Northern Power Systems, Inc.

North Wind Power Company, Inc.

Northern Power Systems Utility Scale, Inc.

Clint C Coleman

Garrett Lee Bywaters

Jonathan A Lynch

Daniel P Costin

William L Danforth

Christopher M Bevington

Robert H Rolland

Michael D Zuteck

William T Kurth

Theresa M Juengst

Joseph Jankowski

Hugh D Currin

A wind turbine comprising an electrical generator that includes a rotor assembly. A wind rotor that includes a wind rotor hub is directly coupled to the rotor assembly via a simplified connection. The wind rotor and generator rotor assembly are rotatably mounted on a central spindle via a bearing assembly. The wind rotor hub includes an opening having a diameter larger than the outside diameter of the central spindle adjacent the bearing assembly so as to allow access to the bearing assembly from a cavity inside the wind rotor hub. The spindle is attached to a turret supported by a tower. Each of the spindle, turret and tower has an interior cavity that permits personnel to traverse therethrough to the cavity of the wind rotor hub. The wind turbine further includes a frictional braking system for slowing, stopping or keeping stopped the rotation of the wind rotor and rotor assembly.

Wind turbine/generator set and method of making same

Wind turbine/generator set having a stator cooling system located between stator frame and active coils

Wind turbine having a direct-drive drivetrain

A wind turbine () comprising an electrical generator () that includes a rotor assembly (). A wind rotor () that includes a wind rotor hub () is directly coupled to the rotor assembly via a simplified connection. The wind rotor and generator rotor assembly are rotatably mounted on a central spindle () via a bearing assembly (). The wind rotor hub includes an opening () having a diameter larger than the outside diameter of the central spindle adjacent the bearing assembly so as to allow access to the bearing assembly from a cavity () inside the wind rotor hub. The spindle is attached to a turret () supported by a tower (). Each of the spindle, turret and tower has an interior cavity () that permits personnel to traverse therethrough to the cavity of the wind rotor hub. The wind turbine further includes a frictional braking system () for slowing, stopping or keeping stopped the rotation of the wind rotor and rotor assembly.

An advanced aileron configuration for wind turbine rotors featuring an independent, lift generating aileron connected to the rotor blade. The aileron has an airfoil profile which is inverted relative to the airfoil profile of the main section of the rotor blade. The inverted airfoil profile of the aileron allows the aileron to be used for strong positive control of the rotation of the rotor while deflected to angles within a control range of angles. The aileron functions as a separate, lift generating body when deflected to angles within a shutdown range of angles, generating lift with a component acting in the direction opposite the direction of rotation of the rotor. Thus, the aileron can be used to shut down rotation of the rotor. The profile of the aileron further allows the center of rotation to be located within the envelope of the aileron, at or near the centers of pressure and mass of the aileron. The location of the center of rotation optimizes aerodynamically and gyroscopically induced hinge moments and provides a fail safe configuration.

Advanced wind turbine with lift cancelling aileron for shutdown

An advanced aileron configuration for wind turbine rotors featuring an aileron with a bottom surface that slopes upwardly at an angle toward the nose region of the aileron. The aileron rotates about a center of rotation which is located within the envelope of the aileron, but does not protrude substantially into the air flowing past the aileron while the aileron is deflected to angles within a control range of angles. This allows for strong positive control of the rotation of the rotor. When the aileron is rotated to angles within a shutdown range of deflection angles, lift-destroying, turbulence-producing cross-flow of air through a flow gap, and turbulence created by the aileron, create sufficient drag to stop rotation of the rotor assembly. The profile of the aileron further allows the center of rotation to be located within the envelope of the aileron, at or near the centers of pressure and mass of the aileron. The location of the center of rotation optimizes aerodynamically and gyroscopically induced hinge moments and provides a fail safe configuration.

Advanced wind turbine with lift-destroying aileron for shutdown

A rotor hub is provided for coupling a wind turbine rotor blade and a shaft. The hub has a yoke with a body which is connected to the shaft, and extension portions which are connected to teeter bearing blocks, each of which has an aperture. The blocks are connected to a saddle which envelops the rotor blade by one or two shafts which pass through the apertures in the bearing blocks. The saddle and blade are separated by a rubber interface which provides for distribution of stress over a larger portion of the blade. Two teeter control mechanisms, which may include hydraulic pistons and springs, are connected to the rotor blade and to the yoke at extension portions. These control mechanisms provide end-of-stroke damping, braking, and stiffness based on the teeter angle and speed of the blade.

Wind turbine rotor hub and teeter joint

A wind turbine has a rotor with at least one blade which has an aileron which is adjusted by an actuator. A hinge has two portions, one for mounting a stationary hinge arm to the blade, the other for coupling to the aileron actuator. Several types of hinges can be used, along with different actuators. The aileron is designed so that it has a constant chord with a number of identical sub-assemblies. The leading edge of the aileron has at least one curved portion so that the aileron does not vent over a certain range of angles, but vents if the position is outside the range. A cyclic actuator can be mounted to the aileron to adjust the position periodically. Generally, the aileron will be adjusted over a range related to the rotational position of the blade. A method for operating the cyclic assembly is also described.

Wind turbine rotor aileron

In a variable pitch wind turbine system, pitch angle is determined by a pneumatically pressurized hydraulic actuator connected between crank arms on the blade pitch axles. The hydraulic line extends coaxially through the rotor drive shaft via a rotary union to a gas charged accumulator on the yaw carriage. The pitch axes are positively coupled for 1:1 counter-rotation by a gear train, preferably lying on the opposite side of the rotor axis from the hydraulic actuator.

Wind turbine pitch control hub

A wooden wind turbine blade is formed by laminating wood veneer in a compression mold having the exact curvature needed for one side of the blade, following which the other side of the blade is ground flat along its length but twisted with respect to the blade axis.

Wooden wind turbine blade manufacturing process

Method of making a wooden wind turbine blade

In a pitch control system for a wind turbine, a mechanical control system changes pitch angle of the rotor blades collectively in response to blade pitch moment. The control system is designed to be used with a downwind constant speed two-bladed horizontal axis teetering hub wind turbine. Pitch placement controls torque for a synchronous alternator connected to the electrical power grid. The pitch control system is manually lockable from the ground in run or shutdown modes. An automatic shutdown mode provides fullfeathering for protection from large amplitude vibrations or loss of the electrical grid.

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Warren, VT, United States of America

Clint C Coleman