With Measuring, Testing, Signalling Or Inspection Means Patents (Class 416/61)
  • Patent number: 12252997
    Abstract: A spline cleaning device for cleaning splines formed within a component of a gas turbine engine. The spline cleaning device comprises: a central support; a central support sleeve that surrounds and is movable with respect to the central support; a scraper having protrusions that substantially correspond to the splines, the scraper being attachable to the central support sleeve, and configured to remove surface contaminants from the surface of the splines; and a collector sump that is attachable to the central support and configured to collect the surface contaminants that have been removed from the surface of the splines.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 31, 2022
    Date of Patent: March 18, 2025
    Assignee: Rolls-Royce PLC
    Inventor: Christopher J. Preece
  • Patent number: 12234804
    Abstract: A clearance monitoring system of a wind turbine, and a monitoring method and device are provided. The clearance monitoring system includes a processor and a millimeter wave radar in communication connection to the processor. The millimeter wave radar is installed on a left side portion of a nacelle of the wind turbine. The millimeter wave radar points to a movement area of the impeller and is used for monitoring movement data of each blade on the impeller in the movement area. The processor is used to receive the movement data. According to the movement data, blade clearance between each blade and a tower of the wind turbine is determined.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 31, 2021
    Date of Patent: February 25, 2025
    Assignee: BEIJING GOLDWIND SCIENCE & CREATION WINDPOWER EQUIPMENT CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Xinle Li, Qi Zhang
  • Patent number: 12234805
    Abstract: Provided are a wind turbine, and a control method, a controller and a control system for the same. The control method includes: monitoring wind resource data at the location of a wind turbine and operation data of the wind turbine; identifying a complicated wind condition based on the wind resource data and the operation data; determining an accumulative proportion of time periods in which the complicated wind condition occurs within a first predetermined time period; and controlling the wind turbine to perform a protection operation, in response to the accumulative proportion of the time periods exceeding a first preset threshold.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 30, 2021
    Date of Patent: February 25, 2025
    Assignee: XINJIANG GOLDWIND SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Jie Zhou, Waqar Ali, Xueming Cao, Weidong Hao
  • Patent number: 12221207
    Abstract: A back-to-back spherical bearing assembly for a rotary system of a rotary aircraft includes a spherical bearing member having an interior cavity and a spherical bearing surface defining a bearing focal point, a first elastomeric and a second elastomeric bonded to the spherical bearing surface on opposite sides of the bearing focal point, an inboard attachment bonded to the first elastomeric and configured to be secured to a rotor hub of the rotary system, and an outboard attachment bonded to the second elastomeric and configured to be secured to a rotor blade of the rotary system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 6, 2023
    Date of Patent: February 11, 2025
    Assignee: Textron Innovations Inc.
    Inventors: Amarjit Kizhakkepat, Mark Adam Wiinikka
  • Patent number: 12205483
    Abstract: An aerial vehicle is configured to calculate ranges to objects around the aerial vehicle when operating within indoor spaces, using a LIDAR sensor or another range sensor. The aerial vehicle calculates ranges within a plurality of sectors around the aerial vehicle and identifies a minimum distance measurement for each of the sectors. Sets of adjacent sectors having distance measurements above a threshold are identified, and bearings and minimum distance measurements of the sets of adjacent sectors are determined. When the aerial vehicle detects an object within a flight path, the aerial vehicle selects one of the sets of adjacent sectors based on the minimum distance measurements and executes a braking maneuver in a direction of the selected one of the sets of adjacent sectors.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 26, 2023
    Date of Patent: January 21, 2025
    Assignee: Amazon Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Yibo Cao, Chong Huang, Dawei Li, Yang Liu, Kah Kuen Fu
  • Patent number: 12191722
    Abstract: An electric motor assembly to supply torque is disclosed where the assembly includes a stator modules having a plurality of stator windings, each stator winding configured to receive high-voltage, alternating current; a rotor assembly, each rotor assembly having a hub and plurality of magnets arranged on the hub, the plurality of magnets each having magnetic north and south poles where the plurality of magnets are arranged along an outer periphery of the hub to alternate the magnetic north and south poles; and a main shaft to supply the torque, wherein at least one of the one or more rotor assemblies is configured to rotate the main shaft, and the at least one of the one or more rotor assemblies is associated with and concentrically contained within the one or more stator modules, the at least one of the one or more rotor assemblies being rotatable relative to the one or more stator modules.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 31, 2020
    Date of Patent: January 7, 2025
    Assignee: MAGNIX USA, INC.
