Patents by Inventor James A. Fritz
James A. Fritz 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: 8096765Abstract: A wind turbine rotor blade includes a plurality of lightning receptors configured along either or both of the pressure side or suction side of the blade. At least one looped lightning conductive circuit is provided, with the lightning receptors configured in communication with a respective lightning conductive circuit. The lightning conductive circuit has terminal ends that extend through the root for connection of each terminal end with a grounding system within the wind turbine. The looped lightning conductive circuit provides a redundant path to each lightning receptor for conducting a lightning strike to ground.Type: GrantFiled: December 1, 2010Date of Patent: January 17, 2012Assignee: General Electric CompanyInventors: Peter James Fritz, Richard Hardison
-
Patent number: 8083488Abstract: A rotor blade assembly is disclosed. The rotor blade assembly includes a rotor blade and a blade extension. The rotor blade has a pressure side, a suction side, a leading edge, and a trailing edge extending between a tip and a root. The rotor blade further has an aerodynamic profile. The blade extension is mounted to the rotor blade. The blade extension includes a cutaway mounting portion for mounting the blade extension to the rotor blade such that the blade extension is generally flush with at least one of the pressure side or the suction side of the rotor blade. The cutaway mounting portion defines a notch configured to locate the blade extension relative to the rotor blade.Type: GrantFiled: August 23, 2010Date of Patent: December 27, 2011Assignee: General Electric CompanyInventor: Peter James Fritz
-
Publication number: 20110286852Abstract: Disclosed is a blade including a blade body including a leading edge and a trailing edge, and at least one trailing edge cavity defined by a blade area disposed in at least partial alignment with the trailing edge, the at least one cavity extending a desired depth into said blade body in a direction of the leading edge.Type: ApplicationFiled: July 29, 2011Publication date: November 24, 2011Applicant: GENERAL ELECTRIC COMPANYInventor: Peter James Fritz
-
Publication number: 20110243751Abstract: A wind turbine blade includes an upper shell member and a lower shell member joined at leading and trailing edges of the blade with a bond material. Portions of the bond material are externally exposed. The bond material has surface characteristics of at least one of a Shore D hardness value of greater than about 80 durometer or a Young's modulus stiffness value of greater than about 5 GPa. A protective coating is applied over the upper and lower shell members and exposed portions of the bond material.Type: ApplicationFiled: January 28, 2011Publication date: October 6, 2011Applicant: GENERAL ELECTRIC COMPANYInventors: Peter James Fritz, Uli Ramm
-
Patent number: 8016568Abstract: Disclosed is a blade including a blade body including a leading edge and a trailing edge, and at least one trailing edge cavity defined by a blade area disposed in at least partial alignment with the trailing edge, the at least one cavity extending a desired depth into said blade body in a direction of the leading edge.Type: GrantFiled: September 26, 2008Date of Patent: September 13, 2011Assignee: General Electric CompanyInventor: Peter James Fritz
-
Patent number: 8013619Abstract: A system and method for performing a continuity test on a lightning conduction system of a wind turbine are disclosed. The system generally includes a testing device having a blade ring configured to be positioned around at least a portion of an outer perimeter of a rotor blade of the wind turbine. A carriage may be attached to the testing device and a cable may be attached to the carriage. The cable may generally extend between a first anchor point and a second anchor point, wherein the anchor points are spaced apart from one another such that a lightning receptor of the lightning conduction system is disposed between the anchor points. Additionally, the cable may be coupled between the anchor points such that, as the cable is displaced, the testing device is moved to a position at which an electrically conductive member of the testing device contacts the lightning receptor.Type: GrantFiled: November 29, 2010Date of Patent: September 6, 2011Assignee: General Electric CompanyInventors: Steven Haines Olson, Debasish Mishra, Peter James Fritz
-
Publication number: 20110205348Abstract: A system and method for performing an external inspection on a rotor blade of a wind turbine are disclosed. The system may generally include a frame configured to extend at least partially around an outer perimeter of the rotor blade and a sensing device coupled to the frame. Additionally, first and second spacer arms may extend from the frame. The first spacer arm may be configured to contact a pressure side surface of the rotor blade. The second spacer arm may be configured to contact a suction side surface of the rotor blade.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 16, 2010Publication date: August 25, 2011Applicant: GENERAL ELECTRIC COMPANYInventors: Peter James Fritz, Kevin George Harding, Bradley Graham Moore
-
