公开(公告)号：US20240123695A1

公开(公告)日：2024-04-18

申请号：US18277328

申请日：2022-02-15

Applicant: Vestas Wind Systems A/S

Inventor： Jonathan Smith

IPC: B29C70/44 ,  B29C35/02 ,  B29C70/06 ,  B29C70/36 ,  B29C70/54 ,  B29C70/68

CPC classification number: B29C70/443 ,  B29C35/0288 ,  B29C70/06 ,  B29C70/36 ,  B29C70/54 ,  B29C70/681 ,  B29K2309/08

Abstract: In a first aspect of the invention there is provided a method of making a wind turbine component, the method comprising supporting a layup (14) of fibrous reinforcing material in a mould (12); providing a supply of resin (16); providing a supply of hardener (20) comprising at least a first hardener (20a) and a second hardener (20b), the second hardener being faster than the first hardener; mixing resin with the first and/or second hardener to create a resin mixture (24); supplying the resin mixture (24) to the layup (14) during an infusion process; monitoring one or more process parameters of the infusion process; and controlling the speed of the hardener (20) by varying the relative proportions of the first and second hardeners (20a, 20b) in the resin mixture (24) during the course of the infusion process in dependence upon the one or more process parameters.

公开(公告)号：US11760041B2

公开(公告)日：2023-09-19

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 ,  F03D1/06 ,  B29C70/30 ,  B29L31/08

CPC classification number: B29C70/48 ,  B29C70/302 ,  F03D1/0675 ,  B29L2031/085 ,  F05B2230/23 ,  F05B2280/6003 ,  F05B2280/6015

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：US11383454B2

公开(公告)日：2022-07-12

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 ,  B29L31/08

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：US10954915B2

公开(公告)日：2021-03-23

申请号：US15502880

申请日：2015-08-11

Applicant: Vestas Wind Systems A/S

Inventor： Jonathan Smith ,  Steve Wardropper

IPC: F03D1/06 ,  B29C65/48 ,  B29C65/54 ,  B29C65/78 ,  B29C65/00 ,  B29L31/08

Abstract: Method of bonding a shear web (50) to a wind turbine blade shell (75) and the obtained blade, wherein the shear web (50) comprises a web and a mounting flange (56) oriented transverse to the web (50). The method involves: providing a seal (66, 68) on the mounting flange (56) of the shear web (50) such that when the mounting flange (56) is positioned against the blade shell (75), a cavity (76) is defined by the seal between the mounting flange (56) and the blade shell (75). The air of the cavity (76) is then evacuated and adhesive is injected into the cavity (76). The use of pieces (80) to keep the distance between the mounting flange (56) and the blade shell (75) is preferred.

公开(公告)号：US20200347820A1

公开(公告)日：2020-11-05

申请号：US16770112

申请日：2018-12-07

Applicant: Vestas Wind Systems A/S

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

IPC: F03D1/06 ,  B29C70/48

Abstract: An insert (105) for a wind turbine blade root. The insert (105) has a bushing (40) and an outer surface with circumferential annular grooves (68). A transition layer 5 (102) is built up around the bushing (40). The transition layer (102) has fibrous material sheet layers and filamentary material windings (80) in the grooves which alternate with fibrous plies (98) covering the grooves (68). Each fibrous ply (98) is anchored into the grooves (68) by the windings (80). Fibrous battens (148) are fitted around the transition layer (102) to form an insert body (108). Each batten (148) 10 has a deltoid cross-section so that the battens give the insert a quadrilateral or trapezoidal cross-section.

公开(公告)号：US10428790B2

公开(公告)日：2019-10-01

申请号：US15107386

申请日：2014-12-15

Applicant: Vestas Wind Systems A/S

Inventor： Jonathan Smith

IPC: F03D1/06 ,  B29C70/54 ,  B29D99/00 ,  B29C70/44 ,  B29L31/08 ,  B29K75/00 ,  B29K105/04 ,  B29K105/06 ,  B29K307/04

Abstract: A method of making an elongate wind turbine blade is described. The wind turbine blade extends longitudinally between a root end and a tip end in a spanwise direction, and the method comprises: (a) providing an elongate mould tool (20) extending longitudinally in a spanwise direction; (b) arranging an elongate spar structure (40) in the mould tool, the spar structure (40) N extending longitudinally in the spanwise direction; (c) arranging core material (24) adjacent to the spar structure (40); (d) providing resin-permeable material (114) between the spar structure (40) and the core material (24); and (e) administering resin into the mould during a resin infusion process. The resin-permeable material (114) restricts the flow of resin between the spar structure (40) and the core material (24) in the spanwise direction and thereby substantially prevents lock-offs from forming during the infusion process.

