Patents by Inventor Brent Hamilton Holloway
Brent Hamilton Holloway 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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Publication number: 20220152541Abstract: Systems for treatment of air are provided. In one embodiment, a system comprises a pre-filter layer, a smaller particle filtration layer, a carbon layer and a photocatalytic layer. Among the four layers, the pre-filter layer may be the furthest upstream in a direction of air flow, and the photocatalytic layer may be the furthest downstream in a direction of air flow.Type: ApplicationFiled: November 10, 2021Publication date: May 19, 2022Applicant: Field Controls, L.L.C.Inventors: Gareth W. D. Lewis, Brent Hamilton Holloway
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Patent number: 10890157Abstract: A system for enabling servicing of a rotor of a wind turbine has a rotor blade sling with at least one strap configured to be placed over the top of a rotor blade in a ten o'clock position or a two o'clock position. One or more rigid bars extend from the hub and out away from the hub, and the one or more rigid bars are coupled to the at least one strap. One or more support straps are coupled to the at least one strap, and the one or more support straps are configured to couple and support a rotor blade in a six o'clock position.Type: GrantFiled: March 8, 2018Date of Patent: January 12, 2021Assignee: General Electric CompanyInventors: Gaylon Mitchell Pfeiffer, Ulrich Werner Neumann, Brent Hamilton Holloway, Michael Royce Johnson, Kevin Thomas Costain, Forrest Christopher Hach, Howard Lee Hansen, Jr.
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Patent number: 10465663Abstract: A method for removing a rotor blade from a wind turbine may generally include installing a blade sock around an outer perimeter of the rotor blade, coupling a support cable to the blade root, lowering the rotor blade relative to the hub using the support cable, coupling at least one pulley cable between the rotor blade and a winch using at least one pulley, moving the pulley cable relative to the pulley to lower the rotor blade relative to the hub, applying a force through the blade sock as the pulley cable is moved relative to the pulley in order to control an orientation of the rotor blade and further lowering the rotor blade to a location on or adjacent to the support surface.Type: GrantFiled: April 13, 2017Date of Patent: November 5, 2019Assignee: General Electric CompanyInventors: Brent Hamilton Holloway, Ulrich Werner Neumann, Gaylon Mitchell Pfeiffer, Michael R. Johnson, Forrest Christopher Hach, Kevin Costain
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Patent number: 10113530Abstract: In one aspect, a method for installing a blade sock onto a rotor blade of a wind turbine may generally include positioning the blade sock adjacent to a blade tip of the rotor blade, wherein the blade sock comprises a sock strap forming a closed-shape. In addition, the method may include moving the blade sock relative to the rotor blade such that the blade tip is received within the closed-shape formed by the sock strap and moving the blade sock spanwise along the rotor blade towards a blade root of the rotor blade until the blade sock is positioned at an intermediate location defined between the blade root and the blade tip, wherein the sock strap is configured to fit tightly around an outer perimeter of the rotor blade at the intermediate location.Type: GrantFiled: November 12, 2014Date of Patent: October 30, 2018Assignee: General Electric CompanyInventors: Ulrich Werner Neumann, Brent Hamilton Holloway, Stephanie Willman, Michael Cade Foster
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Patent number: 10038357Abstract: A method for repairing or servicing a wye ring of a generator includes the steps of, dismantling the generator to gain access to the wye ring, determining a fault location in the wye ring; and attaching a patch to the wye ring in an area of the fault location. The patch provides an electrical path around the fault location so that the generator is repaired.Type: GrantFiled: October 16, 2013Date of Patent: July 31, 2018Assignee: General Electric CompanyInventors: Ulrich Werner Neumann, Brent Hamilton Holloway
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Publication number: 20180209399Abstract: A system for enabling servicing of a rotor of a wind turbine has a rotor blade sling with at least one strap configured to be placed over the top of a rotor blade in a ten o'clock position or a two o'clock position. One or more rigid bars extend from the hub and out away from the hub, and the one or more rigid bars are coupled to the at least one strap. One or more support straps are coupled to the at least one strap, and the one or more support straps are configured to couple and support a rotor blade in a six o'clock position.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 8, 2018Publication date: July 26, 2018Inventors: Gaylon Mitchell Pfeiffer, Ulrich Werner Neumann, Brent Hamilton Holloway, Michael Royce Johnson, Kevin Thomas Costain, Forrest Christopher Hach, Howard Lee Hansen, JR.
