公开(公告)号：US12240195B2

公开(公告)日：2025-03-04

申请号：US18714747

申请日：2022-12-01

Applicant: Vestas Wind Systems A/S

Inventor： Jonathan Smith

IPC: B29D99/00 ,  B29C65/00 ,  B29C70/44 ,  B29L31/08

Abstract: According to the present invention there is provided a mould for making a wind turbine blade shear web. The shear web comprises a longitudinally-extending web panel and a mounting flange extending along a longitudinal edge of the web panel and transverse to the web panel. The mounting flange comprises a first portion extending on a first side of the web panel and a second portion extending on a second side of the web panel. The mould comprises a longitudinally-extending main surface shaped to form the web panel, the main surface having a longitudinal edge. The mould further comprises a side surface arranged transverse to the main surface and extending downwards from the longitudinal edge of the main surface. The mould further comprises a base surface arranged transverse to the main surface and spaced from the side surface, the base surface having a first portion extending below the main surface to a first end of the base surface and a second portion extending above the main surface to a second end of the base surface. The first portion of the base surface is spaced from the side surface to define a mould cavity between the side surface and the first portion of the base surface, the mould cavity being configured to form the first portion of the mounting flange. The mould further comprises a datum-forming surface extending transversely from the second end of the base surface and defining a longitudinal edge at an intersection of the second portion of the base surface and the datum-forming surface. The second portion of the base surface and the datum-forming surface are configured to form the second portion of the mounting flange, and the datum-forming surface is configured to define a longitudinal edge of the second portion of the mounting flange.

公开(公告)号：US20210387426A1

公开(公告)日：2021-12-16

申请号：US17284844

申请日：2019-10-16

Applicant: Vestas Wind Systems A/S

Inventor： Jonathan Smith ,  John Rimmer

IPC: B29C65/78 ,  B29C65/48

Abstract: Improvements relating to wind turbine blade manufacture A method of making wind turbine blades of variable length is described. The method involves forming first and second half shells of a main blade section in a main blade mould assembly. A pre-manufactured tip section is selected from a plurality of tip sections of different lengths according to a total length requirement for the wind turbine blade. The tip section is supported adjacent to the main blade mould assembly such that an inboard end of the tip section overlaps with an outboard end of one of the half shells of the main blade section. The main mould assembly is then closed to bond the two main half shells together and to bond the tip section to the main blade half shells. The invention allows blades of different overall length to be produced using a common main blade mould assembly.

公开(公告)号：US09895849B2

公开(公告)日：2018-02-20

申请号：US14654220

申请日：2013-12-18

Applicant: Vestas Wind Systems A/S

Inventor： Jonathan Smith ,  Steve Wardropper

IPC: B29C70/34 ,  B29B11/16 ,  B29D99/00 ,  B29C70/30 ,  B29C31/08 ,  B29L31/08

CPC classification number: B29C70/34 ,  B29B11/16 ,  B29C31/08 ,  B29C31/085 ,  B29C70/30 ,  B29C70/541 ,  B29D99/0025 ,  B29L2031/085 ,  Y02E10/721 ,  Y02P70/523 ,  Y10T156/1044 ,  Y10T428/24008 ,  Y10T428/24752 ,  Y10T428/24777

Abstract: A method of manufacturing a wind turbine blade using pre-fabricated stacks of reinforcing material is described. The stacks 14 comprise a plurality of plies of fiber material, joined together along a side edge to form a spine. The opposite edges of the stack are left unjoined so that the plies can separate and slide across one another. In doing so, the stacks can be stored flat, but on installation into a curved mold 12 profile, the plies may slide to adopt the curved shape of the mold. The stacks extend from a point near the leading or trailing edge of the mold to an intermediate point on the mold surface. The stacks may be used to construct the thickened root section of a wind turbine blade.

公开(公告)号：US11713744B2

公开(公告)日：2023-08-01

申请号：US17854038

申请日：2022-06-30

Applicant: Vestas Wind Systems A/S

Inventor： Jonathan Smith ,  James Smith ,  Robert Ernst ,  Mark Folsom

IPC: F03D1/06 ,  B29K105/08

CPC classification number: F03D1/0658 ,  B29K2105/0872 ,  F05B2230/50 ,  Y02E10/72

Abstract: A composite material blank comprising an elongate blank body extending between a first end face and a second end face; said blank body extending in a longitudinal direction, parallel to a longitudinal axis thereof, and having four peripheral sides; each said first and second end face having edges which define a trapezoid shape; wherein the peripheral sides of said blank body connect the edges of said first end face with the edges of said second end face; and wherein said first trapezoid end face is inverted in relation to said second trapezoid end face. A method of manufacturing a composite blank, and a wind turbine blade root insert which may be formed from a blank.

公开(公告)号：US20230022674A1

公开(公告)日：2023-01-26

申请号：US17785479

申请日：2020-12-15

Applicant: Vestas Wind Systems A/S

Inventor： Jonathan Smith

IPC: F03D1/06

Abstract: There is provided a wind turbine blade extending longitudinally in a spanwise direction between a root end and a tip end, and transversely in a chordwise direction between a 5 leading edge and a trailing edge. The wind turbine blade comprises an outer shell defining a substantially hollow interior, and a shear web arranged inside the outer shell and extending longitudinally in the spanwise direction. The shear web comprises an elongate web panel and a mounting flange extending along a longitudinal edge of the web panel, the mounting flange comprising an inboard end portion defining a root end of 10 the mounting flange and an outboard portion defining a tip end of the mounting flange. The outboard portion extends along a majority of the length of the elongate web panel. The inboard end portion of the mounting flange is bonded to an inner surface of the blade shell by a first adhesive, and the outboard portion of the mounting flange is bonded to the inner surface of the blade shell by a second adhesive. The first adhesive has a 15 lower elastic modulus than the second adhesive, and/or a chordwise width of the inboard end portion of the mounting flange is enlarged in comparison to a chordwise width of the outboard portion of the mounting flange adjacent to the inboard end portion.

