Patents by Inventor Mark Hancock

Mark Hancock 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).

  • Publication number: 20180005451
    Abstract: Dynamic haptic retargeting can be implemented using world warping techniques and body warping techniques. World warping is applied to improve an alignment between a virtual object and a physical object, while body warping is applied to redirect a user's motion to increase a likelihood that a physical hand will reach the physical object at the same time a virtual representation of the hand reaches the virtual object. Threshold values and/or a combination of world warping a body warping can be used to mitigate negative impacts that may be caused by using either technique excessively or independently.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 13, 2017
    Publication date: January 4, 2018
    Inventors: Hrvoje Benko, Andrew D. Wilson, Eyal Ofek, Mahdi Azmandian, Mark Hancock
  • Patent number: 9805514
    Abstract: Dynamic haptic retargeting can be implemented using world warping techniques and body warping techniques. World warping is applied to improve an alignment between a virtual object and a physical object, while body warping is applied to redirect a user's motion to increase a likelihood that a physical hand will reach the physical object at the same time a virtual representation of the hand reaches the virtual object. Threshold values and/or a combination of world warping a body warping can be used to mitigate negative impacts that may be caused by using either technique excessively or independently.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 21, 2016
    Date of Patent: October 31, 2017
    Assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing, LLC
    Inventors: Hrvoje Benko, Mark Hancock, Andrew D. Wilson, Eyal Ofek, Mahdi Azmandian
  • Publication number: 20170309071
    Abstract: Dynamic haptic retargeting can be implemented using world warping techniques and body warping techniques. World warping is applied to improve an alignment between a virtual object and a physical object, while body warping is applied to redirect a user's motion to increase a likelihood that a physical hand will reach the physical object at the same time a virtual representation of the hand reaches the virtual object. Threshold values and/or a combination of world warping a body warping can be used to mitigate negative impacts that may be caused by using either technique excessively or independently.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 21, 2016
    Publication date: October 26, 2017
    Inventors: Hrvoje Benko, Mark Hancock, Andrew D. Wilson, Eyal Ofek, Mahdi Azmandian
  • Publication number: 20170288554
    Abstract: In accordance with an embodiment, a power conversion method includes operating a power converter circuit in one of a first operation and a second operation mode based on a feedback signal and a signal level of an output signal at an output. The power converter includes a transformer with a primary winding and a secondary winding, a first electronic switch connected in series with the primary winding, and a rectifier circuit connected between the secondary winding and the output and comprising a second electronic switch.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 31, 2016
    Publication date: October 5, 2017
    Inventors: Marc Fahlenkamp, Torsten Hinz, Martin Krueger, Anders Lind, Jon Mark Hancock, Allan Saliva
  • Patent number: 9765756
    Abstract: The invention provides a sectional blade for a wind turbine. The blade comprises at least a first blade portion and a second blade portion extending in opposite directions from a joint. Further each blade portion comprises a spar section forming a structural member of the blade and running lengthways. The first blade portion and the second blade portion are structurally connected by at least one spar bridge extending into both blade portions to facilitate joining of said blade portions and the spar bridge joins the spar sections.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 7, 2009
    Date of Patent: September 19, 2017
    Assignee: Vestas Wind Systems A/S
    Inventor: Mark Hancock
  • Patent number: 9719487
    Abstract: A wind turbine blade 2 is formed with structures allowing its lifting by a lifting apparatus 4, the blade comprising upper and lower blade shells and an internal load-bearing structure comprising an internal spar 16 or internal webs, a plurality of lifting points 20 arranged about the blade center of gravity, comprising openings for receiving lifting members 24 of a lifting apparatus insertable therein into structures 22 secured to the load-bearing structure, and with a locking connection being established between the lifting members 24 and the load-bearing structure 16.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 15, 2011
    Date of Patent: August 1, 2017
    Assignee: Vestas Wind Systems A/S
    Inventors: Anton Bech, Mark Hancock, Peter Frans Thomsen
  • Patent number: 9617981
    Abstract: The invention relates to a wind turbine blade bearing removal apparatus and method for facilitating the change-over of the blade root bearing assembly (58) of a wind turbine blade (54). A plurality of support shoulders or yokes (60) are located on the hub (50) of the wind turbine rotor and provide attachment points for respective actuators (62). Corresponding attachment points (66) are provided in the wind turbine blade (54) via a blade support (section 64), which is constructed in the blade between the blade root bearing assembly (58) and the tip. The actuators (62) are mounted between the hub (50) and the blade root bearing assembly (58) and therefore support the blade (54) in a suspended position when the bearing is to be retained. The actuators (62) allow the blade to be easily reattached to the hub (50) when the blade root bearing replacement is completed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 19, 2011
    Date of Patent: April 11, 2017
    Assignee: Vestas Wind Systems A/S
    Inventor: Mark Hancock
  • Publication number: 20160273516
