Patents by Inventor Jay F. Leonard
Jay F. Leonard 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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Publication number: 20220397095Abstract: A wind turbine includes a nacelle, a generator housed with the nacelle, a rotor having a rotatable hub with at least one rotor blade mounted thereto, at least one shaft rotatably coupled to the hub for driving the generator, and a rotor lock arranged with the shaft(s) for locking the shaft(s) in a locked position. The wind turbine also includes a bolted-joint connection at an interface between the hub and the shaft(s). The bolted-joint connection includes a first plurality of fasteners extending through the hub, the shaft(s), and the rotor lock. As such, a load transfer path from the hub to the shaft(s) travels through each of the hub, the shaft(s), and the rotor lock so as to increase a load capacity of the interface.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 9, 2021Publication date: December 15, 2022Inventors: Jay F. Leonard, Brian Thomas Misavage, Michael Royce Johnson, Paul Howard Davidson, Gregory Clarence Thomas
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Patent number: 11313356Abstract: An integrated repair system for servicing a component within the nacelle of the wind turbine uptower. The repair system includes at least one mounting location integrally formed into a bedplate support frame of the wind turbine and a frame assembly coupled to the bedplate support frame. The frame assembly supports at least one clamp element and at least one jack element. When the gearbox is moved in the nacelle during repair procedures, the repair system supports the main shaft uptower such that the rotor remains installed onto the rotor shaft.Type: GrantFiled: August 24, 2020Date of Patent: April 26, 2022Assignee: General Electric CompanyInventors: Jay F. Leonard, Eric Paul Shelleman
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Publication number: 20220056889Abstract: An integrated repair system for servicing a component within the nacelle of the wind turbine uptower. The repair system includes at least one mounting location integrally formed into a bedplate support frame of the wind turbine and a frame assembly coupled to the bedplate support frame. The frame assembly supports at least one clamp element and at least one jack element. When the gearbox is moved in the nacelle during repair procedures, the repair system supports the main shaft uptower such that the rotor remains installed onto the rotor shaft.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 24, 2020Publication date: February 24, 2022Inventors: Jay F. Leonard, Eric Paul Shelleman
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Patent number: 10815969Abstract: A method for refurbishing a wind turbine includes positioning a new tower support mount on an existing foundation of the wind turbine, the existing foundation including an existing foundation pad and an existing tower support mount at least partially embedded in the existing foundation pad. The method further includes inserting a plurality of anchors through the new tower support mount.Type: GrantFiled: November 10, 2016Date of Patent: October 27, 2020Assignee: General Electric CompanyInventors: Shijiang Liu, Lan Xu, Jay F. Leonard
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Patent number: 10734346Abstract: Sintered connection structures and methods of manufacture are disclosed. The method includes placing a powder on a substrate and sintering the powder to form a plurality of pillars. The method further includes repeating the placing and sintering steps until the plurality of pillars reach a predetermined height. The method further includes forming a solder cap on the plurality of pillars. The method further includes joining the substrate to a board using the solder cap.Type: GrantFiled: January 17, 2019Date of Patent: August 4, 2020Assignee: ELPIS TECHNOLOGIES INC.Inventors: Richard S. Graf, Jay F. Leonard, David J. West, Charles H. Wilson
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Patent number: 10570889Abstract: The present disclosure is directed to a wind turbine. The wind turbine includes a tower, a machine head having a generator, and a rotor mechanically coupled to the generator. The rotor includes a hub and a plurality of rotor blades coupled to and extending outwardly from the hub. The wind turbine also includes an adaptor coupled between the tower and the machine head, with the adaptor defining an interior chamber. Furthermore, the wind turbine includes one or more electrical components electrically coupled to the generator, with the one or more electrical components being positioned within the interior chamber defined by the adaptor.Type: GrantFiled: April 23, 2018Date of Patent: February 25, 2020Assignee: General Electric CompanyInventors: Jay F. Leonard, Joseph Lawrence Chacon
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Patent number: 10472792Abstract: The present disclosure is directed to a tower assembly for a wind turbine having a tower flange that can accommodate foundations and/or nacelles of varying sizes. The tower assembly includes one or more tower sections having an integral tower flange that can be secured to a foundation, atop the tower section(s), and/or at a mid-height tower location. Further, the tower flange includes a substantially cylindrical wall defining an outer diameter and an inner diameter separated by an increased radial thickness. Thus, a radial offset is defined between the outer diameter of the tower flange and the corresponding tower component, i.e. the foundation, another tower section, or a yaw bearing. Accordingly, the larger radial thickness of the tower flange allows the flange to accommodate foundations or turbines of varying sizes with one common tower.Type: GrantFiled: May 16, 2017Date of Patent: November 12, 2019Assignee: General Electric CompanyInventor: Jay F. Leonard
