Patents by Inventor DONATO GIROLAMO

DONATO GIROLAMO 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: 11614077
    Abstract: Provided is a wind turbine blade for a wind turbine, the wind turbine blade including: a first element containing carbon fibers, the first element being enclosed by a first metallic cover so as to form a Faraday cage around the same; a second element containing carbon fibers, the second element being enclosed by a second metallic cover so as to form a Faraday cage around the same; and an electrical bond connecting the first metallic cover and the second metallic cover. Elements containing carbon fibers are protected against lightning strikes allowing that such elements are placed further towards the tip, thereby making the whole blade lighter and allowing to better tailor the shape of the tip.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 22, 2021
    Date of Patent: March 28, 2023
    Inventors: Donato Girolamo, Sri Markandeya Rajesh Ponnada
  • Patent number: 11555482
    Abstract: Provided is a stepped conductivity arrangement between a carbon-based element and a down conductor of a wind turbine rotor blade, which stepped conductivity arrangement includes a transition interface arranged to electrically connect a first electrically conductive part and a second electrically conductive part, wherein the first electrically conductive part extends from the down conductor, the second electrically conductive part extends from the carbon-based element, and wherein the electrical conductivity of the transition interface decreases in the direction of the second electrically conductive part. The embodiments further describe a wind turbine rotor blade comprising such a stepped conductivity arrangement and a method of providing such a stepped conductivity arrangement.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 11, 2019
    Date of Patent: January 17, 2023
    Inventors: Donato Girolamo, Yannick Cao Van Truong
  • Patent number: 11549482
    Abstract: A wind turbine blade of a wind turbine, the wind turbine blade including a shell and a spar having at least one spar cap is provided. At least one of the at least one spar cap includes at least two longitudinal support structure elements, whereby at least two of the at least two longitudinal support structure elements are arranged adjacent to one another in a longitudinal direction of the wind turbine blade and at least one longitudinal support structure includes carbon fiber-reinforced plastic and at least one other longitudinal support structure includes at least one fiber-reinforced plastic different from carbon fiber-reinforced plastic.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 20, 2020
    Date of Patent: January 10, 2023
    Assignee: SIEMENS GAMESA RENEWABLE ENERGY A/S
    Inventors: Donato Girolamo, Jens Jørgen Østergaard Kristensen
  • Patent number: 11454208
    Abstract: A pultruded fibrous composite strip, a spar cap made from such strips, a wind turbine rotor blade having such a spar cap and a method for making a spar cap from such strips is provided. The strip is stacked with similar strips to form the spar cap. The strip has a substantially constant cross-section defined by first and second mutually opposed and longitudinally extending sides, and by first and second longitudinal edges. The first and the second sides include first and second abutment surfaces, respectively. The first and the second abutment surfaces are non-planar. When the strip is stacked with similar strips, and subsequently integrated within shell of the wind turbine blade, the non-planar profile of the strips at least partially obviates formation of resin rich pockets at the interface of the spar cap and the shell and/or stress concentration between the edges of the spar cap and the shell.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 14, 2018
    Date of Patent: September 27, 2022
    Inventors: Donato Girolamo, Jens Jørgen Østergaard Kristensen, Michael Noerlem
  • Patent number: 11306697
    Abstract: Provided is a spar cap for a wind turbine blade of a wind turbine, the spar cap including at least two stacks arranged in a longitudinal direction of the spar cap, wherein the at least two stacks are arranged adjacent to one another in a width direction of the spar cap and each of the at least two stacks) includes multiple elongate beams stacked on top of one another in a height direction of the spar cap, the height direction being transverse to the longitudinal direction and the width direction. Also provided is a wind turbine blade of a wind turbine, a wind turbine and method for manufacturing a spar cap for a wind turbine blade of a wind turbine.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 30, 2020
    Date of Patent: April 19, 2022
    Inventors: Donato Girolamo, Poul-Erik Hassing, Jens Kjaer Nielsen
  • Patent number: 11280314
    Abstract: A pultruded fibrous composite strip for wind turbine spar caps, a spar cap having such a strip, and a wind turbine blade having such spar cap. The strip has longitudinally extending unidirectional fibers and an elongate body having first and second edge regions separated in the longitudinal direction of the strip by an intermediate region. The intermediate region has first and second mutually opposed longitudinally extending and parallelly disposed planar surfaces. The strip's thickness is measurable perpendicular to the planar surfaces and the width is measurable parallel to the planar surfaces and perpendicular to the longitudinal direction of the strip. In the strip, the first and/or the second edge regions, starting from the intermediate region and extending longitudinally, simultaneously tapers along the width and the thickness of the strip.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 28, 2019
    Date of Patent: March 22, 2022
    Assignee: SIEMENS GAMESA RENEWABLE ENERGY A/S
    Inventor: Donato Girolamo
  • Patent number: 11248587
