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 rotating piezoelectric motor including a piezoelectric actuator including a resonator having a pair of arms connected at one of their ends in a connection area, the other two ends being referred to as ‘free’, a passive element able to be driven in rotation by the friction of the free ends on the passive element, the passive element including a disc and a rim extending from the periphery of the disc, the rim passing between the free ends of the arms.

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.

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: 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 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: A rotating piezoelectric motor including a piezoelectric actuator including a resonator having a pair of arms connected at one of their ends in a connection area, the other two ends being referred to as ‘free’, a passive element including a cylindrical part extending orthogonally to the resonator, the cylindrical part being able to be rotated by the friction of the free ends of the arms on the cylindrical part, each free end including a protuberance such that the protuberances extend towards one another and together form a housing for a portion of the cylindrical part, the motor including a device for holding the portion of the cylindrical part inside the housing.

Abstract: A rotating piezoelectric motor including a piezoelectric actuator including a resonator having a pair of arms connected at one of their ends in a connection area, the other two ends being free, a passive element including a cylindrical part extending substantially orthogonally to the resonator and passing between the free ends of the arms, the cylindrical part being rotatable by friction of the free ends, the passive element including: a lower and upper truncated cones, the small bases of the cones being arranged facing each other and on either side of the resonator, the cylindrical part of the passive element at least partly axially traversing the cones, the upper truncated cone being movable along the cylindrical part, and at least one of the cones being integral in rotation with the cylindrical part, a device for holding the lateral surfaces of the cones in contact with each of the free ends of the arms of the resonator.

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 device for controlling at least two electronic and/or mechanical functions of a portable object of small dimensions includes a control stem that is axially movable between at least a first and a second position. The control stem is provided at a first end with an actuation member, and is provided towards a second end with a position indexing plate arranged to cooperate with an elastic member in order to match each of the first and second positions of the control stem with one of the mechanical or electronic functions.

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.

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.

Abstract: A rotating piezoelectric motor including a piezoelectric actuator including a resonator having a pair of arms connected at one of their ends in a connection area, the other two ends being referred to as ‘free’, a passive element including a cylindrical part extending orthogonally to the resonator, the cylindrical part being able to be rotated by the friction of the free ends of the arms on the cylindrical part, each free end including a protuberance such that the protuberances extend towards one another and together form a housing for a portion of the cylindrical part, the motor including a device for holding the portion of the cylindrical part inside the housing.

Abstract: A rotating piezoelectric motor including a piezoelectric actuator including a resonator having a pair of arms connected at one of their ends in a connection area, the other two ends being free, a passive element including a cylindrical part extending substantially orthogonally to the resonator and passing between the free ends of the arms, the cylindrical part being rotatable by friction of the free ends, the passive element including: a lower and upper truncated cones, the small bases of the cones being arranged facing each other and on either side of the resonator, the cylindrical part of the passive element at least partly axially traversing the cones, the upper truncated cone being movable along the cylindrical part, and at least one of the cones being integral in rotation with the cylindrical part, a device for holding the lateral surfaces of the cones in contact with each of the free ends of the arms of the resonator.

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 rotating piezoelectric motor including a piezoelectric actuator including a resonator having a pair of arms connected at one of their ends in a connection area, the other two ends being referred to as ‘free’, a passive element able to be driven in rotation by the friction of the free ends on the passive element, the passive element including a disc and a rim extending from the periphery of the disc, the rim passing between the free ends of the arms.

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.

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.

Abstract: Portable object comprising a frame arranged to serve as a cradle for a control stem, the actuation in rotation of which makes it possible to control at least one electronic or mechanical function of the portable object, a magnetized ring being driven in rotation by the control stem, the rotation of the magnetized ring being detected by at least one inductive sensor disposed inside a housing of the frame inside which the inductive sensor is held by elastic means.

Abstract: Portable object comprising a frame arranged to serve as a cradle for a control stem, the actuation in rotation of which makes it possible to control at least one electronic or mechanical function of the portable object, a magnetized ring being driven in rotation by the control stem, the rotation of the magnetized ring being detected by at least one inductive sensor disposed inside a housing of the frame inside which the inductive sensor is held by elastic means.