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Patent number: 9964095Abstract: A method for enabling servicing of a wind turbine rotor includes coupling a support cable to the blade root, the support cable extends from the blade root to a hub of the wind turbine. A lowering step lowers a rotor blade relative to the hub using the support cable so the rotor blade is spaced apart from the hub by an initial vertical distance. An installing step installs a rotor blade sling on the rotor, the rotor blade sling supports the rotor blade. Other steps are used for coupling the rotor blade to the rotor blade sling, lowering the rotor blade such that the rotor blade is spaced apart from the hub by a distance greater than the initial vertical distance, de-coupling the support cable from the blade root, and interposing a rotor servicing fixture between the rotor blade and hub. The rotor servicing fixture is configured to transport a rotor part.Type: GrantFiled: April 21, 2014Date of Patent: May 8, 2018Assignee: GENERAL ELECTRIC COMPANYInventors: Gaylon Mitchell Pfeiffer, Ulrich Werner Neumann, Brent Hamilton Holloway, Michael Royce Johnson, Kevin Thomas Costain, Forrest Christopher Hach, Howard Lee Hansen, Jr.
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Patent number: 9816488Abstract: A rotor turning system includes a fixture plate configured for attachment to a gearbox, a locking mechanism configured for attachment to the fixture plate, and a reaction fixture configured for attachment to the locking mechanism. The rotor turning system is configured to permit rotation of the rotor only when rotational torque is applied to the locking mechanism, and this rotation is in only one rotational direction.Type: GrantFiled: October 31, 2013Date of Patent: November 14, 2017Assignee: GENERAL ELECTRIC COMPANYInventors: Raymond Francis Rose, Jr., Jeffrey Eric Bergman, Brent Hamilton Holloway, Drake Joseph Viscome
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Patent number: 9777705Abstract: A method is provided for re-indexing a pitch bearing configured with a rotor blade of a wind turbine. A hoisting system is anchored within the rotor hub and includes a plurality of support elements connected to a drive system. The support elements are connected to the root flange of the rotor blade, and the rotor hub is rotated so that the rotor blade is in a vertical six o'clock position. The root flange is disconnected from the inner race such that the rotor blade is fully supported by the hoisting system. With the hoisting system, the rotor blade is lowered a predetermined distance from the hub and the pitch bearing is re-indexed to a position so as to engage a new set of pitch bearing teeth with a pitch drive that engages the pitch bearing.Type: GrantFiled: September 9, 2015Date of Patent: October 3, 2017Assignee: General Electric CompanyInventors: Ulrich Werner Neumann, Brent Hamilton Holloway, Gaylon Mitchell Pfeiffer, Stephanie Willman
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Publication number: 20170218927Abstract: A method for removing a rotor blade from a wind turbine may generally include installing a blade sock around an outer perimeter of the rotor blade, coupling a support cable to the blade root, lowering the rotor blade relative to the hub using the support cable, coupling at least one pulley cable between the rotor blade and a winch using at least one pulley, moving the pulley cable relative to the pulley to lower the rotor blade relative to the hub, applying a force through the blade sock as the pulley cable is moved relative to the pulley in order to control an orientation of the rotor blade and further lowering the rotor blade to a location on or adjacent to the support surface.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 13, 2017Publication date: August 3, 2017Inventors: Brent Hamilton Holloway, Ulrich Werner Neumann, Gaylon Mitchell Pfeiffer, Michael R. Johnson, Forrest Christopher Hach, Kevin Costain
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Patent number: 9651020Abstract: Portable cranes for wind turbines are provided. In one embodiment, a crane includes a boom, a support shaft connected to the boom, and a plurality of interchangeable mount assemblies. Each of the plurality of mount assemblies is removably connectable to the support shaft and mountable to a wind turbine component. The crane is mountable to at least two different wind turbine components. In another embodiment, a crane includes a boom, a support shaft connected to the boom, and means for mounting the crane to at least one uptower wind turbine component and at least one downtower wind turbine component.Type: GrantFiled: September 24, 2013Date of Patent: May 16, 2017Assignee: General Electric CompanyInventors: Brent Hamilton Holloway, Adam S. Davis, Michael Spitsbergen