    Inventors: David Sercombe, Michele D'Ercole, Roei Ganzarski
  • Patent number: 12180929
    Abstract: A system and method are configured to monitor changes associated with an air gap in a brake assembly of a wind turbine yaw drive by: (1) receiving one or more sensor signals from one or more sensors that are indicative of changes associated with the air gap; and (2) comparing the changes associated with the air gap to certain thresholds to determine if the air gap is in need of attention. The system includes at least one proximity sensor arranged adjacent to the air gap, to monitor the air gap, and a controller. The controller is configured to receive the sensor signal(s) indicative of the changes associated with the air gap. The controller also is configured to compare the changes associated with the air gap to one or more air gap thresholds, and to implement a control action based on this comparison.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 12, 2022
    Date of Patent: December 31, 2024
    Assignee: General Electric Renovables Espana, S.L.
    Inventors: Anand Nakka, Siva Ram Surya Sanyasi Adavikolanu, Aaron P. Janicz, Joseph Edward Birkenstock, Arati Ajay Bhattu
  • Patent number: 12180931
    Abstract: An exemplary system for determining an operating condition for a wind turbine having a rotor, generator, and gearbox, includes a plurality of sensors mounted within the nacelle of the wind turbine. The system also includes a pair proximity sensors are mounted adjacent to the rotor for measuring rotor displacement. A first processor is connected to receive sensor data from the pair of proximity sensors and is configured to partition the received sensor data into predefined datasets, and a second processor configured to format the predefined datasets for transmission over a network to a processing computer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 14, 2023
    Date of Patent: December 31, 2024
    Assignee: The AES Corporation
    Inventors: Andrew Brody, Fred Briggs
  • Patent number: 12152563
    Abstract: A method, an apparatus, an electronic device, and a computer-readable storage medium for detecting a wind turbine blade based on drone aerial photography are provided. The method includes: determining first initial three-dimensional position coordinates and a posture of a wind turbine; determining second initial three-dimensional coordinates of a first expected position with respect to a front shooting position of the wind turbine, based on the first initial three-dimensional position coordinates, the posture, and a preset distance; inputting the second initial three-dimensional coordinates of the first expected position into a flight control system of the drone, and controlling the drone to fly to the second initial three-dimensional coordinates based on a GPS system; and controlling the drone to track at least one first key point of blades of the wind turbine, and determining a three-dimensional movement trajectory of the first key point in a camera coordinate system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 26, 2024
    Date of Patent: November 26, 2024
    Assignee: NYOCOR INTELLIGENT MAINTENANCE (NINGXIA) TECHNOLOGY CO., LTD
    Inventors: Yang Su, Dashuai Hao, Haiyang Li, Kaiwen Jia, Yaowen Yang
  • Patent number: 12140117
    Abstract: A method of determining a blade clearance during operation of a wind turbine is provided, the blade clearance corresponding to a distance between a rotor blade and a tower of the wind turbine. The method includes (a) detecting a rotor blade velocity, (b) emitting a first signal from an observer location, the first signal having a first frequency, (c) receiving a second signal at the observer location, the second signal being reflected from the rotor blade when the first signal impinges on the rotor blade, (d) determining a Doppler shift of the second signal relative to the first signal, and (e) determining the blade clearance based on the first frequency, the Doppler shift, the observer location, and the rotor blade velocity, wherein the step of determining the blade clearance utilizes a mathematical model. A corre-sponding system and a wind turbine comprising such a system are also provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 16, 2020
    Date of Patent: November 12, 2024
    Assignee: SIEMENS GAMESA RENEWABLE ENERGY A/S
    Inventor: Eirik Nagel
  • Patent number: 12140217
    Abstract: A method includes for each of the portions of a guide of the actuator, obtaining an operating signal measured when a movable element of the actuator travels over the guide portion in question, upon each of a plurality of successive activations of the actuator; for each of the guide portions, seeking wear of the actuator from the operating signals obtained for this guide portion; and locating the wear on the guide or on the motor according to the guide portions from which the wear has been found.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 13, 2021
    Date of Patent: November 12, 2024
    Assignees: SAFRAN, SAFRAN ELECTRONICS & DEFENSE
    Inventors: Amadou Assoumane, Mohammed El Badaoui, Badr Mansouri, Audrey Venon
  • Patent number: 12122507
    Abstract: A flight control system for a rotary-wing aircraft includes a shape sensor and a controller. The shape sensor is configured to measure a shape of a rotor blade during movement of the rotor blade. The controller is communicably coupled to the shape sensor and is configured to (i) receive, from the shape sensor, a first signal indicative of a first blade shape; (ii) receive a blade characteristic regarding the rotor blade; and (iii) determine at least one of a moment or force associated with the rotor blade based on the first signal and the blade characteristic.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 22, 2021
    Date of Patent: October 22, 2024
    Assignee: LOCKHEED MARTIN CORPORATION
    Inventors: Nicholas D. Lappos, Navid Dadkhah Tehrani, Mark Daniel Ward
  • Patent number: 12078183
    Abstract: A fan blade includes a blade body blowing air and a root portion secured to a support part. A first end part of a fall prevention member is attached to a first mount portion provided in the support part, and a second end part of the fall prevention member is attached to a second mount portion provided in the blade body. A controller controls electric energization to a DC motor to cause the fan blade to stop rotating when the fan blade breaks, the blade body is retained by the fall prevention member, the blade body is tilted, and at least one of a current value or a rotation speed measured by a measurer changes from a predetermined value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 24, 2020
    Date of Patent: September 3, 2024
    Assignee: PANASONIC INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY MANAGEMENT CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Tatsuya Yamashita, Shigeo Itou, Hiroyuki Kuramochi
  • Patent number: 12044207
    Abstract: The present disclosure relates to methods (100, 200) for controlling and operating wind turbines (10). More particularly, the present disclosure relates to methods and systems for determining a surface condition of one or more wind turbine blades (22) of a wind turbine (10). a method comprises rotating the wind turbine rotor (18) under the influence of a wind in predetermined rotation conditions, wherein the predetermined rotation conditions include at least a predetermined pitch angle (252) of the additional wind turbine blades (222, 223). The method further comprises determining a current value of one or more parameters of the wind turbine (10) when rotating in the predetermined rotation conditions and comparing the current value of the one or more parameters of the wind turbine with one or more reference values (37) to determine the surface condition of the wind turbine blades (22).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 3, 2022
    Date of Patent: July 23, 2024
    Assignee: General Electric Renovables Espana, S.L.
