blade for more accurate lightning measurements. A method of measuring a lightning strike is also provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 27, 2012
    Date of Patent: December 5, 2017
    Assignee: VESTAS WIND SYSTEMS A/S
    Inventors: Hans V. Erichsen, Niels Birch Mogensen, Anders Niels Hansen
  • Patent number: 9709039
    Abstract: A lightning current transfer unit (100) for a wind turbine, the lightning current transfer unit (100) comprising a first portion (20a) configured to be electrically coupled to an electrically conducting portion of a blade of a wind turbine electrically connected to a down conductor of the blade and a second portion (20b) configured to be electrically coupled to an electrically conducting portion of a nacelle of the wind turbine connected to a down conductor connected to earth. The first portion (20a) and the second portion (20b) are both independently movable to maintain electrical coupling to the electrically conducting portion of the blade and nacelle respectively. A lightning current transfer portion (104) is provided that comprises a spark gap (106) formed between an electrical connection (108) to the first portion (20a) and an electrical connection (110) to the second portion (20b). The electrical connections (108, 110) are moveable with their respective first or second portion (20a, 20b).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 6, 2013
    Date of Patent: July 18, 2017
    Assignee: Vestas Wind Systems A/S
    Inventors: Claus Gron Lyngby, Kent Bach Lønbæk, Anders Niels Hansen
  • Publication number: 20160252078
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a lightning current transfer system (100) adapted for usage in a wind turbine (W) having a hub (20) that is rotatably supported relative to a generator in a nacelle (30) and a plurality of blades (10) that are pivotably connected with the hub, wherein the hub (20) is covered by a spinner (20A). The lightning current transfer system (100) comprises a blade band (10A) mountable to the root of the blade (10); a lightning ring (80mountable to the spinner (20A) facing the nacelle (30); a first contact device (70) mountable to the spinner (20A) adapted for providing lightning current transfer from the blade band (10A); a connecting device (75) for connecting the first contact device (70) with the lightning ring (80); and a second contact device (30B) mountable to the nacelle (30) and adapted for providing lightning current transfer from the lightning ring (80) to ground.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 3, 2014
    Publication date: September 1, 2016
    Inventors: Morten Bagger Søgaard, Anders Niels Hansen, Claus Gron Lyngby, Niels Martin Henriksen, Benjamin Haastrup, Carsten Christensen, Jesper Lykkegaard Christensen, Martin Ahlmann
  • Publication number: 20150132133
    Abstract: A lightning current transfer unit (100) for a wind turbine, the lightning current transfer unit (100) comprising a first portion (20a) configured to be electrically coupled to an electrically conducting portion of a blade of a wind turbine electrically connected to a down conductor of the blade and a second portion (20b) configured to be electrically coupled to an electrically conducting portion of a nacelle of the wind turbine connected to a down conductor connected to earth. The first portion (20a) and the second portion (20b) are both independently movable to maintain electrical coupling to the electrically conducting portion of the blade and nacelle respectively. A lightning current transfer portion (104) is provided that comprises a spark gap (106) formed between an electrical connection (108) to the first portion (20a) and an electrical connection (110) to the second portion (20b). The electrical connections (108, 110) are moveable with their respective first or second portion (20a, 20b).
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 6, 2013
    Publication date: May 14, 2015
    Applicant: VESTAS WIND SYSTEMS A/S
    Inventors: Claus Gron Lyngby, Kent Bach Lønbæk, Anders Niels Hansen
  • Publication number: 20130028739
    Abstract: The invention generally relates to a blade for a wind turbine, and to a blade for a wind turbine comprising a lightning measurement system. In particular, a lightning measurement system is provided, comprising a lightning current sensor located in the blade for more accurate lightning measurements. A method of measuring a lightning strike is also provided.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 27, 2012
    Publication date: January 31, 2013
    Applicant: VESTAS WIND SYSTEMS A/S
    Inventors: Hans V. Erichsen, Niels Birch Mogensen, Anders Niels Hansen