Abstract: A rotor blade for a wind turbine includes first and second blade segments extending in opposite directions from a chord-wise joint. Each of the first and second blade segments has at least one shell member defining an airfoil surface and an internal support structure. The first blade segment includes a beam structure extending lengthwise that structurally connects with the second blade segment at a receiving section. At least one of the internal support structures of the first and second blade segments includes at least one spar cap. The rotor blade also includes one or more pin joints positioned on the spar cap(s) for connecting the blade segments. The spar cap is constructed of varying forms of materials along a span of the rotor blade, including at least two of: one or more infused composite laminates, one or more pre-preg composite laminates, one or more pre-fabricated or pre-cured composite elements, one or more additively-manufactured structures, or one or more non-composite structural solids.

Abstract: A method for manufacturing a structural component of a blade segment for a segmented rotor blade of a wind turbine includes providing a mold of the structural component. The mold has an outer wall that defines an outer surface of the structural component. The method also includes securing at least one tooling pin to the outer wall for defining a pin joint slot in the structural component. Further, the method includes laying up one or more outer fiber layers in the mold so as to at least partially cover the outer wall. The outer fiber layer(s) has at least one hole that receives the tooling pin(s). As such, the outer fiber layer(s) form the outer surface of the structural component. Moreover, the method includes placing one or more structural features atop the outer fiber layer(s) in the mold. In addition, the method includes infusing the outer fiber layer(s) and the structural feature(s) together via a resin material so as to form the structural component.

Abstract: A rotor blade for a wind turbine includes a first blade segment and a second blade segment extending in opposite directions from a chord-wise joint. Each of the first and second blade segments has at least one shell member defining an airfoil surface and an internal support structure. The first blade segment defines a first pre-bend in a flap-wise direction. The second blade segment defines a different, second pre-bend in the flap-wise direction. Further, the first pre-bend is greater than the second pre-bend. In addition, the first and second pre-bends provide an overall pre-bend in the flap-wise direction away from a tower of the wind turbine that allows for a predetermined deflection of the rotor blade towards the tower.

Abstract: A spar assembly for a rotor blade including a beam structure extending between a closed first end and a second end configured for coupling within a shell of the rotor blade. The beam structure includes a contacting portion extending in a span-wise direction from the second end, a joint portion extending in the span-wise direction from the first end toward the contacting portion, and a transition region between the contacting portion and the joint portion. The contacting portion includes one or more contoured surfaces oriented toward at least one of an internal surface of a pressure or suction side of the rotor blade and configured to follow a contour of one of the pressure or suction side of the rotor blade. The joint portion includes one or more linear surfaces oriented in the same direction as the contoured surface(s). The transition region transitions the contoured surface(s) to the linear surface(s).

Abstract: A rotor blade for a wind turbine includes a first blade segment and a second blade segment extending in opposite directions from a chord-wise joint. Each of the first and second blade segments includes at least one shell member defining an airfoil surface and an internal support structure. The first blade segment includes a beam structure extending lengthwise that structurally connects with the second blade segment via a receiving section. The rotor blade also includes at least one chord-wise extending pin positioned through the chord-wise joint so as to secure the first and second blade segments together. Further, the chord-wise extending pin includes a hollow cross-section that extends from a trailing edge end to a leading edge end thereof.

Abstract: A person support apparatus includes a base, a controller, and a barrier having at least one electrical device. The base includes mounting structures for releasably mounting the barrier to the base. A first electrical connector is in communication with the at least one electrical device and mounted to the barrier. A second electrical connector is in communication with the controller and mounted at one of the mounting structures for connection with the first electrical connector when the barrier is mounted to the base at the mounting structures.

Abstract: A rotor blade for a wind turbine including first and second blade segments extending in opposite directions from a chord-wise joint. The first and second blade segments include one or more shell members and internal support structures coupled to an inner surface of the one or more shell members of the first and second blade segments. The internal support structure of the first blade segment includes a beam structure extending between a first end at the chord-wise joint and a second end such that the beam structure is received by a receiving section of the internal support structure of the second blade segment. The rotor blade includes one or more spacer materials arranged within the first blade segment between an exterior surface of the beam structure and the inner surface of the one or more shell members to reduce a bond gap therebetween.

Abstract: A span-wise extending pin for joining blade segments of a rotor blade includes a distal portion having a length defined by a first end and an opposing, second end. The distal portion has a conical shape extending for at least a portion of the length thereof for providing ease of insertion of the pin into a pin joint slot of one of the first and second blade segments. The pin also includes a pin portion adjacent to the distal portion. The pin portion includes a first section and a second section. The second section is configured for securing within a beam structure of the first blade segment. The first section extends span-wise from a receiving end of the beam structure. The pin also includes a proximal portion having at least a rod member that extends span-wise through and secures together the pin portion and the distal portion.

Abstract: A jointed wind turbine rotor blade includes a first blade segment and a second blade segment extending in opposite directions from a chord-wise joint line. Each of the first and second blade segments includes opposite spar caps. The first and second blade segments are connected at the chord-wise joint line by internal joint structure, wherein the joint structure is bonded to the opposite spar caps in at least the second blade segment. The spar caps in the second blade segment have a first section with a first chord-wise width that is unbonded to the joint structure and a second section with a second chord-wise width that is bonded to the joint structure. The second chord-wise width is greater than the first chord-wise width.

