Patents by Inventor Willem Bakhuis
Willem Bakhuis 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: 11946444Abstract: The present disclosure relates to wind turbine blades (22) configured to receive a peripheral device (250a, 250b, 250c) at a portion of the outer surface (211) of the blade (22), and wherein the wind turbine blade (22) is configured to magnetically couple to the peripheral device (250a, 250b, 250c). The present disclosure also relates to wind turbine blade assemblies (200) and methods (700) to provide the same.Type: GrantFiled: December 8, 2022Date of Patent: April 2, 2024Assignee: General Electric Renovables Espana, S.L.Inventors: Hartmut Scholte-Wassink, Andreas Starke, Willem Bakhuis
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Publication number: 20230184210Abstract: The present disclosure relates to wind turbine blades (22) configured to receive a peripheral device (250a, 250b, 250c) at a portion of the outer surface (211) of the blade (22), and wherein the wind turbine blade (22) is configured to magnetically couple to the peripheral device (250a, 250b, 250c). The present disclosure also relates to wind turbine blade assemblies (200) and methods (700) to provide the same.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 8, 2022Publication date: June 15, 2023Inventors: Hartmut SCHOLTE-WASSINK, Andreas STARKE, Willem BAKHUIS
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Patent number: 9458821Abstract: A rotor blade assembly for a wind turbine has a rotor blade. A strip-member blade accessory is mounted to one of the rotor blade surfaces that stretches under normal operating conditions of the wind turbine. The blade accessory has a base portion. An attachment layer connects the base portion to the rotor blade surface and has a lower shear modulus than the base portion to allow for shear slippage between the base portion and the underlying rotor blade surface.Type: GrantFiled: September 11, 2012Date of Patent: October 4, 2016Assignee: General Electric CompanyInventors: Eric Morgan Jacobsen, Bruce Clark Busbey, Qi Zhu, Scott Gabell Riddell, Juergen Esser, Jan Willem Bakhuis, Pradeepa Nagabhushana
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Publication number: 20140072440Abstract: A rotor blade assembly for a wind turbine has a rotor blade. A strip-member blade accessory is mounted to one of the rotor blade surfaces that stretches under normal operating conditions of the wind turbine. The blade accessory has a base portion. An attachment layer connects the base portion to the rotor blade surface and has a lower shear modulus than the base portion to allow for shear slippage between the base portion and the underlying rotor blade surface.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 11, 2012Publication date: March 13, 2014Applicant: GENERAL ELECTRIC COMPANYInventors: Eric Morgan Jacobsen, Bruce Clark Busbey, Qi Zhu, Scott Gabell Riddell, Juergen Esser, Jan Willem Bakhuis, Pradeepa Nagabhushana
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Patent number: 8562302Abstract: A wind turbine blade includes a leading edge, a trailing edge, a suction side, and a pressure side. At least one integrated attachment bore is configured in each of the suction side and pressure side between the leading edge and trailing edge. The attachment bores are structurally configured for receipt of a handling mechanism therein for supporting the blade during a transportation, installation, or maintenance procedure.Type: GrantFiled: July 6, 2010Date of Patent: October 22, 2013Assignee: General Electric CompanyInventors: Jan Willem Bakhuis, Markus Peter Griesel
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Patent number: 8402652Abstract: A method of manufacturing a wind turbine rotor blade includes, in one embodiment, the steps of providing a core, and applying at least one reinforcing skin to the core to form a blade subassembly. Each reinforcing skin is formed from a mat of reinforcing fibers. The method also includes applying a micro-porous membrane over the at least one reinforcing skin, applying a vacuum film over the micro-porous membrane, introducing a polymeric resin to the core, infusing the resin through the core and through the at least one reinforcing skin by applying a vacuum to the blade assembly, and curing the resin to form the rotor blade.Type: GrantFiled: October 28, 2005Date of Patent: March 26, 2013Assignee: General Electric CompanyInventors: Jan Willem Bakhuis, Andrew Billen, Sjef Van Breugel, Jamie Livingston
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Publication number: 20120040106Abstract: A method for forming a fiber-reinforced plastic part is provided. The method includes providing a mold, providing a vibration generator, placing a fiber material in the mold, infusing the fiber material with a resin while the fiber material and/or the resin are exposed to vibrations, and curing the resin.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 16, 2010Publication date: February 16, 2012Inventors: Stefan SIMMERER, Uli RAMM, Markus GRIESEL, Jan Willem BAKHUIS
