Wire, Fiber, Strand Or Fabric Patents (Class 416/230)
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Publication number: 20140193269Abstract: Provided is a rotor blade that may include a first layer having first plurality of fibers oriented at first angle of about 10 to 30 degrees relative to a long axis of the rotor blade, a second plurality of fibers oriented at a second angle of about 60 to 75 degrees relative to the first plurality of fibers, and a third plurality of fibers oriented at a third angle of about ?60 to about ?75 degrees relative to the second plurality of fibers.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 14, 2013Publication date: July 10, 2014Applicant: Wetzel Engineering, Inc.Inventor: Kyle K. Wetzel
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Patent number: 8770941Abstract: Efficient impeller or propeller wherein at least one blade in a set of blades on a hub of said impeller is oriented with respect to the tilted plane rotated clockwise or counter clockwise in an axis perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of said impeller. At least one blade in a set of blades of the multi-set impeller may have the same or different sizes or the same or different tilted plane angle compared to at least one blade of the adjacent set or the blade of one set may have the same or different angle as viewed from the second end of the impeller from a reference plane along the longitudinal axis of the impeller compared to the angle of at least one blade of the adjacent set. The invention also includes: blade arrangement for multi-set impeller, inner hub length variations, and hub shapes for better efficiency and utility.Type: GrantFiled: June 30, 2010Date of Patent: July 8, 2014Inventor: Mike Richard John Smith
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Publication number: 20140178204Abstract: Methods of manufacturing a fiber reinforced portion of a wind turbine rotor blade include disposing a continuous fiber mat adjacent a prefabricated layer, wherein the continuous fiber mat comprises randomly arranged reinforcing fibers and wherein the prefabricated layer comprises reinforcing fibers and a cured polymeric resin. The method further includes disposing a structural layer adjacent the continuous fiber mat opposite the prefabricated layer, wherein the structural layer comprises reinforcing fibers. The method then includes infusing a polymeric resin through at least the continuous fiber mat and curing the resin to form the fiber reinforced portion of the wind turbine rotor blade.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 21, 2012Publication date: June 26, 2014Applicant: General Electric CompanyInventors: Jamie Thomas Livingston, Jan Bakhuis
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Patent number: 8753091Abstract: A wind turbine blade may include a plurality of longitudinal composite members each having a fiber and resin layer around a predetermined cross-sectional shape and each comprising at least one longitudinal outer surface and at least one longitudinal mounting surface, each of the outer surfaces of the plurality of longitudinal composite members corresponding to a different portion of a desired airfoil shape, the plurality of longitudinal composite members assembled such that the outer surfaces of the composite members form at least a majority of the airfoil shape. An outer skin may be provided. The composite members may be made up of transportable segments. A method of assembly may include transporting the segments to a desired location such as an installation site for assembly of the wind turbine blade at the installation site.Type: GrantFiled: May 20, 2010Date of Patent: June 17, 2014Assignee: A&P Technology, Inc.Inventors: Mike S. Braley, Andrew A. Head, Phillip M. Lariviere, Victor M. Ivers
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Patent number: 8740546Abstract: A guide vane of a condensation turbine steam turbine is provided, wherein the guide vane includes a heating resistor. The guide vane includes fiber composite material at least in some regions. The heating resistor may be embodied as a heating wire or as a heating film. A condensation steam turbine having a guide vane as described above is also provided.Type: GrantFiled: April 29, 2009Date of Patent: June 3, 2014Assignee: Siemens AktiengesellschaftInventors: Christoph Ebert, Albert Langkamp, Markus Mantei
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Patent number: 8740571Abstract: A turbine bucket for use with a turbine engine. The turbine bucket includes an airfoil that extends between a root end and a tip end. The airfoil includes an outer wall that defines a cavity that extends from the root end to the tip end. The outer wall includes a first ceramic matrix composite (CMC) substrate that extends a first distance from the root end to the tip end. An inner wall is positioned within the cavity. The inner wall includes a second CMC substrate that extends a second distance from the root end towards the tip end that is different than the first distance.Type: GrantFiled: March 7, 2011Date of Patent: June 3, 2014Assignee: General Electric CompanyInventor: Andres Garcia-Crespo