    Inventors: Marc Canal Vila, Saskia Honhoff, Shanmuga-Priyan Subramanian, Thomas Jean Picard
  • Patent number: 12044356
    Abstract: A canopy installing structure has a hanging mount and a canopy. The hanging mount has an upper mounting unit, at least one hanging hook segment mounted on the upper mounting unit, and a hanging mount main body. The hanging mount main body is fixed on a ceiling through the upper mounting unit. The canopy has an annular wall and at least one engaging groove segment. The annular wall is mounted around a side wall of the upper mounting unit. The at least one engaging groove segment is formed on an inner side of the annular wall. The at least one hanging hook segment protrudes toward the annular wall and each engaging with a respective one of the at least one engaging groove segment. The canopy installing structure improves the disassembling efficiency and facilitates ease in assembling.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 13, 2023
    Date of Patent: July 23, 2024
    Assignee: FOSHAN CARRO ELECTRICAL CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Jian-Sheng Zhang, Han-Hua Huang
  • Patent number: 12018653
    Abstract: A method of controlling at least one adaptable airflow regulating system, in particular spoiler and/or flap, of at least one rotor blade of a wind turbine having a wind turbine tower includes: determining a quantity related to a distance between the rotor blade and the wind turbine tower; controlling the airflow regulating system based on the quantity.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 26, 2021
    Date of Patent: June 25, 2024
    Assignee: Siemens Gamesa Renewable Energy A/S
    Inventors: Thomas Esbensen, Gustav Hoegh
  • Patent number: 11988188
    Abstract: A rotor for a wind turbine, to a rotor blade for a wind turbine, to a blade-fastening element for the fastening of a rotor blade, to a wind turbine, and to a method for mounting a rotor. A rotor for a wind turbine, comprising at least one rotor blade which extends from a blade tip to a face side, a hub having a blade-fastening element which, at the rotor-blade side thereof, has a blind hole for receiving a longitudinal bolt for the fastening of a rotor blade to the blade-fastening element, wherein the rotor blade has a fastening region which is of tubular form and which is arranged adjoining the face side, wherein the fastening region has at its outer circumferential surface and/or at its inner circumferential surface at least one thickened portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 4, 2019
    Date of Patent: May 21, 2024
    Assignee: Wobben Properties GmbH
    Inventors: Florian Rubner, Torsten Jepsen
  • Patent number: 11988193
    Abstract: A wind turbine has an object position and/or speed detection device including: at least one leaky feeder, at least one electromagnetic transmitter connected to the least one leaky feeder for transmitting a first electromagnetic signal along the at least one leaky feeder towards a target object, whose position is to be detected, at least one electromagnetic receiver connected to the least one leaky feeder for receiving from the at least one leaky feeder a second electromagnetic signal, the second electromagnetic signal reflected from the target object when the first electromagnetic signal hits the target object, a processing unit connected to the electromagnetic transmitter and the electromagnetic receiver and configured to analyze the first electromagnetic signal and the second electromagnetic signal for determining the position and/or speed and/or direction and/or the size of the target object.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 28, 2019
    Date of Patent: May 21, 2024
    Assignee: SIEMENS GAMESA RENEWABLE ENERGY A/S
    Inventors: Eirik Nagel, John Nieuwenhuizen
  • Patent number: 11976636
    Abstract: A method of activating an ice removal system of a wind turbine comprises: monitoring the output power of the wind turbine; monitoring an output from an ice sensor provided on the wind turbine indicative of an atmospheric icing condition; and activating the ice-removal system when the output power is below an expected output power and the output from the ice sensor indicates that an atmospheric icing condition has ended.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 15, 2021
    Date of Patent: May 7, 2024
    Assignee: VESTAS WIND SYSTEMS A/S
    Inventors: Karl Gregory, Keld Rasmussen
  • Patent number: 11971277
    Abstract: A rotor-hub-flap anisotropic-sensor system includes a rotor hub, a plurality of anisotropic-sensor arrangements interoperably coupled to the rotor hub and operable to measure flapping of the rotor hub, a plurality of rotor blades connected to the rotor hub, and at least one flight control computer interoperably coupled to the plurality of anisotropic-sensor arrangements.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 17, 2021
    Date of Patent: April 30, 2024
    Assignee: Textron Innovations Inc.