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Patent number: 7976282Abstract: A spar cap for a wind turbine rotor blade. The spar cap may include multiple preform components. The multiple preform components may be planar sheets having a swept shape with a first end and a second end. The multiple preform components may be joined by mating the first end of a first preform component to the second end of a next preform component, forming the spar cap.Type: GrantFiled: January 26, 2007Date of Patent: July 12, 2011Assignee: General Electric CompanyInventors: Jamie T. Livingston, Howard D. Driver, Sjef van Breugel, Thomas B. Jenkins, Jan Willem Bakhuis, Andrew J. Billen, Amir Riahi
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Publication number: 20110142669Abstract: The present invention includes a method for fabricating elongated wind turbine blades and wind turbine blades formed by the method. The method includes providing a first shell reinforcing fiber structure. At least one shear web reinforcing fiber structure is positioned adjacent to the first shell reinforcing fiber structure. The method includes infusing the first shell reinforcing fiber structure and shear web reinforcing fiber structure with a matrix material and curing the matrix material to form a unitary composite first shell component. Thereafter a composite second shell component is attached to the composite first shell component to form an elongated composite airfoil suitable for use as a wind turbine blade. The wind turbine blades formed include unitary components providing reduced number of adhesive joints.Type: ApplicationFiled: February 22, 2011Publication date: June 16, 2011Applicant: General Electric CompanyInventors: Nicholas Althoff, Amir Riahi, Andrew Billen, Willem Bakhuis
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Publication number: 20110142660Abstract: A wind turbine blade includes a leading edge, a trailing edge, a suction side, and a pressure side. At least one integrated attachment bore is configured in each of the suction side and pressure side between the leading edge and trailing edge. The attachment bores are structurally configured for receipt of a handling mechanism therein for supporting the blade during a transportation, installation, or maintenance procedure.Type: ApplicationFiled: July 6, 2010Publication date: June 16, 2011Applicant: GENERAL ELECTRIC COMPANYInventors: Jan Willem Bakhuis, Markus Peter Griesel
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Patent number: 7895745Abstract: The present invention includes a method for fabricating elongated wind turbine blades and wind turbine blades formed by the method. The method includes providing a first shell reinforcing fiber structure. At least one shear web reinforcing fiber structure is positioned adjacent to the first shell reinforcing fiber structure. The method includes infusing the first shell reinforcing fiber structure and shear web reinforcing fiber structure with a matrix material and curing the matrix material to form a unitary composite first shell component. Thereafter a composite second shell component is attached to the composite first shell component to form an elongated composite airfoil suitable for use as a wind turbine blade. The wind turbine blades formed include unitary components providing reduced number of adhesive joints.Type: GrantFiled: March 9, 2007Date of Patent: March 1, 2011Assignee: General Electric CompanyInventors: Nicholas Althoff, Amir Riahi, Andrew Billen, Willem Bakhuis
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Patent number: 7824592Abstract: A method for forming a bond between a first and a second shell of a blade is provided. The method comprises the steps of forming a cavity between said first and second blade shells and filling an adhesive into said cavity to form a bond line between said first and second blade shells.Type: GrantFiled: September 22, 2006Date of Patent: November 2, 2010Assignee: General Electric CompanyInventors: Sjef van Breugel, Willem Bakhuis, Andy Billen
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Patent number: 7798780Abstract: Disclosed is a modularly constructed rotorblade including a leading and a trailing edge, including a plurality of rotorblade sections in bonded association, and at least one bonding line disposed away from continuous contact with the leading edge and the trailing edge.Type: GrantFiled: December 19, 2005Date of Patent: September 21, 2010Assignee: General Electric CompanyInventors: Jan Willem Bakhuis, Andrew John Billen, Sjef van Breugel, Jamie Thomas Livingston
