Abstract: A torque transmitting gear includes a steel toothed annular flange having gear teeth defined on a periphery of the steel toothed annular flange. A steel hub is coaxially aligned with the steel toothed annular flange. A web is formed from a web material having a density less than or equal to 3.0 grams per cubic centimeter. The web is fixedly attached to the toothed annular flange and to the hub for rotation together with the toothed annular flange and the hub. The gear is to operatively transmit a torque of at least 500 Newton Meters for at least 6 million revolutions of the gear. An overall mass of the gear is less than two-thirds of an overall mass of a same-sized all steel gear having a solid steel web with a solid steel web thickness at least one-third of a face width of the toothed annular flange.

Abstract: Devices and systems for dissipating heat generated from heat generating components in a load center are provided herein. The disclosed concept provides a heat dissipating component that assists in heat dissipation of a heat generating component in a load center by transferring heat from the heat generating component to a non-heat generating component.

Abstract: A torque transmitting gear includes a steel toothed annular flange having gear teeth defined on a periphery of the steel toothed annular flange. A steel hub is coaxially aligned with the steel toothed annular flange. A web is formed from a web material having a density less than or equal to 3.0 grams per cubic centimeter. The web is fixedly attached to the toothed annular flange and to the hub for rotation together with the toothed annular flange and the hub. The gear is to operatively transmit a torque of at least 500 Newton Meters for at least 6 million revolutions of the gear. An overall mass of the gear is less than two-thirds of an overall mass of a same-sized all steel gear having a solid steel web with a solid steel web thickness at least one-third of a face width of the toothed annular flange.

Abstract: Devices, systems, and methods for dissipating heat from electrical distribution assemblies and electrical switching devices are described herein. In one non-limiting embodiment, a dielectric material of relatively high thermal conductivity can be thermally coupled to electrical switching devices to act as a dielectric heat transfer window that dissipates heat. The dielectric heat transfer window includes at least a first portion thermally coupled to a heat generating component within an electrical switching device, and a second portion disposed external to the electrical distribution assembly or electrical switching device. Among other benefits, this allows heat generated within the electrical switching device to escape the interior of the electrical switching device to an environment external to the electrical switching device.

Abstract: Devices and systems for dissipating heat generated from heat generating components in a load center are provided herein. The disclosed concept provides a heat dissipating component that assists in heat dissipation of a heat generating component in a load center by transferring heat from the heat generating component to a non-heat generating component.

Abstract: Devices, systems, and methods for dissipating heat from electrical distribution assemblies and electrical switching devices are described herein. In one non-limiting embodiment, a dielectric material of relatively high thermal conductivity can be thermally coupled to electrical switching devices to act as a dielectric heat transfer window that dissipates heat. The dielectric heat transfer window includes at least a first portion thermally coupled to a heat generating component within an electrical switching device, and a second portion disposed external to the electrical distribution assembly or electrical switching device. Among other benefits, this allows heat generated within the electrical switching device to escape the interior of the electrical switching device to an environment external to the electrical switching device.

Abstract: A rotor blade assembly for a wind turbine and a method for increasing a loading capability of a rotor blade within a maximum load limit for a wind turbine are disclosed. The rotor blade assembly includes a rotor blade having surfaces defining a pressure side, a suction side, a leading edge, and a trailing edge extending between a tip and a root. The rotor blade assembly further includes an extension connected to a surface of the rotor blade, the extension having at least one design characteristic configured for increasing a loading capability of the rotor blade within a maximum load limit for the wind turbine. The design characteristic is one of extension length, extension width, extension curvature, span-wise extension location, chord-wise extension location, or extension angle with respect to a chord line of the rotor blade.

Abstract: A system and method for performing an external inspection on a rotor blade of a wind turbine are disclosed. The system may generally include a frame configured to extend at least partially around an outer perimeter of the rotor blade and a sensing device coupled to the frame. Additionally, first and second spacer arms may extend from the frame. The first spacer arm may be configured to contact a pressure side surface of the rotor blade. The second spacer arm may be configured to contact a suction side surface of the rotor blade.

Abstract: A system (200) and method for performing an internal inspection on a rotor blade (16) of a wind turbine are disclosed. The system includes a sensing device (202), a cable (210) for raising and lowering the sensing device within the rotor blade, and a positioning device (206) attached to at least one of the sensing device and the cable. The positioning device can be configured to space the sensing device apart from an interior surface (208) of the rotor blade as the sensing device is raised and lowered within the rotor blade.