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Publication number: 20140147606Abstract: A point bridged fiber bundle containing a bundle of unidirectional fibers and a plurality of bridges between and connected to at least a portion of adjacent fibers within the bundle of unidirectional fibers. The bridges contain a bridge forming material, have at least a first anchoring surface and a second anchoring surface where the first anchoring surface is discontinuous with the second anchoring surface. The bridges further contain a bridging surface defined as the surface area of the bridge adjacent to the void space. Between about 10 and 100% by number of fibers in a given cross-section contain bridges to one or more adjacent fibers within the point bridged fiber bundle and the anchoring surfaces of the bridges cover less than 100% of the fiber surfaces.Type: ApplicationFiled: November 6, 2013Publication date: May 29, 2014Applicant: MILLIKEN & COMPANYInventors: Xin Li, Ryan W. Johnson, Padmakumar Puthillath, Paul J. Wesson, Philip T. Wilson
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Publication number: 20140147620Abstract: An infusible, unidirectional fabric containing a plurality of unidirectional fibers spaced uniformly in the unidirectional fabric, a plurality of bridges, and a plurality of void spaces between the unidirectional fibers. Each bridge is connected to at least 2 unidirectional fibers and at least 70% by number of fibers have at least one bridge connected thereto forming a bridged network of unidirectional fibers. The void spaces are interconnected and the fabric has a volume fraction of voids of between about 8 and 70%, a volume fraction of fibers of between about 35 and 85%, and at least 50% by number of the bridges have a bridge width minimum less than about 2 millimeters.Type: ApplicationFiled: November 20, 2013Publication date: May 29, 2014Applicant: Milliken & CompanyInventors: Xin Li, Ryan W. Johnson, Joseph E. Rumler
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Publication number: 20140140854Abstract: A wind turbine blade with a blade attachment is provided. A tip end of the wind turbine blade is connected with the blade attachment by a glue-interface. The glue-interface is arranged between the tip end of the blade and the blade attachment. The glue-interface is arranged in a circumferential manner in view to the tip end of the blade and in view to the blade attachment. The blade attachment includes a core with a surface, while the core is surrounded by this surface. The blade attachment, which comprises the core and the surface, is completely made of one foam, showing at least two different densities. That part of the surface of the core, which is arranged adjacent to the glue-interface, is made of foam with a first density, while the chosen first density prevents the infusion of water from the glue-interface into the core.Type: ApplicationFiled: November 20, 2013Publication date: May 22, 2014Inventor: Jeppe Funk Kirkegaard
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Patent number: 8727731Abstract: The invention relates to a process for manufacturing a blade connection of a rotor blade for a wind energy system which comprises fastening elements for fastening the blade connection to a hub, which fastening elements are provided on a circular arc, preferably equidistant from each other. Furthermore, the invention relates to a blade connection and a fastening element for a blade connection. The invention is based on the problem of improving the fastening of a rotor blade on the hub of a wind energy system as well as improving the manufacture and/or making a suitable blade connection available. The invention solves this problem as regards the process in that fastening elements formed in pieces are arranged on the circular arc and spaced from each other with spacer elements.Type: GrantFiled: April 8, 2009Date of Patent: May 20, 2014Assignee: REpower Systems AGInventors: Urs Bendel, Markus Werner, Martin Knops
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Publication number: 20140119936Abstract: Wind turbine blade has a longitudinal direction and includes a shell structure made of a fibre-reinforced polymer material including a polymer matrix and reinforcement material comprising a plurality of carbon fibre layers embedded in the polymer matrix. At least a portion of the shell structure is formed of a laminate 6 comprising at least one metal filament layer 15, 18 comprising metal filaments and being sandwiched between two carbon fibre layers 16,16;17,18 comprising carbon fibres only. The carbon fibre layers are arranged contiguously with the metal filament layer.Type: ApplicationFiled: July 6, 2012Publication date: May 1, 2014Applicant: LM WP PATENT HOLDING A/SInventors: Martin Dahl, Bjarne Krab Mortensen, Morten Olesen
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Publication number: 20140109365Abstract: A method of constructing a composite component includes at least one of laterally and longitudinally aligning a material strip relative to a concavity of a layup tool, at least one of laterally and longitudinally extending the material strip to a predetermined location relative to the layup tool, wherein the material strip is substantially rectangular, and vertically abutting the material strip to the concavity of the layup tool, wherein the longitudinally extending the material strip includes at least one of (1) measuring a longitudinal distance of the material strip and (2) aligning a longitudinal end of the material strip with a longitudinal distance indicium and wherein the laterally extending the material strip includes at least one of (1) measuring a lateral distance of the material strip and (4) aligning a lateral end of the material strip with a lateral distance indicium.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 23, 2012Publication date: April 24, 2014Applicant: BELL HELICOPTER TEXTRON INC.Inventors: Drew Sutton, Loan Thanh Vo, Frank Bradley Stamps, Nolan Phillips
