Patents by Inventor Norman Arnold Turnquist

Norman Arnold Turnquist 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: 11613904
    Abstract: A method of manufacturing a tower structure includes providing an additive printing device having at least one printer head atop a support surface. The method also includes positioning a pre-fabricated component adjacent to the support surface. The pre-fabricated component is constructed of a composite material reinforced with a plurality of reinforcement members. Further, portions of the plurality of reinforcement members protrude from the composite material. Moreover, the method includes printing and depositing, via the at least one printer head, a cementitious material onto the support surface to build up the tower structure layer by layer around the pre-fabricated component. Thus, the portions of the plurality of reinforcement members that protrude from the composite material reinforce the cementitious material around the pre-fabricated component.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 18, 2020
    Date of Patent: March 28, 2023
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Norman Arnold Turnquist, Xiaopeng Li, Christopher James Kenny, Gregory Edward Cooper, Biao Fang, Pascal Meyer
  • Publication number: 20220412107
    Abstract: A system and method are provided for manufacturing a tower structure. Accordingly, an interlocking form ring is additively manufactured with a first printhead assembly. The interlocking form ring defines a plurality of recesses in a radially inner or a radially outer face. A cementitious material is deposited within one or more of the recesses with a second printhead assembly. At least one reinforcing member is positioned within the recess with the second printhead assembly. The second printhead assembly is positioned adjacent to the cementitious material during the curing thereof so as to provide a slip form for the curing of the cementitious material.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 22, 2019
    Publication date: December 29, 2022
    Inventors: Norman Arnold Turnquist, Xiaopeng Li, Gregory Edward Cooper
  • Patent number: 11511457
    Abstract: Methods of manufacturing a cementitious structure, such as a structure for supporting a wind turbine, include additively printing, via an additive printing device, one or more contours that include a cementitious material so as to form a cementitious structure in a layer by layer manner such that a first portion of the plurality of contours comprises a first plurality of contour coupling features that engage with a second plurality of contour coupling features of a second portion of the plurality of contours.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 28, 2018
    Date of Patent: November 29, 2022
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Norman Arnold Turnquist, Daniel Jason Erno, Gregory Edward Cooper, James Robert Tobin
  • Publication number: 20220349385
    Abstract: A method for operating a generator of a wind turbine includes generating, via a controller, a time series of a plurality of operating signals of the generator. The method also includes applying at least one algorithm to the time series of the plurality of operating signals of the generator to generate a processed time series of the of the plurality of operating signals of the generator. Moreover, the method includes identifying, via the controller, patterns in the processed time series of the plurality of operating signals of the generator to identify one or more of at least one slip event occurring in the slip coupling or a surface health of the slip coupling. Further, the method includes implementing, via the controller, a control action when the at least one slip event occurring in the slip coupling is identified or the surface health of the slip coupling is indicative of degradation in the slip coupling.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 29, 2021
    Publication date: November 3, 2022
    Inventors: Shahid Ali, Rupam Mukherjee, Jishnu Kavil Kambrath, Veena Padmarao, Arvind Kumar Tiwari, Benjamin Simon Engels, Norman Arnold Turnquist
  • Publication number: 20220341152
    Abstract: A system and method are provided for manufacturing a tower structure. Accordingly, one or more layers of a wall element are deposited with a printhead assembly. At least one recess is defined in the wall element. The recess(es) has a single, circumferential opening positioned along an inner reference curve or an outer reference curve of the wall element. The recess(es) also has a depth which extends in a radial direction and intersects a midline reference curve. A reinforcing element is placed entirely within the recess(es) at the midline reference curve.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 27, 2021
    Publication date: October 27, 2022
    Inventors: Norman Arnold Turnquist, Gregory Edward Cooper, Xiaopeng Li, Christopher James Kenny, Biao Fang, Pascal Meyer
