Patents by Inventor Ulrich Uphues

Ulrich Uphues 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).

  • Publication number: 20220356924
    Abstract: It is provided a wind turbine having a modified eigenfrequency, the wind turbine having a tower including a first tower flange arranged at an upper end portion of a top part of the tower; and, an eigenfrequency modifier including a plurality of weights suspended from the first tower flange by a plurality of rigid supports. It is further provided a method of modifying an eigenfrequency of a wind turbine, the method including modifying the eigenfrequency of the wind turbine by suspending a plurality of weights from a first tower flange arranged at an upper end portion of a top part of a tower of the wind turbine using a plurality of rigid supports.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 6, 2022
    Publication date: November 10, 2022
    Inventors: Stefan Bernhard Voss, Alexander Miller, Ulrich Uphues
  • Patent number: 11353007
    Abstract: A method of mounting a nacelle of a wind turbine and at least one component of the wind turbine on a tower of the wind turbine, the method including hooking a roof of the nacelle to a crane hook of a crane, hooking the at least one component to the crane hook of the crane, and lifting the roof of the nacelle together with the at least one component using the crane.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 27, 2020
    Date of Patent: June 7, 2022
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Ulrich Uphues, Hartmut Scholte-Wassink, Sjoerd van Steinvoren
  • Publication number: 20210062791
    Abstract: A method of mounting a nacelle of a wind turbine and at least one component of the wind turbine on a tower of the wind turbine, the method including hooking a roof of the nacelle to a crane hook of a crane, hooking the at least one component to the crane hook of the crane, and lifting the roof of the nacelle together with the at least one component using the crane.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 27, 2020
    Publication date: March 4, 2021
    Inventors: Ulrich Uphues, Hartmut Scholte-Wassink, Sjoerd van Steinvoren
  • Patent number: 8757973
    Abstract: An adjusting device for adjusting the rotation angle position of the rotor of a wind energy system should be improved by the invention, whereby a complicated processing of the brake disc previously used for engagement of the drive is no longer necessary, and whereby said brake disc can be flexibly arranged in an area with sufficient construction space. For this purpose, the adjusting device has at least one force transducer wheel and/or a force transducing disc which is mounted or can be mounted on a shaft (1) of the drive train which is switched downstream from the rotor, which is structured for engagement of a force transmitting means, and is designed as an independent component. The device also has a drive means for producing a drive force, and at least one force transmission means for transmitting the drive force to the force transducer wheel and/or the force transducing disc.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 11, 2009
    Date of Patent: June 24, 2014
    Assignee: Kenersys GmbH
    Inventors: Michael Hüsken, Ulf Nosthoff, Ulrich Uphues, Markus Becker
  • Patent number: 8738192
    Abstract: A method for operating a wind turbine having at least one blade includes determining an ambient air operating envelope and controlling a power output of the wind turbine at least partially based on the determined ambient air operating envelope. Determining an ambient air operating envelope includes measuring at least one of an ambient air temperature, an ambient air pressure, an ambient air humidity, and wind turbine power output. The method also includes comparing at least one of a measured ambient air temperature, a measured ambient air humidity and a measured ambient air pressure to predetermined ambient air temperature, pressure and humidity values. The method further includes referencing the predetermined ambient air temperature, pressure and humidity values to at least one operational parameter of the wind turbine. The method also includes determining if an existing wind turbine power output is within a range associated with the determined ambient air operating envelope.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 19, 2012
    Date of Patent: May 27, 2014
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Ulrich Uphues, Craig Leonard Christenson, Donald Rogers, Peter Gregg, Henk-Jan Kooijman, Ryan LeClair, Thomas Siebers, Frank T. Ormel
  • Patent number: 8482149
    Abstract: What is disclosed is a wind turbine comprising a tower with a closable climbing opening and electrical components disposed inside the tower. In order to provide said wind turbine with the ability to provide a cooling system for cooling the electrical components, in particular the electrical components disposed in the area near the base of the tower, said cooling system able to be cost-effectively installed, it is proposed that the door opening of the wind turbine be located in a continuous tower port which is larger than the door opening, with air intake and exhaust openings passing through said tower port for passage of cooling air.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 14, 2009
    Date of Patent: July 9, 2013
    Assignee: Kenersys GmbH
    Inventors: Ulrich Uphues, Markus Becker
  • Patent number: 8186940
    Abstract: A ventilation arrangement for a wind turbine includes an air inlet opening located in a nose cone of said wind turbine, a manhole cover for covering a manhole of a rotor hub of said wind turbine, the manhole cover providing a vent opening for venting hot air from an internal space of said rotor hub, and a flexible piping establishing fluid communication between the internal space of the rotor hub and the air inlet opening.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 5, 2007
