Abstract: A rotor blade for a wind turbine includes a first blade segment and a second blade segment extending in opposite directions from a chord-wise joint. Each of the first and second blade segments includes at least one shell member defining an airfoil surface. The rotor blade also includes pin joint(s) for connecting the first and second blade segments at the chord-wise joint. The pin joint(s) includes pin joint tube(s) received within the pin joint slot(s). The pin joint slot(s) are secured within a bearing block. Further, a gap is defined between the pin joint slot(s) and the bearing block. Moreover, the rotor blade includes a shim within the gap between the pin joint slot(s) and the bearing block so as to retain the pin joint slot(s) within the bearing block. In addition, the shim is constructed of a liquid material that hardens after being poured into the gap.

Abstract: A rotor blade for a wind turbine includes a first blade segment and a second blade segment extending in opposite directions from a chord-wise joint. Each of the first and second blade segments includes at least one shell member defining an airfoil surface. The rotor blade also includes one or more pin joints for connecting the first and second blade segments at the chord-wise joint. The pin joint(s) includes one or more pin joint tubes received within the pin joint slot(s). The pin joint slot(s) are secured within a bearing block. Further, a gap is defined between the pin joint slot(s) and the bearing block. Moreover, the rotor blade includes a shim within the gap between the pin joint slot(s) and the bearing block so as to retain the pin joint slot(s) within the bearing block. In addition, the shim is constructed of a liquid material that hardens after being poured into the gap.

Abstract: A segmented rotor blade for a wind turbine. The segmented rotor blade including at least a first blade segment and a second blade segment extending in opposite directions from a joint. Each of the first and second blade segments including at least one shell member defining an airfoil surface. A joint assembly coupling the first blade segment to the second blade segment via a dovetail connection at the joint. The joint assembly including at least one receiving section defining a receiving cavity, a joining structure received within the at least one receiving section to establish a dovetail connection, and a securement assembly securing the joining structure within the at least one receiving section so as to secure the dovetail connection.

Abstract: A rotor blade for a wind turbine includes a first blade segment and a second blade segment extending in opposite directions from a chord-wise joint. Each of the first and second blade segments includes at least one shell member defining an airfoil surface. The rotor blade also includes one or more pin joints for connecting the first and second blade segments at the chord-wise joint. The pin joint(s) includes one or more pin joint tubes received within the pin joint slot(s). The pin joint slot(s) are secured within a bearing block. Further, a gap is defined between the pin joint slot(s) and the bearing block. Moreover, the rotor blade includes a shim within the gap between the pin joint slot(s) and the bearing block so as to retain the pin joint slot(s) within the bearing block. In addition, the shim is constructed of a liquid material that hardens after being poured into the gap.

Abstract: A jointed rotor blade assembly may include a first blade segment having a first outer shell terminating at a first joint end and a second blade segment coupled to the first blade segment at a blade joint. The second blade segment may include a second outer shell terminating at a second joint end. The outer shells may overlap one another at the blade joint such that an overlapping region is defined between the first and second joint ends. In addition, the first outer shell may be spaced apart from the second outer shell along at least a portion of the overlapping region such that a gap is defined between the outer shells within the overlapping region. Moreover, the rotor blade assembly may include a sealing member positioned between the outer shells within the overlapping region that is configured to allow relative movement between the outer shells at the blade joint.

Abstract: A joint assembly for a wind turbine rotor blade includes a male structural member extending longitudinally through female structural members configured with a plurality of rotor blade segments. The female structural member includes first bore holes on opposing sides thereof that are aligned in a chord-wise direction. The male structural member includes second bore holes on opposing sides thereof that are aligned with the first bore holes. At least one chord-wise extending gap is defined between an outer side surface of the male structural member and an inner side surface of the female structural member. A chord-wise extending pin extends through the first and second bore holes to join the male and female structural members. At least one flanged bushing is arranged in the first and second bore holes such that a flange of the bushing extends within the chord-wise extending gap.

Abstract: A method for balancing segmented rotor blades for a wind turbine may include determining a weight for each of a plurality of blade segments, wherein each blade segment extends between a first end and a second and is configured to form a common spanwise section of a segmented rotor blade between the first and second ends. The method may also include determining an initial static moment for each blade segment based on the weight of the blade segment, wherein the initial static moment of at least one of the blade segments differing from the initial static moments of the remainder of the blade segments. Additionally, the method may include adding mass to each of the blade segments to increase the initial static moment for each blade segment to a predetermined static moment, wherein the predetermined static moment is greater than each of the initial static moments of the blade segments.

Abstract: A wind turbine blade component is made by providing a plurality of first pultrusion plates formed of a first pultrusion fiber material, and a plurality of second pultrusion plates formed of a second pultrusion fiber material. The first and second pultrusion plates have a length corresponding to an entire length of a spar cap for a wind turbine blade shell. The first and second pultrusion plates are stacked in a hybrid pattern that contains both first and second pultrusion plates, and the stack is arranged on blade shell material in a mold for the blade shell. The stacked hybrid pattern of first and second pultrusion plates is bonded with the blade shell materials to form an integral blade shell and bonded spar cap component.

Abstract: A wind turbine blade component is made by providing a plurality of first pultrusion plates formed of a first pultrusion fiber material, and a plurality of second pultrusion plates formed of a second pultrusion fiber material. The first and second pultrusion plates have a length corresponding to an entire length of a spar cap for a wind turbine blade shell. The first and second pultrusion plates are stacked in a hybrid pattern that contains both first and second pultrusion plates, and the stack is arranged on blade shell material in a mold for the blade shell. The stacked hybrid pattern of first and second pultrusion plates is bonded with the blade shell materials to form an integral blade shell and bonded spar cap component.

