Patents by Inventor Kurt J. Goodwin

Kurt J. Goodwin 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).

  • Method and apparatus for mounting a rotor blade on a wind turbine
    Patent number: 8646177
    Abstract: An installation system and a method for mounting a rotor blade to a hub on a wind turbine are disclosed. The method includes coupling a rotor and a stator together, the rotor rotatably connected to the hub. The method further includes rotating the stator in a first direction, wherein rotation of the stator causes the rotor and the hub to rotate in the first direction. The method further includes securing the hub to prevent rotation of the hub. The installation system includes a coupling device configured to releasably couple a stator and a rotor together and a securing device configured to releasably secure the hub. The installation system further includes at least one stator drive device operably connected to the stator, the stator drive device configured to rotate the stator between a first position and a second position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 7, 2010
    Date of Patent: February 11, 2014
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Suresh S. Tirumalai, Bharat Bagepalli, Kurt J. Goodwin
  • Method to repair pitch control components
    Patent number: 8091199
    Abstract: A method and system for repairing a wind turbine component in a wind turbine is provided. A damaged region of a drive assembly affects the wind turbine component. The method includes the steps of, providing a replacement wind turbine component, providing a mount for the replacement wind turbine component, and installing the replacement wind turbine component and mount in an undamaged region of the drive assembly. The replacement wind turbine component and mount are located to avoid interaction with the damaged region.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 19, 2009
    Date of Patent: January 10, 2012
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventor: Kurt J. Goodwin
  • METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR MOUNTING A ROTOR BLADE ON A WIND TURBINE
    Publication number: 20110138626
    Abstract: An installation system and a method for mounting a rotor blade to a hub on a wind turbine are disclosed. The method includes coupling a rotor and a stator together, the rotor rotatably connected to the hub. The method further includes rotating the stator in a first direction, wherein rotation of the stator causes the rotor and the hub to rotate in the first direction. The method further includes securing the hub to prevent rotation of the hub. The installation system includes a coupling device configured to releasably couple a stator and a rotor together and a securing device configured to releasably secure the hub. The installation system further includes at least one stator drive device operably connected to the stator, the stator drive device configured to rotate the stator between a first position and a second position.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 7, 2010
    Publication date: June 16, 2011
    Applicant: GENERAL ELECTRIC COMPANY
    Inventors: Suresh S. Tirumalai, Bharat Bagepalli, Kurt J. Goodwin
  • METHOD AND SYSTEM TO REPAIR PITCH CONTROL COMPONENTS
    Publication number: 20100139063
    Abstract: A method and system for repairing a wind turbine component in a wind turbine is provided. A damaged region of a drive assembly affects the wind turbine component. The method includes the steps of, providing a replacement wind turbine component, providing a mount for the replacement wind turbine component, and installing the replacement wind turbine component and mount in an undamaged region of the drive assembly. The replacement wind turbine component and mount are located to avoid interaction with the damaged region.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 19, 2009
    Publication date: June 10, 2010
    Inventor: Kurt J. Goodwin