Abstract: Apparatuses and methods for controlling pitch angle of the wind turbine blades are disclosed. The pitch angle of all the blades can be controlled by a “spider” that moves substantially perpendicularly with respect to a plane of the turbine blades rotation. The turbine blade bearings are connected with the spider by the linkage arms. The turbine blade bearings have an axis of rotation that is substantially parallel with the longitudinal axis of the respective turbine blades. The actuating mechanism for moving the spider can be a combination of a hydraulic piston installed inside a hollow driveshaft (to move the spider in one direction) and a spring (to move the spider in another direction). An onboard controller can receive a turbine generator output signal to decide whether the turbine is overloaded or underloaded, and if so, the onboard controller can instruct a hydraulic system to add or remove fluid from the hollow driveshaft.

Abstract: Apparatuses and methods are disclosed for the wind turbine yaw control. A wind turbine bedplate is rotateably mounted on a stationary tower. The bedplate is connected to a yaw encoder, which provides angular position of the bedplate with respect to the stationary tower. A wind vane, which can be attached to the bedplate, is connected to a wind vane encoder. The yaw encoder and wind vane encoder send data to a turbine controller. When the bedplate orientation differs from the average wind direction by a predetermined amount, a yaw brake that keeps the bedplate in place is released in a controllable fashion, such that some amount of friction between the brake pads and the stationary disk remains. Consequently, the bedplate will controllably rotate to align itself with the newly established average wind vector, thus aligning the turbine blade rotation plane substantially perpendicularly against the average wind vector.

Abstract: Apparatuses and methods for controlling pitch angle of the wind turbine blades are disclosed. The pitch angle of all the blades can be controlled by a “spider” that moves substantially perpendicularly with respect to a plane of the turbine blades rotation. The turbine blade bearings are connected with the spider by the linkage arms. The turbine blade bearings have an axis of rotation that is substantially parallel with the longitudinal axis of the respective turbine blades. The actuating mechanism for moving the spider can be a combination of a hydraulic piston installed inside a hollow driveshaft (to move the spider in one direction) and a spring (to move the spider in another direction). An onboard controller can receive a turbine generator output signal to decide whether the turbine is overloaded or underloaded, and if so, the onboard controller can instruct a hydraulic system to add or remove fluid from the hollow driveshaft.