Abstract: A turbine blade assembly for a gas turbine includes a spar with raised ribs, a spacer with a plurality of protrusions mounted around the spar, and an outer shell mounted around the spacer. The protruding portions on the spacer surround the raised ribs on the spar. The protruding portions of the spacer act to space the interior surfaces of the outer shell away from the spar to provide a thermal insulation layer of cooling air.

Abstract: A blade includes a plurality of first fibers, wherein each of the plurality of first fibers is angled between about 5° and about 35° with respect to a pitch axis of the blade, and a plurality of second fibers, wherein each of the plurality of second fibers is angled between about 95° and about 125° with respect to the pitch axis of the blade.

Abstract: A blade for a wind turbine generally comprises a shell body defined by first and second shells extending between a leading edge and a trailing edge, an inner spar supporting at least a portion of the shell body, and a damping element coupled to at least one of the shell body or inner spar. The damping element is configured to move relative to the shell body to dissipate vibrations of the blade, and has a greater degree of freedom in a flapwise direction between the first and second shells than in an edgewise direction between the leading and trailing edges.

Abstract: 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.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus are provided for making a rotor blade spar from composite material wherein a multi-component mandrel is used to form the composite spar. The mandrel is made using a number of components, which are assembled to provide a structure that is sufficiently strong to maintain the spar shape during pre-cure lay up, compaction and curing of the composite material. The multiple components used to form the mandrel can be separated from each other and easily removed from the spar either before or after curing of the composite material. The mandrel components can then be re-assembled and re-used to form additional composite spars.

Abstract: A main rotor blade assembly includes a tip cap removably mountable to an outboard end section of a forward tip spar section and an aft tip spar section.

Abstract: A main rotor blade assembly having a blade skin bonded to a main spar and a tip spar.

Abstract: A fiber reinforced matrix for a wind turbine rotor blade includes glass fibers and carbon fibers embedded in the same matrix material.

Abstract: A main rotor blade assembly includes a tip spar which defines a tip spar non-straight form, an upper blade skin which defines an upper blade skin non-straight form adjacent to the tip spar non-straight form and a lower blade skin which defines a lower blade skin non-straight form adjacent to the tip spar non-straight form.

Abstract: The present invention is a vane for us in a gas turbine engine, in which the vane is made of an exotic, high temperature material that is difficult to machine or cast. The vane includes a shell made from Tungsten, and is formed from a wire electric discharge process. The shell is positioned in grooves between the outer and inner shrouds, and includes a central passageway within the spar, and forms a cooling fluid passageway between the spar and the shell. Both the spar and the shell include cooling holes to carry cooling fluid from the central passageway to an outer surface of the vane for cooling. This cooling path eliminates a serpentine pathway, and therefore requires less pressure and less amounts of cooling fluid to cool the vane.

Abstract: According to one aspect, the present invention relates to a method of manufacturing at least one non-uniform thickness composite spar component. The method comprises braiding a plurality of fibres over a non-cylindrical mandrel to form a variable thickness shaped fibre preform, flattening the shaped fibre preform and cutting the flattened shaped fibre preform to obtain the at least one non-uniform thickness composite spar component. Spars made according to various embodiments of the present invention are faster and less expensive to manufacture than conventional composite spar components.

Abstract: The present invention provides a turbine vane for a gas turbine engine. The turbine vane may include a composite airfoil structure. The composite airfoil structure may have an opening. The turbine vane may include a spar. The spar may have a body, which may be disposed within the opening. A standoff structure may be disposed within the opening. In some non-limiting embodiments, a cooling air gap may be defined between the body and an internal surface of the composite airfoil structure.

Abstract: A multi-segment wind turbine blade comprises at least two blade segments. A first spar cap segment is attached to a first blade segment and a second spar cap segment is attached to a second blade segment. The first and second spar cap segments are configured to form a scarf joint. First and second spar cap brackets are attached in locations of the first and second spar cap segments, respectively, selected to facilitate alignment of the first and second spar cap segments at the scarf joint. At a field site, the first and second spar cap segments are bonded after fastening the first and second spar cap brackets.