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Patent number: 9651021Abstract: The present disclosure is directed to a system and method for lifting and/or removing a rotor blade to and from a wind turbine. In one embodiment, the system includes an up-tower pulley mounted on an up-tower location of the wind turbine, first and second ground winches, a pulley cable from the first ground winch over the up-tower pulley and attached to the rotor blade, a guide line attached between an up-tower location of the wind turbine and the second ground winch, a guide pulley mounted on the guide line, and a guide cable from the guide line over the guide pulley to the rotor blade. Thus, the guide pulley is configured to move along the guide line during lifting and removing of the rotor blade so that the guide cable can control an orientation of the rotor blade relative to the tower during lifting and removing of the rotor blade.Type: GrantFiled: September 9, 2014Date of Patent: May 16, 2017Assignee: General Electric CompanyInventors: Ulrich Werner Neumann, Brent Hamilton Holloway, Gaylon Mitchell Pfeiffer, Michael R. Johnson, Forrest Christopher Hach, Kevin Costain, Stephanie Willman
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Patent number: 9638163Abstract: A method for removing a rotor blade from a wind turbine may generally include installing a blade sock around an outer perimeter of the rotor blade, coupling a support cable to the blade root, lowering the rotor blade relative to the hub using the support cable, coupling at least one pulley cable between the rotor blade and a winch using at least one pulley, moving the pulley cable relative to the pulley to lower the rotor blade relative to the hub, applying a force through the blade sock as the pulley cable is moved relative to the pulley in order to control an orientation of the rotor blade and further lowering the rotor blade to a location on or adjacent to the support surface.Type: GrantFiled: February 20, 2014Date of Patent: May 2, 2017Assignee: General Electric CompanyInventors: Brent Hamilton Holloway, Ulrich Werner Neumann, Gaylon Mitchell Pfeiffer, Michael R. Johnson, Forrest Christopher Hach, Kevin Costain
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Publication number: 20170067437Abstract: A method is provided for re-indexing a pitch bearing configured with a rotor blade of a wind turbine. A hoisting system is anchored within the rotor hub and includes a plurality of support elements connected to a drive system. The support elements are connected to the root flange of the rotor blade, and the rotor hub is rotated so that the rotor blade is in a vertical six o'clock position. The root flange is disconnected from the inner race such that the rotor blade is fully supported by the hoisting system. With the hoisting system, the rotor blade is lowered a predetermined distance from the hub and the pitch bearing is re-indexed to a position so as to engage a new set of pitch bearing teeth with a pitch drive that engages the pitch bearing.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 9, 2015Publication date: March 9, 2017Inventors: Ulrich Werner Neumann, Brent Hamilton Holloway, Gaylon Mitchell Pfeiffer, Stephanie Willman
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Patent number: 9488156Abstract: An apparatus is provided having a sling or sock configured for contacting a wind turbine blade. A reinforcement member attached to the sling or sock. The reinforcement member configured to resist sling or sock collapse and maintain the sling or sock in an open configuration. A method is also provided for moving a wind turbine part, such as a rotor or blade. The method includes the step of attaching a sling or sock to the wind turbine part, where the sling includes a reinforcement member attached thereto.Type: GrantFiled: October 18, 2013Date of Patent: November 8, 2016Assignee: General Electric CompanyInventors: Raymond Francis Rose, Jr., Michael Royce Johnson, Neils Christian Schmitt, Brent Hamilton Holloway
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Publication number: 20160108895Abstract: A method for machining a shaft includes the step of machining a compound radius into the shaft at a junction between a radial surface of the shaft and an axial facing flange portion of the shaft. The compound radius has a curved surface with at least two different radii. The curved surface extends circumferentially around the shaft.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 17, 2014Publication date: April 21, 2016Inventors: Brent Hamilton Holloway, Paul Stephen DiMascio, Stephen John Jutton