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Publication number: 20190323488Abstract: The present disclosure is directed to a wind turbine. The wind turbine includes a tower, a machine head having a generator, and a rotor mechanically coupled to the generator. The rotor includes a hub and a plurality of rotor blades coupled to and extending outwardly from the hub. The wind turbine also includes an adaptor coupled between the tower and the machine head, with the adaptor defining an interior chamber. Furthermore, the wind turbine includes one or more electrical components electrically coupled to the generator, with the one or more electrical components being positioned within the interior chamber defined by the adaptor.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 23, 2018Publication date: October 24, 2019Inventors: Jay F. Leonard, Joseph Lawrence Chacon
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Publication number: 20190293053Abstract: A method for refurbishing a wind turbine includes positioning a new tower support mount on an existing foundation of the wind turbine, the existing foundation including an existing foundation pad and an existing tower support mount at least partially embedded in the existing foundation pad. The method further includes inserting a plurality of anchors through the new tower support mount.Type: ApplicationFiled: November 10, 2016Publication date: September 26, 2019Applicant: General Electric CompanyInventors: Shijiang Liu, Lan Xu, Jay F. Leonard
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Publication number: 20190244926Abstract: Sintered connection structures and methods of manufacture are disclosed. The method includes placing a powder on a substrate and sintering the powder to form a plurality of pillars. The method further includes repeating the placing and sintering steps until the plurality of pillars reach a predetermined height. The method further includes forming a solder cap on the plurality of pillars. The method further includes joining the substrate to a board using the solder cap.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 18, 2019Publication date: August 8, 2019Inventors: Richard S. Graf, Jay F. Leonard, David J. West, Charles H. Wilson
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Patent number: 10340241Abstract: Sintered connection structures and methods of manufacture are disclosed. The method includes placing a powder on a substrate and sintering the powder to form a plurality of pillars. The method further includes repeating the placing and sintering steps until the plurality of pillars reach a predetermined height. The method further includes forming a solder cap on the plurality of pillars. The method further includes joining the substrate to a board using the solder cap.Type: GrantFiled: June 11, 2015Date of Patent: July 2, 2019Assignee: INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS MACHINES CORPORATIONInventors: Richard S. Graf, Jay F. Leonard, David J. West, Charles H. Wilson
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Publication number: 20190148328Abstract: Sintered connection structures and methods of manufacture are disclosed. The method includes placing a powder on a substrate and sintering the powder to form a plurality of pillars. The method further includes repeating the placing and sintering steps until the plurality of pillars reach a predetermined height. The method further includes forming a solder cap on the plurality of pillars. The method further includes joining the substrate to a board using the solder cap.Type: ApplicationFiled: January 17, 2019Publication date: May 16, 2019Inventors: Richard S. GRAF, Jay F. LEONARD, David J. WEST, Charles H. WILSON
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Publication number: 20180335022Abstract: The present disclosure is directed to a tower assembly for a wind turbine having a tower flange that can accommodate foundations and/or nacelles of varying sizes. The tower assembly includes one or more tower sections having an integral tower flange that can be secured to a foundation, atop the tower section(s), and/or at a mid-height tower location. Further, the tower flange includes a substantially cylindrical wall defining an outer diameter and an inner diameter separated by an increased radial thickness. Thus, a radial offset is defined between the outer diameter of the tower flange and the corresponding tower component, i.e. the foundation, another tower section, or a yaw bearing. Accordingly, the larger radial thickness of the tower flange allows the flange to accommodate foundations or turbines of varying sizes with one common tower.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 16, 2017Publication date: November 22, 2018Inventor: Jay F. Leonard
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Patent number: 9982659Abstract: Methods for refurbishing a wind turbine are provided. A method includes removing an existing machine head and existing top tower section from the wind turbine. The wind turbine further includes a lower tower section, the lower tower section comprising a top flange, the top flange defining a first plurality of fastener holes disposed in a first hole pattern. The method further includes connecting a new machine head and new top tower section to the wind turbine. The new top tower section comprises a bottom flange, the bottom flange defining a second plurality of fastener holes disposed in a second hole pattern. The second hole pattern matches the first hole pattern.Type: GrantFiled: February 3, 2017Date of Patent: May 29, 2018Assignee: GENERAL ELECTRIC COMPANYInventor: Jay F. Leonard