Abstract: A fiber-composite rotor blade, especially of a rotary-wing aircraft, with a predefined rotor blade profile that has a predefined outer contour of the profile. The fiber-composite rotor blade includes a fiber-composite rotor blade structure having an upper and a lower cover skin and a profile core situated between them, and at least one highly extensible cable integrated into the fiber-composite rotor blade structure in the direction of the span of the rotor blade, whereby the cable can be connected to a functional device that can be attached onto or into the fiber-composite rotor blade structure. The cable is a highly extensible power and/or signal transmission cable that includes at least one cable strand with at least one first cable core made of an electrically insulating, elastic plastic material, and at least one first cable wire that is wound around the first cable core at a predefined pitch angle, like a spiral and free of crossovers.

Abstract: A turbine blade for use in a gas turbine engine, where the turbine blade is made from a spar and shell construction in which a thin walled shell is formed from carbon or molybdenum nanotubes arranged in a direction such that the nanotubes are under tension when the blade is rotating in the engine. The carbon nanotubes are allotropes of carbon in which the length to diameter ratio exceeds 1,000,000 in order to produce very high tensile strength, unique electrical properties, and a very efficient conductor of heat. The nanotube shell includes a metal insert having a tear drop shape and the lower end of the shell wraps around the metal insert to form a wedge in which the shell is held in place against radial displacement between the platform and the attachment portion of the blade.

Abstract: A rotor blade for a wind turbine having a first blade section and a second blade section coupled to the first blade section to form the rotor blade. Each of the first blade section and the second blade section has a leading edge and a trailing edge. A first sparcap including a carbon material is positioned on an inner surface of the first blade section. A second sparcap including a glass material is positioned on the first blade section. The second sparcap is positioned with respect to the first sparcap in a leading edge direction or a trailing edge direction.

Abstract: A torsionally loadable wind turbine blade, includes a loading member secured to a body of the wind turbine blade; and an adjuster for actively displacing the loading member and torsionally deforming the blade on a spanwise axis.

Abstract: A rotor blade for a wind turbine includes a plurality of individual blade segments, with each blade segment defining an internal passage extending between the longitudinal ends of the blade segment. A rigid spar member extends longitudinally through the internal passages of the individual blade segments such that the blade segments are aligned and connected end-to-end on said spar member to define a complete rotor blade from a root to a blade tip. The spar member has a cross-sectional profile that is keyed to the cross-sectional profile of the internal passage in the blade segments. The spar member includes oppositely facing spar caps that engage against the inside surfaces of the blade segments within the internal passages.

Abstract: A blade of a wind turbine is provided having an improved spar cap. The spar cap includes at least one trench extending in a substantially span-wise direction in at least a portion of the spar cap. At least one shear web is connected to the spar cap. At least a portion of the shear web is positioned within the trench of the spar cap.

Abstract: A blade for a wind turbine and a method for making same are provided. The blade includes a skin having a braided fiber sock. One or more stiffeners are attached to the braided fiber sock.

Abstract: A wind turbine blade includes an upper shell with a first portion molded to a second portion by a seamless connection extending along at least a majority of the width of the upper shell. The wind turbine blade also includes a lower shell with a third portion molded to a fourth portion by a seamless connection extending along at least a majority of the width of the lower shell. The first, second, third and fourth portions are made of a fiber reinforced resin construction. A first insert is enveloped within the upper shell between the first portion and the second portion, the enveloped first insert defining a first spar portion. A second insert is enveloped within the lower shell between the third portion and the fourth portion, the enveloped second insert defining a second spar portion. The inserts defining a density lower than the density of the fiber reinforced resin material. The upper shell is bonded to the lower shell adjacent the right and left sides thereof.