    Abstract: Provided is a wind turbine blade for a wind turbine, including a web extending along a longitudinal direction of the blade, an electrically conductive beam extending along the longitudinal direction of the blade and being connected to the web, a lightning conductor extending along the longitudinal direction of the blade and being attached to the web, and a ply including carbon fibers, wherein the ply is attached to both the lightning conductor and the beam to electrically connect the lightning conductor to the beam. This has the advantage that an extensive and a continuous electrical connection between the lightning conductor and the beam is provided and that a plurality of cables electrically connecting the lightning conductor with the beam may be substituted.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 9, 2018
    Date of Patent: February 15, 2022
    Inventors: Thomas Lehrmann Christiansen, Donato Girolamo
  • Patent number: 11247301
    Abstract: A method of repairing a damaged spar cap of a wind turbine blade of a wind turbine, the damaged spar cap including carbon fiber-reinforced plastic and the method having the steps of: removing a damaged carbon fiber-reinforced plastic part from the damaged spar cap to obtain a corresponding recess in the damaged spar cap, applying an adhesive to the recess, and fitting at least one patch including carbon fiber-reinforced plastic into the recess, is provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 20, 2020
    Date of Patent: February 15, 2022
    Assignee: Siemens Gamesa Renewable Energy A/S
    Inventor: Donato Girolamo
  • Patent number: 11231008
    Abstract: A pultruded fibrous composite strip, a spar cap made from such strips, a wind turbine rotor blade having such a spar cap and a method for making a spar cap from such strips are provided. The strip is stacked with similar strips to form the spar cap. The strip has a substantially constant cross-section defined by first and second mutually opposed and longitudinally extending sides, and by first and second longitudinal edges. The first and the second sides include first and second abutment surfaces, respectively. The first and/or the second abutment surfaces has corrugated profile such that a plurality of longitudinally extending grooves are defined on the abutment surface having the corrugated profile. When the strip is stacked with similar strips, and subsequently resin is infused, the grooves on the abutment surface having the corrugated profile facilitate transfer and flow of the resin into spaces between the stacked strips.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 13, 2018
    Date of Patent: January 25, 2022
    Assignee: SIEMENS GAMESA RENEWABLE ENERGY A/S
    Inventors: Donato Girolamo, Jens Jørgen Østergaard Kristensen, Michael Noerlem
  • Patent number: 11215167
    Abstract: Provided is a spar cap for a wind turbine blade, including a main body, which includes an electrically conductive portion, and at least one metal conductor, wherein the metal conductor includes a terminal portion and at least one connection portion, wherein the connection portion of the metal conductor is wrapped by a first end of an electrically conductive and stripe-shaped carbon fibre mat, which abuts with a second end at least partly on the electrically conductive portion of the main body.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 10, 2019
    Date of Patent: January 4, 2022
    Assignee: SIEMENS GAMESA RENEWABLE ENERGY A/S
    Inventor: Donato Girolamo
  • Patent number: 11181095
    Abstract: A spar cap for a wind turbine blade of a wind turbine, the spar cap including at least one elongated beam is provided. The spar cap includes at least one electrically isolating material cover and at least one electrically conductive material cover, wherein an entire circumference of the beam is enclosed by at least one electrically isolating material cover and the entire circumference of the at least one electrically isolating material cover is enclosed by at least one electrically conductive material cover, whereby the electrically conductive material cover has at least one electrical interface for electrically connecting it to a down conductor of the wind turbine blade.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 20, 2020
    Date of Patent: November 23, 2021
    Inventor: Donato Girolamo
  • Publication number: 20210332799
    Abstract: Provided is a wind turbine blade for a wind turbine, the wind turbine blade including: a first element containing carbon fibers, the first element being enclosed by a first metallic cover so as to form a Faraday cage around the same; a second element containing carbon fibers, the second element being enclosed by a second metallic cover so as to form a Faraday cage around the same; and an electrical bond connecting the first metallic cover and the second metallic cover. Elements containing carbon fibers are protected against lightning strikes allowing that such elements are placed further towards the tip, thereby making the whole blade lighter and allowing to better tailor the shape of the tip.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 22, 2021
    Publication date: October 28, 2021
    Inventors: Donato Girolamo, Sri Markandeya Rajesh Ponnada
  • Patent number: 11111904
    Abstract: Provided is a wind turbine blade for a wind turbine, the wind turbine blade including a support element having first fibers being electrically conductive, and a fiber material having second fibers being electrically conductive, wherein the fiber material has a free portion and an overlapping portion which is at least partially attached and electrically connected to the support element, wherein an extension direction of the second fibers changes along an extension path of the second fibers, wherein a first angle is provided between the second fibers in the overlapping portion and the first fibers, wherein a second angle is provided between the second fibers in the free portion and the first fibers, and wherein the second angle is larger than the first angle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 11, 2019
