Erico International Corporation

Daniel A Pfaff

Thomas Edward Bendlak

Matthew Flemming

Daniel Martin Watson

Nicholas J Ambrogio

Ernest Richard-Dean Buehman

Thomas Bockstoce

A method of installing a lightning protection system can include forming a blade wall of a wind turbine to at least partly include a socket. A part of the socket can be removed, after forming the blade wall, to provide an opening through the blade wall. A receptor plug and a receptor element can be secured to the socket at the opening.

Lightning protection system and method for wind turbine blades

Tip receptor mount for lightning protection systems

A lightning protection system can include a socket, a receptor plug, a tip receptor, and a tip receptor mount. The socket can extend at least partly through a blade wall, and can include a socket body, a first retention shoulder, and a plurality of first teeth. The receptor plug can include a plug body, a plug conductor, a second retention shoulder, and a plurality of second teeth. The first retention shoulder can engage the second retention shoulder to secure the receptor plug to the socket. The first plurality of teeth can engage the second plurality of teeth to resist rotation of the receptor plug. The tip receptor mount can include latticed bonding wings that can be secured to a wind turbine blade with bonding material. The receptor plug can be accessed to be secured to the socket via an opening in another socket that is formed into the blade wall.

An electrical coupling device, such as a surge protector for a rail or other conductive structure, includes a pair of terminals, and a jumper for selectively electrically coupling and decoupling the terminals. Movement of the jumper may expose part of the jumper or one or both of the terminals, such as for use as a test point. A surge module with one or more surge protection features may fit into a base that includes the terminal and the jumper. The module may have an interface feature, such as a protruding post, that prevents engagement with the base if the base is not properly engaged with the rail or other structure. In one embodiment, a threaded rod may serve as the jumper and in one position electrically couples the terminals and in another position electrically decouples the terminals and one end of the threaded rod becomes exposed for use as a test point.

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Burlingame, CA, United States of America

Daniel A Pfaff