Patents by Inventor Brian William Manikas
Brian William Manikas 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: 11965479Abstract: A rotor lock assembly for locking a rotor of a wind turbine. The rotor lock assembly has at least one relocatable rotor lock. The relocatable rotor lock has a housing, a bushing element, a pin shaft position within the bushing element, and a locking mechanism. The housing includes a mounting portion adapted for mounting to a bearing housing adjacent to a rotor lock plate of the rotor.Type: GrantFiled: March 17, 2021Date of Patent: April 23, 2024Assignee: GE Infrastructure Technology LLCInventors: Brian William Manikas, Paul Howard Davidson, Michael Frederick Sander, Jacob Thomas Hoyt, Jason James Welsh, Kevin L Holmes
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Publication number: 20210222680Abstract: A rotor lock assembly for locking a rotor of a wind turbine. The rotor lock assembly has at least one relocatable rotor lock. The relocatable rotor lock has a housing, a bushing element, a pin shaft position within the bushing element, and a locking mechanism. The housing includes a mounting portion adapted for mounting to a bearing housing adjacent to a rotor lock plate of the rotor.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 17, 2021Publication date: July 22, 2021Inventors: Brian William Manikas, Paul Howard Davidson, Michael Frederick Sander, Jacob Thomas Hoyt, Jason James Welsh, Kevin L. Holmes
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Patent number: 10982655Abstract: A repair system for a gearbox of a wind turbine includes for removably coupling to the first portion of the gearbox housing of the gearbox. The lifting apparatus is adapted for lifting the first portion of the gearbox housing relative to the second portion gearbox housing. The repair system also includes at least one gearbox housing support member for mounting to the second portion of the gearbox housing. The at least one gearbox housing support member provides a support surface for the first portion of the gearbox housing during a repair procedure of the gearbox. The support surface is offset from the second portion of the gearbox housing.Type: GrantFiled: April 26, 2019Date of Patent: April 20, 2021Assignee: General Electric CompanyInventors: Brian William Manikas, Paul Howard Davidson, Michael Frederick Sander, Jacob Thomas Hoyt, Jason James Welsh, Kevin L. Holmes
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Patent number: 10975732Abstract: A rotor turning device for balancing a rotor secured atop a tower of a wind turbine during installation and/or repair of one or more rotor blades of the wind turbine includes a hydraulic drive mechanism for operably engaging with a brake disc of the wind turbine. The brake disc is positioned adjacent to a gearbox of the wind turbine. The rotor turning device also includes a mounting device for securing the rotor turning device adjacent to the brake disc of the wind turbine. Thus, when the hydraulic drive mechanism engages the brake disc, the rotor is rotated to a desired position so as to position one or more rotor blades of the wind turbine in a balanced configuration.Type: GrantFiled: April 4, 2019Date of Patent: April 13, 2021Assignee: General Electric CompanyInventors: Brian William Manikas, John Carl Bell, Sebastian Freiheit, Christoph Graf, Adam Sean Philip David Davis, Michael Royce Johnson, Ulrich Werner Neumann, Christoph Lammen
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Publication number: 20200340454Abstract: A repair system for a gearbox of a wind turbine includes for removably coupling to the first portion of the gearbox housing of the gearbox. The lifting apparatus is adapted for lifting the first portion of the gearbox housing relative to the second portion gearbox housing. The repair system also includes at least one gearbox housing support member for mounting to the second portion of the gearbox housing. The at least one gearbox housing support member provides a support surface for the first portion of the gearbox housing during a repair procedure of the gearbox. The support surface is offset from the second portion of the gearbox housing.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 26, 2019Publication date: October 29, 2020Inventors: Brian William Manikas, Paul Howard Davidson, Michael Frederick Sander, Jacob Thomas Hoyt, Jason James Welsh, Kevin L. Holmes
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Publication number: 20200318496Abstract: A rotor turning device for balancing a rotor secured atop a tower of a wind turbine during installation and/or repair of one or more rotor blades of the wind turbine includes a hydraulic drive mechanism for operably engaging with a brake disc of the wind turbine. The brake disc is positioned adjacent to a gearbox of the wind turbine. The rotor turning device also includes a mounting device for securing the rotor turning device adjacent to the brake disc of the wind turbine. Thus, when the hydraulic drive mechanism engages the brake disc, the rotor is rotated to a desired position so as to position one or more rotor blades of the wind turbine in a balanced configuration.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 4, 2019Publication date: October 8, 2020Inventors: Brian William Manikas, John Carl Bell, Sebastian Freiheit, Christoph Graf, Adam Sean Philip David Davis, Michael Royce Johnson, Ulrich Werner Neumann, Christoph Lammen
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Patent number: 10641042Abstract: An external ladder assembly for a nacelle of a wind turbine includes at least one ladder having parallel side legs and a plurality of rungs arranged between the parallel side legs. The ladder assembly also includes a ladder platform arranged with the ladder and configured for placement atop the nacelle. Further, the ladder assembly includes a mounting assembly for affixing the ladder platform atop the nacelle. More specifically, the mounting assembly is adjustable between multiple positions so as to level the ladder platform atop the nacelle. Thus, the ladder assembly provides access to one or more uptower, external features of the wind turbine.Type: GrantFiled: November 7, 2017Date of Patent: May 5, 2020Assignee: General Electric CompanyInventors: Brian William Manikas, Gregory Clarence Thomas, Paul Howard Davidson