    Inventors: Kyle Thomas Cravener, Patrick Smith, Troy Cyril Schank, Brady Garrett Atkins, Kynn Jerald Schulte
  • Patent number: 11965480
    Abstract: An acoustic monitoring system and method for the health status of an offshore wind turbine and an ocean wave are provided. The acoustic monitoring system includes a first laser transmitter, a second laser transmitter, a telephoto camera provided at a hub, a vibration detection sensor provided on a tower of a wind turbine, and four acoustic detection sensors arranged at an interval of 90° along the circumference of the tower. The first and second laser transmitters are arranged at the bottom of a nacelle of the wind turbine and emit laser lights vertically downward. The first laser transmitter, the second laser transmitter, the telephoto camera, the vibration detection sensor, and the acoustic detection sensors are connected to a data acquisition and conversion module through a transmission module. The acoustic monitoring system combines laser light detection with acoustic signal feature detection to improve stability and safety of the offshore wind turbine.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 18, 2021
    Date of Patent: April 23, 2024
    Assignee: OCEAN UNIVERSITY OF CHINA
    Inventors: Sidney Yu Xue, Yuanzhen Cui, Yang Zhang
  • Patent number: 11954408
    Abstract: A method of designing a modified aerofoil shape, the method comprising the steps of: determining a plurality of resonant frequencies of a baseline aerofoil shape; determining that one of the resonant frequencies falls within a predetermined range of frequencies; providing a plurality of aerofoil sections defining the baseline aerofoil shape; and defining a modified aerofoil shape by displacing at least one of the plurality of aerofoil sections relative to its baseline position in the baseline aerofoil shape until one of the plurality of resonant frequencies previously falling within the range of frequencies is shifted outside the range of frequencies.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 26, 2019
    Date of Patent: April 9, 2024
    Assignee: ROLLS-ROYCE plc
    Inventors: Martin Rose, Stuart Marshall
  • Patent number: 11946448
    Abstract: A system for measuring displacements of a blade root of a rotor blade of a wind turbine includes a hub, and a rotor blade coupled to the hub by a pitch bearing. The system further comprises a reference plane and at least one displacement sensor. The reference plane is configured to move with the rotor blade as the rotor blade moves relative to the hub while the displacement sensor is fixed to the hub and the displacement sensor is configured to detect a displacement of the reference plane relative to the hub without physical contact. Alternatively, the reference plane has a fixed position with respect to the hub while the displacement sensor is fixed to the rotor blade and the displacement sensor is configured to detect a displacement of the reference plane relative to the rotor blade without physical contact.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 15, 2020
    Date of Patent: April 2, 2024
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Bart Jan Veldkamp, Till Hoffmann
  • Patent number: 11939877
    Abstract: An integrally bladed rotor (IBR) for a gas turbine engine and method is provided. The IBR is configured for use in blade off testing and includes a hub, a plurality of rotor blades, a central passage, and first and second lateral cavities. The hub has forward and aft ends and a circumferentially extending exterior surface. The central passage is disposed in the hub radially below a test rotor blade, extending along a path between an inlet at or forward of the test blade leading edge and an outlet at or aft of the test blade trailing edge. The first and second lateral cavities are disposed in the hub, extending generally parallel to the central passage path, on opposite circumferential sides. The first lateral cavity is disposed a distance (MSD1) from the central passage and the second lateral cavity is disposed a distance (MSD2) from the central passage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 21, 2022
    Date of Patent: March 26, 2024
    Assignee: Pratt & Whitney Canada Corp.