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Patent number: 7669334Abstract: Disclosed is a system for forming a blade-section including a transporting frame, at least one transporting support removeably associated with the transporting frame, and a blade-section forming structure receptive of the transporting frame and the at least one transporting support.Type: GrantFiled: December 19, 2005Date of Patent: March 2, 2010Assignee: General Electric CompanyInventors: Jan Willem Bakhuis, Andrew John Billen, Sjef van Breugel, Jamie Thomas Livingston
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Publication number: 20090146433Abstract: A method of assembling a wind turbine blade includes forming a preform pressure surface member and a preform suction surface member. The method also includes forming at least one of a leading edge and a trailing edge. One method of forming the leading edge or the trailing edge includes coupling a preform cap member to one of a portion of the preform pressure surface member and a portion of the preform suction surface member. At least a portion of one of the preform pressure surface member and the preform suction surface member overlap at least a portion of the preform bond cap member. Another method of forming the leading edge or the trailing edge includes coupling the preform pressure surface member to the preform suction surface member wherein at least a portion of the preform pressure surface member overlaps at least a portion of the preform suction surface member.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 7, 2007Publication date: June 11, 2009Inventors: Nicholas Keane Althoff, Amir Riahi, Andrew John Billen, Jan Willem Bakhuis
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Publication number: 20080219851Abstract: The present invention includes a method for fabricating elongated wind turbine blades and wind turbine blades formed by the method. The method includes providing a first shell reinforcing fiber structure. At least one shear web reinforcing fiber structure is positioned adjacent to the first shell reinforcing fiber structure. The method includes infusing the first shell reinforcing fiber structure and shear web reinforcing fiber structure with a matrix material and curing the matrix material to form a unitary composite first shell component. Thereafter a composite second shell component is attached to the composite first shell component to form an elongated composite airfoil suitable for use as a wind turbine blade. The wind turbine blades formed include unitary components providing reduced number of adhesive joints.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 9, 2007Publication date: September 11, 2008Applicant: GENERAL ELECTRIC COMPANYInventors: Nicholas ALTHOFF, Amir RIAHI, Andrew BILLEN, Willem BAKHUIS
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Publication number: 20080181781Abstract: A spar cap for a wind turbine rotor blade. The spar cap may include multiple preform components. The multiple preform components may be planar sheets having a swept shape with a first end and a second end. The multiple preform components may be joined by mating the first end of a first preform component to the second end of a next preform component, forming the spar cap.Type: ApplicationFiled: January 26, 2007Publication date: July 31, 2008Applicant: GENERAL ELECTRIC COMPANYInventors: Jamie T. Livingston, Howard D. Driver, Sjef van Breugel, Thomas B. Jenkins, Jan Willem Bakhuis, Andrew J. Billen, Amir Riahi
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Patent number: 7351040Abstract: A method of manufacturing a root portion of a wind turbine blade includes, in an exemplary embodiment, providing an outer layer of reinforcing fibers including at least two woven mats of reinforcing fibers, providing an inner layer of reinforcing fibers including at least two woven mats of reinforcing fibers, and positioning at least two bands of reinforcing fibers between the inner and outer layers, with each band of reinforcing fibers including at least two woven mats of reinforcing fibers. The method further includes positioning a mat of randomly arranged reinforcing fibers between each pair of adjacent bands of reinforcing fibers, introducing a polymeric resin into the root potion of the wind turbine blade, infusing the resin through the outer layer, the inner layer, each band of reinforcing fibers, and each mat of random reinforcing fibers, and curing the resin to form the root portion of the wind turbine blade.Type: GrantFiled: January 9, 2006Date of Patent: April 1, 2008Assignee: General Electric CompanyInventors: Jamie T. Livingston, Arthur H. E. Burke, Jan Willem Bakhuis, Sjef Van Breugel, Andrew Billen
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Publication number: 20080075603Abstract: A method for forming a bond between a first and a second shell of a blade is provided. The method comprises the steps of forming a cavity between said first and second blade shells and filling an adhesive into said cavity to form a bond line between said first and second blade shells.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 22, 2006Publication date: March 27, 2008Inventors: Sjef Van Breugel, Willem Bakhuis, Andy Billen