公开(公告)号：US12203443B2

公开(公告)日：2025-01-21

申请号：US18531818

申请日：2023-12-07

Applicant: Vestas Wind Systems A/S

Inventor： Stephen Randall ,  Gurmukh Singh

IPC: F03D1/06 ,  F03D13/10

Abstract: A wind turbine blade comprising a leeward shell portion and a windward shell portion, each of the shell portions extending in a chordwise direction between a leading edge and a trailing edge of the wind turbine blade; a leading reinforcement arrangement comprising at least a leading leeward reinforcement structure engaging the leeward shell portion and a leading windward reinforcement structure engaging the windward shell portion; and a trailing reinforcement arrangement comprising at least a trailing leeward reinforcement structure engaging the leeward shell portion and a trailing windward reinforcement structure engaging the windward shell portion. The trailing windward reinforcement structure has a first stiffness in the lengthwise direction and the trailing leeward reinforcement structure has a second stiffness in the lengthwise direction, wherein the first stiffness is greater than the second stiffness at a chordwise plane of the 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：US20250059943A1

公开(公告)日：2025-02-20

申请号：US18721915

申请日：2022-12-20

Applicant: Vestas Wind Systems A/S

Inventor： Stephen Randall

IPC: F03D1/06

Abstract: A bushing (42, 92) for connecting a wind turbine blade (20) to a rotor hub (18) of a wind turbine (10) including a main body (44, 94) defining a connecting end of the bushing (42, 92) for receiving a fastener (130) for securing the blade (20) to the rotor hub (18), a tubular extension (46, 96) extending distally from the main body (44, 94) and defining a tip end of the bushing (42, 92) and a central bore (52, 102) extending from the connecting end to the tip end of the bushing (42, 92) and defining a central axis (94, 104) of the bushing (42, 92). The tubular extension (46, 96) includes one or more tapered or cylindrical sections (74,124) and a tip section (76, 126) distal of the one or more tapered or cylindrical sections (74, 124) and adjacent the tip end. The tip section (76, 126) includes an outer surface and an inner surface that are substantially parallel to each other and substantially parallel to the central axis (94, 104) of the bushing (42, 92).

公开(公告)号：US12085061B2

公开(公告)日：2024-09-10

申请号：US17784201

申请日：2020-12-18

Applicant: Vestas Wind Systems A/S

Inventor： Stephen Randall

IPC: F03D7/02

CPC classification number: F03D7/0296 ,  F05B2260/83 ,  F05B2260/96

Abstract: The invention provides a method for stabilising a wind turbine blade (106), the method comprising, attaching (S2) an air blowing arrangement (201) to the blade, detecting (S4) an oscillation of the blade, and operating (S5) the attached air blowing arrangement to provide a thrust to counteract the oscillation.

公开(公告)号：US20200217296A1

公开(公告)日：2020-07-09

申请号：US16633003

申请日：2018-07-24

Applicant: Vestas Wind Systems A/S

Inventor： Stephen Randall

IPC: F03D1/06 ,  B29D99/00

Abstract: A shear web foot for a wind turbine blade is described. The shear web foot extends longitudinally and comprises a base for attaching to an internal surface of the blade and first and second side walls. The side walls extend respectively from opposite longitudinal sides of the base. At least part of each side wall is inclined relative to the base and inclined towards the other side wall. A web-foot interior is defined at least in part by the base and the first and second side walls. One or more internal walls are located in the web-foot interior. The one or more internal walls extend between the base and the first and/or second side walls and are spaced apart from the first and second side walls to define a plurality of chambers within the web-foot interior.

公开(公告)号：US20150321596A1

公开(公告)日：2015-11-12

申请号：US14802396

申请日：2015-07-17

Applicant: VESTAS WIND SYSTEMS A/S

Inventor： Stephen Randall

IPC: B60P3/40 ,  F03D1/00

CPC classification number: B60P3/40 ,  B60P7/12 ,  F03D1/00 ,  F03D13/40

Abstract: A method of transporting a wind turbine blade with a curved central longitudinal axis includes loading the wind turbine blade onto a transportation device including first and second support bearings. The wind turbine blade is loaded in a first orientation in which the curved central longitudinal axis is located in a generally vertical plane. When the transportation device is preparing to turn, the wind turbine blade is rotated to a second orientation before or during turning such that the curved central longitudinal axis is located in a generally horizontal plane and bends around the turn. As a result, the curved wind turbine blade and transportation device can traverse tighter curves and turns during travel to an assembly site or quayside.

