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: 11919193
    Abstract: The present application presents novel systems and methods for tracking reinforcement member placement in an additively manufactured structure that are simple, accurate, non-labor-intensive, and cost-effective. The present application also presents a novel method of manufacturing a tower structure comprising: depositing, via an additive printing system, a first printed layer of a wall with a printhead assembly, the wall at least partially circumscribing a vertical axis of the tower structure; positioning a first reinforcement member on the first printed layer; depositing, via the additive printing system, a second printed layer of the wall with the printhead assembly on the first reinforcement member, the second printed layer configured to hold a second reinforcement member thereon; and determining, via an optical sensor of the additive printing system, a position for placing the second reinforcement member based on the first reinforcement member positioning.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 26, 2022
    Date of Patent: March 5, 2024
    Assignee: GE Infrastructure Technology LLC
    Inventors: Christopher James Kenny, Collin McKee Sheppard, Xiaopeng Li, Norman Arnold Turnquist
  • Patent number: 11913429
    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: Grant
    Filed: April 29, 2021
    Date of Patent: February 27, 2024
    Assignee: General Electric Renovables Espana, S.L.
    Inventors: Shahid Ali, Rupam Mukherjee, Jishnu Kavil Kambrath, Veena Padmarao, Arvind Kumar Tiwari, Benjamin Simon Engels, Norman Arnold Turnquist
  • Publication number: 20240033967
    Abstract: The present application presents novel systems and methods for tracking reinforcement member placement in an additively manufactured structure that are simple, accurate, non-labor-intensive, and cost-effective. The present application also presents a novel method of manufacturing a tower structure comprising: depositing, via an additive printing system, a first printed layer of a wall with a printhead assembly, the wall at least partially circumscribing a vertical axis of the tower structure; positioning a first reinforcement member on the first printed layer; depositing, via the additive printing system, a second printed layer of the wall with the printhead assembly on the first reinforcement member, the second printed layer configured to hold a second reinforcement member thereon; and determining, via an optical sensor of the additive printing system, a position for placing the second reinforcement member based on the first reinforcement member positioning.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 26, 2022
    Publication date: February 1, 2024
    Inventors: Christopher James Kenny, Collin McKee Sheppard, Xiaopeng Li, Norman Arnold Turnquist
  • Patent number: 11767681
    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: Grant
    Filed: September 28, 2018
    Date of Patent: September 26, 2023
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Norman Arnold Turnquist, Gregory Edward Cooper
  • Publication number: 20230135767
    Abstract: A system for manufacturing a structure includes a supporting frame assembly moveable in a vertical direction of the structure. Further, the system includes an additive printing assembly secured to the supporting frame assembly. The additive printing assembly includes at least one printer head configured to dispense a first cementitious material. The system also includes a reinforcement dispensing assembly supported by the supporting frame assembly. Thus, the reinforcement dispensing assembly is configured to automatically and continuously dispense a plurality of reinforcing members as the structure is printed and built up via the at least one printer head and as the supporting frame assembly moves in the vertical direction.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 31, 2020
    Publication date: May 4, 2023
    Inventors: Xiaopeng Li, Gregory Edward Cooper, Norman Arnold Turnquist, Christopher James Kenny
  • 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: 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: 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: 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: 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: 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: 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: 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