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Patent number: 8696319Abstract: A composite blade has a root and a tip in a spanwise direction and a leading edge and a trailing edge in a chordwise direction. The composite blade includes a three-dimensional woven preform having weft yarns and warp yarns. The weft yarns extend in the spanwise direction of the composite blade. The warp yarns interweave the weft yarns and extend in the chordwise direction of the blade.Type: GrantFiled: May 2, 2013Date of Patent: April 15, 2014Assignee: United Technologies CorporationInventor: Rajiv A. Naik
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Publication number: 20140093381Abstract: A turbine component, a turbine blade, and a turbine component fabrication process are disclosed. The turbine component includes ceramic matrix composite plies and a feature configured for preventing interlaminar tension of the ceramic matrix composite plies. The feature is selected from the group consisting of ceramic matrix composite tows or precast insert tows extending through at least a portion of the ceramic matrix composite plies, a woven fabric having fiber tows or a precast insert preventing contact between a first set of the ceramic matrix composite plies and a second set of the ceramic matrix composite plies, and combinations thereof. The process includes laying up ceramic matrix composite plies in a preselected arrangement and securing a feature configured for interlaminar tension.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 3, 2012Publication date: April 3, 2014Applicant: GENERAL ELECTRIC COMPANYInventors: John McConnell DELVAUX, Ronald Ralph CAIRO, Jason Robert PAROLINI
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Patent number: 8685868Abstract: A reinforcing fiber structure woven as a single piece for fabricating a composite material part, the fiber structure having an internal portion or core (72), and a portion adjacent to an outside surface of the structure, or skin (74, 76), and the fiber structure being formed by a three-dimensional weaving in its core using at least one weave selected from an interlock weave and a multilayer weave, and by weaving at its skin with a weave of satin type that is different from the weave in the core the weaving at the skin being of the multilayer type or of the two-dimensional type.Type: GrantFiled: June 21, 2006Date of Patent: April 1, 2014Assignees: SNECMA, SNECMA Propulsion SolideInventors: Eric Bouillon, Francois Charleux, Dominique Coupe, Bruno Dambrine, Jean Noel Mahieu
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Publication number: 20140086753Abstract: A method of reinforcing a mechanical part, for example a turbine engine part, the part being made by assembling together two portions, the method including: inserting reinforcing mechanisms of elongate shape at least in part in at least one recess formed in one of the portions and opening out into a junction surface between the portions; and assembling the two portions together.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 23, 2012Publication date: March 27, 2014Applicant: SNECMAInventors: Gilles Charles Casimir Klein, Jean-Michel Patrick Maurice Franchet, Gilbert Michel Marin Leconte, Dominique Magnaudeix
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Patent number: 8672636Abstract: The present invention relates to an automatic method for manufacturing a stator or rotor blade preform for a turbine engine, comprising at least the following successive steps: a) a step for the helical braiding of a plurality of interlocked tubular braids (1), called nested braids, said step being conducted on braiding machines (2) placed in a row in a braiding direction; b) a step for flattening the nested braids (1); c) a step for stitching the nested braids (1) together in a direction perpendicular to the braiding direction; d) a step for winding the nested braids (1) on a transport mandrel (3); e) a step for cutting the nested braids (1) unwound from the transport mandrel (3), said cut being performed in a direction perpendicular to the braiding direction.Type: GrantFiled: June 16, 2010Date of Patent: March 18, 2014Assignee: Techspace Aero S.A.Inventor: Philippe Laurent
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Publication number: 20140064980Abstract: Rotor blades include a first shell reinforcing fiber structure, a prefabricated shear web reinforcing fiber structure having a first end and a second end, wherein the first end is infused with the first shell reinforcing fiber structure at a resin infused joint, and, a second shell reinforcing fiber structure attached to the first shell reinforcing fiber structure and the second end of the prefabricated shear web reinforcing fiber structure.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 30, 2012Publication date: March 6, 2014Applicant: General Electric CompanyInventor: Markus Peter Griesel
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Publication number: 20140064964Abstract: Tip rub in gas turbine engines is a well-known phenomenon, and may lead to increased tip clearances, with consequent detrimental effects on the engine's performance and blade flutter margins. Heavy or repeated rubbing may cause blade tip over temperature leading to cracking and fatigue failure. The invention provides a tip for a gas turbine engine rotor blade, which under contact with the casing surface interacts with the casing surface so as to reduce the contact force and thereby reduce the energy transferred to the blade. The tip may be designed to ablate under contact with the casing surface, or to cut or abrade the casing surface, or to crush or compress of deflect under contact with the casing surface. In a preferred embodiment, the tip comprises fibre-reinforced metallic foam material.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 8, 2013Publication date: March 6, 2014Inventors: Ian Colin Deuchar CARE, Giuseppe ZUMPANO, Nicholas Michael MERRIMAN