Abstract: A method of assembling a rotor blade for use with a wind turbine. The method includes coupling a first sparcap to at least one first panel wall to form a first blade section, wherein the first sparcap has a first chordwise width. A second sparcap is coupled to at least one second panel wall to form a second blade section. The second sparcap has a second chordwise width that is larger than the first chordwise width. The first blade section is coupled to the second blade section to form the rotor blade.

Abstract: A blade for a turbine includes: a support structure of high strength material as a central portion of the blade, the support structure including a root and a body extending to a tip, the body providing a leading edge, a trailing edge and mounting section; and a honeycomb skin attached to the mounting section for providing a lightweight airfoil portion of the blade. A method and a turbine are included.

Abstract: A bearingless rotor system includes a flexbeam assembly having a first beam and a second beam arranged in a back-to-back orientation with a pitch shaft channeled therebetween. The beams morph into a rotor blade spar at an outboard rotor blade station. The outboard section of the flexbeam assembly receives the full pitch input from the pitch shaft while the most inboard section of the flexbeam assembly is essentially fixed in pitch by a blade attachment to a rotor hub assembly. The flexbeam assembly twist versus span is essentially linear from the most inboard to the most outboard rotor blade stations. The outboard rotor blade station, being attached to the outboard section of the flexbeam assembly, thereby also defines the pitch input equivalent from the outboard rotor blade station to the rotor blade tip.

Abstract: A wind turbine rotor comprising a hub and a plurality of blades. The hub comprises a plurality of sites, each having a pair of spaced apart annular bearings for receiving a respective wind turbine blade. Each blade has a spar extending along a substantial portion of the length of the blade and protrudes from the proximal end of the blade. The spar protrudes into and is rotatably received within the respective spaced apart bearings and is fixed to the hub.

Abstract: A multiple piece turbine airfoil having an outer shell with an airfoil tip that is attached to a root with an internal structural spar is disclosed. The root may be formed from first and second sections that include an internal cavity configured to receive and secure the one or more components forming the generally elongated airfoil. The internal structural spar may be attached to an airfoil tip and place the generally elongated airfoil in compression. The configuration enables each component to be formed from different materials to reduce the cost of the materials and to optimize the choice of material for each component.

Abstract: A blade for a wind turbine includes a spar having a shear web, and at least one cross web extending from the spar.

Abstract: The present invention is a vane for us in a gas turbine engine, in which the vane is made of an exotic, high temperature material that is difficult to machine or cast. The vane includes a shell made from either Molybdenum, Niobium, alloys of Molybdenum or Niobium (Columbium), Oxide Ceramic Matrix Composite (CMC), or SiC—SiC ceramic matrix composite, and is formed from a wire electric discharge process. The shell is positioned in grooves between the outer and inner shrouds, and includes a central passageway within the spar, and forms a cooling fluid passageway between the spar and the shell. Both the spar and the shell include cooling holes to carry cooling fluid from the central passageway to an outer surface of the vane for cooling. This cooling path eliminates a serpentine pathway, and therefore requires less pressure and less amounts of cooling fluid to cool the vane.

Abstract: A vane has an airfoil shell and a spar within the shell. The vane has an outboard shroud at an outboard end of the shell and an inboard platform at an inboard end of the shell. The shell includes a region having a coefficient of thermal expansion (CTE) varying with depth.

Abstract: A wind turbine blade made of a fixed blade section with an integral mounting flange for attachment to a wind turbine hub. A moveable blade section is attached to the fixed blade section and is free to move in a longitudinal direction relative to the fixed blade section. A positioning device controllably positions the moveable blade section to vary the overall length of the blade. This allows the wind turbine's rotor diameter to be adjusted. The rotor diameter can be increased in order to provide high power output in low wind conditions and it can be decreased in order to minimize loads in high wind conditions.

