Patents by Inventor Steven Haines Olson
Steven Haines Olson 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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Publication number: 20230323864Abstract: A method for repairing or improving a lightning protection system of a rotor blade of a wind turbine having a blade root and a blade tip includes identifying a repair or improvement location in the lightning protection system of the rotor blade. The method includes removing one or more layers of material at the repair or improvement location that form part of a shell of the rotor blade so as to expose existing conductive material in the rotor blade. The method also includes placing a conductive layer of material atop the repair or improvement location such that a root-side edge of the conductive layer overlaps the existing conductive material. Moreover, the method includes electrically connecting the root-side edge of the conductive layer with the existing conductive material and a tip-side edge of the conductive layer of material with the blade tip. The method further includes covering the conductive layer with an outer covering.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 27, 2021Publication date: October 12, 2023Inventors: James Robert Tobin, Steven Haines Olson, Lars Bo Hansen, Matthew Brian Dudon
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Patent number: 9683548Abstract: Tools and methods are provided for scarfing rotor blade segments. A rotor blade segment includes a pressure side and a suction side. A tool includes a first guide configured for mounting on one of the pressure side or the suction side, the first guide including a first curved rail and a second curved rail spaced from the first curved rail. The tool further includes a second guide movably coupled to the first guide at a scarf angle, the second guide including a guide rail extending between and movable along the first curved rail and the second curved rail. The tool further includes a cutting device movably coupled to the second guide, the cutting device movable along the guide rail and operable to remove material from the one of the pressure side or the suction side.Type: GrantFiled: March 14, 2013Date of Patent: June 20, 2017Assignee: General Electric CompanyInventors: Stephen Bertram Johnson, Steven Haines Olson, Edward McBeth Stewart
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Publication number: 20150167473Abstract: Methods for modifying a rotor blade for a wind turbine include removing a cutout section from a shell of the rotor blade, wherein removing the cutout section provides an access window to an interior support section of the rotor blade, and sealing the cutout section back to the shell to close the access window.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 17, 2013Publication date: June 18, 2015Applicant: General Electric CompanyInventor: Steven Haines Olson
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Publication number: 20140260849Abstract: Tools and methods are provided for scarfing rotor blade segments. A rotor blade segment includes a pressure side and a suction side. A tool includes a first guide configured for mounting on one of the pressure side or the suction side, the first guide including a first curved rail and a second curved rail spaced from the first curved rail. The tool further includes a second guide movably coupled to the first guide at a scarf angle, the second guide including a guide rail extending between and movable along the first curved rail and the second curved rail. The tool further includes a cutting device movably coupled to the second guide, the cutting device movable along the guide rail and operable to remove material from the one of the pressure side or the suction side.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 14, 2013Publication date: September 18, 2014Applicant: GENERAL ELECTRIC COMPANYInventors: Stephen Bertram Johnson, Steven Haines Olson, Edward McBeth Stewart
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Publication number: 20140119937Abstract: A rotor blade for a wind turbine includes an internal support structure extending span-wise from a blade root to a blade tip. A plurality of ribs are fixed to and spaced along the internal support structure, with each rib extending in a generally chord-wise direction and having a generally aerodynamic blade contour. A plurality of chord-wise oriented fabric strips are affixed to the ribs in a tensioned state, wherein the fabric strips define an aerodynamic outer skin of the rotor blade.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 31, 2012Publication date: May 1, 2014Applicant: GENERAL ELECTRIC COMPANYInventors: Biao Fang, Steven Haines Olson, Wendy Wen-Ling Lin, Sriram Krishnamurthy, Balaji Haridasu, Prakash Kashiram Jadhav, Subbareddy Daggumati, Suresh Subramanian, Scott Roger Finn, Udit Kulmi, Vasan Churchill Srinivasan Chandrasekaran
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Patent number: 8710834Abstract: The invention provides a drive coil and measurement probe comprising the drive coil. The measurement probes can be used, for example, in in-situ, non-destructive testing methods, also provided herein.Type: GrantFiled: August 28, 2010Date of Patent: April 29, 2014Assignee: General Electric CompanyInventors: Andrzej Michal May, Waseem Ibrahim Faidi, Changting Wang, Nilesh Tralshawala, Aparna Chakrapani Sheila-Vadde, Mandar Diwakar Godbole, Jamie Thomas Livingston, Steven Haines Olson, Howard Daniel Driver
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Publication number: 20140065372Abstract: Composite laminate materials include a plurality of fiber-reinforced internal plies stacked one on top of the other, at least one of the internal plies being configured as a terminated ply, a fiber-reinforced cover ply positioned over the stack of internal plies so as to define an outer covering of the composite laminate material, and, a ply drop defined by the terminated ply, wherein the ply drop includes a single non-perpendicular asymmetrical protrusion extending across a width of the terminated ply.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 30, 2012Publication date: March 6, 2014Inventor: Steven Haines Olson
