Patents by Inventor Mark Lee Cook

Mark Lee Cook 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: 9909563
    Abstract: A system and method for monitoring and controlling the deflection of rotor blades of a wind turbine so as to prevent tower strikes is disclosed. The method includes operating the wind turbine at standard pitch angle settings. Another step includes monitoring a loading condition of the wind turbine over a predetermined time period. A further step includes tracking a number of wind condition deviations of a certain magnitude occurring during a predetermined time period. The method also include altering one or more of the standard pitch settings of the rotor blades in response to the number of wind condition deviations exceeding a wind deviation threshold and/or the loading condition exceeding a loading threshold as an exceedance indicates an increased probability of rotor blade deflection. The method further includes performing one or more additional corrective actions so as to reduce the probability of a rotor blade tower strike.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 21, 2014
    Date of Patent: March 6, 2018
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Mark Lee Cook, Nadine Schuell
  • Publication number: 20160146189
    Abstract: A system and method for monitoring and controlling the deflection of rotor blades of a wind turbine so as to prevent tower strikes is disclosed. The method includes operating the wind turbine at standard pitch angle settings. Another step includes monitoring a loading condition of the wind turbine over a predetermined time period. A further step includes tracking a number of wind condition deviations of a certain magnitude occurring during a predetermined time period. The method also include altering one or more of the standard pitch settings of the rotor blades in response to the number of wind condition deviations exceeding a wind deviation threshold and/or the loading condition exceeding a loading threshold as an exceedance indicates an increased probability of rotor blade deflection. The method further includes performing one or more additional corrective actions so as to reduce the probability of a rotor blade tower strike.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 21, 2014
    Publication date: May 26, 2016
    Inventors: Mark Lee Cook, Nadine Schuell
  • Patent number: 7880320
    Abstract: A method for controlling an operation of a wind turbine. A plurality of operating specifications, each of which corresponds to a season, is defined. A current season is determined. An operating specification corresponding to the current season is selected. An operation of a wind turbine is controlled based at least in part on the selected operating specification. The current season may be determined, for example, based on a schedule of seasons and/or meteorological conditions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 30, 2009
    Date of Patent: February 1, 2011
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventor: Mark Lee Cook
  • Publication number: 20100140938
    Abstract: A method for controlling an operation of a wind turbine. A plurality of operating specifications, each of which corresponds to a season, is defined. A current season is determined. An operating specification corresponding to the current season is selected. An operation of a wind turbine is controlled based at least in part on the selected operating specification. The current season may be determined, for example, based on a schedule of seasons and/or meteorological conditions.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 30, 2009
    Publication date: June 10, 2010
    Inventor: Mark Lee Cook