Patents by Inventor Ryan Spencer Close
Ryan Spencer Close has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).
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Patent number: 11592003Abstract: 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.Type: GrantFiled: February 25, 2020Date of Patent: February 28, 2023Assignee: General Electric CompanyInventors: Aaron P. Janicz, Ryan Spencer Close
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Publication number: 20210262438Abstract: 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.Type: ApplicationFiled: February 25, 2020Publication date: August 26, 2021Inventors: Aaron P. Janicz, Ryan Spencer Close
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Patent number: 10487798Abstract: 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.Type: GrantFiled: August 5, 2016Date of Patent: November 26, 2019Assignee: General Electric CompanyInventors: Alexander William Vossler, Ryan Spencer Close
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Publication number: 20180038343Abstract: 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.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 5, 2016Publication date: February 8, 2018Inventors: Alexander William Vossler, Ryan Spencer Close
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Publication number: 20170218915Abstract: 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.Type: ApplicationFiled: February 1, 2016Publication date: August 3, 2017Inventors: Theodore Steven Wilmot, Bruce Clark Busbey, Ryan Spencer Close
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Patent number: 9651443Abstract: 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.Type: GrantFiled: June 6, 2014Date of Patent: May 16, 2017Assignee: General Electric CompanyInventors: Mark Edward Cardinal, Jignesh Govindlal Gandhi, Robert J. Dewey, Ryan Spencer Close, Thomas Ernst Dinjus, Bernardo Adrian Movischoff, David Charles Korim
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Publication number: 20150355044Abstract: 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.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 6, 2014Publication date: December 10, 2015Inventors: Mark Edward Cardinal, Jignesh Govindlal Gandhi, Robert J. Dewey, Ryan Spencer Close, Thomas Ernst Dinjus, Bernardo Adrian Movischoff, David Charles Korim
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Publication number: 20150135534Abstract: 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.Type: ApplicationFiled: November 21, 2013Publication date: May 21, 2015Applicant: General Electric CompanyInventors: Drake Joseph Viscome, Ryan Spencer Close, Philip James Verzella, Andrew Thompson
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Publication number: 20140003946Abstract: 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.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 26, 2013Publication date: January 2, 2014Inventors: Bradley Graham Moore, Bharat Sampathkumaran Bagepalli, Eugenio Yegro Segovia, Mohan Muthu Kumar Sivanantham, Pedro Luis Benito Santiago, Alvaro Jaime Calle Garrido, Miguel Bartolome Lopez, Jonathan Zalar, Gitesh Verma, Ryan Spencer Close
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Patent number: 7730627Abstract: 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.Type: GrantFiled: October 8, 2008Date of Patent: June 8, 2010Assignee: General Electric CompanyInventors: Aaron John Mashue, Ryan Spencer Close
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Publication number: 20100083516Abstract: 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.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 8, 2008Publication date: April 8, 2010Inventors: Aaron John Mashue, Ryan Spencer Close