Abstract: A yaw braking assembly of a wind turbine is presented. Accordingly, the yaw braking assembly includes a bedplate support frame having an annular flange defining a plurality of recesses formed into a lower-most annular surface of the annular flange and extending at least partially through an axial thickness of the annular flange. Each of the plurality recesses define an open exterior circumferential side. The yaw braking assembly also includes a plurality of brake pads which are positioned within the plurality of recesses and configured to engage at least one race of an adjacent yaw bearing. The yaw braking assembly further includes a plurality of actuators for driving the plurality of brake pads to engage the yaw bearing.

Abstract: Provided are methods and compositions for the heterologous expression of a payload (e.g., DNA, RNA, protein) of interest in a target cell (e.g., cancer cell). In some cases payload delivery results in expression (e.g., by a cancer cell in vivo) of a secreted immune signal such as a cytokine, a plasma membrane-tethered affinity marker (thus resulting in an induced immune response), or a cytotoxic protein such as an apoptosis inducer (e.g., by a cancer cell in vivo). Payloads are delivered with a delivery vehicle and in some cases the delivery vehicle is a nanoparticle. In some cases a subject nanoparticle includes a targeting ligand for targeted delivery to a specific cell type/tissue type (e.g., a cancerous tissue/cell). In some embodiments, payload delivery is “personalized” in the sense that the delivery vehicle and/or payload can be designed based on patient-specific information.

Abstract: Methods, systems, and devices for ultrasonic inspection for ceramic structures are described. The method may include transmitting, via an ultrasonic transmitter, an ultrasonic waveform through the ceramic structure, where the ceramic structure includes two opposing ends and one or more outer faces extending between the two opposing ends, the one or more outer faces being at least partially enclosed by a casing and the ultrasonic transmitter being positioned adjacent to a first of the two opposing ends. The method may also include receiving a propagated waveform via an ultrasonic receiver positioned adjacent to a second of the two opposing ends and generating an image based at least in part on the propagated waveform, the image illustrating at least a portion of the casing and one or more detected features of the ceramic structure at the one or more outer faces of the ceramic structure adjacent to the casing.

Abstract: A yaw braking assembly of a wind turbine is presented. Accordingly, the yaw braking assembly includes a bedplate support frame having an annular flange defining a plurality of recesses formed into a lower-most annular surface of the annular flange and extending at least partially through an axial thickness of the annular flange. Each of the plurality recesses define an open exterior circumferential side. The yaw braking assembly also includes a plurality of brake pads which are positioned within the plurality of recesses and configured to engage at least one race of an adjacent yaw bearing. The yaw braking assembly further includes a plurality of actuators for driving the plurality of brake pads to engage the yaw bearing.

Abstract: Coated particulate filters and methods for their manufacture disclosed. The particulate filters comprise a honeycomb body having a plurality of porous channel walls defining channels extending from an inlet end to an outlet end. The honeycomb body has an upstream zone having an upstream zone gas permeability and a downstream zone disposed closer to the outlet end than the upstream zone and having a downstream zone gas permeability. SCR catalyst is present in a loading in the downstream zone at localized loading in a range of from about 50 g/L to about 200 g/L such that the upstream zone gas permeability is in a range of about 5 to about 90 times the downstream zone gas permeability.

Abstract: A system for locating airflow modifiers for installation on wind turbine rotor blades may generally include a plurality of airflow modifiers, with each airflow modifier including a base defining an outer profile that differs from the outer profiles of the remainder of the airflow modifiers. The system may also include a blade shell defining an exterior surface. The base of each airflow modifier may be configured to be coupled to the exterior surface of the blade shell. In addition, the system may include an installation template provided on the exterior surface of the blade shell. The installation template may define a different installation location for each of the airflow modifiers. Moreover, the installation template may include a geometric feature at each installation location that at least partially matches the outer profile of the airflow modifier configured to be installed at such installation location.

Abstract: A system for locating airflow modifiers for installation on wind turbine rotor blades may generally include a plurality of airflow modifiers, with each airflow modifier including a base defining an outer profile that differs from the outer profiles of the remainder of the airflow modifiers. The system may also include a blade shell defining an exterior surface. The base of each airflow modifier may be configured to be coupled to the exterior surface of the blade shell. In addition, the system may include an installation template provided on the exterior surface of the blade shell. The installation template may define a different installation location for each of the airflow modifiers. Moreover, the installation template may include a geometric feature at each installation location that at least partially matches the outer profile of the airflow modifier configured to be installed at such installation location.

Abstract: The present disclosure is directed to a lifting device for a rotor blade of a wind turbine. The lifting device includes at least one cradle and a vacuum sealing system configured with the cradle. The cradle has a profile that corresponds to at least one of the exterior surfaces of the rotor blade so as to support at least a portion of the rotor blade. The vacuum sealing system is configured to secure the rotor blade to the cradle as the rotor blade is lifted and/or lowered from a hub mounted atop a tower of the wind turbine.