    Inventors: Paul Stone, Dikran Mangardich
  • Patent number: 11927175
    Abstract: A rotor blade with a leading edge and a trailing edge is provided, wherein the rotor blade is for being exposed to a fluid flowing substantially from the leading edge to the trailing edge, the rotor blade includes at least three sensors designed for detecting flow characteristics of the fluid and providing respective sensor signals, wherein the sensors are arranged with a non-uniform spacing, and the rotor blade further includes at least one actuator for producing an anti-noise signal based on a sensor signal, the sensors and the actuator are arranged at the surface of the rotor blade, and the actuator is arranged and prepared such that flow-induced edge noise of the rotor blade, which is generated by the fluid, is at least partly cancelled out by the anti-noise signal. A method for creating such rotor blade and a related wind turbine is also provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 25, 2020
    Date of Patent: March 12, 2024
    Assignee: Siemens Gamesa Renewable Energy A/S
    Inventors: Steven Buck, Stefan Oerlemans
  • Patent number: 11927176
    Abstract: Provided is a bearing arrangement for a wind turbine including a bearing housing and a drive shaft, whereby the drive shaft is arranged within the bearing housing in an axial direction along a longitudinal axis of the bearing housing, the bearing arrangement further comprising a downwind bearing and an upwind bearing as radial fluid bearings, whereby the downwind bearing and the upwind bearing are arranged between the bearing housing and the drive shaft, whereby the bearing housing is formed from at least two separate bearing housing pieces, whereby the at least two separate bearing housing pieces are joined with each other and/or the drive shaft is formed from at least two separate drive shaft pieces, whereby the at least two separate drive shaft pieces are joined with each other.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 9, 2020
    Date of Patent: March 12, 2024
    Assignee: SIEMENS GAMESA RENEWABLE ENERGY A/S
    Inventors: Edom Demissie, Claus Michaelsen, Morten Soerensen
  • Patent number: 11906545
    Abstract: A laser radar device calculates a wind speed for each of a plurality of divided sections obtained by dividing a trajectory drawn by a laser beam in front of a wind turbine.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 22, 2020
    Date of Patent: February 20, 2024
    Assignee: MITSUBISHI ELECTRIC CORPORATION
    Inventors: Shumpei Kameyama, Nobuki Kotake, Yutaka Kajiyama
  • Patent number: 11905927
    Abstract: Systems, methods, and computer program products for monitoring a wind turbine (10). The system receives a signal (426) indicative of a pitch force being applied to a blade (20) of a wind turbine (10). The signal (426) is sampled to generate a discrete time-domain signal (426) including a plurality of pitch force samples. Samples are selected for analysis using a sampling window (326) that excludes samples obtained under operating conditions determined to be detrimental to obtaining good data. The selected samples are processed to generate a spectral density (150) of the signal (426), and the frequency content of the spectral density (150) analysed to determine the condition of one or more components of the wind turbine (10). If the analysis indicates that a component of the wind turbine (10) needs attention, the system generates an alarm.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 12, 2021
    Date of Patent: February 20, 2024
    Assignee: Vestas Wind Systems A/S
    Inventor: Frank Møller Hansen
  • Patent number: 11885301
    Abstract: Provided is a method for identifying a blade malposition of a rotor blade of a wind power installation having one rotor and at least three rotor blades which in terms of the blade angles thereof are individually adjustable. For each rotor blade an actual angle is detected as the actual value of the blade angle; and the blade malposition is identified as a function of a blade angle deviation of the rotor blade and a rotational progress of the rotor. The blade angle deviation describes a deviation of the actual angle from a reference angle, and the rotational progress is representative of an angle about which the rotor has rotated onward after a start criterion. Blade malpositions in rotor blades which in terms of the blade angles thereof are individually adjustable are identified rapidly and reliably.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 17, 2023
    Date of Patent: January 30, 2024
    Assignee: Wobben Properties GmbH
    Inventors: Johannes Frommann, Enno von Aswege, Stephan Vollack
  • Patent number: 11866151
    Abstract: A system and method for detecting fixed pitch operation of a variable pitch propeller of an engine are provided. A command signal for maintaining a rotational speed of the propeller at a reference speed is output. An actual value of at least one of the rotational speed and a blade angle of the propeller is obtained. From the actual value, it is assessed whether an expected change in the at least one of the rotational speed and the blade angle of the propeller has occurred in response to the command signal. Responsive to determining that the expected change in the at least one of the rotational speed and the blade angle of the propeller has not occurred in response to the command signal, operation of the propeller at fixed pitch is detected and an alert output accordingly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 23, 2020
    Date of Patent: January 9, 2024
    Assignee: PRATT & WHITNEY CANADA CORP.
    Inventor: Jagoda Krzywon
  • Patent number: 11840934
    Abstract: Provided is a casing deformation amount measuring apparatus for a steam turbine including a casing, a plurality of nuts fixed to an outer surface of the casing, a plurality of bolts individually screwed, at each one side end portion thereof, in the nuts and projecting to an outer side in a diametrical direction of the casing from the outer surface of the casing, and a lagging material held by the plurality of bolts and covering the casing. The casing deformation amount measuring apparatus includes a target mounted on another side end portion of one of the bolts and exposed to the outer side in a diametrical direction of the casing with respect to the lagging material, and a distance meter that is disposed in an opposing relation to the target on the outer side in a diametrical direction of the casing and measures a distance to the target.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 11, 2022
    Date of Patent: December 12, 2023
    Assignee: MITSUBISHI HEAVY INDUSTRIES, LTD.