    Date of Patent: May 29, 2012
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Bernard P. Landa, Lane Porter, Ulrich Uphues, Lawrence D. Willey, Ulrich Neumann, Negel E. Martin
  • Patent number: 8146320
    Abstract: The modular kit for a tower has a height ranging between a minimum height and a maximum height, in particular for a wind energy turbine, comprises a first conical tower segment (10) comprising a steel tube having a predetermined length (11), a second conical tower segment (12) comprising a steel tube having a predetermined length (12), and a first cylindrical tower segment (14) comprising a steel tube having a length between a predetermined minimum length and a predetermined maximum length. The length of the first cylindrical tower segment (14) can be adapted to the necessary height of the tower between its minimum height and its maximum height. The minimum height is the sum of the predetermined lengths (11,12) of the first and second conical tower segments (10,12) and the minimum length of the first cylindrical tower segment (14).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 30, 2003
    Date of Patent: April 3, 2012
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Marc Seidel, Martin Von Mutius, Ulrich Uphues
  • Publication number: 20110206447
    Abstract: In order to provide an attachment element for fastening of attachment parts (P) to a metal inner tower wall (T) of a tower of a wind energy system, comprising a first end side for welding to the inner tower wall (T) and a second end side for fastening an attachment part (P), said second side opposite the first end side, wherein the resultant weld connection between said attachment element and the tower wall is under a reduced stress, thereby enabling the connection point to be assigned to a higher fatigue class, it is proposed that such an attachment part have a total cross-sectional material thickness that is reduced near the first end side in comparison to a total material thickness in a cross-section shifted toward the second end side.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 16, 2009
    Publication date: August 25, 2011
    Inventors: Ulrich Uphues, Lorenz Meesenburg
  • Publication number: 20110142647
    Abstract: An adjusting device for adjusting the rotation angle position of the rotor of a wind energy system should be improved by the invention, whereby a complicated processing of the brake disc previously used for engagement of the drive is no longer necessary, and whereby said brake disc can be flexibly arranged in an area with sufficient construction space. For this purpose, the adjusting device has at least one force transducer wheel and/or a force transducing disc which is mounted or can be mounted on a shaft (1) of the drive train which is switched downstream from the rotor, which is structured for engagement of a force transmitting means, and is designed as an independent component. The device also has a drive means for producing a drive force, and at least one force transmission means for transmitting the drive force to the force transducer wheel and/or the force transducing disc.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 11, 2009
    Publication date: June 16, 2011
    Inventors: Michael Hüsken, Ulf Nosthoff, Ulrich Uphues, Markus Becker
  • Publication number: 20110037270
    Abstract: What is disclosed is a wind turbine comprising a tower with a closable climbing opening and electrical components disposed inside the tower. In order to provide said wind turbine with the ability to provide a cooling system for cooling the electrical components, in particular the electrical components disposed in the area near the base of the tower, said cooling system able to be cost-effectively installed, it is proposed that the door opening of the wind turbine be located in a continuous tower port which is larger than the door opening, with air intake and exhaust openings passing through said tower port for passage of cooling air.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 14, 2009
    Publication date: February 17, 2011
    Inventors: Ulrich Uphues, Markus Becker
  • Patent number: 7811057
    Abstract: A method facilitates lubrication of components. The method includes coupling a blade to a pitch control mechanism such that a bearing is positioned between the blade and the pitch control mechanism. The method further includes coupling a control system to the pitch control mechanism and configuring the control system to control the blade pitch mechanism for controlling movement of the blade and rotate the blade from a first position to a second position when a predetermined amount of time has elapsed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 3, 2007
    Date of Patent: October 12, 2010
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventor: Ulrich Uphues
  • Publication number: 20090110539
    Abstract: A windfarm including a plurality of wind turbines, an ice detection sensor adapted to detect an icing condition of at least one of said plurality of wind turbines, and a main controller connected to said ice detection sensor and to at least two of said wind turbines, wherein the main controller is adapted to control the operation of said at least two wind turbines based on an icing condition detected by said ice detection sensor. A method for controlling the wind farm is also disclosed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 30, 2007
    Publication date: April 30, 2009
    Inventor: Ulrich Uphues
  • Publication number: 20090060748