Abstract: A joint assembly for a wind turbine rotor blade includes a male structural member extending longitudinally through female structural members configured with a plurality of rotor blade segments. The female structural member includes first bore holes on opposing sides thereof that are aligned in a chord-wise direction. The male structural member includes second bore holes on opposing sides thereof that are aligned with the first bore holes. At least one chord-wise extending gap is defined between an outer side surface of the male structural member and an inner side surface of the female structural member. A chord-wise extending pin extends through the first and second bore holes to join the male and female structural members. At least one flanged bushing is arranged in the first and second bore holes such that a flange of the bushing extends within the chord-wise extending gap.

Abstract: A pre-cured laminate plate for use within a component of a wind turbine rotor blade may generally include a plate body extending in a thickness direction between a first side and a second side and in a widthwise direction between a first end and a second end. The plate body may define a plate thickness between the first and second sides. The pre-cured laminate plate may also include a plurality of channels formed in the plate body between the first and second ends. Each channel may extend in the thickness direction between a top end that is open along the first side of the plate body and a bottom end that terminates at a location between the first and second sides of the plate body such that the plate body defines a reduced thickness between the bottom end of each channel and the second side of the plate body.

Abstract: A method for balancing segmented rotor blades for a wind turbine may include determining a weight for each of a plurality of blade segments, wherein each blade segment extends between a first end and a second and is configured to form a common spanwise section of a segmented rotor blade between the first and second ends. The method may also include determining an initial static moment for each blade segment based on the weight of the blade segment, wherein the initial static moment of at least one of the blade segments differing from the initial static moments of the remainder of the blade segments. Additionally, the method may include adding mass to each of the blade segments to increase the initial static moment for each blade segment to a predetermined static moment, wherein the predetermined static moment is greater than each of the initial static moments of the blade segments.

Abstract: A jointed rotor blade assembly may include a first blade segment having a first outer shell terminating at a first joint end and a second blade segment coupled to the first blade segment at a blade joint. The second blade segment may include a second outer shell terminating at a second joint end. The outer shells may overlap one another at the blade joint such that an overlapping region is defined between the first and second joint ends. In addition, the first outer shell may be spaced apart from the second outer shell along at least a portion of the overlapping region such that a gap is defined between the outer shells within the overlapping region. Moreover, the rotor blade assembly may include a sealing member positioned between the outer shells within the overlapping region that is configured to allow relative movement between the outer shells at the blade joint.

Abstract: A pre-cured laminate plate for use within a component of a wind turbine rotor blade may generally include a plate body extending in a thickness direction between a first side and a second side and in a widthwise direction between a first end and a second end. The plate body may define a plate thickness between the first and second sides. The pre-cured laminate plate may also include a plurality of channels formed in the plate body between the first and second ends. Each channel may extend in the thickness direction between a top end that is open along the first side of the plate body and a bottom end that terminates at a location between the first and second sides of the plate body such that the plate body defines a reduced thickness between the bottom end of each channel and the second side of the plate body.

Abstract: Embodiments of the present disclosure include a gas turbine engine system. The system may include a rotor wheel having a number of blades mounted about a periphery of the rotor wheel. Further, the system may include a retention device. The retention device may include a number of projections extending from a radial surface of the rotor wheel to form a number of circumferential slots about the rotor wheel. The retention device may also include a number of elongated members positioned within the circumferential slots to impede axial movement of the blades.

Abstract: A protective cap for a trailing edge of a rotor blade of a wind turbine for use during transportation, handling, or maintenance of the rotor blade is disclosed. The protective cap includes a body having a first leg, a second leg, and a cap member. The cap member connects the first and second legs. Further, the cap member may be configured to cover at least a portion of a trailing edge of the rotor blade and may be configured to provide a gap between an inner surface of the protective cap and the trailing edge. In addition, the first and second legs may resiliently engage the rotor blade.

Abstract: A protective cap for a trailing edge of a rotor blade of a wind turbine for use during transportation, handling, or maintenance of the rotor blade is disclosed. The protective cap includes a body having a first leg, a second leg, and a cap member. The cap member connects the first and second legs. Further, the cap member may be configured to cover at least a portion of a trailing edge of the rotor blade and may be configured to provide a gap between an inner surface of the protective cap and the trailing edge. In addition, the first and second legs may resiliently engage the rotor blade.

Abstract: An article of manufacture having a nominal profile substantially in accordance with Cartesian coordinate values of X, Y and Z set forth in TABLE A. X and Y are distances in inches which, when connected by smooth continuing arcs, define airfoil profile sections at each distance Z in inches. The profile sections at the Z distances can be joined smoothly with one another to form a complete airfoil shape.

Abstract: A method for assembling a rotating machine and a blade attachment mechanism are provided. A first dovetail slot having a first axial length and a second dovetail slot having a second axial length are each formed in the attachment mechanism such that the second dovetail slot is radially outboard of the first dovetail slot. First axial length is greater than the second axial length and each slot is substantially parallel to an axial centerline of the rotating machine. A first dovetail lobe having a third axial length that is shorter than the first axial length and a second dovetail lobe having a fourth axial length, shorter than the first axial length and longer than the third axial length, are each formed in the attachment mechanism and positioned to correspond with first and second dovetail slot, respectively, such that the second dovetail lobe is radially outward from the first dovetail lobe.

Abstract: An article of manufacture having a nominal profile substantially in accordance with Cartesian coordinate values of X, Y and Z set forth in TABLE A. X and Y are distances in inches which, when connected by smooth continuing arcs, define airfoil profile sections at each distance Z in inches. The profile sections at the Z distances can be joined smoothly with one another to form a complete inlet guide vane airfoil shape.