Abstract: The present disclosure is directed to a system and method for protecting a rotary machine in a high noise environment. In one embodiment, the method includes a step of measuring a vibration signal during operation of the rotary machine. Another step includes modulating the vibration signal at a desired frequency to generate a modulated signal having a direct current (DC) value. The desired frequency varies as a function of an operational parameter of the rotary machine. The method also includes a step of filtering the modulated signal via one or more low-pass filters. Another step includes comparing an amplitude of the filtered signal to a threshold amplitude for one or more components of the rotary machine. The threshold amplitude is indicative of an imbalance within one or more components of the rotary machine. The rotary machine is then operated based on the comparison so as to protect the rotary machine from damage caused by the imbalance within the one or more components of the rotary machine.

Abstract: The present disclosure is directed to a system and method for protecting a rotary machine in a high noise environment. In one embodiment, the method includes a step of measuring a vibration signal during operation of the rotary machine. Another step includes modulating the vibration signal at a desired frequency to generate a modulated signal having a direct current (DC) value. The desired frequency varies as a function of an operational parameter of the rotary machine. The method also includes a step of filtering the modulated signal via one or more low-pass filters. Another step includes comparing an amplitude of the filtered signal to a threshold amplitude for one or more components of the rotary machine. The threshold amplitude is indicative of an imbalance within one or more components of the rotary machine. The rotary machine is then operated based on the comparison so as to protect the rotary machine from damage caused by the imbalance within the one or more components of the rotary machine.

Abstract: A system and method for uptower machining of a wind turbine to accommodate a load control system, such as an Advanced Load Controls (ALC) system is disclosed. The load control system includes a plurality of load control components, such as one or more proximity sensors. The method includes designating a first machining location on a rotor lock plate of the wind turbine; mounting a machining device within the wind turbine proximate to the first machining location; machining the first machining location on the rotor lock plate via the machining device; and, installing the load control system within the wind turbine such that at least one of the load control components is installed proximate to the first machining location.

Abstract: A rotor for a wind turbine is disclosed. The rotor includes a hub, a rotor blade, and a bearing assembly configured to rotate the rotor blade with respect to the hub. The rotor further includes an insert, the insert including a first end, a second end, and a body extending therebetween. The first end is coupled to the bearing assembly and the second end is coupled to the rotor blade. The second end defines a second plane oriented at a cone angle with respect to a first plane defined by the first end.

Abstract: A method and device for measuring an amount of wear on a flank of a gear tooth is provided. The method includes positioning a template comprising a first template tooth adjacent a gear comprising a first gear tooth. The method also includes adjusting the position of the template in a rotational direction with respect to a known rotational reference point of the gear, adjusting the position of the template in an axial direction with respect to a known axial reference point of the gear, and adjusting the position of the template in a radial direction with respect to a known radial reference point of the gear. The method further includes measuring an extent of a gap between an edge of the first template tooth and an adjacent flank of the first gear tooth, wherein the gap corresponds to the amount of wear on the flank.

Abstract: A method and device for measuring an amount of wear on a flank of a gear tooth is provided. The method includes positioning a template comprising a first template tooth adjacent a gear comprising a first gear tooth. The method also includes adjusting the position of the template in a rotational direction with respect to a known rotational reference point of the gear, adjusting the position of the template in an axial direction with respect to a known axial reference point of the gear, and adjusting the position of the template in a radial direction with respect to a known radial reference point of the gear. The method further includes measuring an extent of a gap between an edge of the first template tooth and an adjacent flank of the first gear tooth, wherein the gap corresponds to the amount of wear on the flank.

Abstract: A plunger lubricator housing includes an elongated tubular body formed from a single piece of material. The body has a first end, a second end, an outer surface and an inner surface that defines a plunger receiving interior bore. Radial ports provide fluid communication between the interior bore and the outer surface. Each of the radial ports has a coupling that is recessed into the body.

Abstract: A door assembly for closing a door opening in a side of a body of a pick-up truck includes a rocker at a bottom portion of the door opening and a roof rail at a top portion of the door opening. The door assembly also includes a first door and second door pivotally connected to the body and joined pillarlessly between an open and closed position. The door assembly further includes a vertical reinforcement assembly disposed within either one of the first door and second door, an upper latch assembly interconnecting the vertical reinforcement assembly and the roof rail, and a lower latch assembly interconnecting the vertical reinforcement assembly and the rocker to resist inward movement of the first door and the second door from the closed position with respect to the body of the pick-up truck.

Abstract: A reinforced door assembly for closing a door opening in a side of a body of a pick-up truck includes a first door pivotally connected to the body between an open and closed position and a second door pivotally connected to the body between an open position and a closed position. The reinforced door assembly also includes a rocker at a bottom portion of the door opening and a roof rail at a top portion of the door opening. The second door includes a vertical reinforcement assembly extending upwardly to the roof rail and downwardly to the rocker to overlap a floor of the pick-up truck to resist inward movement of the door from the closed position with respect to the body of the pick-up truck.

Abstract: A door reinforcement system for closing an aperture in a side of a body of a pick-up truck includes a first door and a second door pivotally connected to the body and joined pillarlessly between an open position and a closed position, a vertical reinforcement beam disposed within one of the first door and the second door, and a door latch striker connected directly to the vertical reinforcement beam and a door latch connected to the other one of the first door and the second door to engage the door latch striker to resist inward movement of the first door and second door from the closed position with respect to the body of the pick-up truck.