Abstract: A method of replacing a portion of a composite airfoil in a turbine. The method comprises the steps of providing a turbine with a plurality of composite airfoils mounted on a wheel. At least one of the composite airfoils has a core made of a non-plastic material and a plastic airfoil portion to envelope at least a portion of the core. A composite airfoil having an airfoil portion in need of replacement is accessed. The plastic airfoil portion is removed to expose the core while the core is mounted on the wheel. A plastic airfoil portion is molded to envelope the core while the core is mounted on the wheel.

Abstract: The present invention concerns a bearing structure for a composite structure rotor blade having fiber strands which extend along the length of the rotor blade. Prefabricated, stiff components are provided in the composite structure. The invention further concerns a process for the production of a shaped body, in particular a rotor blade, of a fiber composite structure, comprising the following steps: producing shells forming the outer contour of the shaped body, producing bearing structures of fiber strands of predetermined length which are impregnated with a hardening composite material, and transporting the bearing structure into the shells. Therefore the object of the present invention is to develop a process of the above-defined kind in such a way that the exothermic reaction is restricted and the risk of undulations is reduced.

Abstract: A main rotor blade assembly includes a main spar with an integral cuff. The main spar is directly to a rotor hub assembly through the integral cuff.

Abstract: A spar of a rotor blade having moderate depth transitions to a relatively much deeper shank over a relatively short distance. This rapid transition enables a low-weight blade root that is structurally efficient, offers a high moment capability, and enables high Mach number axial flow. A transition could advantageously reduce section depth by at least 15%, 20%, 30%, or even 40% over at most 5%, 6%, 10%, or 12% of a total length of the rotor blade. Such a transition could advantageously be accomplished using a cuff, which has interfaces with each of the spar and the shank. The rotor blade shank has a generally circular cross-section which allows for a rotary attachment to a hub, where the attachment may advantageously comprise a mechanical or elastomeric bearing. Preferred embodiments have a spar with a generally rectangular cross-section.

Abstract: One embodiment of the present invention is a blade with a replaceable blade tip shroud that includes an airfoil shaped spar extending from a leading edge to a trailing edge between a root end and a tip end. It can also include a plurality of tiles coupled to an exterior of the spar; a tip shroud positioned to overlap at least a portion of the tip end of the spar; and means for anchoring the tip shroud to the tip end of the spar.

Abstract: A method of forming a wind turbine blade includes forming a root portion, a tip portion, and an airfoil portion extending radially outward from the root portion to the tip portion. The method also includes forming a spar cap extending radially outward from the root portion through at least a portion of the airfoil portion. At least a portion of the spar cap is oriented substantially longitudinally and extends generally linearly from a first end of the spar cap to a second end of the spar cap. The method also includes forming at least one spar cap extension that extends from the spar cap, wherein at least a portion of the spar cap extension is oriented nonlinearly relative to the spar cap.

Abstract: A vertical axis wind turbine including a blade having a modular structure, comprising at least two connectable blade sections. Each section has an upper and lower panel with a cavity formed therebetween through which extends a spar.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus are provided for making a rotor blade spar from composite material wherein a multi-component mandrel is used to form the composite spar. The mandrel is made using a number of components that are assembled and held in place using a roller assembly. The roller assembly is removed after pre-cure lay up and compaction of the composite material. Once the roller assembly is removed, the remaining mandrel components can be separated from each other and easily removed from the spar. The mandrel components, including the roller assembly, can then be re-assembled and re-used to form additional composite spars.

Abstract: A rotorcraft blade is provided with a rigid attachment filler (1) and with a spar (40) that extends from a root (51) of the blade to a free end (52) of the blade, the attachment filler (1) having top, bottom, front, rear, left side, and right side faces (2, 3, 4, 5, 7, and 6). The spar (40) then includes a succession of fiber layers (31, 32, 33) that hold the attachment filler (1) captive at the root (51) of the blade, the spar (40) being secured to the top, bottom, front, rear, and left side faces (2, 3, 4, 5, and 7) of the attachment filler (1).

