Abstract: A tower structure particularly suited for a wind turbine includes a lower tower section formed of concrete and an upper tower section formed of steel. A transition system connects the upper tower section to the lower tower section, the transition system including a concrete component having a tubular wall with a base portion fixed on the lower tower section and a head portion connected to the upper tower section. The head portion extends radially outward beyond the upper tower section. A plurality of first tensioning tendons extend longitudinally at least partially through the tubular wall and are anchored to the concrete component at a top face of the head portion at locations radially outward of the upper tower section.

Abstract: A method for manufacturing a tower structure, the method including printing and depositing, with at least one variable-width deposition nozzle of a printhead assembly, one or more layers of at least one wall element of the tower structure, the at least one wall element having an outer circumferential surface and an inner circumferential surface. The method also including forming, with the at least one variable-width deposition nozzle, at least one void into the at least one wall element. The method also including placing at least one reinforcement member within the at least one void so as to position the at least one reinforcement member closer to a neutral axis of the at least one wall element than at least one of the outer circumferential surface or the inner circumferential surface.

Abstract: A system and method are provided for manufacturing a tower structure. Accordingly, a first printed layer of a wall element is deposited with a printhead assembly, and an actual midline perimeter length of the first printed layer is determined. A horizontal reinforcement assembly is then formed based, at least in part, on the actual midline perimeter length. The formed horizontal reinforcement assembly is positioned in a horizontal orientation on the first printed layer and in axial alignment with the vertical axis of the tower structure. With the horizontal reinforcement assembly positioned on the first printed layer, a second printed layer of the wall element is deposited via the printhead assembly on the horizontal reinforcement layer.

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.

Abstract: In order to improve the mechanical stability of an X-ray grating with top bridges for X-ray dark field imaging and/or X-ray phase contrast imaging, it is proposed to reduce or prevent the undesired high stress on the top bridges by a change in the manufacturing process. Specifically, it is proposed to electroplate the top bridges after the bending. In other words, the electroplating of the top bridges is performed on the bent geometry.

Abstract: A tower structure particularly suited for a wind turbine includes a lower tower section formed of concrete and an upper tower section formed of steel. A transition system connects the upper tower section to the lower tower section, the transition system including a concrete component having a tubular wall with a base portion fixed on the lower tower section and a head portion connected to the upper tower section. The head portion extends radially outward beyond the upper tower section. A plurality of first tensioning tendons extend longitudinally at least partially through the tubular wall and are anchored to the concrete component at a top face of the head portion at locations radially outward of the upper tower section.

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.

Abstract: A method for manufacturing a tower structure, the method including printing and depositing, with at least one variable-width deposition nozzle of a printhead assembly, one or more layers of at least one wall element of the tower structure, the at least one wall element having an outer circumferential surface and an inner circumferential surface. The method also including forming, with the at least one variable-width deposition nozzle, at least one void into the at least one wall element. The method also including placing at least one reinforcement member within the at least one void so as to position the at least one reinforcement member closer to a neutral axis of the at least one wall element than at least one of the outer circumferential surface or the inner circumferential surface.

Abstract: The present disclosure is directed to embodiments of a tower structure with at least partially additively manufactured, stacked tower sections. Embodiments of the tower structure have a plurality of stacked tower sections, wherein at least one tower section of the plurality of stacked tower sections includes a wall element having one or more printed layers, and a base holding thereon the one or more printed layers. The present disclosure also is directed to a method of manufacturing a tower structure using a stacked tower sections and additive manufacturing. Embodiments of the method include forming a base of poured concrete or cast material, printing and depositing one or more printed layers to form a wall element, and stacking the plurality of tower sections to form the tower structure.

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.

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.

Abstract: A method and system of additively-manufacturing a structure having a reinforced access opening includes printing, via an additive printing device having at least one printer head, a portion of the structure adjacent to a support surface. The portion of the structure is printed of a cementitious material, and the printed portion of the structure defines an access opening for the structure. Moreover, the method includes providing a void of the cementitious material at a top boundary of the access opening, placing one or more reinforcement members in the void such that the one or more reinforcement members extend across the void, and continuing to print the printed portion of the structure around the void to build up the structure. Thus, the method also includes backfilling the void with a backfill material to incorporate the one or more reinforcement members within the void into the printed portion of the structure.

Abstract: A method and system of additively-manufacturing a structure having a reinforced access opening includes printing, via an additive printing device having at least one printer head, a portion of the structure adjacent to a support surface. The portion of the structure is printed of a cementitious material, and the printed portion of the structure defines an access opening for the structure. Moreover, the method includes providing a void of the cementitious material at a top boundary of the access opening, placing one or more reinforcement members in the void such that the one or more reinforcement members extend across the void, and continuing to print the printed portion of the structure around the void to build up the structure. Thus, the method also includes backfilling the void with a backfill material to incorporate the one or more reinforcement members within the void into the printed portion of the structure.

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.

Abstract: A linear piezoelectric motor including a passive element having an elongated shape, and a piezoelectric actuator including a resonator including a pair of arms connected at one of their ends at a connection zone, the two other ends being called free, the passive element being capable of being moved linearly between the free ends by friction of the free ends against the passive element, the passive element and the resonator being inclined with respect to one another by a non-zero angle (?) of less than 90 degrees.

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.

Abstract: In order to improve the mechanical stability of an X-ray grating with top bridges for X-ray dark field imaging and/or X-ray phase contrast imaging, it is proposed to reduce or prevent the undesired high stress on the top bridges by a change in the manufacturing process. Specifically, it is proposed to electroplate the top bridges after the bending. In other words, the electroplating of the top bridges is performed on the bent geometry.

Abstract: A module for a fiber preparation machine is a self-supporting element having a cuboid shape with a length (L), a width (B) and a height (H), as well as at least two lateral walls extending in parallel respective planes and spaced apart by the width (B). A cross beam connects the lateral walls to one another. Each of the lateral walls is encompassed by a frame. A first leg of the frame is arranged along the plane of the respective lateral wall and a second leg of the frame is arranged at a right angle to the lateral wall and facing away from the opposite lateral wall. A fiber preparation machine includes a plurality of the modules interconnected together.

Abstract: A device for rotating a toothed wheel, including a linear piezoelectric motor including: a passive element having an elongated shape, a piezoelectric actuator capable of axially moving the passive element in a bidirectional manner, a transmission member fastened to the passive element, meshing with a toothing of the wheel in such a way as to rotate the wheel by one tooth in a first direction of rotation when the passive element is moved axially in a first direction of movement, a jumper mobile between two end positions, including a lowered position in which it blocks a rotation of the wheel in a second direction of rotation opposite to the first direction of rotation.

Abstract: A portable object including a control stem, actuation of which in rotation can control at least one electronic or mechanical function of the portable object, a magnetized ring driven in rotation by the control stem, rotation of the magnetized ring and position of the magnetized ring being detected by two inductive sensors configured to be sensitive to a variation in magnetic induction in only two directions in space that are parallel to each other or that converge on a same point, with exception of a case in which these two directions are perpendicular to each other.