    Inventor: Hiroshi Igawa
  • Patent number: 11835030
    Abstract: Embodiments disclosed herein may include methods, systems, and tangible, non-transient, computer-readable media having instructions thereupon for determining a damage state of a wind turbine gearbox. A method performed, executed on a processor of a system, or implemented by a processor as instructions, may comprise producing a damage state diagnostic, producing a damage progression model for the wind turbine gearbox using operational data and a state transition function, and combining the damage state diagnostic with the damage progression model using a hybrid prognostics model to produce a probability distribution of a current damage state estimate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 31, 2019
    Date of Patent: December 5, 2023
    Assignees: Sentient Science Corporation, Acciona Energia
    Inventors: Vijayant Kumar, Nathan Bolander, Gunther Auer, Inigo Zalacain, Mercedes Irujo, Enrique Iriarte
  • Patent number: 11835543
    Abstract: There is provided a blade angle feedback system for an aircraft-bladed rotor rotatable about a longitudinal axis and having an adjustable blade pitch angle. A feedback device is coupled to rotate with the rotor and to move along the axis with adjustment of the blade pitch angle. The feedback device comprises a body having position marker(s) embedded therein, the body made of a first material having a first magnetic permeability and the position marker(s) comprising a second material having a second magnetic permeability greater than the first. Sensor(s) are positioned adjacent the feedback device and configured for producing, as the feedback device rotates about the axis, sensor signal(s) in response to detecting passage of the position marker(s). A control unit is communicatively coupled to the sensor(s) and configured to generate a feedback signal indicative of the blade pitch angle in response to the sensor signal(s) received from the sensor(s).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 19, 2022
    Date of Patent: December 5, 2023
    Assignee: PRATT & WHITNEY CANADA CORP.
    Inventors: Dana Tomescu, James Jarvo
  • Patent number: 11821405
    Abstract: A fluid power generator can enhance power generation efficiency by efficiently using the drag force of wind without increasing the size of blades, and includes: an ascending air current-forming body provided at a rotary shaft; a plurality of spiral blades which are spirally formed along the outer circumferential surface of the ascending air current-forming body; and a generator which generates electricity by rotation of the ascending air current-forming body.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 3, 2020
    Date of Patent: November 21, 2023
    Inventor: Jun Kyu Park
  • Patent number: 11821325
    Abstract: A failure detection method and system for a propeller control unit coupled to a propeller are provided. An actual value of a blade angle and/or a rotational speed of the propeller are obtained. A comparison between the actual value and a threshold is performed. In response to determining, based on the comparison, that the actual value exceeds the threshold, the propeller control unit is caused to adjust the blade angle to bring the blade angle and/or the rotational speed towards the threshold. A subsequent actual value of the blade angle and/or the rotational speed is obtained. From the subsequent value, it is determined whether the blade angle and/or the rotational speed has been brought towards the threshold. In response to determining that the blade angle and/or the rotational speed has failed to be brought towards the threshold, failure of the propeller control unit is detected and an alert is output.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 1, 2021
    Date of Patent: November 21, 2023
    Assignee: PRATT & WHITNEY CANADA CORP.
    Inventor: Jagoda Krzywon
  • Patent number: 11814185
    Abstract: According to the present invention there is provided an aerial vehicle that is operable to fly, the aerial vehicle having at least a first and second subsystem that are operably connected, wherein the first subsystem comprises a first flight module, first one or more effectors that are selectively operable to generate a first force sufficient to cause the aerial vehicle to fly; and the second subsystem comprises a second flight module, second one or more effectors that are selectively operable to generate a second force sufficient to cause the aerial vehicle to fly; such that the first or second subsystem can be selectively used to fly the aerial vehicle not relying on the one or more effectors of the other subsystem. There is further provided a corresponding method for controlling an aerial vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 4, 2020
    Date of Patent: November 14, 2023
    Assignee: Verity AG
    Inventors: Markus Hehn, Markus Waibel, Luca Gherardi, Raffaello D'Andrea
  • Patent number: 11746887