Abstract translation: 运输具有弯曲中心纵向轴线的风力涡轮机叶片的方法包括将风力涡轮机叶片装载到包括第一和第二支撑轴承的运输装置上。 风力涡轮机叶片以第一取向加载，其中弯曲的中心纵向轴线位于大​​致竖直的平面中。 当运输装置正在准备转动时，风车叶片在转动之前或期间转动到第二方向，使得弯曲的中心纵向轴线位于大​​致水平的平面中并围绕转弯弯曲。 结果，弯曲的风力涡轮机叶片和运输装置可以在行进到装配现场或码头区域期间横越更紧的曲线和转弯。

公开(公告)号：US20250059945A1

公开(公告)日：2025-02-20

申请号：US18721922

申请日：2022-12-20

Applicant: Vestas Wind Systems A/S

Inventor： Stephen Randall

IPC: F03D1/06

Abstract: According to the present invention there is provided a modular wind turbine blade comprising first and second blade modules connectable together to form at least part of the wind turbine blade, each blade module comprising an outer shell defining a pressure side and a suction side of the wind turbine blade. The first blade module comprises a first spar cap, and the second blade module comprising a second spar cap. The first spar cap has a tapered end portion in which the thickness of the first spar cap decreases towards the end of the first spar cap. The modular wind turbine blade further comprises an elongate connecting element for connecting the first and second blade modules together. The connecting element has a first tapered end portion in which the thickness of the connecting element decreases towards a first end of the connecting element. The first tapered end portion is configured for bonding to the tapered end portion of the first spar cap. The first spar cap has an inner surface and an outer surface, the thickness being defined between the inner surface and the outer surface. The first spar cap comprises (i) an intermediate thickness band; (ii) an inner thickness band between the intermediate thickness band and the inner surface; and (iii) an outer thickness band between the intermediate thickness band and the outer surface. Each of the thickness bands have a tapered end within the tapered end portion of the first spar cap. The connecting element has an inner surface and an outer surface, the thickness of the connecting element being defined between the inner surface and the outer surface. The connecting element comprises (i) an intermediate thickness band; (ii) an inner thickness band between the intermediate thickness band and the inner surface; and (iii) an outer thickness band between the intermediate thickness band and the outer surface. Each of the thickness bands has a tapered end within the first tapered end portion of the connecting element. The tapered end of the inner thickness band and/or the tapered end of the outer thickness band of the first spar cap has a lower rate of taper than the tapered end of the intermediate thickness band of the first spar cap. Additionally or alternatively, the tapered end of the inner thickness band and/or the tapered end of the outer thickness band of the connecting element has a lower rate of taper than the tapered end of the intermediate thickness band of the connecting element.

公开(公告)号：US20240392744A1

公开(公告)日：2024-11-28

申请号：US18694268

申请日：2022-09-21

Applicant: Vestas Wind Systems A/S

Inventor： Stephen Randall

IPC: F03D80/30 ,  F03D1/06

Abstract: There is provided a wind turbine blade having a root end, a tip end, a blade shell, a lightning protection system and an integrated web-down conductor. The integrated web-down conductor comprises: a down conductor forming part of the lightning protection system: electrical insulation surrounding the down conductor; and a web that surrounds the electrical insulation so as to enclose the down conductor and electrical insulation and is coupled to the blade shell.

公开(公告)号：US20240293989A1

公开(公告)日：2024-09-05

申请号：US17768607

申请日：2020-10-21

Applicant: Vestas Wind Systems A/S

Inventor： Stephen Randall ,  Jonathan Smith ,  Anton Bech

IPC: B29D99/00 ,  B29K63/00 ,  B29K67/00 ,  B29K105/00 ,  B29K105/04 ,  B29K307/04 ,  B29K309/08 ,  F03D1/06

CPC classification number: B29D99/0028 ,  F03D1/0684 ,  B29K2023/06 ,  B29K2063/00 ,  B29K2067/00 ,  B29K2105/0097 ,  B29K2105/04 ,  B29K2307/04 ,  B29K2309/08 ,  F05D2230/23

Abstract: In a first aspect of the invention there is provided a bondline structure for bonding a shear web to a wind turbine blade shell. The bondline structure comprises an elongate inner core made from a deformable material, and one or more outer layers comprising reinforcing fibres at least partially surrounding the inner core. The inner core and/or the one or more outer layers comprise an adhesive.

公开(公告)号：US20230235721A1

公开(公告)日：2023-07-27

申请号：US18002507

申请日：2021-06-29

Applicant: Vestas Wind Systems A/S

Inventor： Stephen Randall ,  Andrea Attorni ,  Thomas Potentier ,  Francesco Grasso

IPC: F03D1/06

CPC classification number: F03D1/0633 ,  F05B2240/221

Abstract: A horizontal axis wind turbine comprising a rotor having a plurality of blades, the rotor having a radius of at least 80 meters, the blades comprising: a root end and a tip end; a leading edge and a trailing edge; a shoulder between the root end and the tip end where a chord length defined between the leading edge and the trailing edge is at a maximum; wherein: Solr is at least 0.0140 at 0.7R; Solr is at least 0.0116 at 0.8R; Solr is at least 0.0090 at 0.9R; Solr being the combined radius specific solidity of the blades.