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Publication number: 20160069321Abstract: The present disclosure is directed to a system and method for lifting and/or removing a rotor blade to and from a wind turbine. In one embodiment, the system includes an up-tower pulley mounted on an up-tower location of the wind turbine, first and second ground winches, a pulley cable from the first ground winch over the up-tower pulley and attached to the rotor blade, a guide line attached between an up-tower location of the wind turbine and the second ground winch, a guide pulley mounted on the guide line, and a guide cable from the guide line over the guide pulley to the rotor blade. Thus, the guide pulley is configured to move along the guide line during lifting and removing of the rotor blade so that the guide cable can control an orientation of the rotor blade relative to the tower during lifting and removing of the rotor blade.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 9, 2014Publication date: March 10, 2016Inventors: Ulrich Werner Neumann, Brent Hamilton Holloway, Gaylon Mitchell Pfeiffer, Michael R. Johnson, Forrest Christopher Hach, Kevin Costain, Stephanie Willman
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Publication number: 20150300175Abstract: A method for enabling servicing of a wind turbine rotor includes coupling a support cable to the blade root, the support cable extends from the blade root to a hub of the wind turbine. A lowering step lowers a rotor blade relative to the hub using the support cable so the rotor blade is spaced apart from the hub by an initial vertical distance. An installing step installs a rotor blade sling on the rotor, the rotor blade sling supports the rotor blade. Other steps are used for coupling the rotor blade to the rotor blade sling, lowering the rotor blade such that the rotor blade is spaced apart from the hub by a distance greater than the initial vertical distance, de-coupling the support cable from the blade root, and interposing a rotor servicing fixture between the rotor blade and hub. The rotor servicing fixture is configured to transport a rotor part.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 21, 2014Publication date: October 22, 2015Applicant: General Electric CompanyInventors: Gaylon Mitchell Pfeiffer, Ulrich Werner Neumann, Brent Hamilton Holloway, Michael Royce Johnson, Kevin Thomas Costain, Forrest Christopher Hach, Howard Lee Hansen, JR.
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Publication number: 20150233341Abstract: In one aspect, a method for installing a blade sock onto a rotor blade of a wind turbine may generally include positioning the blade sock adjacent to a blade tip of the rotor blade, wherein the blade sock comprises a sock strap forming a closed-shape. In addition, the method may include moving the blade sock relative to the rotor blade such that the blade tip is received within the closed-shape formed by the sock strap and moving the blade sock spanwise along the rotor blade towards a blade root of the rotor blade until the blade sock is positioned at an intermediate location defined between the blade root and the blade tip, wherein the sock strap is configured to fit tightly around an outer perimeter of the rotor blade at the intermediate location.Type: ApplicationFiled: November 12, 2014Publication date: August 20, 2015Inventors: Ulrich Werner Neumann, Brent Hamilton Holloway, Stephanie Willman, Michael Cade Foster
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Publication number: 20150232307Abstract: A method for removing a rotor blade from a wind turbine may generally include installing a blade sock around an outer perimeter of the rotor blade, coupling a support cable to the blade root, lowering the rotor blade relative to the hub using the support cable, coupling at least one pulley cable between the rotor blade and a winch using at least one pulley, moving the pulley cable relative to the pulley to lower the rotor blade relative to the hub, applying a force through the blade sock as the pulley cable is moved relative to the pulley in order to control an orientation of the rotor blade and further lowering the rotor blade to a location on or adjacent to the support surface.Type: ApplicationFiled: February 20, 2014Publication date: August 20, 2015Applicant: General Electric CompanyInventors: Brent Hamilton Holloway, Ulrich Werner Neumann, Gaylon Mitchell Pfeiffer, Michael R. Johnson, Forrest Christopher Hach, Kevin Costain