    Abstract: An arrangement includes a structure affixed to a housing, a planetary carrier mounted rotatably in the structure affixed to the housing, an oil bushing ring, and a first means and a second means for contactless power transmission. The oil bushing ring forms a lubricant-conducting joint between the structure affixed to the housing and the planetary carrier. The structure affixed to the housing has the first means and the oil bushing ring has the second means.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 2, 2020
    Date of Patent: September 5, 2023
    Assignee: ZF FRIEDRICHSHAFEN AG
    Inventors: Christian Riess, Umit Kutluay, Philipp Lang
  • Patent number: 11746742
    Abstract: A wind rotor is disclosed that produces energy optimally for a given thrust overturning moment. By designing rotors with suboptimal aerodynamic efficiency, they can have optimal thrust performance, which will reduce the substructure cost and/or enable greater energy capture for a given substructure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 24, 2022
    Date of Patent: September 5, 2023
    Assignee: National Technology & Engineering Solutions of Sandia, LLC
    Inventor: Brandon Lee Ennis
  • Patent number: 11719225
    Abstract: A method for setting a pitch angle of a rotor blade for a rotor of a wind turbine, a control device for setting a pitch angle of a rotor blade for a rotor of a wind turbine, and a wind turbine. In particular, a method for setting a pitch angle of a rotor blade for a rotor of a wind turbine, in particular for avoiding suction-side flow separation, wherein the rotor blade is movable rotationally about a rotor blade longitudinal axis for setting the pitch angle by means of a pitch drive, comprising the steps: determining an aerodynamic power of the rotor, establishing a nominal pitch angle as a function of the aerodynamic power, and setting the pitch angle to the established nominal pitch angle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 4, 2020
    Date of Patent: August 8, 2023
    Assignee: Wobben Properties GmbH
    Inventor: Ulf Schaper
  • Patent number: 11713747
    Abstract: A method of operating a wind turbine. The wind turbine is operated over an operating period in accordance with a control strategy. A sensor signal is received over the operating period from a sensor measuring an operational parameter of the turbine. A model is used to obtain a modelled fatigue value based on the sensor signal. The modelled fatigue value provides an estimate of fatigue loading applied to a component of the turbine over the operating period. The control strategy is modified based on the modelled fatigue value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 2, 2019
    Date of Patent: August 1, 2023
    Assignee: VESTAS WIND SYSTEMS A/S
    Inventors: Jakob Vestergaard, Anders Steen Nielsen, Juan Pablo Murcia
  • Patent number: 11708175
    Abstract: A method of monitoring the health of an aircraft propeller whilst the propeller is in operation, the propeller having a plurality of blades extending radially outwardly from hub arms of a propeller hub, which in turn extend radially outwardly from a central axis extending through the propeller and a propeller drive shaft, is provided. The method comprises obtaining measurements representative of the strain in each of at least some of the hub arms using strain sensors, each of the strain sensors being provided on a respective hub arm. A corresponding propeller health monitoring system, an aircraft propeller comprising the system and an aircraft comprising the propeller are also provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 9, 2018
    Date of Patent: July 25, 2023
    Assignee: RATIER-FIGEAC SAS
    Inventors: Brian P. Huth, Abdellah El Haloui
  • Patent number: 11692526
    Abstract: Methods and Apparatuses for rotational speed avoidance control of a wind turbine, and the wind turbine are provided. An exemplary method includes: identifying whether a wind turbine operates repeatedly traversing a rotational speed avoidance range, based on statistical information about a rotational speed of a generator being in the rotational speed avoidance range; and adjusting a parameter of a pitch control system and/or a parameter of an electromagnetic torque control of the wind turbine based on the statistical information about the rotational speed being in the rotational speed avoidance range, in response to determining that the wind turbine operates repeatedly traversing the rotational speed avoidance range.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 30, 2021
    Date of Patent: July 4, 2023
    Assignee: BEIJING GOLDWIND SCIENCE & CREATION WINDPOWER EQUIPMENT CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Xinli Zhang
  • Patent number: 11674498
    Abstract: A system and method are provided for controlling a wind turbine of a wind farm. Accordingly, a controller prepares a yaw bias correction function based, at least in part, on a yaw offset function, and on wind speed measurement data and wind direction reference data of a wind event acting on at least a portion of the wind farm. The controller also applies the yaw bias correction function based at least in part on position data of a nacelle of the wind turbine, to yaw the nacelle of the wind turbine.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 21, 2022
    Date of Patent: June 13, 2023
    Assignee: General Electric Renovables Espana, S.L.