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Patent number: 8662853Abstract: A wind turbine blade including a number of segments attached together end-to-end in a predetermined arrangement so that the respective covering subassemblies of the segments cooperate to form a substantially smooth surface of the wind turbine blade. Each segment includes a number of fiber tubes extending along preselected lengths of the segment respectively, the fiber tubes being laterally spaced apart from each other respectively to define gaps therebetween. The segment also includes a covering subassembly at least partially supported by the fiber tubes and at least partially defining an internal cavity.Type: GrantFiled: April 13, 2010Date of Patent: March 4, 2014Assignee: Maxiflow Manufacturing Inc.Inventors: Kailash Vasudeva, Sanjeev Bedi
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Patent number: 8662855Abstract: A composite blade includes a preform and a binder. The preform is a preform of yarns woven in three-dimensions and has a tip region, a root region and an intermediate region. The intermediate region is positioned between the tip region and the root region. The yarns comprise warp yarns and weft yarns. The warp yarns form a longitudinal axis. The weft yarns are positioned at a 90 degree angle to the warp yarns. The weft yarns increase in yarn size as determined by filament count along the longitudinal axis to change the thickness of the preform. The binder maintains the relative positions of the preform yarns.Type: GrantFiled: August 31, 2010Date of Patent: March 4, 2014Assignee: United Technologies CorporationInventors: Rajiv A. Naik, Steven R. Clarke
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Patent number: 8657582Abstract: A lightning protection mesh for a blade of a wind turbine comprising a first set of wires running in a first direction, and a second set of wires running in a second, different direction. The mesh has at least one tapered end at which wires from at least one of the first and second set of wires run together. The total conducting cross-sectional area formed by the wires in the tapered end is maintained within the tapered end, and the wires are bundled at the tapered end to provide an electrical connection to the mesh.Type: GrantFiled: June 28, 2010Date of Patent: February 25, 2014Assignee: Vestas Wind Systems A/SInventor: Paul Hibbard
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Patent number: 8657581Abstract: A blade comprises a lightweight core, a composite material disposed on the core, and a skin located on the composite material. The composite material comprises fibers incorporated into a thermoplastic resin matrix in the form of a prepreg sheet or wet layup. The rotor blade may also comprise a front edge member attached along at least a portion of a leading edge of the core, a rear edge member attached along at least a portion of a trailing edge of the core, and a skin located over the core, the front edge member, and the rear edge member. The rotor blade may also comprise a spar extending through the core along a longitudinal axis of the rotor blade, and a skin located over the core and the spar. The edge members and the spars may be fabricated from thermoplastic material.Type: GrantFiled: August 30, 2010Date of Patent: February 25, 2014Assignee: Gordon Holdings, Inc.Inventors: Edward Pilpel, Benjamin Pilpel
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Publication number: 20140030076Abstract: A method for fabricating turbine engine blade or vane made of composite material includes: performing three-dimensional weaving to make a single-piece fiber blank; shaping the fiber blank to obtain a single-piece fiber preform having a first portion forming a preform for at least a blade/vane airfoil, at least one second portion forming a preform for an inner part of a blade/vane inner platform or for an outer part of a blade/vane outer platform, and at least one third portion forming a preform for an outer part of a blade/vane inner platform or for an inner part of a blade/vane outer platform; and densifying the fiber preform with a matrix to obtain a composite material blade, and forming a single piece with an inner and/or outer platform(s) incorporated therein.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 7, 2012Publication date: January 30, 2014Applicants: HERAKLES, SNECMAInventors: ROMAIN NUNEZ, Stephane Blanchard, Guillaume Renon, Dominique Coupe, Clement Roussille, Antoine Jean-Philippe Beaujard, Elric Georges Andre Fremont
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Publication number: 20140023512Abstract: A blade comprises a lightweight core, a composite material disposed on the core, and a skin located on the composite material. The composite material comprises fibers incorporated into a thermoplastic resin matrix in the form of a prepreg sheet or wet layup. The rotor blade may also comprise a front edge member attached along at least a portion of a leading edge of the core, a rear edge member attached along at least a portion of a trailing edge of the core, and a skin located over the core, the front edge member, and the rear edge member. The rotor blade may also comprise a spar extending through the core along a longitudinal axis of the rotor blade, and a skin located over the core and the spar. The edge members and the spars may be fabricated from thermoplastic material.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 25, 2013Publication date: January 23, 2014Applicant: Gordon Holdings, Inc.Inventors: Edward Pilpel, Benjamin D. Pilpel, JR.