公开(公告)号：US10302065B2

公开(公告)日：2019-05-28

申请号：US15036897

申请日：2014-11-14

Applicant: Vestas Wind Systems A/S

Inventor： Jonathan Smith ,  Adrian Gill ,  Mark Hancock

IPC: B29C67/00 ,  B29C70/52 ,  B29C70/54 ,  B29L31/00 ,  B29L31/08 ,  B32B3/02 ,  B32B3/26 ,  B32B3/30 ,  B32B5/26 ,  B29D99/00 ,  F03D1/06 ,  F03D13/10

Abstract: A strip of fiber-reinforced polymeric material for a longitudinal reinforcing structure of a wind turbine blade, the strip having substantially flat upper and lower surfaces and extending longitudinally between first and second transverse edges, wherein an end region of the strip tapers in thickness towards the first transverse edge, and wherein one or more slots are defined in the tapered end region, the or each slot extending longitudinally from the first transverse edge of the strip into the tapered end region.

公开(公告)号：US20180328335A1

公开(公告)日：2018-11-15

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

CPC classification number: F03D1/0675 ,  F05B2230/604 ,  F05B2240/221 ,  Y02E10/721 ,  Y02P70/523

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：US20180283349A1

公开(公告)日：2018-10-04

申请号：US15570491

申请日：2016-04-29

Applicant: Vestas Wind Systems A/S

Inventor： Steve Wardropper ,  Jonathan Smith ,  Andrew Hedges ,  Stephen Randall

IPC: F03D1/06 ,  B29D99/00

Abstract: A method of making an elongate reinforcing structure, such as a shear web, for a wind turbine blade is described. The reinforcing structure comprises a longitudinally-extending web and a longitudinally-extending flange. The flange extends along a longitudinal edge of the web and is arranged transversely to the web. The method involves providing a flange structure comprising a flange portion, and a projecting portion that extends along the length of the flange portion and projects transversely from a surface of the flange portion. The projecting portion is bonded between laminate layers of the web. The flange structure is preferably a pultruded component having a T-shaped cross-section. The method allows a simple, inexpensive and reconfigurable mould tool to be used. In preferred embodiments the mould tool has a flat surface without sidewalls.

公开(公告)号：US20180154593A1

公开(公告)日：2018-06-07

申请号：US15572804

申请日：2016-05-11

Applicant: Vestas Wind Systems A/S

Inventor： Robert Hunter ,  Jonathan Smith

IPC: B29C70/54 ,  B32B7/08 ,  B32B5/02 ,  B32B27/08 ,  B32B27/38 ,  B29C70/48 ,  F03D1/06 ,  F16B5/00

CPC classification number: B29C70/54 ,  B29C70/34 ,  B29C70/48 ,  B29C70/543 ,  B29K2063/00 ,  B29L2031/085 ,  B32B5/02 ,  B32B7/08 ,  B32B27/08 ,  B32B27/38 ,  B32B2603/00 ,  F03D1/0675 ,  F05B2230/50 ,  F05B2240/21 ,  F05B2280/6003 ,  F16B5/00 ,  Y02E10/721 ,  Y02P70/523

Abstract: A method of making a composite wind turbine component in a mould is described. The method comprises the steps of: providing a mould; providing one or more first layers (20) of material; arranging the first layer(s) of material in the mould; arranging one or more second layers (20) of material on top of the first layer(s) to form a stack (22); and securing the second layer(s) to the first layer(s) by means of one or more fasteners (24). The steps of the method can be performed in any suitable order. The fasteners (24) each comprise a filament having a first retaining element at a first end and a second retaining element at a second end. To secure the second layer(s) to the first layer(s), the first retaining element of each fastener is inserted through the second layer(s) and the first layer(s) such that the first retaining element is located on one side of the stack and the second retaining element is located on the other side of the stack, with the filament extending through the stack (22).