Abstract: A person support apparatus includes a base, a controller, and a barrier having at least one electrical device. The base includes mounting structures for releasably mounting the barrier to the base. A first electrical connector is in communication with the at least one electrical device and mounted to the barrier. A second electrical connector is in communication with the controller and mounted at one of the mounting structures for connection with the first electrical connector when the barrier is mounted to the base at the mounting structures.

Abstract: Techniques for addressing various technical problems associated with managing medical devices and data related to medical devices, for instance medical implants in a graphics case or medical device kit, are described herein. One or more medical device handling applications can execute on a medical device computer system. Such a computer system can include one more computing devices, such as for example a client device and a server device, that can optionally communicate with each other to send and receive information associated with medical devices. The computer system can further include a wearable device and a server device that can optionally communicate with each other to send and receive information associated with medical devices and medical device kits.

Abstract: A distributed control system for a vehicle includes a configuration controller and at least three nodes communicatively coupled to the configuration controller. Each of the at least three nodes includes a memory device for storing local data and portions of shared data of the distributed control system. Further, portions of the shared data are dissimilarly copied across the at least three nodes using dissimilar methods. More specifically, the dissimilar methods include at least one of striping the shared data amongst the at least three nodes, storing parity information of the shared data amongst at least one of the at least three nodes, storing unique identification or signatory information of the shared data amongst at least one of the at least three nodes, storing subsets of the shared data amongst the at least three nodes, and/or storing exact copies of the shared data amongst at least one of the at least three nodes so as to increase redundancy of the shared data.

Abstract: A patient support includes a height adjustable patient support deck, at least one guard structure mounted relative to the patient support deck along a side of the patient support, with the guard structure movable both vertically and laterally along the side of the patient support, and the guard structure positionable beneath at least the patient support deck. The patient support further includes a control system configured to determine whether the guard structure is located beneath the patient support deck and to enable or disable a function of the patient support and/or to adjust a parameter of the patient support when the guard structure is located beneath the patient support deck.

Abstract: A method of revising a patient having a fusion cage implanted within a spinal column, involving percutaneously delivering a first end of a tube to the spinal column, fluidly connecting the first end of the tube to the fusion cage, and delivering a bone growth agent into the fusion cage through the tube.

Abstract: A rotor blade component for a wind turbine includes a first structural component, such as a spar cap, formed from a plurality of stacked pultruded members. A second structural component, such as a shear web, is fixed to the first structural component at a joint interface. One or more webs form the joint interface, wherein each of the webs has a first section bonded between at least two of the pultruded members in the first structural component and a second section extending across the joint interface and bonded onto or into the second structural component.

Abstract: A distributed control system for a vehicle includes a configuration controller and at least three nodes communicatively coupled to the configuration controller. Each of the at least three nodes includes a memory device for storing local data and portions of shared data of the distributed control system. Further, portions of the shared data are dissimilarly copied across the at least three nodes using dissimilar methods. More specifically, the dissimilar methods include at least one of striping the shared data amongst the at least three nodes, storing parity information of the shared data amongst at least one of the at least three nodes, storing unique identification or signatory information of the shared data amongst at least one of the at least three nodes, storing subsets of the shared data amongst the at least three nodes, and/or storing exact copies of the shared data amongst at least one of the at least three nodes so as to increase redundancy of the shared data.

Abstract: A person support apparatus includes a base, a controller, and a barrier having at least one electrical device. The base includes mounting structures for releasably mounting the barrier to the base. A first electrical connector is in communication with the at least one electrical device and mounted to the barrier. A second electrical connector is in communication with the controller and mounted at one of the mounting structures for connection with the first electrical connector when the barrier is mounted to the base at the mounting structures.

Abstract: There is provided a patient support that may be adjustable in height, width, length or a combination thereof. The patient support may be useable with normal sized patients or with bariatric patients. The patient support has a variety of features to enhance operability and/or functionality, including a width adjustable caster frame, width adjustable deck portions, a width adjustable headboard and an extendible foot board to provide extra length. An enhanced lift mechanism can accommodate bariatric patients and alternative functionality in achieving deck positions improves patient comfort. Various parts of the patient support including deck panels and the footboard may be removed and replaced with ease without complicated connectors.

Abstract: There is provided a patient support that may be adjustable in height, width, length or a combination thereof. The patient support may be useable with normal sized patients or with bariatric patients. The patient support has a variety of features to enhance operability and/or functionality, including a width adjustable caster frame, width adjustable deck portions, a width adjustable headboard and an extendible foot board to provide extra length. An enhanced lift mechanism can accommodate bariatric patients and alternative functionality in achieving deck positions improves patient comfort. Various parts of the patient support including deck panels and the footboard may be removed and replaced with ease without complicated connectors.

Abstract: A distributed control system for a vehicle includes one or more processors and one or more memory devices storing computer-readable instructions that, when executed by the one or more processors, cause the one or more processors to perform operations. The operations comprise obtaining an instance of shared data for a control system of the vehicle from each of at least three separate nodes of the distributed control system. The shared data may include configuration or health data for the control system or the vehicle itself. The operations include comparing the at least three instances of shared data; detecting a shared data inconsistency amongst the at least three instances; and generating a control action associated with resolving the shared data inconsistency.