Abstract: A rotor blade assembly includes a rotor blade defining a pressure side and a suction side extending between a leading edge and a trailing edge. Further, the rotor blade assembly includes at least one structural feature secured within the rotor blade and spaced apart from the trailing edge to define a void between the pressure side, the suction side, and the trailing edge. Moreover, the rotor blade assembly includes an adhesive filling the void between the pressure side, the suction side, and the trailing edge to provide an adhesive connection between the pressure side, the suction side, the trailing edge, and the structural feature(s). In addition, the adhesive contacts the structural feature(s) at an interface and defines a fillet profile.

Abstract: A rotor blade assembly for a wind turbine is disclosed with a first blade segment having a female structural member defining an internal cavity, and a second blade segment connected to the first blade segment at a chord-wise extending joint. The second blade segment has a male structural member that is received within the internal cavity of the female structural member of the first blade segment. At least one floating connector, for joining the first and second blade segments, is positioned in at least one of a generally chord-wise direction and a generally span-wise direction. The floating connector has a biasing element configured to restrain bi-directional movement of a floating pin within the floating connector.

Abstract: A reinforcing structure for a wind turbine blade is in the form of an elongate stack of layers of pultruded fibrous composite strips supported within a U-shaped channel. The length of each layer is slightly different to create a taper at the ends of the stack; the centre of the stack has five layers, and each end has a single layer. The ends of each layer are chamfered, and the stack is coated with a thin flexible pultruded fibrous composite strip extending the full length of the stack. The reinforcing structure extends along a curved path within the outer shell of the blade. The regions of the outer shell of the blade on either side of the reinforcing structure are filled with structural foam, and the reinforcing structure and the foam are both sandwiched between an inner skin and an outer skin.

Abstract: A reinforcing structure for a wind turbine blade is in the form of an elongate stack of layers of pultruded fibrous composite strips supported within a U-shaped channel. The length of each layer is slightly different to create a taper at the ends of the stack; the centre of the stack has five layers, and each end has a single layer. The ends of each layer are chamfered, and the stack is coated with a thin flexible pultruded fibrous composite strip extending the full length of the stack. The reinforcing structure extends along a curved path within the outer shell of the blade. The regions of the outer shell of the blade on either side of the reinforcing structure are filled with structural foam, and the reinforcing structure and the foam are both sandwiched between an inner skin and an outer skin.

Abstract: Apparatus for manipulating a wind turbine blade and method of blade handling An apparatus for manipulating a wind turbine blade having fixed lifting points (2) on the blade has a blade turner base (36,62,82,100), a frame like support structure (34,64,84,112) carried on the base and connecting structures such as brackets (32,138) which engage in the lifting points (2) on the blade extending into openings in the blade, the support structure (34,64,84,112) having a part-circular portion or periphery at which it connects to the base, being movably supported on the base so as to rotate relative thereto about a substantially horizontal axis in order to vary the orientation of a blade supported thereon.

Abstract: A strip of fiber-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.

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.

Abstract: A rotor blade assembly for a wind turbine is disclosed with a first blade segment having a female structural member defining an internal cavity, and a second blade segment connected to the first blade segment at a chord-wise extending joint. The second blade segment has a male structural member that is received within the internal cavity of the female structural member of the first blade segment. At least one floating connector, for joining the first and second blade segments, is positioned in at least one of a generally chord-wise direction and a generally span-wise direction. The floating connector has a biasing element configured to restrain bi-directional movement of a floating pin within the floating connector.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.