  • Publication number: 20220154486
    Abstract: A method of manufacturing a tower structure includes providing an additive printing device having at least one printer head atop a support surface. The method also includes positioning a pre-fabricated component adjacent to the support surface. The pre-fabricated component is constructed of a composite material reinforced with a plurality of reinforcement members. Further, portions of the plurality of reinforcement members protrude from the composite material. Moreover, the method includes printing and depositing, via the at least one printer head, a cementitious material onto the support surface to build up the tower structure layer by layer around the pre-fabricated component. Thus, the portions of the plurality of reinforcement members that protrude from the composite material reinforce the cementitious material around the pre-fabricated component.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 18, 2020
    Publication date: May 19, 2022
    Inventors: Norman Arnold Turnquist, Xiaopeng Li, Christopher James Kenny, Gregory Edward Cooper, Biao Fang, Pascal Meyer
  • Publication number: 20220049521
    Abstract: A system for manufacturing a tower structure of a wind turbine includes an additive printing device having a central frame structure with a platform and an arm member. The arm member is generally parallel to a longitudinal axis of the tower structure. The additive printing device also includes a plurality of robotic arms secured to the arm member of the central frame structure. Each of the robotic arms includes a printer head for additively printing one or more materials. The additive printing device further includes at least one nozzle configured for dispensing a cementitious material. Moreover, the system includes one or more molds additively printed via the additive printing device of a polymer material. As such, the mold(s) define inner and outer wall limits of the tower structure.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 24, 2019
    Publication date: February 17, 2022
    Inventors: Norman Arnold Turnquist, James Robert Tobin, Krishna Ramadurai, Krishna Prashanth Anandan
  • Publication number: 20220032496
    Abstract: A method for manufacturing a tower structure of a wind turbine at a wind turbine site. The method includes determining an optimized shape of the tower structure based on one or more site parameters. Further, the optimized shape of the tower structure is non-symmetrical. In a further step, the method include printing, via an additive printing device, the optimized shape of the tower structure of the wind turbine at the wind turbine site, at least in part, of a cementitious material. In addition, the method includes allowing the cementitious material to cure so as to form the tower structure of the wind turbine.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 28, 2018
    Publication date: February 3, 2022
    Inventors: Biao Fang, Norman Arnold Turnquist, Gregory Edward Cooper, Pascal Meyer
  • Publication number: 20220034303
    Abstract: A method for manufacturing a tower structure of a wind turbine includes additively printing at least a portion of a frame shape of the tower structure of the wind turbine of a first material on a foundation of the tower structure. Further, the first material has a first cure rate. The method also includes allowing the portion of the frame shape to at least partially solidify. The method includes providing a second material around and/or within the portion of the frame shape such that the portion of the frame shape provides support for the second material. The second material includes a cementitious material having a second cure rate that is slower than the first cure rate, with the different cure rates reducing the net printing time for the overall structure. Moreover, the method includes allowing the second material to at least partially solidify so as to form the tower structure.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 28, 2018
    Publication date: February 3, 2022
    Inventors: Norman Arnold Turnquist, Vitali Victor Lissianski, Daniel Jason Erno, Gregory Edward Cooper, James Robert Tobin
  • Publication number: 20220034108
    Abstract: An additive printing device and a method for using the same to manufacture a tower structure of a wind turbine is provided. The additive printing device includes a vertical support structure, a support ring suspended from the vertical support structure, and a printer head movably coupled to the support ring for selectively depositing cementitious material. A drive mechanism, such as a rack and pinion, moves the printer head around the support ring while selectively depositing cementitious material. The vertical support structure may be raised and/or the relative position between the vertical support structure and the printer head may be adjusted to raise the printer head to print subsequent layers. This process may be repeated to print the tower structure layer-by-layer from the ground up.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 28, 2018