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Publication number: 20140023513Abstract: An agglomerated particle cloud network coated fiber bundle containing a bundle of fibers and an agglomerated particle cloud network. The bundle of fibers contains a plurality of fibers and void space between the fibers. The agglomerated particle cloud network contains a plurality of agglomerated nanoparticles located in at least a portion of the void space in the bundle of fibers. The agglomerated nanoparticles form bridges between adjacent fibers. Between 10 and 100% by number of fibers contain bridges to one or more adjacent fibers within the agglomerated particle cloud network coated fiber bundle. The agglomerated nanoparticles form between about 1 and 60% of the effective cross-sectional area of the agglomerated particle cloud network coated fiber bundle.Type: ApplicationFiled: July 23, 2012Publication date: January 23, 2014Inventors: Ryan W. Johnson, Xin Li, Paul J. Wesson, Padmakumar Puthillath, Philip T. Wilson
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Publication number: 20140023515Abstract: Method of manufacturing a fibre-reinforced composite moulding, the method comrisinci the steps of: (a) disposing at least one layer of fibrous reinforcing material within a mould; (b) disDosing at least one pre-preg layer adjacent to the fibrous reinforcing material, the pre-preg layer comprising fibrous reinforcement at least partially impregnated with uncured first resin material, to form a laminar assembly of the at least one layer of fibrous reinforcing material and the at least one pre-preg layer within the mould; (c) applying a vacuum to the assembly; (d) infusing a flowable uncured second resin material, under the vacuum, into the at least one layer of fibrous reinforcing material: and (e) curing the first and second resin materials at least partially simultaneously to form the fibre-reinforced composite moulding which comprises at least one first structural portion formed from the fibrous reinforcement and the cured first resin material bonded to at least one second structural portion formed from theType: ApplicationFiled: September 27, 2013Publication date: January 23, 2014Applicant: Gurit (UK) Ltd.Inventor: Daniel Thomas JONES
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Publication number: 20140023514Abstract: Structural preform layers of multiple rigid unidirectional strength elements or rods are constructed and arranged for use in fabricating load-bearing support structures and reinforcements of wind turbine blades. Individual preform layers include multiple elongate unidirectional strength elements or rods arranged in a single layer along a longitudinal axis of the preform layer. Each preform layer includes one or more fibrous carrier layers to which the multiple strength elements or rods are joined and arranged in the single layer. Each strength element or rod is longitudinally oriented and adjacent to other elements or rods. Individual strength elements or rods include a mass of substantially straight unidirectional structural fibers embedded within a matrix resin such that the elements or rods have a substantially uniform distribution of fibers and high degree of fiber collimation.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 20, 2013Publication date: January 23, 2014Applicant: NEPTCO, INC.Inventors: Joel D. Gruhn, Ethan Franklin, Kameshwaran Narasimhan
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Publication number: 20140010662Abstract: A method of forming an airfoil with an integrated platform includes: a) providing an airfoil core; b) wrapping a first overwrap ply around the airfoil core; c) darting a first end of the first overwrap ply to allow the overwrap ply to extend perpendicular to the airfoil core to form a first platform; d) filling the darted parts filler plies; e) wrapping a second overwrap ply around the first overwrap ply; f) darting a first end of the second overwrap ply to allow the second overwrap ply to extend adjacent to the first overwrap ply to form the first platform; g) filling the darted parts of the second overwrap ply with one or more filler plies; and h) placing a cap ply in the shape of the platform adjacent to at least one of the first and second overwrap plies. An airfoil with an integrated platform is also disclosed.Type: ApplicationFiled: July 3, 2012Publication date: January 9, 2014Applicant: UNITED TECHNOLOGIES CORPORATIONInventors: Shelton O. Duelm, Erica L. Prevost, Conway Chuong
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Patent number: 8622709Abstract: A wind turbine blade using a core member that is light and low-cost while maintaining strength and a wind power generator using the same are provided. A wind turbine blade (9) is formed of a fiber-reinforced plastic skin (13). The skin (13) or a main beam (15) uses a core member (39) formed integrally of fiber layers (55) arranged so as to intersect in plan view and each penetrate in the thickness direction to constitute flow paths for resin and plastic foam members (57) filling spaces between the fiber layers (55), in such a manner that the fiber layers (55) are impregnated with the resin.Type: GrantFiled: June 5, 2008Date of Patent: January 7, 2014Assignee: Mitsubishi Heavy Industries, Ltd.Inventor: Takao Kuroiwa