    Abstract: A strip of fibre-reinforced polymeric material for a longitudinal reinforcing structure of a wind turbine blade, the strip having substantially flat upper and lower surfaces and extending longitudinally between first and second transverse edges, wherein an end region of the strip tapers in thickness towards the first transverse edge, and wherein one or more slots are defined in the tapered end region, the or each slot extending longitudinally from the first transverse edge of the strip into the tapered end region.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 14, 2014
    Publication date: September 22, 2016
    Inventors: Jonathan Smith, Adrian Gill, Mark Hancock
  • Patent number: 9388789
    Abstract: The invention relates to a sectional blade for a wind turbine, the blade comprising at least a first blade section and a second blade section extending in opposite directions from a blade joint, where each blade section comprises a spar section forming a structural member and extending in the longitudinal direction of the blade, and where the first and second blade sections are connected by fastening means restraining any movement of the first blade section relative to the second blade section length ways. The first and the second blade sections are structurally connected by a spar bridge protruding from one of the blade sections and terminating axially in an end portion, which is received in the spar section of the other blade section. The spar bridge and the spar section have interlocking shapes by which rotation of the spar bridge in the spar section is prevented thereby preventing rotation of one of the blade sections relative to the other.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 2, 2010
    Date of Patent: July 12, 2016
    Assignee: Vestas Wind Systems A/S
    Inventors: Paul Hibbard, Mark Hancock
  • Patent number: 9255886
    Abstract: A system and method of detecting damage to a wind turbine blade uses one or more fluorescent optical fibers comprising a fluorescent material having an excitation wavelength that is selected such that the material fluoresces upon exposure to ambient radiation at the wind turbine blade, wherein the one or more optical fibers are operatively mounted within the wind turbine blade such that upon damage to the wind turbine blade at least a part of the optical fiber is exposed at the surface of the blade causing the optical fiber to fluoresce; a light detector for receiving a light signal from one or from both ends of the one or more optical fibers upon excitation of the fluorescent material and outputting a signal based on the light signal; and a controller coupled to the light detector to receive the signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 14, 2012
    Date of Patent: February 9, 2016
    Assignee: Vestas Wind Systems A/S
    Inventors: Lars Glavind, Ib Svend Olesen, Mark Hancock, Richard Craven
  • Patent number: 9068559
    Abstract: The invention relates to a rotor blade for a wind turbine. The rotor blade comprises a shell and a spar forming a longitudinally extending hollow structure within the shell and comprising: a leading web, a trailing web, and one or more additional webs. Each additional web defines an intermediate portion between a hub end and a tip end. The intermediate portion of each additional web is spaced apart from the leading and trailing webs and at least one of the tip and the hub ends is connected to or integral with the leading or the trailing web. The invention further relates to a wind turbine comprising the rotor blade, and a method for manufacturing the rotor blade.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 15, 2010
    Date of Patent: June 30, 2015
    Assignee: Vestas Wind Systems A/S
    Inventors: Mark Hancock, Andrew Hedges, Rens Christiaan Verhoef, Anton Bech, Tomas Vronsky
  • Patent number: 9039372
    Abstract: The invention relates to a wind turbine blade with at least one control surface and an actuator inside the main body of the wind turbine blade for moving the control surface, wherein the actuator comprises a fluidic muscle, a controller and a pump, and wherein the fluidic muscle is adapted to change in length and width when the pressure of the fluid within the fluidic muscle is varied.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 14, 2010
    Date of Patent: May 26, 2015
    Assignee: Vestas Wind Systems A/S
    Inventors: Mark Hancock, Wuh Ken Loh, Yun Chong Gabriel Chang
  • Patent number: 9032622
    Abstract: An elongate web is attached to the root end of a spar of a wind turbine rotor blade to provide additional support along the width of the blade. The root end is formed by a winding operation, and a recess is then cut into the surface of the spar. The recess is defined by a relatively large first, cylindrical surface, which is coaxial with the longitudinal axis of the root end, and a relatively small second, conical surface. A tapered end of the elongate web is attached within the recess of the root end using a layer of suitable adhesive and an array of pins. Resilient spacer elements are arranged within the recess so as to surround the pins. The large area of the cylindrical surface causes the tensile and compressive stresses which arise along the elongate web in use to be transmitted to the spar as shear stresses.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 12, 2011
    Date of Patent: May 19, 2015
    Assignee: Vestas Wind Systems A/S
    Inventors: Mark Hancock, Anton Bech, Rens Christiaan Verhoef, Adrian Gill, Karl Gregory
  • Patent number: 8899923
    Abstract: The invention relates to a wind turbine blade comprising a device for modifying the aerodynamic surface or shape of the blade in an area of the trailing edge, and activation mechanisms for controlling the position and/or movement of the device. The device is at least partly divided into a number of sections by interstices or connecting portions having a higher elasticity. Hereby the overall longitudinal bending flexibility of the device is increased which in turn increases the operability of the aerodynamic device and reduces the wear of the system. The interstices may be open, comprise a filler material, or optionally be covered by an elastic film.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 14, 2009
    Date of Patent: December 2, 2014
    Assignee: Vestas Wind Systems A/S
    Inventor: Mark Hancock