    Publication date: February 3, 2022
    Inventors: Gregory Edward Cooper, Norman Arnold Turnquist, Vitali Victor Lissianski, Biao Fang, James Robert Tobin, Pascal Meyer
  • Publication number: 20220034115
    Abstract: A tower structure of a wind turbine includes a plurality of tower sections stacked atop each other in an end-to-end configuration along a vertical axis to form the tower structure of the wind turbine at a wind turbine site. Each of the tower sections is formed of at least one first tubular portion and at least one second tubular portion. Further, the first and second tubular portions of each of the plurality of tower sections are concentric with each other. Moreover, the first tubular portion is formed at least in part, of a cementitious material and the second tubular portion is formed of a perforated material having a plurality of holes.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 28, 2018
    Publication date: February 3, 2022
    Inventors: Norman Arnold Turnquist, Gregory Edward Cooper
  • Publication number: 20220032497
    Abstract: Methods of manufacturing a cementitious structure, such as a structure for supporting a wind turbine, include additively printing, via an additive printing device, one or more contours that include a cementitious material so as to form a cementitious structure in a layer by layer manner such that a first portion of the plurality of contours comprises a first plurality of contour coupling features that engage with a second plurality of contour coupling features of a second portion of the plurality of contours.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 28, 2018
    Publication date: February 3, 2022
    Inventors: Norman Arnold Turnquist, Daniel Jason Erno, Gregory Edward Cooper, James Robert Tobin
  • Publication number: 20220034116
    Abstract: A method for manufacturing a tower structure of a wind turbine includes printing, via an additive printing device, the tower structure of the wind turbine of a cementitious material. During printing, the method includes embedding one or more reinforcement sensing elements at least partially within the cementitious material at one or more locations. Thus, the reinforcement sensing element(s) are configured for sensing structural health of the tower structure, sensing temperature of the cementitious material, heating to control cure time of the cementitious material, and/or reinforcing the cementitious material. In addition, the method includes curing the cementitious material so as to form the tower structure.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 26, 2019
    Publication date: February 3, 2022
    Inventors: Norman Arnold Turnquist, Daniel Jason Erno, James Robert Tobin, Krishna Ramadurai, Gregory Edward Cooper, Krishna Prashanth Anandan, Pascal Meyer, Biao Fang, John P. Davis
  • Publication number: 20210396034
    Abstract: A method for manufacturing a tower structure of a wind turbine includes printing, via an additive printing device, a plurality of concentric sections of the tower structure of the wind turbine. The concentric sections may be printed simultaneously from concrete, may include tensioning cables or other structural supports, and may define other support flanges or overhangs. After curing, the method may include raising an inner section of the plurality of concentric sections to a top of an adjacent outer section and joining the two sections. This process may be repeated to telescope the concentric sections and raise the tower structure.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 28, 2018
    Publication date: December 23, 2021
    Inventors: Norman Arnold Turnquist, Vitali Victor Lissianski, Biao Fang, Gregory Edward Cooper, Pascal Meyer
  • Patent number: 10865769
    Abstract: A method for manufacturing a rotor blade panel of a wind turbine includes placing one or more fiber-reinforced outer skins into a mold of the rotor blade panel. The method also includes printing and depositing, via a computer numeric control (CNC) device, a plurality of rib members that form at least one three-dimensional (3-D) reinforcement grid structure onto an inner surface of the one or more fiber-reinforced outer skins. Further, the grid structure bonds to the one or more fiber-reinforced outer skins as the grid structure is deposited. Moreover, the method includes printing at least one additional feature into the grid structure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 21, 2017
    Date of Patent: December 15, 2020
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: James Robert Tobin, Norman Arnold Turnquist, Stephen Bertram Johnson, Don Conrad Johnson, Thomas Merzhaeuser, Peggy Lynn Baehmann, Stefan Herr, Murray Fisher, Andrew McCalip, Alan M. Walker, Todd Anderson
  • Patent number: 10676952