    Date of Patent: September 7, 2021
    Inventors: Thomas Lehrmann Christiansen, Donato Girolamo
  • Patent number: 11105314
    Abstract: Provided is a wind turbine blade for a wind turbine, the wind turbine blade including an electrical conductor extending in a longitudinal direction of the wind turbine blade, and a carbon fiber material being electrically conductive and having a first portion which is arranged beside the electrical conductor, a second portion which is connected to the first portion and is attached and electrically connected to the electrical conductor, and a third portion which is connected to the second portion and at least partially overlaps with the first portion. Due to such an electrical connection between the electrical conductor and the carbon fiber material arcing and, thus, delamination of carbon can be avoided when conducting current of a lightning strike.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 9, 2019
    Date of Patent: August 31, 2021
    Inventors: Thomas Lehrmann Christiansen, Donato Girolamo
  • Publication number: 20210071647
    Abstract: Provided is a rotor blade for a wind turbine, including: at least one camera mounted inside the rotor blade and adapted to acquire an image of a portion of an inner surface of the rotor blade.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 15, 2019
    Publication date: March 11, 2021
    Inventors: Donato Girolamo, Esben Orlowitz, Nevena Stevanovic
  • Publication number: 20200355164
    Abstract: Provided is a blade for a wind turbine including at least one blade component, wherein at least one section of the blade component facing the tip of the blade is carbon fiber reinforced, wherein the blade further includes a lightning protection arrangement with a discharging conductor extending along the blade to discharge an electric current caused by a lightning striking into the blade, wherein the lightning protection arrangement includes at least one, electrically conductive, elongated and flat lightning receptor which is electrically connected with the discharging conductor, wherein the lightning receptor is arranged at or near the outer surface of the blade and located between the at least one blade component section and the blade tip and extends at least partially from a trailing edge towards a leading edge of the blade.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 27, 2020
    Publication date: November 12, 2020
    Inventors: Thomas Lehrmann Christiansen, Donato Girolamo
  • Publication number: 20200340446
    Abstract: A spar cap for a wind turbine blade of a wind turbine, the spar cap including at least one elongated beam is provided. The spar cap includes at least one electrically isolating material cover and at least one electrically conductive material cover, wherein an entire circumference of the beam is enclosed by at least one electrically isolating material cover and the entire circumference of the at least one electrically isolating material cover is enclosed by at least one electrically conductive material cover, whereby the electrically conductive material cover has at least one electrical interface for electrically connecting it to a down conductor of the wind turbine blade.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 20, 2020
    Publication date: October 29, 2020
    Inventor: Donato Girolamo
  • Publication number: 20200318604
    Abstract: Provided is a spar cap for a wind turbine blade of a wind turbine, the spar cap including at least two stacks arranged in a longitudinal direction of the spar cap, wherein the at least two stacks are arranged adjacent to one another in a width direction of the spar cap and each of the at least two stacks) includes multiple elongate beams stacked on top of one another in a height direction of the spar cap, the height direction being transverse to the longitudinal direction and the width direction. Also provided is a wind turbine blade of a wind turbine, a wind turbine and method for manufacturing a spar cap for a wind turbine blade of a wind turbine.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 30, 2020
    Publication date: October 8, 2020
    Inventors: Donato Girolamo, Poul-Erik Hassing, Jens Kjaer Nielsen
  • Publication number: 20200298351
    Abstract: A method of repairing a damaged spar cap of a wind turbine blade of a wind turbine, the damaged spar cap including carbon fiber-reinforced plastic and the method having the steps of: removing a damaged carbon fiber-reinforced plastic part from the damaged spar cap to obtain a corresponding recess in the damaged spar cap, applying an adhesive to the recess, and fitting at least one patch including carbon fiber-reinforced plastic into the recess, is provided.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 20, 2020
    Publication date: September 24, 2020
    Inventor: Donato Girolamo
  • Publication number: 20200300216
    Abstract: A wind turbine blade of a wind turbine, the wind turbine blade including a shell and a spar having at least one spar cap is provided. At least one of the at least one spar cap includes at least two longitudinal support structure elements, whereby at least two of the at least two longitudinal support structure elements are arranged adjacent to one another in a longitudinal direction of the wind turbine blade and at least one longitudinal support structure includes carbon fiber-reinforced plastic and at least one other longitudinal support structure includes at least one fiber-reinforced plastic different from carbon fiber-reinforced plastic.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 20, 2020
    Publication date: September 24, 2020
    Inventors: Donato Girolamo, Jens Jørgen Østergaard Kristensen