  • Patent number: 8899936
    Abstract: The invention provides a method of manufacturing a spar for a wind turbine blade. The method includes providing at least two caps, each cap forming an intermediate portion between two end portions, where the end portions each forms a cap joint surface portion along a longitudinal extending edge of the end portion and the intermediate portion forms an outer surface portion of the spar, providing at least two webs, each web being provided with web joint surface portions along opposite and longitudinally extending edges, and connecting the joint surface portions of the caps with the joint surface portions of the webs to form a tubular configuration of the spar. The caps are provided so that the end portions extend transversely to the intermediate portion and the caps are arranged relative to each other so that the end portions of one cap extend from the intermediate portion towards the end portions of another cap.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 19, 2009
    Date of Patent: December 2, 2014
    Assignee: Vestas Wind Systems A/S
    Inventors: Mark Hancock, Andrew Hedges, Tomas Vronsky
  • Patent number: 8876473
    Abstract: A hinged connection apparatus is described for securing a first wind turbine component to a second. The first wind turbine component may be a wind turbine blade (10) and the second wind turbine component may be a control surface such as an aileron (11). The first or second wind turbine component comprises at least one hinge housing in which a hinge pin (16, 26) is retained. The hinge pin (16, 26) may be extended from a retracted position into an extended position in which it engages with a hinge recess on the other wind turbine component to form a connection. A locking mechanism is provided for securing the hinge pin in place. The hinge pin may be extended manually or automatically by an actuator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 17, 2010
    Date of Patent: November 4, 2014
    Assignee: Vestas Wind Systems A/S
    Inventors: Carsten Hein Westergaard, Mark Hancock, Srikanth Narasimalu
  • Publication number: 20140301859
    Abstract: A reinforcing structure 9 for a wind turbine blade is in the form of an elongate stack 27 of layers 31 of pultruded fibrous composite strips supported within a U-shaped channel 28. The length of each layer 31 is slightly different to create a taper at the ends of the stack; the centre of the stack 27 has five layers 31, and each end has a single layer 31. The ends of each layer 31 are chamfered, and the stack is coated with a thin flexible pultruded fibrous composite strip 33 extending the full length of the stack 27. The reinforcing structure 9 extends along a curved path within the outer shell of the blade. During configuration of the blade components within a mould 37, the reinforcing structure 9 is introduced into the mould 37 by sliding the channel 28 along the surface of an elongate wedge 29 within the mould 37 along the curved path.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 11, 2012
    Publication date: October 9, 2014
    Applicant: VESTAS WIND SYSTEMS A/S
    Inventors: Mark Hancock, Frank Hoelgaard Hahn, Chris Payne
  • Patent number: 8851840
    Abstract: The invention relates to a wind turbine blade with devices for modifying the aerodynamic surface or shape of the blade. The position and movement of these devices are controlled by a pneumatic actuator powered by pressure from a pressure chamber connected to the actuator via a valve system controlling the powering. The valve system in return is operated by a control unit conveying control signals to the valve system via a signal communication pathway. The communication pathway may comprise a power link or pressure tubes with a liquid or a gas. In one embodiment the gas used is of a lower molecular weight than 28.9 kg/kmol and thereby lower than air, whereby the speed of the pressure signals being sent from the control unit is increased and thereby the operational speed of the aerodynamic devices. The invention further relates to a wind turbine comprising a tower, a nacelle mounted to one end of the tower, and a rotor with at least one wind turbine blade according to the above.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 28, 2009
    Date of Patent: October 7, 2014
    Assignee: Vestas Wind Systems A/S
    Inventors: Mark Hancock, Nicolas Dudley Barlow, Dick Veldkamp
  • Patent number: 8777573
    Abstract: Wind turbine blade comprising two or more blade sections each of which defines a non-joint zone and, at one or each of its ends, a joint zone. The blade sections are connected in pairs such that the joint zones of each pair are connected at a joint, whereby the joint is positioned between two non-joint zones. At least one of the joints have an increased thickness and a wider chord relative to the thickness and the chord of the two non-joint zone between which the joint is positioned so as to increase the second moment of inertia in the area of the joint.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 26, 2010
    Date of Patent: July 15, 2014
    Assignee: Vestas Wind Systems A/S
    Inventors: Paul Hibbard, Mark Hancock
  • Patent number: 8777579
    Abstract: The invention provides a method of manufacturing a spar (1) for a wind turbine blade. The method comprises steps of providing at least two caps (2a, 2b), each cap forming an intermediate portion (4) between two end portions (5), where the end portions each forms a cap joint surface portion (6) along a longitudinal extending edge of the end portion and the intermediate portion forms an outer surface portion (7) of the spar, providing at least two webs (3a, 3b), each web being provided with web joint surface portions (8) along opposite and longitudinally extending edges, and connecting the joint surface portions of the caps with the joint surface portions of the webs to form a tubular configuration of the spar. The intermediate portions and the end portions are provided so that they comprise different materials.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 19, 2009
    Date of Patent: July 15, 2014
    Assignee: Vestas Wind Systems A/S
    Inventors: Mark Hancock, Andrew Hedges, Tomas Vronsky