    Abstract: A wind turbine system includes a wind turbine generator having a rotor and a nacelle mounted atop a tower structure. The tower structure is mounted to a foundation structure and includes a plurality of tower sections, each including one or more tower section flanges. The wind turbine system further includes one or more connector rings. Each of the one or more connector rings is disposed proximate two adjacent tower section flanges and includes a plurality of pad eye adaptors each having an opening formed therein. The wind turbine system further includes a plurality of tensioned cables, with each coupled to one of the pad eye adaptors at a first end and the foundation structure at a second end. The plurality of tensioned cables are coupled to the tower structure at different or multiple connector ring heights based on site conditions to yield the desired lateral stability.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 26, 2018
    Date of Patent: June 9, 2020
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Biao Fang, Srikrishna Mantravadi, Nikolina Kourteva Kristeva, Ingo Paura, Norman Arnold Turnquist, Todd DarVel Andersen, Pascal Meyer, Gregory Edward Cooper, James Henry Madge
  • Patent number: 10626846
    Abstract: A wind turbine blade includes a first blade segment and a second blade segment extending in opposite directions from a chord-wise joint. Each of the blade segments having a pressure side shell member, a suction side shell member. The blade further including a coupling component extending spanwise and structurally connecting the first blade segment and the second blade segment. A thermal actuation component is coupled to the coupling component and passively actuated in response to a change in thermal conditions so as to provide for aeroelastic tailoring and pitch control to the wind turbine blade.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 17, 2016
    Date of Patent: April 21, 2020
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Andreas Herrig, Dominic Alexander von Terzi, Shivaram Ac, Vidyashankar Ramasastry Buravalla, Norman Arnold Turnquist
  • Patent number: 10598159
    Abstract: In one aspect, a dual pitch bearing configuration for coupling a rotor blade to a hub of a wind turbine. The dual pitch bearing configuration including a first pitch bearing and at least one additional pitch bearing disposed axially a distance LB from the first pitch bearing. The dual pitch bearing configuration further including one or more spacers disposed between the first pitch bearing and the at least one additional pitch bearing and extending the distance LB. The dual pitch bearing disposed radially within one of a blade root of the rotor blade, a hub extension or a bearing housing and coupled thereto. The dual pitch bearing configuration minimizing moment loading on the first pitch bearing and the at least one additional pitch bearing. A wind turbine including the dual pitch bearing configuration is further disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 6, 2016
    Date of Patent: March 24, 2020
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Adam Daniel Minadeo, Norman Arnold Turnquist, Daniel Jason Erno, Fulton Jose Lopez, Bugra Han Ertas, Michael Colan Moscinski
  • Patent number: 10502194
    Abstract: In one aspect, a dual pitch bearing configuration for coupling a rotor blade to a hub of a wind turbine. The dual pitch bearing configuration including a first pitch bearing and at least one additional pitch bearing. The first pitch bearing and the and at least one additional pitch bearing are coupled to opposed surfaces of a static shaft. The at least one additional pitch bearing is disposed radially a distance LR and axially a distance LA from the first pitch bearing along the static shaft. The dual pitch bearing is disposed radially within a blade root of the rotor blade. The dual pitch bearing configuration minimizing moment loading on the first pitch bearing and the at least one additional pitch bearing. A wind turbine including the dual pitch bearing configuration is further disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 27, 2016
    Date of Patent: December 10, 2019
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Michael Colan Moscinski, Norman Arnold Turnquist, Daniel Jason Erno, Fulton Jose Lopez
  • Publication number: 20190292803
    Abstract: A multi-material tower section for a tower mast. The tower mast comprised of at least one multi-material tower section and a method for manufacturing the section. The section comprises at least one additively manufactured wall structure comprised of at least one first material and a plurality of additively manufactured internal reinforcement structures comprised of at least one additional material and disposed therewith the at least one additively manufactured wall structure.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 26, 2018
    Publication date: September 26, 2019
    Inventors: Pascal Meyer, Peter Joseph Rock, JR., Ken Ivcar Salas Nobrega, Matteo Bellucci, Biao Fang, Gregory Edward Cooper, Norman Arnold Turnquist