Patents by Inventor Derek Hodge

Derek Hodge 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: 20250243840
    Abstract: A system for a wind turbine nacelle having a shaft housing, a blade shaft that extends through the shaft housing and is rotatable relative to the shaft housing, a blade holder connected to the blade shaft, and an outer bearing between the blade shaft and the shaft housing includes a conical spring. The conical spring engages a portion of the outer bearing to exert a preload force on the outer bearing. The system further includes a backstop surrounding the blade shaft and having an interference fit with the blade shaft and a pin extending through the blade shaft and the blade holder. The pin is positioned to prevent the blade shaft from moving relative to the backstop.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 28, 2025
    Publication date: July 31, 2025
    Inventors: John Flaherty, Shane Ledwith, Derek Hodge, Sergei Bondarevski
  • Publication number: 20250243841
    Abstract: A wind turbine nacelle includes a stub mast, a frame rotatably mounted on the stub mast, and a yaw drive system that rotates the frame to adjust orientation of the frame. The yaw drive system includes a yaw brake assembly positioned coaxially with the stub mast that exerts a constant braking torque on a brake disk connected to the frame and has a brake pad with a coefficient of friction that creates the braking torque without slipstick.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 28, 2025
    Publication date: July 31, 2025
    Inventors: John Flaherty, Shane Ledwith, Derek Hodge, Sergei Bondarevski
  • Publication number: 20250243845
    Abstract: A system for a wind turbine nacelle includes a rotor head, a plurality of blade holders connected to the rotor head, and a shaft having a first end that extends into the rotor head. Linear movement of the shaft causes movement of the plurality of blade holders. The system further includes an electromechanical pitch actuator connected to a second end of the shaft and configured to translate linearly to move the shaft linearly. The system further includes a linear drive system connected to the electromechanical pitch actuator. The system further includes a fail-safe system connected to the electromechanical pitch actuator via the linear drive system. The fail safe system actuates to force the electromechanical pitch actuator rearward to move the blades into a stall blade position.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 28, 2025
    Publication date: July 31, 2025
    Inventors: John Flaherty, Shane Ledwith, Derek Hodge, Sergei Bondarevski
  • Publication number: 20250243849
    Abstract: A wind turbine nacelle includes a rotor generator shaft, a rotor connected to the rotor generator shaft, an array of permanent magnets mounted on a circular outer surface of the rotor, a rotor hub directly connected to a forward end of the rotor generator shaft, a plurality of circumferentially spaced blades mounted on the rotor hub to face upwind, a stator ring surrounding the rotor, a plurality of encased coils mounted on an inner surface of the stator ring facing and radially spaced from the array of permanent magnets, a rear chassis attached to a rear surface of the stator ring and having a rear bearing housing, a rear bearing mounted in the rear bearing housing, a forward chassis attached to a front surface of the stator ring and having a front bearing housing, and a front bearing mounted in the front bearing housing.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 28, 2025
    Publication date: July 31, 2025
    Inventors: John Flaherty, Shane Ledwith, Derek Hodge, Sergei Bondarevski
  • Patent number: 12188718
    Abstract: A method and controller compensates control variables of a continuous process prior to the control variables being input to the controller/control matrix to at least partially mask the effect of a selected disturbance or a manipulated variable on that controlled variable to the controller. The controlled variable(s) has been chosen to be an inference of a desired underlying or related variable which is not directly measurable. The selected disturbance to be masked is one which does affect the (measured) controlled variable, but not the underlying desired variable. By at least partially masking the effect to all intents and purposes the controller is unaware of the effect of the selected disturbance on the controlled variable and therefore, for a fully masked disturbance, does not make any adjustment to a manipulated variable associated with the selected disturbance which would unnecessarily alter the underlying desired variable.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 10, 2017
    Date of Patent: January 7, 2025
    Assignee: Woodside Energy Technologies Pty Ltd
    Inventors: Derek Hodges, Philip West
  • Publication number: 20210339438
    Abstract: A press apparatus for forming molded products is provided and includes an motive source and a press assembly in fluid communication with the motive source. The press assembly includes a press plate and a device configured to actuate axial movement of the press plate as initiated by the motive source. A mold base is positioned within the press assembly and configured for engagement with the press plate. The mold base includes a plurality of mold cavities and each of the mold cavities includes a mold cavity aperture. Each of the mold cavity apertures is arranged in a pattern and configured to provide access to a molded product positioned in a mold cavity. A release assembly is configured for engagement with the mold base and has a plurality of release fingers, each extending from a base plate. The plurality of release fingers is arranged in a pattern that aligns with the pattern of the mold cavity apertures.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 15, 2021
    Publication date: November 4, 2021
    Inventors: Derek Hodges, Eric Bowman
  • Publication number: 20210323203
    Abstract: A press apparatus for forming molded products is provided and includes a motive source and a press assembly in fluid communication with the motive source. The press assembly includes a press plate and a device configured to actuate axial movement of the press plate. A mold base is positioned within the press assembly and configured for engagement with the press plate. The mold base includes a plurality of mold cavities and each of the mold cavities includes a mold cavity aperture. Each of the mold cavity apertures is arranged in a pattern and configured to provide access to a molded product positioned in a mold cavity. A release assembly is configured for engagement with the mold base and has a plurality of release fingers, each extending from a base plate. The plurality of release fingers is arranged in a pattern that aligns with the pattern of the mold cavity apertures.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 15, 2021
    Publication date: October 21, 2021
    Inventors: Derek Hodges, Eric Bowman
  • Publication number: 20180128543
    Abstract: A method and controller compensates control variables of a continuous process prior to the control variables being input to the controller/control matrix to at least partially mask the effect of a selected disturbance or a manipulated variable on that controlled variable to the controller. The controlled variable(s) has been chosen to be an inference of a desired underlying or related variable which is not directly measurable. The selected disturbance to be masked is one which does affect the (measured) controlled variable, but not the underlying desired variable. By at least partially masking the effect to all intents and purposes the controller is unaware of the effect of the selected disturbance on the controlled variable and therefore, for a fully masked disturbance, does not make any adjustment to a manipulated variable associated with the selected disturbance which would unnecessarily alter the underlying desired variable.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 10, 2017
    Publication date: May 10, 2018
    Inventors: Derek Hodges, Philip West
  • Patent number: D1042341
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 21, 2021
    Date of Patent: September 17, 2024
    Assignee: Kodair Wind Designs Limited
    Inventors: John Flaherty, Shane Ledwith, Derek Hodge, Sergei Bondarevski