Abstract: Multi-material retrofitted wind turbine rotor blades include a shell having a leading edge opposite a trailing edge and a structural support member that supports the shell and is disposed internal the wind turbine rotor blade between the leading edge and the trailing edge and extends for at least a portion of a rotor blade span length, wherein the structural support member includes an original structural support portion including a first material and a retrofitted structural support portion extending from the original structural support portion at a joint and including a second material.

Abstract: A wind turbine blade includes an upper shell member and a lower shell member joined at leading and trailing edges of the blade with a bond material. Portions of the bond material are externally exposed. The bond material has surface characteristics of at least one of a Shore D hardness value of greater than about 80 durometer or a Young's modulus stiffness value of greater than about 5 GPa. A protective coating is applied over the upper and lower shell members and exposed portions of the bond material.

Abstract: A system and method for inspecting a wind turbine for indications is disclosed. The method includes providing an inspection system spaced from the wind turbine, appraise a rotor blade of the wind turbine, and inspecting the rotor blade for indications. The inspection system includes an observation system and an inspection device, the observation system including an appraisal device and an automated scanning device, the appraisal device configured to provide an image of at least a portion of the rotor blade, the automated scanning device configured to rotate about at least one axis, shifting the image.

Abstract: A rotor blade assembly for a wind turbine and a method for increasing a loading capability of a rotor blade within a maximum load limit for a wind turbine are disclosed. The rotor blade assembly includes a rotor blade having surfaces defining a pressure side, a suction side, a leading edge, and a trailing edge extending between a tip and a root. The rotor blade assembly further includes an extension connected to a surface of the rotor blade, the extension having at least one design characteristic configured for increasing a loading capability of the rotor blade within a maximum load limit for the wind turbine. The design characteristic is one of extension length, extension width, extension curvature, span-wise extension location, chord-wise extension location, or extension angle with respect to a chord line of the rotor blade.

Abstract: A system and method for inspecting a wind turbine for indications is disclosed. The method includes providing an inspection system on a tower of the wind turbine, the inspection system including a climbing device and an inspection device, the climbing device including a traction apparatus configured to engage the tower and a drive mechanism configured to drive the climbing device. The method further includes rotating a rotor blade of the wind turbine such that the rotor blade is approximately parallel to and proximate the tower, operating the inspection system to traverse the tower, and operating the inspection system to inspect the rotor blade for indications.

Abstract: A system and method for inspecting a wind turbine for indications is disclosed. The method includes providing an inspection system spaced from the wind turbine, appraise a rotor blade of the wind turbine, and inspecting the rotor blade for indications. The inspection system includes an observation system and an inspection device, the observation system including an appraisal device and an automated scanning device, the appraisal device configured to provide an image of at least a portion of the rotor blade, the automated scanning device configured to rotate about at least one axis, shifting the image.

Abstract: A wind turbine rotor blade includes a plurality of lightning receptors configured along either or both of the pressure side or suction side of the blade. At least one looped lightning conductive circuit is provided, with the lightning receptors configured in communication with a respective lightning conductive circuit. The lightning conductive circuit has terminal ends that extend through the root for connection of each terminal end with a grounding system within the wind turbine. The looped lightning conductive circuit provides a redundant path to each lightning receptor for conducting a lightning strike to ground.

Abstract: A rotor blade assembly is disclosed. The rotor blade assembly includes a rotor blade and a blade extension. The rotor blade has a pressure side, a suction side, a leading edge, and a trailing edge extending between a tip and a root. The rotor blade further has an aerodynamic profile. The blade extension is mounted to the rotor blade. The blade extension includes a cutaway mounting portion for mounting the blade extension to the rotor blade such that the blade extension is generally flush with at least one of the pressure side or the suction side of the rotor blade. The cutaway mounting portion defines a notch configured to locate the blade extension relative to the rotor blade.

Abstract: Disclosed is a blade including a blade body including a leading edge and a trailing edge, and at least one trailing edge cavity defined by a blade area disposed in at least partial alignment with the trailing edge, the at least one cavity extending a desired depth into said blade body in a direction of the leading edge.

Abstract: A wind turbine blade includes an upper shell member and a lower shell member joined at leading and trailing edges of the blade with a bond material. Portions of the bond material are externally exposed. The bond material has surface characteristics of at least one of a Shore D hardness value of greater than about 80 durometer or a Young's modulus stiffness value of greater than about 5 GPa. A protective coating is applied over the upper and lower shell members and exposed portions of the bond material.

Abstract: Disclosed is a blade including a blade body including a leading edge and a trailing edge, and at least one trailing edge cavity defined by a blade area disposed in at least partial alignment with the trailing edge, the at least one cavity extending a desired depth into said blade body in a direction of the leading edge.