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Patent number: 8622710Abstract: A wind turbine component has a laminate of fibrous material and plastic and an electrical line embedded in the laminate, wherein a profile is arranged on a lateral surface of the electrical line, the profile counteracting the formation of a hollow space or plastic nest between the lateral surface and a fibrous material layer which covers an upper side of the electrical line during the manufacture of the laminate.Type: GrantFiled: June 8, 2012Date of Patent: January 7, 2014Assignee: Nordex Energy GmbHInventors: Philipp Rindt, Dirk Austinat
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Publication number: 20140003955Abstract: A laminate preform (1) is disclosed, having a top side (2) and a back side (3) extending between respective edge portions (4), said laminate preform comprising a plurality of layers of fibre tows (5) extending in a length direction of said laminate pre-form (1), said fibre tows being at least partly fixed by resin. The laminate pre-form (1) is in between a first and a second prepreg or semi-preg layer (6a, 6b) including fibres extending in an oblique direction with respect to said length direction, and at least one distribution channel (7) is provided at the back side (3) extending in said length direction. Also disclosed is a method for manufacturing such a laminate pre-form.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 6, 2011Publication date: January 2, 2014Applicant: VESTAS WIND SYSTEMS A/SInventor: Jed Richter
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Publication number: 20140003956Abstract: The invention relates to a reinforcement, containing fibers and resin, for an element made of a composite material, particularly a wind turbine blade, characterized in that said reinforcement is produced by stacking at least two parts produced by pultrusion. A reinforcement, containing fibers and resin, for an element made of a composite material, particularly a wind turbine blade, is characterized in that the reinforcement is produced by stacking at least two parts produced by pultrusion.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 9, 2012Publication date: January 2, 2014Applicant: EPSILON COMPOSITEInventors: Stephane Lull, Denis Ferrer, Jose Portoles
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Patent number: 8616853Abstract: A method of fabricating a guide vane. The method produces a fiber preform by 3D weaving a single piece, the preform including a first portion extending along the longitudinal axis and constituting the preform for an airfoil of the vane, and at a longitudinal end of the first portion, a second portion constituting the preform for the platform of the vane, the second portion being produced as a first layer and a second layer facing the first layer and separated from the first layer by unlinking without cutting while producing the preform; folding the first and second layers such that each of them lies in a plane perpendicular to the longitudinal axis, substantially symmetrically to each other relative to the first portion, and such that a first region of the first layer covers a second region of the second layer in front of a front edge of the first portion; conforming the preform in a mold; and densifying the preform with a polymer matrix.Type: GrantFiled: July 9, 2009Date of Patent: December 31, 2013Assignee: SNECMAInventors: Olivier Belmonte, Jean Noel Mahieu, Xavier Millier
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Patent number: 8596984Abstract: There is provided a resin fan capable of enhancing the mechanical strength in a weld part in view of the direction of reinforcing fiber. On the outer peripheral surface 16a of a cylindrical rib 16, convex parts 30 are formed in the middle portions between the portions in which radial ribs 18 adjoining each other are connected to the cylindrical rib 16. The cylindrical rib 16 is formed so that the thickness T in the radial direction thereof is decreased gradually from the base part 16c thereof toward the tip end part 16d. Further, the height H1 of the cylindrical rib 16 is set so as to be larger than the height H2 of the radial rib 18. Thereby, at the time of molding, the resin flows in the portions of the cylindrical rib 16 and the convex parts 30 are complicated, and thereby the orientation of glass fiber mixed in the resin is complicated.Type: GrantFiled: October 31, 2008Date of Patent: December 3, 2013Assignee: Mitsubishi Heavy Industries, Ltd.Inventors: Masahiro Bessho, Takamitsu Himeno, Atsushi Suzuki, Takayuki Kobayashi, Kimihiko Okamoto
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Publication number: 20130315747Abstract: A wind turbine blade (10) including: a spar cap (18) having first fibers (38) oriented parallel to a longitudinal axis (40) of the blade (10); and a fiber member (50, 52, 54, 56, 58) joined to the spar cap at a joint (30, 32, 34) and having second fibers (80). The second fibers are oriented at a first angle (?, ?) relative to the longitudinal axis along portions remote (100, 130) from the joint and are curved toward the longitudinal axis in a harmonizing region (102, 122, 132) proximate the joint.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 23, 2012Publication date: November 28, 2013Inventor: Karsten Schibsbye