Abstract: A multi-segment wind turbine blade comprises at least two blade segments. A first spar cap segment is attached to a first blade segment and a second spar cap segment is attached to a second blade segment. The first and second spar cap segments are configured to form a scarf joint. First and second spar cap brackets are attached in locations of the first and second spar cap segments, respectively, selected to facilitate alignment of the first and second spar cap segments at the scarf joint. At a field site, the first and second spar cap segments are bonded after fastening the first and second spar cap brackets.

Abstract: A rotorcraft rotor blade (1) has a blade root (1?) and a free end opposite from the blade root (1?), the blade (1) being provided at least with a spar (2) laid flat on a suction-side face (3) and a pressure side-face (4) of the blade (1), the main spar (2) being secured to an attachment fitting (5) at the blade root (1?). The attachment fitting (5) then includes first and second horizontal fastener bushings (10, 20), the first and second fastener bushings (10, 20) being both perpendicular to the span of the blade (1) and substantially perpendicular to an elevation direction (Z) that is substantially parallel to gravity (W), the elevation direction (Z) being perpendicular to the span.

Abstract: A main rotor blade assembly having a blade skin bonded to a main spar and a tip spar.

Abstract: A main rotor blade assembly includes a tip spar which defines a tip spar non-straight form, an upper blade skin which defines an upper blade skin non-straight form adjacent to the tip spar non-straight form and a lower blade skin which defines a lower blade skin non-straight form adjacent to the tip spar non-straight form.

Abstract: A blade for a wind turbine, includes a shell; a spar member for supporting the shell; and a stiffener, secured to an inside surface of the shell, for enhancing a buckling resistance of the blade.

Abstract: A blade assembly including an outboard blade segment is provided. The outboard blade segment includes an outboard blade shell, first and second outboard bulkheads situated within the outboard blade shell, and an outer box supported by and aligned by the outboard bulkheads. The blade assembly also includes an inboard blade segment including an inboard blade shell, first and second inboard bulkheads situated within the inboard blade shell, and an inner box supported by and aligned by the inboard bulkheads. Further, the inner and the outer boxes are tapered to facilitate insertion of the inner box into the outer box and coupling of the inner and outer boxes.

Abstract: A spar for a wind turbine blade includes at least one shear web extending between pressure and suction sides of the blade; and a joint, arranged substantially midway between ends of the shear web, for sizing the shear web. The joint may include a resilient and/or expandable spacer.

Abstract: A vertical axis type wind power station and a blade manufacturing process, which can stabilize the turning motions of blades and can raise the power generation efficiency by lightening the blades to smoothen the turning motions of the blades; a structure and method for mounting the wind-driven device of a wind power station, by which the wind-driven device can be easily disposed at the upper portion of a building; and a windbreak wind power plant for breaking the wind by using the vertical axis type wind power stations or wind-driven devices arranged along the shoreline or the like.

Abstract: Apparatus and methods related to wind turbine blades and manufacturing of the blades.

Abstract: A member for potential equalising in a wind turbine blade between a first conducting member, such as a member comprising carbon fibres, and a second conducting member, such as a lightning conductor is provided. Furthermore, methods for manufacturing of such members for potential equalising are provided. The member for potential equalising comprises a first contact part suitable for connection to a conducting member comprising carbon fibres, a second contact part and an electrical conductor between the contact parts and the first contact part, wherein the first contact part is shaped substantially as a ribbon.

Abstract: A butt connection of divided hollow profile members, which is suitable in particular for rotor blades of wind power installations, comprises a multiplicity of straps which are arranged along the joint and which bridge over same and which are respectively fixed with their ends to one of the profile members to be connected. In this respect the arrangement is preferably such that one of the two bolts fixing the strap at the ends thereof has a wedge-shaped flattening, by means of which a tensile prestressing can be imparted to the strap.