Patents by Inventor Axel Braicks

Axel Braicks 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).

  • Patent number: 8215896
    Abstract: A method for operating an off-shore wind turbine and a wind-turbine is provided. The off-shore wind turbine is at least temporarily situated in water and includes a rotor with at least one rotor blade and a pitch drive system coupled to the at least one rotor blade. The pitch drive system is adapted for pitching the at least one rotor blade, wherein the wind turbine further includes a wind turbine control. The method includes determining at least one of a water condition; in dependence of the outcome of the determining, defining peak shaver settings; and pitching the at least one rotor blade according to the peak shaver settings. Furthermore, the wind turbine has a sensor adapted for measuring one of the water current-speed, the water current direction and the water level at or close to the wind turbine.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 20, 2010
    Date of Patent: July 10, 2012
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Henk-Jan Kooijman, Axel Braicks
  • Patent number: 8047770
    Abstract: A brake system is provided for controlling a rotational speed of a drivetrain for a wind turbine. The drivetrain is coupled to a rotor shaft and a generator rotor shaft. The brake system includes a mechanical brake operatively coupled to the drivetrain. The mechanical brake includes a brake caliper and a brake disc coupled to the drivetrain. A sensor is configured to detect a parameter of the wind turbine. A controller is configured to actuate the brake caliper to apply a braking force on the brake disc. The controller is configured to control the mechanical brake based on the parameter to adjust a brake torque generated by the braking force.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 30, 2009
    Date of Patent: November 1, 2011
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventor: Axel Braicks
  • Publication number: 20110211951
    Abstract: A method for operating an off-shore wind turbine and a wind-turbine is provided. The off-shore wind turbine is at least temporarily situated in water and includes a rotor with at least one rotor blade and a pitch drive system coupled to the at least one rotor blade. The pitch drive system is adapted for pitching the at least one rotor blade, wherein the wind turbine further includes a wind turbine control. The method includes determining at least one of a water condition; in dependence of the outcome of the determining, defining peak shaver settings; and pitching the at least one rotor blade according to the peak shaver settings. Furthermore, the wind turbine has a sensor adapted for measuring one of the water current speed, the water current direction and the water level at or close to the wind turbine.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 20, 2010
    Publication date: September 1, 2011
    Inventors: Henk-Jan KOOIJMAN, Axel Braicks
  • Publication number: 20110135465
    Abstract: A brake system is provided for controlling a rotational speed of a drivetrain for a wind turbine. The drivetrain is coupled to a rotor shaft and a generator rotor shaft. The brake system includes a mechanical brake operatively coupled to the drivetrain. The mechanical brake includes a brake caliper and a brake disc coupled to the drivetrain. A sensor is configured to detect a parameter of the wind turbine. A controller is configured to actuate the brake caliper to apply a braking force on the brake disc. The controller is configured to control the mechanical brake based on the parameter to adjust a brake torque generated by the braking force.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 30, 2009
    Publication date: June 9, 2011
    Inventor: Axel Braicks
  • Patent number: 7956482
    Abstract: The present patent application concerns wind turbine having a rotor with a first rotor blade and a pitch control system with a controller and a first drive system for adjusting a pitch angle of the first rotor blade, wherein the drive system is adapted to transform rotational energy of the rotor blade rotating about its longitudinal axis into another form of energy such that a counter torque against the rotating direction is induced.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 18, 2008
    Date of Patent: June 7, 2011
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Jacob Johannes Nies, Patrick Achenbach, Peter Rogall, Axel Braicks, Stefan Rieken
  • Patent number: 7944067
    Abstract: A system and method for reducing rotor loads in a wind turbine that includes a brake and one or more rotor blades coupled to a rotor. Upon detection of a loss of counter torque and a blade-pitch failure in at least one rotor blade, a processor reduces a generator overspeed threshold value by a predetermined amount and determines a brake-release threshold value. The brake is applied to slow the rotor if the generator/rotor speed exceeds the reduced generator/rotor overspeed threshold value. In addition, the brake is applied to slow the rotor until the generator/rotor speed is below the brake-release threshold value. The rate of change of the pitch angle of the rotor blade may be varied as the blade moves toward feather in response to the detected blade-pitch failure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 1, 2008
    Date of Patent: May 17, 2011
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Leonardo Cesar Kammer, Axel Braicks, Hubert Oing
  • Patent number: 7901184
    Abstract: A torsionally loadable wind turbine blade, includes a loading member secured to a body of the wind turbine blade; and an adjuster for actively displacing the loading member and torsionally deforming the blade on a spanwise axis.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 16, 2009
    Date of Patent: March 8, 2011
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Jacob J. Nies, Axel Braicks
  • Publication number: 20100143135
    Abstract: A torsionally loadable wind turbine blade, includes a loading member secured to a body of the wind turbine blade; and an adjuster for actively displacing the loading member and torsionally deforming the blade on a spanwise axis.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 16, 2009
    Publication date: June 10, 2010
    Inventors: Jacob J. Nies, Axel Braicks
  • Publication number: 20090243295
    Abstract: A system and method for reducing rotor loads in a wind turbine that includes a brake and one or more rotor blades coupled to a rotor. Upon detection of a loss of counter torque and a blade-pitch failure in at least one rotor blade, a processor reduces a generator overspeed threshold value by a predetermined amount and determines a brake-release threshold value. The brake is applied to slow the rotor if the generator/rotor speed exceeds the reduced generator/rotor overspeed threshold value. In addition, the brake is applied to slow the rotor until the generator/rotor speed is below the brake-release threshold value. The rate of change of the pitch angle of the rotor blade may be varied as the blade moves toward feather in response to the detected blade-pitch failure.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 1, 2008
    Publication date: October 1, 2009
    Applicant: GENERAL ELECTRIC COMPANY
    Inventors: Leonardo Cesar Kammer, Axel Braicks, Hubert Oing
  • Publication number: 20090184519
    Abstract: The present patent application concerns wind turbine having a rotor with a first rotor blade and a pitch control system with a first drive system for adjusting a pitch angle of the first rotor blade, wherein the drive system is adapted to transform rotational energy of the rotor blade rotating about its longitudinal axis into another form of energy such that a counter torque against the rotating direction is induced.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 18, 2008
    Publication date: July 23, 2009
    Inventors: Jacob Johannes Nies, Patrick Achenbach, Peter Rogall, Axel Braicks, Stefan Rieken