Patent number: 7976275Abstract: A rotor blade assembly having an access window and methods for assembling a rotor blade are disclosed. The rotor blade assembly may generally include a first shell component and a second shell component. The first shell component may be secured to the second shell component. Additionally, an access region may be defined in the first shell component and/or the second shell component. The access region may generally be configured such that an access window is defined in the rotor blade assembly. The access window may be configured to provide access to the interior of a portion of the rotor blade assembly.Type: GrantFiled: August 30, 2010Date of Patent: July 12, 2011Assignee: General Electric CompanyInventors: Thomas Miebach, Shu Ching Quek, Waseem Ibrahim Faidi, Chandra Sekher Yerramalli, Peggy Lynn Baehmann, Peter James Fritz
-
Publication number: 20110138937Abstract: A system and method for inspecting a wind turbine for indications is disclosed. The method includes providing an inspection system on a tower of the wind turbine, the inspection system including a climbing device and an inspection device, the climbing device including a traction apparatus configured to engage the tower and a drive mechanism configured to drive the climbing device. The method further includes rotating a rotor blade of the wind turbine such that the rotor blade is approximately parallel to and proximate the tower, operating the inspection system to traverse the tower, and operating the inspection system to inspect the rotor blade for indications.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 25, 2010Publication date: June 16, 2011Applicant: GENERAL ELECTRIC COMPANYInventor: Peter James Fritz
-
Publication number: 20110140060Abstract: A system and method are disclosed for locating a maintenance device approximate an area of interest of a wind turbine. The system generally includes a carriage configured to support the maintenance device and a cable having first and second ends attached to the carriage. Additionally, the system includes first and second anchor points, with the first anchor point being disposed adjacent to a component of the wind turbine. The second anchor point is spaced apart from the first anchor point such that the area of interest is generally disposed between the first and second anchor points. The cable may be coupled along its length between the first and second anchor points such that, as the cable is displaced, the carriage is moved to a position at which the area of interest is accessible to the maintenance device.Type: ApplicationFiled: November 29, 2010Publication date: June 16, 2011Applicant: GENERAL ELECTRIC COMPANYInventors: Steven Haines Olson, Debasish Mishra, Peter James Fritz, Stephen Bertram Johnson
-
Publication number: 20110143082Abstract: A composite laminate material is disclosed. The composite laminate material includes a plurality of adjacently disposed plies. At least one of the plies is configured as a terminated ply. Additionally, a ply drop is defined by the terminated ply, wherein the ply drop includes a modification configured to reduce stress concentrations within the composite laminate material.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 29, 2010Publication date: June 16, 2011Applicant: GENERAL ELECTRIC COMPANYInventors: Peter James Fritz, Howard Daniel Driver, Steven Alan Kyriakides
-
Publication number: 20110142671Abstract: A wind turbine rotor blade includes a plurality of lightning receptors configured along either or both of the pressure side or suction side of the blade. At least one continuity circuit is configured with the blade, with the lightning receptors disposed in series within a respective continuity circuit such that an electrical continuity path defined by the circuit passes through each of the lightning receptors within the continuity circuit. The circuit has terminal ends that extend through the blade root for conducting continuity checks with the circuit.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 1, 2010Publication date: June 16, 2011Applicant: GENERAL ELECTRIC COMPANYInventors: Peter James Fritz, Richard Hardison
-
Publication number: 20110140724Abstract: A system and method for performing a continuity test on a lightning conduction system of a wind turbine are disclosed. The system generally includes a testing device having a blade ring configured to be positioned around at least a portion of an outer perimeter of a rotor blade of the wind turbine. A carriage may be attached to the testing device and a cable may be attached to the carriage. The cable may generally extend between a first anchor point and a second anchor point, wherein the anchor points are spaced apart from one another such that a lightning receptor of the lightning conduction system is disposed between the anchor points. Additionally, the cable may be coupled between the anchor points such that, as the cable is displaced, the testing device is moved to a position at which an electrically conductive member of the testing device contacts the lightning receptor.Type: ApplicationFiled: November 29, 2010Publication date: June 16, 2011Applicant: GENERAL ELECTRIC COMPANYInventors: Steven Haines Olson, Debasish Mishra, Peter James Fritz
-