    Inventors: Scott Charles Evans, Kasi Viswanadha Raju Gadiraju, Joseph Lawrence Chacon, Samuel Bryan Shartzer
  • Patent number: 11668282
    Abstract: A method of operating a wind energy installation having a rotor with at least one rotor blade that is angularly adjustable by an adjustment drive. In response to the occurrence of at least one special operating case, in particular at least one malfunction case, the rotor blade is adjusted in a direction of a shutdown position by the adjustment drive. In the shutdown position, a supply of energy from an energy storage device to the adjustment drive is switched off and/or a pitch brake for holding the rotor blade in its current position is closed. In response to at least one activation signal, the rotor blade is adjusted by the adjustment drive in an adjustment mode of operation while the special operating case is still ongoing, in particular while the malfunction case is still ongoing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 2, 2021
    Date of Patent: June 6, 2023
    Assignee: Siemens Gamesa Renewable Energy Service GmbH
    Inventors: Oliver Hör, Stefan Behl, Karsten Warfen
  • Patent number: 11655828
    Abstract: An airfoil for a fan section of a turbine engine may include a fan blade or an outlet guide vane, and an edge guard attached thereto. The edge guard may include a heating conduit disposed within at least a portion of the edge guard. An anti-icing system for a plurality of fan blades or outlet guide vanes may include a fluid supply pathway configured to supply heating fluid to respective ones of a plurality of heating conduits within the edge guards attached to respective ones of a plurality of fan blades and/or to a plurality of outlet guide vanes. The heating fluid may include bleed air from a core air flowpath. A method of inhibiting icing on an airfoil may include flowing a heating fluid into a heating conduit disposed within an edge guard attached to the airfoil and heating the edge guard with the heating fluid.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 27, 2021
    Date of Patent: May 23, 2023
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Li Zheng, Nicholas Joseph Kray, Changjie Sun
  • Patent number: 11649056
    Abstract: A thermally isolated sensor associated with a gas turbine engine includes a sensor probe configured to measure a temperature of a fluid associated with the gas turbine engine, and a base to be coupled to the gas turbine engine. The thermally isolated sensor includes a leading projection coupled to the base that extends into the fluid. The leading projection is configured to be heated by a heat source associated with the gas turbine engine. The thermally isolated sensor includes a trailing projection coupled to the base that extends into the fluid. The trailing projection is downstream from the leading projection. The trailing projection includes an inlet, and the sensor probe is disposed within the inlet and thermally isolated from the leading projection.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 17, 2020
    Date of Patent: May 16, 2023
    Assignee: HONEYWELL INTERNATIONAL INC.
    Inventors: Morris Anderson, Peter Anthony
  • Patent number: 11629616
    Abstract: A radially flexible connection joint for a gas turbine engine includes an exhaust manifold flange operatively coupling an exhaust cylinder to an exhaust manifold of the gas turbine engine. The exhaust cylinder includes a cylindrical flange that extends radially outwardly from a rotation axis of the gas turbine. The cylindrical flange defines a downstream axial face. The exhaust manifold is positioned downstream from the exhaust cylinder. The exhaust manifold includes an upstream edge. The exhaust cylinder and the exhaust manifold are substantially coaxial with the rotation axis of the gas turbine. The exhaust manifold flange has a bellows portion that extends radially between the cylindrical flange of the exhaust cylinder and the upstream edge of the exhaust manifold. The bellows portion permits relative radial motion of the exhaust cylinder and the exhaust manifold.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 17, 2022
    Date of Patent: April 18, 2023
    Assignee: Power Systems Mfg., LLC
    Inventors: Brian John Loucks, Kevin Carpenter, Kevin Powell
  • Patent number: 11598311
    Abstract: A system and method are provided for controlling a wind turbine in response to a blade liberation event. Accordingly, estimated response signatures for the wind turbine are determined. Sensor data indicative of at least two actual response signatures of components of the wind turbine to a rotor loading are collected. The actual response signatures are compared to the estimated response signatures. The two or more actual response signatures meeting or exceeding the estimated response signatures is indicative of a blade liberation event. In response to detecting the blade liberation event, a rapid shutdown control logic is initiated to decelerate the rotor at a rate which exceeds a nominal deceleration rate of the rotor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 30, 2020
    Date of Patent: March 7, 2023
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Thomas Franklin Perley, Jingting Xiao
  • Patent number: 11585323
    Abstract: Provided is an apparatus and method for cooperative controlling wind turbines of a wind farm, wherein the wind farm includes at least one pair of turbines aligned along a common axis approximately parallel to a current wind direction and having an upstream turbine and a downstream turbine. The method includes the steps of: a) providing a data driven model trained with a machine learning method and stored in a database, b) determining a decision parameter for controlling at least one of the upstream turbine and the downstream turbine by feeding the data driven model with the current power production of the upstream turbine which returns a prediction value indicating whether the downstream turbine will be affected by wake, and/or the temporal evolvement of the current power production of the upstream turbine; c) based on the decision parameter, determining control parameters for the upstream turbine and/or the downstream turbine.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 16, 2019
    Date of Patent: February 21, 2023
    Inventors: Per Egedal, Peder Bay Enevoldsen, Alexander Hentschel, Markus Kaiser, Clemens Otte, Volkmar Sterzing, Steffen Udluft, Marc Christian Weber
  • Patent number: 11572865
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a method of controlling a wind turbine comprising a tower supporting a rotor comprising a plurality of pitch-adjustable rotor blades. The method includes obtaining a movement signal indicative of a lateral movement of the tower; determining a pitch modulation signal, based on the movement signal, for actuating a rotor blade to produce a desired horizontal force component to counteract the lateral movement of the tower; determining a radial force component acting on a rotor blade; determining a phase offset parameter for the rotor blade based on the radial force component; and, transforming the pitch modulation signal into a pitch reference offset signal for the rotor blade based on the phase offset parameter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 3, 2019
    Date of Patent: February 7, 2023
    Assignee: VESTAS WIND SYSTEMS A/S
    Inventors: Karthik Vasudevan, Poul Brandt Christensen, James Alexander Nichols, Jacob Deleuran Grunnet