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Publication number: 20180038350Abstract: A method for refurbishing a wind turbine includes removing an existing machine head from the wind turbine, and providing a new machine head and an adapter. The new machine head includes a base frame, and further includes a plurality of fastener holes defined in the base frame. The adapter includes an outer sidewall and defining a first plurality of fastener holes and a second plurality of fastener holes, the first plurality of fastener holes disposed in a first hole pattern, the second plurality of fastener holes disposed in a second hole pattern different from the first hole pattern. The method further includes connecting the new machine head and the adapter such that the adapter is connected to and between a yaw bearing and one of the base frame or a top flange of a tower of the wind turbine.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 8, 2016Publication date: February 8, 2018Inventors: Jay F. Leonard, Ian David Wilson
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Patent number: 9790919Abstract: The present disclosure is directed to a rotor blade assembly and/or a joint assembly for a wind turbine blade. In one embodiment, the rotor blade assembly includes at least first and second blade segments connected together at a chord-wise extending joint, one or more shear-loaded pins configured through the chord-wise extending joint, and an anti-rotation locking feature. As such, the rotor blade assembly includes a maintenance-free bolted joint. The first blade segment has a body shell defining a generally aerodynamic profile. The body shell includes a suction side surface and a pressure side surface. The shear-loaded pin may extend in a generally flap-wise direction (i.e. from the suction side surface to the pressure side surface of the body shell) or in a generally chord-wise direction (i.e. from the pressure side to the suction side of the body shell).Type: GrantFiled: February 25, 2014Date of Patent: October 17, 2017Assignee: General Electric CompanyInventors: Jay F. Leonard, Paul William Judge
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Patent number: 9782710Abstract: A wind turbine tower includes a door access opening in a down tower area of the tower. A hinged door panel covers the door access opening, with a ventilation opening defined through the door panel. A multi-sided intake structure, such as a box-like structure, is connected to an exterior of the door panel over the first ventilation opening. The intake structure extends transversely from the door panel and includes a top side, a bottom side, and at least two vertical sides extending between the top side and the bottom side. The vertical sides are open to air flow therethrough. The top and bottom sides may also be open to air flow therethrough. Air from multiple directions is drawn into an interior of the wind turbine tower through the intake structure and ventilation opening. A filtering system with first and second stage filters may be incorporated with any of the intake structures.Type: GrantFiled: July 1, 2015Date of Patent: October 10, 2017Assignee: General Electric CompanyInventors: Pritesh Jain, Vijendra Singh Chauhan, Darren John Danielsen, Roman Kolar, Danian Zheng, Jay F. Leonard, Brian Keith Andreson, Adam Lord
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Publication number: 20170009746Abstract: A wind turbine tower includes a door access opening in a down tower area of the tower. A hinged door panel covers the door access opening, with a ventilation opening defined through the door panel. A multi-sided intake structure, such as a box-like structure, is connected to an exterior of the door panel over the first ventilation opening. The intake structure extends transversely from the door panel and includes a top side, a bottom side, and at least two vertical sides extending between the top side and the bottom side. The vertical sides are open to air flow therethrough. The top and bottom sides may also be open to air flow therethrough. Air from multiple directions is drawn into an interior of the wind turbine tower through the intake structure and ventilation opening. A filtering system with first and second stage filters may be incorporated with any of the intake structures.Type: ApplicationFiled: July 1, 2015Publication date: January 12, 2017Inventors: Pritesh Jain, Vijendra Singh Chauhan, Darren John Danielsen, Roman Kolar, Danian Zheng, Jay F. Leonard, Brian Keith Andreson, Adam Lord
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Publication number: 20160365329Abstract: Sintered connection structures and methods of manufacture are disclosed. The method includes placing a powder on a substrate and sintering the powder to form a plurality of pillars. The method further includes repeating the placing and sintering steps until the plurality of pillars reach a predetermined height. The method further includes forming a solder cap on the plurality of pillars. The method further includes joining the substrate to a board using the solder cap.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 29, 2016Publication date: December 15, 2016Inventors: Richard S. GRAF, Jay F. LEONARD, David J. WEST, Charles H. WILSON
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Publication number: 20160365328Abstract: Sintered connection structures and methods of manufacture are disclosed. The method includes placing a powder on a substrate and sintering the powder to form a plurality of pillars. The method further includes repeating the placing and sintering steps until the plurality of pillars reach a predetermined height. The method further includes forming a solder cap on the plurality of pillars. The method further includes joining the substrate to a board using the solder cap.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 11, 2015Publication date: December 15, 2016Inventors: Richard S. GRAF, Jay F. LEONARD, David J. WEST, Charles H. WILSON