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Patent number: 10570888Abstract: The present disclosure is directed to a working platform mounted within a nacelle of the wind turbine during a repair procedure. More specifically, the working platform may be mounted to a bedplate within the nacelle in an area where one or more drivetrain component(s) would normally be during operation of the wind turbine, but have been removed due to repair or replacement thereof.Type: GrantFiled: April 27, 2017Date of Patent: February 25, 2020Assignee: General Electric CompanyInventors: Darrick Adam Vanderwalker, Brian Thomas Misavage, Michael Frederick Sander, Gregory Clarence Thomas, Kevin Tyler Eherts, Brian William Manikas, Hunter Ryan Anderson, Waylon James Esser
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Patent number: 10550826Abstract: A disassembled wind turbine under repair includes a tower secured to a foundation and a nacelle mounted atop the tower. The nacelle includes a base wall, side walls, a front wall, a rear wall, and a top wall. The front wall includes an opening configured to receive a main shaft of the wind turbine; however, the main shaft and a rotor of the wind turbine have been removed from the nacelle during a repair procedure. As such, the disassembled wind turbine further includes an external platform assembly secured at the opening of the front wall of the nacelle during the repair procedure.Type: GrantFiled: July 20, 2017Date of Patent: February 4, 2020Assignee: General Electric CompanyInventors: Michael Frederick Sander, Brian Thomas Misavage, Gregory Clarence Thomas, Brian William Manikas, Darrick Adam Vanderwalker, Kevin Tyler Eherts
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Publication number: 20190136626Abstract: An external ladder assembly for a nacelle of a wind turbine includes at least one ladder having parallel side legs and a plurality of rungs arranged between the parallel side legs. The ladder assembly also includes a ladder platform arranged with the ladder and configured for placement atop the nacelle. Further, the ladder assembly includes a mounting assembly for affixing the ladder platform atop the nacelle. More specifically, the mounting assembly is adjustable between multiple positions so as to level the ladder platform atop the nacelle. Thus, the ladder assembly provides access to one or more uptower, external features of the wind turbine.Type: ApplicationFiled: November 7, 2017Publication date: May 9, 2019Inventors: Brian William Manikas, Gregory Clarence Thomas, Paul Howard Davidson
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Patent number: 10190577Abstract: A maintenance tool and method for detaching mechanically-connected components of a drive train in a wind turbine is disclosed. The method involves positioning the maintenance tool below a hoist and hoisting only the lift assembly portion of the maintenance tool into a nacelle of a wind turbine. Connecting the lift assembly portion to a power source in the nacelle and extending at least two induction cables from an induction generator disposed on the lift assembly portion to wrap at least a portion of a component of the mechanically-connected components. Then operating the induction generator to pass alternating current through the induction cables and inductively heat the wrapped component such that thermal expansion creates a clearance between the mechanically-connected components thereby assisting in separating the mechanically-connected components.Type: GrantFiled: August 31, 2017Date of Patent: January 29, 2019Assignee: General Electric CompanyInventors: Brian William Manikas, Darrick Adam Vanderwalker, Gregory Clarence Thomas, Kevin Tyler Eherts, Hunter Ryan Anderson, Michael Royce Johnson
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Publication number: 20190024638Abstract: A disassembled wind turbine under repair includes a tower secured to a foundation and a nacelle mounted atop the tower. The nacelle includes a base wall, side walls, a front wall, a rear wall, and a top wall. The front wall includes an opening configured to receive a main shaft of the wind turbine; however, the main shaft and a rotor of the wind turbine have been removed from the nacelle during a repair procedure. As such, the disassembled wind turbine further includes an external platform assembly secured at the opening of the front wall of the nacelle during the repair procedure.Type: ApplicationFiled: July 20, 2017Publication date: January 24, 2019Inventors: Michael Frederick Sander, Brian Thomas Misavage, Gregory Clarence Thomas, Brian William Manikas, Darrick Adam Vanderwalker, Kevin Tyler Eherts
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Publication number: 20180313335Abstract: The present disclosure is directed to a working platform mounted within a nacelle of the wind turbine during a repair procedure. More specifically, the working platform may be mounted to a bedplate within the nacelle in an area where one or more drivetrain component(s) would normally be during operation of the wind turbine, but have been removed due to repair or replacement thereof.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 27, 2017Publication date: November 1, 2018Inventors: Darrick Adam Vanderwalker, Brian Thomas Misavage, Michael Frederick Sander, Gregory Clarence Thomas, Kevin Tyler Eherts, Brian William Manikas, Hunter Ryan Anderson, Waylon James Esser
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Publication number: 20180313334Abstract: The present disclosure is directed to a hoistable platform assembly used in uptower wind turbine repairs. The platform assembly includes at least one working platform having a working surface and a platform frame. The platform frame is configured for securement within a nacelle of the wind turbine. The platform assembly also includes a plurality of tooling containers secured to the working surface. Each of the tooling containers includes at least one tool secured therein that is required for the uptower wind turbine repairs. Further, the platform assembly includes a frame structure arranged above the plurality of tooling containers and secured to the working surface via one or more connecting members.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 27, 2017Publication date: November 1, 2018Inventors: Brian William Manikas, Brian Thomas Misavage, Michael Frederick Sander, Gregory Clarence Thomas, Kevin Tyler Eherts, Hunter Ryan Anderson, Darrick Adam Vanderwalker, Waylon James Esser