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Patent number: 8585370Abstract: A rotor blade or rotor blade element for a wind power installation is provided having a surface film and a hardenable resin, wherein the surface film has been reacted with the resin to form an integral portion of the rotor blade or rotor blade element. Production and repair processes for the rotor blade or the rotor blade element are also provided.Type: GrantFiled: October 19, 2011Date of Patent: November 19, 2013Assignee: Aloys WobbenInventors: Sven Muschke, Torsten Link
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Publication number: 20130302173Abstract: The disclosure generally relates to a wear resistant turbine fan blade having a composite lubricated sheet adhered to a root of the turbine fan blade and having improved tribological properties at high temperatures.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 11, 2012Publication date: November 14, 2013Applicant: E. I. DU PONT DE NEMOURS AND COMPANYInventors: J. David Booze, Clifford K. Deakyne, Frederic Pailler, James E. Weishampel
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Patent number: 8579592Abstract: A hub-side leading edge part of a fan first-stage rotating blade 10 for taking an air thereinto more extends in a forward direction of an engine than a tip-side leading edge part and a mid-span leading edge part. The hub side of the fan first-stage rotating blade 10 is integrally connected as one with the tip side and the mid span while having a longer chord length than those of the tip side and the mid span. A radius at a root of the hub-side leading edge part is set in a boss ratio of 0 to 0.4.Type: GrantFiled: April 6, 2007Date of Patent: November 12, 2013Assignee: IHI CorporationInventors: Hidekazu Kodama, Shinya Goto, Ikuhisa Mizuta, Takeshi Murooka
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Patent number: 8573947Abstract: A composite fan blade having an airfoil with a leading edge and a trailing edge and a dovetail root includes a first pressure face and second pressure face, a lower horizontal face connecting the pressure faces at the bottom of the dovetail and a first and a second dovetail runout fillet connecting the pressure faces to the airfoil. The pressure faces are each angled outward at about 65 degrees to about 75 degrees from horizontal.Type: GrantFiled: March 10, 2010Date of Patent: November 5, 2013Assignee: United Technologies CorporationInventors: Carl Brian Klinetob, Brian P. Huth, Gregory E. Reinhardt
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Publication number: 20130283820Abstract: A fan blade having a body with a dovetail and an airfoil extending radially outwardly. The airfoil includes a pair of skins spaced to form an internal core, which define a pressure side and a suction side, and extending from a radially inner end to a radially outer tip. The core receives a plurality of braided tubes, with the tubes extending with at least a component in a radially outward direction. A fan and an engine are also described.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 30, 2012Publication date: October 31, 2013Inventors: Stephen P. Muron, Larry Foster
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Patent number: 8563450Abstract: Glass batch compositions for the formation of high-modulus, and high-strength glass fibers as well as fibers suitable for use as textile and reinforcements are disclosed. Fibers formed of the composition are especially suitable for use in high-strength, low-weight applications such as windmill blades and high strength and modulus applications where strength and stiffness are required in the composite. The glass composition is up to about 70.5 weight % SiO2, about 24.5 weight % Al2O3, about 22 weight % alkaline earth oxides and may include small amounts of alkali metal oxides and ZrO2. Fiberglass-reinforced composite articles such as windmill blades are also disclosed.Type: GrantFiled: September 16, 2010Date of Patent: October 22, 2013Assignee: OCV Intellectual Capital, LLCInventors: Douglas A. Hofmann, Peter B. McGinnis
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Patent number: 8556586Abstract: A fluid turbine for generating electrical power, the turbine having a rotor assembly comprising a hub, a rim and a plurality of blade members joining them together, the blade members being rigid, flat panel, multi-ply, composite blade members having a plurality of parallel, longitudinally-oriented, reinforcing cords composed of non-braided aramid synthetic strands, the cords being disposed between at least two cloth layers impregnated with a cured polymer resin.Type: GrantFiled: February 3, 2010Date of Patent: October 15, 2013Inventor: Herbert Williams
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Patent number: 8556589Abstract: A protective hybrid composite for a rotor blade is based on the use of tape cast ceramic layers densified by pre-ceramic polymer infiltration methods and laminated together with polymer matrix composite prepregs, with or without an embedded metallic mesh, to form a conforming helicopter blade cladding that is laminated to the blade surface for added erosion protection. The hybrid composite is fabricated to net shape and laminated to the blade using either an adhesive or a polymer composite prepreg inner layer. Installation is accomplished by a standard composite fabrication method of vacuum bagging the blade while the system is laminated to its surface. Repair methods based on removal of ceramic tiles is facilitated by incorporation of a metallic mesh element laminated beneath the ceramic tiles that can be used to heat the tile and decrease its adhesion strength.Type: GrantFiled: December 30, 2009Date of Patent: October 15, 2013Assignee: Teledyne Scientific & Imaging, LLCInventors: Janet B Davis, David B Marshall, Olivier H Sudre, Sergio dos Santos e Lucato