    Abstract: A ventilation arrangement for a wind turbine includes an air inlet opening located in a nose cone of said wind turbine, a manhole cover for covering a manhole of a rotor hub of said wind turbine, the manhole cover providing a vent opening for venting hot air from an internal space of said rotor hub, and a flexible piping establishing fluid communication between the internal space of the rotor hub and the air inlet opening.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 5, 2007
    Publication date: March 5, 2009
    Inventors: Bernard P. Landa, Lane Poter, Ulrich Uphues, Lawrence D. Willey, Ulrich Neumann, Negel E. Martin
  • Publication number: 20080159863
    Abstract: A method facilitates lubrication of components. The method includes coupling a blade to a pitch control mechanism such that a bearing is positioned between the blade and the pitch control mechanism. The method further includes coupling a control system to the pitch control mechanism and configuring the control system to control the blade pitch mechanism for controlling movement of the blade and rotate the blade from a first position to a second position when a predetermined amount of time has elapsed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 3, 2007
    Publication date: July 3, 2008
    Inventor: Ulrich Uphues
  • Publication number: 20080112807
    Abstract: A method for operating a wind turbine having at least one blade includes determining an ambient air operating envelope and controlling a power output of the wind turbine at least partially based on the determined ambient air operating envelope. Determining an ambient air operating envelope includes measuring at least one of an ambient air temperature, an ambient air pressure, an ambient air humidity, and wind turbine power output. The method also includes comparing at least one of a measured ambient air temperature, a measured ambient air humidity and a measured ambient air pressure to predetermined ambient air temperature, pressure and humidity values. The method further includes referencing the predetermined ambient air temperature, pressure and humidity values to at least one operational parameter of the wind turbine. The method also includes determining if an existing wind turbine power output is within a range associated with the determined ambient air operating envelope.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 23, 2006
    Publication date: May 15, 2008
    Inventors: Ulrich Uphues, Craig Leonard Christenson, Donald Rogers, Peter Gregg, Henk-Jan Kooijman, Ryan LeClair, Thomas Siebers, Frank T. Ormel
  • Patent number: 7357462
    Abstract: The hydraulic brake system comprises a piston/cylinder unit (14) for activating and releasing a brake (12), comprising a volume (16) adapted to have a pressurized working fluid supplied thereto for moving the piston (24) from a braking position into a release position for releasing the brake. Further, the hydraulic brake system comprises a supply line (18) for the supply of working fluid from a reservoir (22), a discharge line (30) for the discharge of working fluid from the volume (16) of the piston/ cyliinder unit (14), a first valve (34) and an element (36) for determining the flow resistance, a bypass line (32) provided with a second ON/OFF valve (38) and arranged for a flow in parallel to the discharge line (30).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 24, 2003
    Date of Patent: April 15, 2008
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventor: Ulrich Uphues
  • Patent number: 7352075
    Abstract: A method for controlling a rotational speed of a rotor having at least one rotor blade, a rotor shaft, and an electrical generator coupled thereto. The method includes controlling a torque of the rotor shaft by controlling a torque of the electrical generator, alternating between changing an angle of pitch of the at least one rotor blade and maintaining the angle of pitch of the at least one rotor blade substantially constant, and maintaining a substantially constant rotational speed of the rotor during variable wind speeds above a predetermined rated wind speed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 6, 2006
    Date of Patent: April 1, 2008
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Lawrence Donald Willey, John Noel Cunningham, Eric Gebhardt, Ulrich Uphues, William Edwin Holley, Kirk Gee Pierce
  • Publication number: 20070205602
    Abstract: A method for controlling a rotational speed of a rotor having at least one rotor blade, a rotor shaft, and an electrical generator coupled thereto. The method includes controlling a torque of the rotor shaft by controlling a torque of the electrical generator, alternating between changing an angle of pitch of the at least one rotor blade and maintaining the angle of pitch of the at least one rotor blade substantially constant, and maintaining a substantially constant rotational speed of the rotor during variable wind speeds above a predetermined rated wind speed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 6, 2006
    Publication date: September 6, 2007
    Inventors: Lawrence Willey, John Cunningham, Eric Gebhardt, Ulrich Uphues, William Holley, Kirk Pierce
  • Patent number: 7261517
    Abstract: The device for adjusting a rotor blade of a wind energy turbine is provided with a driving device (12) for driving an adjusting element (24) for selectably rotating the rotor blade (26) in both directions about its longitudinal axis (28), an energy storage unit (30) and a free-running means (32) adapted to be selectively activated, said free-running means (32), in its activated state, allowing rotation of the rotor blade (26) by means of energy stored in the energy storage unit (30) only in one of the two directions up to a desired rotational position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 28, 2003
    Date of Patent: August 28, 2007
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Ulrich Uphues, Patrik Achenbach, Martin Von Mutius