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Patent number: 8013619Abstract: A system and method for performing a continuity test on a lightning conduction system of a wind turbine are disclosed. The system generally includes a testing device having a blade ring configured to be positioned around at least a portion of an outer perimeter of a rotor blade of the wind turbine. A carriage may be attached to the testing device and a cable may be attached to the carriage. The cable may generally extend between a first anchor point and a second anchor point, wherein the anchor points are spaced apart from one another such that a lightning receptor of the lightning conduction system is disposed between the anchor points. Additionally, the cable may be coupled between the anchor points such that, as the cable is displaced, the testing device is moved to a position at which an electrically conductive member of the testing device contacts the lightning receptor.Type: GrantFiled: November 29, 2010Date of Patent: September 6, 2011Assignee: General Electric CompanyInventors: Steven Haines Olson, Debasish Mishra, Peter James Fritz
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Patent number: 7988415Abstract: A rotor blade for a wind turbine is provided. The rotor blade includes a rotor blade body, at least one receptor adapted to be a location for lightning impact, and at least one down conductor connected to the receptor and located within the rotor blade body. The down conductor includes a first conductor connected to the receptor and a ground connection of the wind turbine, and a second insulated conductor connected to the receptor and a non-grounded location of the wind turbine. A path is formed from the ground connection of the first conductor to the non-grounded location of the second insulated conductor. This path facilitates a continuity test used to evaluate a condition of the lightning protection system.Type: GrantFiled: August 31, 2010Date of Patent: August 2, 2011Assignee: General Electric CompanyInventors: Richard Allen Hardison, Steven Haines Olson
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Publication number: 20110140060Abstract: A system and method are disclosed for locating a maintenance device approximate an area of interest of a wind turbine. The system generally includes a carriage configured to support the maintenance device and a cable having first and second ends attached to the carriage. Additionally, the system includes first and second anchor points, with the first anchor point being disposed adjacent to a component of the wind turbine. The second anchor point is spaced apart from the first anchor point such that the area of interest is generally disposed between the first and second anchor points. The cable may be coupled along its length between the first and second anchor points such that, as the cable is displaced, the carriage is moved to a position at which the area of interest is accessible to the maintenance device.Type: ApplicationFiled: November 29, 2010Publication date: June 16, 2011Applicant: GENERAL ELECTRIC COMPANYInventors: Steven Haines Olson, Debasish Mishra, Peter James Fritz, Stephen Bertram Johnson
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Publication number: 20110142643Abstract: A rotor blade for a wind turbine is provided. The rotor blade includes a rotor blade body, at least one receptor adapted to be a location for lightning impact, and at least one down conductor connected to the receptor and located within the rotor blade body. The down conductor includes a first conductor connected to the receptor and a ground connection of the wind turbine, and a second insulated conductor connected to the receptor and a non-grounded location of the wind turbine. A path is formed from the ground connection of the first conductor to the non-grounded location of the second insulated conductor. This path facilitates a continuity test used to evaluate a condition of the lightning protection system.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 31, 2010Publication date: June 16, 2011Inventors: Richard Allen Hardison, Steven Haines Olson
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Publication number: 20110140724Abstract: A system and method for performing a continuity test on a lightning conduction system of a wind turbine are disclosed. The system generally includes a testing device having a blade ring configured to be positioned around at least a portion of an outer perimeter of a rotor blade of the wind turbine. A carriage may be attached to the testing device and a cable may be attached to the carriage. The cable may generally extend between a first anchor point and a second anchor point, wherein the anchor points are spaced apart from one another such that a lightning receptor of the lightning conduction system is disposed between the anchor points. Additionally, the cable may be coupled between the anchor points such that, as the cable is displaced, the testing device is moved to a position at which an electrically conductive member of the testing device contacts the lightning receptor.Type: ApplicationFiled: November 29, 2010Publication date: June 16, 2011Applicant: GENERAL ELECTRIC COMPANYInventors: Steven Haines Olson, Debasish Mishra, Peter James Fritz
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Publication number: 20100321012Abstract: The invention provides a drive coil and measurement probe comprising the drive coil. The measurement probes can be used, for example, in in-situ, non-destructive testing methods, also provided herein.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 28, 2010Publication date: December 23, 2010Applicant: GENERAL ELECTRIC COMPANYInventors: Andrzej Michal May, Waseem Ibrahim Faidi, Changting Wang, Nilesh Tralshawala, Aparna Chakrapani Sheila-Vadde, Mandar Diwakar Godbole, Jamie Thomas Livingston, Steven Haines Olson, Howard Daniel Driver