公开(公告)号：US11448182B2

公开(公告)日：2022-09-20

申请号：US16498107

申请日：2018-04-04

Applicant: Vestas Wind Systems A/S

Inventor： Jonathan Smith ,  Andrew Hedges

IPC: B32B41/00 ,  F03D1/06 ,  B29C65/48 ,  B29C65/78 ,  B29C65/00 ,  B29D99/00 ,  B29C65/02 ,  B29L31/08

Abstract: A method of making a wind turbine blade is described. The wind turbine blade comprises first and second half shells joined together and a shear web bonded between inner surfaces of the respective half shells. The blade is made in a one-stage join up process, which involves supporting the half shells in respective mould halves, and arranging one of the half shells on top of the other half shell with the shear web arranged between the two half shells. Adhesive is provided between the shear web and the inner surfaces of the respective half shells. During the join-up process, the shear web is supported by stabilisers. The use of stabilisers avoids the need for a jig to support the shear web. Stabilisers attached to an inboard end of the shear web may remain accessible after the join-up and can be removed.

公开(公告)号：US11408392B2

公开(公告)日：2022-08-09

申请号：US16770116

申请日：2018-12-07

Applicant: Vestas Wind Systems A/S

Inventor： Jonathan Smith ,  James Smith ,  Robert Ernst ,  Mark Folsom

IPC: F03D1/06

Abstract: A composite material blank (190) comprising an elongate blank body (300) extending between a first end face (312a) and a second end face (312b); said blank body (300) extending in a longitudinal direction, parallel to a longitudinal axis thereof, and having four peripheral sides (341, 342, 343, 344); each said first and second end face (312a, 312b) having edges (361a-364a; 361b-364b) which define a trapezoid shape; wherein the peripheral sides (341, 342, 343, 344) of said blank body (190) connect the edges (361a-364a) of said first end face (312a) with the edges (361b-364b) of said second end face (312b); and wherein said first trapezoid end face (312a) is inverted in relation to said second trapezoid end face (312b). A method of manufacturing a composite blank (190), and a wind turbine blade root insert (105) which may be formed from a blank (190).

公开(公告)号：US20220032562A1

公开(公告)日：2022-02-03

申请号：US17298775

申请日：2019-12-09

Applicant: Vestas Wind Systems A/S

Inventor： Jonathan Smith ,  Robert Charles Preston

IPC: B29C70/48 ,  B29C70/30 ,  F03D1/06

Abstract: A method of forming a wind turbine blade shear web flange section (36) by resin transfer moulding comprises providing a mould assembly (84) comprising a mould surface (86) defining a mould cavity and arranging a plurality of elongate flange elements (46) with the mould surface in an array (80) such that the flange elements are positioned one on top of another with first and second longitudinal ends (56,60) of each flange element longitudinally offset from respective first and second longitudinal ends of a neighbouring flange element so as to form a tapered portion (58,62) at each of a first and second longitudinal end of the flange section (36). A The method further comprises injecting resin to the mould cavity and curing the array of flange elements in a resin matrix to form a cured flange section having a laminate construction.

公开(公告)号：US10920744B2

公开(公告)日：2021-02-16

申请号：US15777398

申请日：2016-11-23

Applicant: Vestas Wind Systems A/S

Inventor： Jonathan Smith ,  Trevor Corsham ,  Steve Wardropper

IPC: F03D1/06

Abstract: A web locating device for locating a shear web at a predefined location on an inner surface of a wind turbine blade shell is described. The base comprises a base and a first guide structure. The base is for securing to the inner surface of the blade shell at a predefined position on the inner surface and the first guide structure projects from the base. The first guide structure has a first guide surface arranged to guide a mounting portion of the shear web towards the predefined location on the inner surface of the wind turbine blade shell. The base of the device includes one or more alignment features for aligning with one or more reference features at the predefined position on the inner surface of the blade shell. Also described are a wind turbine blade, and a method of making a wind turbine blade.

公开(公告)号：US10688738B2

公开(公告)日：2020-06-23

申请号：US15031884

申请日：2014-10-23

Applicant: VESTAS WIND SYSTEMS A/S

Inventor： Jonathan Smith

IPC: B29C70/54 ,  B29C70/52 ,  B29C69/00 ,  B29C70/08 ,  B29C70/20 ,  F03D1/06 ,  B29D99/00 ,  B29C70/86 ,  B29K105/08 ,  B29K105/10 ,  B29K309/08 ,  B29L31/08

Abstract: A pultrusion process for making a strip for an elongate reinforcing structure of a wind turbine blade, the process comprising drawing fibres (42) and resin through a pultrusion die (40) in a process direction to form a strip (102); and applying an infusion-promoting layer (110) to a surface of the strip down-stream from the die in the process direction. A pultrusion apparatus is also disclosed.