Publication number: 20110142644Abstract: A wind turbine rotor blade includes a plurality of lightning receptors configured along either or both of the pressure side or suction side of the blade. At least one looped lightning conductive circuit is provided, with the lightning receptors configured in communication with a respective lightning conductive circuit. The lightning conductive circuit has terminal ends that extend through the root for connection of each terminal end with a grounding system within the wind turbine. The looped lightning conductive circuit provides a redundant path to each lightning receptor for conducting a lightning strike to ground.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 1, 2010Publication date: June 16, 2011Applicant: GENERAL ELECTRIC COMPANYInventors: Peter James Fritz, Richard Hardison
-
Publication number: 20110142635Abstract: A rotor blade assembly is disclosed. The rotor blade assembly includes a rotor blade and a blade extension. The rotor blade has a pressure side, a suction side, a leading edge, and a trailing edge extending between a tip and a root. The rotor blade further has an aerodynamic profile. The blade extension is mounted to the rotor blade. The blade extension includes a cutaway mounting portion for mounting the blade extension to the rotor blade such that the blade extension is generally flush with at least one of the pressure side or the suction side of the rotor blade. The cutaway mounting portion defines a notch configured to locate the blade extension relative to the rotor blade.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 23, 2010Publication date: June 16, 2011Applicant: GENERAL ELECTRIC COMPANYInventor: Peter James Fritz
-
Publication number: 20110142667Abstract: A rotor blade assembly having an access window and methods for assembling a rotor blade are disclosed. The rotor blade assembly may generally include a first shell component and a second shell component. The first shell component may be secured to the second shell component. Additionally, an access region may be defined in the first shell component and/or the second shell component. The access region may generally be configured such that an access window is defined in the rotor blade assembly. The access window may be configured to provide access to the interior of a portion of the rotor blade assembly.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 30, 2010Publication date: June 16, 2011Applicant: GENERAL ELECTRIC COMPANYInventors: Thomas Miebach, Shu Ching Quek, Waseem Ibrahim Faidi, Chandra Sekher Yerramalli, Peggy Lynn Baehmann, Peter James Fritz
-
Publication number: 20110143081Abstract: A composite laminate material is disclosed. The composite laminate material includes a plurality of adjacently disposed plies. At least one of the plies is configured as a terminated ply. Additionally, a ply drop is defined by the terminated ply, wherein the ply drop is modified to reduce stress concentrations within the composite laminate material.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 29, 2010Publication date: June 16, 2011Applicant: General Electric CompanyInventors: Peter James Fritz, Howard Daniel Driver, Steven Alan Kyriakides
-
Publication number: 20110142662Abstract: A spar cap assembly for a rotor blade of a wind turbine is disclosed. In general, the spar cap assembly may include a tensile spar cap formed from a composite material and configured to engage an inner surface of the rotor blade. The tensile spar cap may generally have a first thickness and a first cross-sectional area. Additionally, the spar cap assembly may include a compressive spar cap formed from the same composite material and configured to engage an opposing inner surface of the rotor blade. The compressive spar cap may generally have a second thickness and a second cross-sectional area that is greater than the first cross-sectional area. Additionally, the composite material is generally selected so that at least one of a strength and a modulus of elasticity of the composite material differs depending on whether the material is in tension or in compression.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 28, 2010Publication date: June 16, 2011Applicant: GENERAL ELECTRIC COMPANYInventors: Peter James Fritz, Bruce Clark Busbey, Thomas Merzhaeuser
-
Publication number: 20100080709Abstract: Disclosed is a blade including a blade body including a leading edge and a trailing edge, and at least one trailing edge cavity defined by a blade area disposed in at least partial alignment with the trailing edge, the at least one cavity extending a desired depth into said blade body in a direction of the leading edge.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 26, 2008Publication date: April 1, 2010Applicant: GENERAL ELECTRIC COMPANYInventor: Peter James Fritz
-
Publication number: 20060289609Abstract: A container has a bottom formed from polymeric material having a floor and a skirt projecting from the floor and a sidewall formed from polymeric material having opposite sides joined to one another and a lower end joined to the skirt so as to form an interior having a mouth, wherein the mouth has a dimension not less than the floor.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 2, 2005Publication date: December 28, 2006Inventors: James Fritz, Michael Hansen, Craig Johnson, Gary Johnson