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Patent number: 8545179Abstract: A system for the structural monitoring of blades 1 on a wind turbine. Each blade 1 has respective optical fiber bragg grating sensors 5. The system has a number of input connectors, which connect to the strain sensors 5 of respective blades 1. A single output connector connects to a data processing device 3 which processes signals from the strain sensors 5. The input connectors each have a signal path to the output connector that is different in length to the signal path from the other input connectors, such that signals from a given blade 1 can be identified at the data processing device 3 by the time of arrival of the signals. The system has the advantage that the each of the blades 1, including the sensors attached to it or embedded within it can be identical and therefore interchangeable.Type: GrantFiled: August 20, 2007Date of Patent: October 1, 2013Assignee: Moog Insensys LimitedInventors: Mark Volanthen, Philip Mark Rhead, Martin Peter William Jones, Glynn David Lloyd
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Patent number: 8540491Abstract: Structural preform layers of multiple rigid unidirectional strength elements or rods are constructed and arranged for use in fabricating load-bearing support structures and reinforcements of wind turbine blades. Individual preform layers include multiple elongate unidirectional strength elements or rods arranged in a single layer along a longitudinal axis of the preform layer. Each preform layer includes one or more fibrous carrier layers to which the multiple strength elements or rods are joined and arranged in the single layer. Each strength element or rod is longitudinally oriented and adjacent to other elements or rods. Individual strength elements or rods include a mass of substantially straight unidirectional structural fibers embedded within a matrix resin such that the elements or rods have a substantially uniform distribution of fibers and high degree of fiber collimation.Type: GrantFiled: August 14, 2012Date of Patent: September 24, 2013Assignee: Neptco, Inc.Inventors: Joel D. Gruhn, Ethan Franklin, Kameshwaran Narasimhan
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Publication number: 20130243603Abstract: A composite blade has a root and a tip in a spanwise direction and a leading edge and a trailing edge in a chordwise direction. The composite blade includes a three-dimensional woven preform having weft yarns and warp yarns. The weft yarns extend in the spanwise direction of the composite blade. The warp yarns interweave the weft yarns and extend in the chordwise direction of the blade.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 2, 2013Publication date: September 19, 2013Applicant: United Technologies CorporationInventor: Rajiv A. Naik
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Publication number: 20130244520Abstract: The present invention relates to sheet-form fibre composite components which are obtainable by impregnating fibres with a reactive resin mixture comprising polyisocyanates, polyepoxides, polyols and optionally additives, and to a process for the production thereof.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 12, 2011Publication date: September 19, 2013Applicant: Bayer Intellectual Property GmbHInventors: Stefan Lindner, Klaus Franken, Dirk Passmann, Peter Nordmann
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Publication number: 20130224035Abstract: A composite airfoil includes a woven preform with warp yarns of a first material, the preform with a tip, root, leading edge, trailing edge and an intermediate region positioned between the root and the tip; and a first matrix made of a first resin maintaining the relative positions of the preform yarns. The composite blade further includes at least one of: fill yarns of a second material in the woven preform; and a second matrix made of a second resin maintaining the relative positions of the preform yarns in a portion of the airfoil.Type: ApplicationFiled: February 29, 2012Publication date: August 29, 2013Applicant: UNITED TECHNOLOGIES CORPORATIONInventors: Phillip Alexander, George Alan Salisbury, Larry Foster
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Patent number: 8517681Abstract: A wind turbine blade has a blade body 11, a plurality of receptors 12, 13 embedded in and exposed to the surface of the blade body 11, a conductor layer 14 provided on the surface of the blade body 11 and connecting the receptors 12, 13 with one another and a downconductor 21 connected to the receptors 12, 13 and provided in the blade body 11. The downconductor 21 may be embedded in an insulator.Type: GrantFiled: February 15, 2011Date of Patent: August 27, 2013Assignee: Mitsubishi Heavy Industries, Ltd.Inventors: Takehiro Naka, Takatoshi Matsushita, Nobuyasu Nakamura, Yoshihiko Hayashi, Shinji Arinaga