3com Corporation

General Electric Company

Other

Ge Wind Energy, LLC

Wind Tower Systems, LLC

David D Oliphant

Thomas A Johnson

Brent Delbert Madsen

Ryan A Kunz

Steven Lo Forte

Jeffrey L Jones

Todd DarVel Andersen

Biao Fang

Tim Urry Price

Rick D Giles

David C Andrus

Don Conrad Johnson

Jose Luis Virgen

Steven LoForte

Cyler Barclay Beard

Caroline Christine Williams

Robert Allan Phelps

William Clark Weber

Sy Prestwich

Paul E Nagel

Jon A Nelson

Dexter W Francis

Charles Eric Posey

John Marshall

Patrick A Tucker

Terry Schrader

James Lott

Tom Johnson

Tracy Livingston

James Goldhardt

Michael Cochrane

Josh Randall

Joshua Randall

Harry Daugherty

Jared Quilter

Thomas Conroy

Brent Nixon

In one aspect, a method for assembling a tower section of a lattice tower structure for a wind turbine on a tower assembly fixture may generally include installing a first trolley onto a first fixture arm of the fixture and installing a second trolley onto a second fixture arm of the fixture. In addition, the method may include securing a first support leg of the tower section to the first trolley, securing a second support leg of the tower section to the second trolley and coupling at least one secondary support member between the first and seconds support legs.

System and method for assembling tower sections of a wind turbine lattice tower structure

A system for assembling a tower section of a lattice tower structure for a wind turbine may generally include a tower assembly fixture having a plurality of radially extending fixture arms, wherein each fixture arm extends between a first end and a second end. In addition, the system may include a plurality of trolleys. Each trolley may include a base frame configured to be coupled to one of the fixture arms between its first and second ends and a leg mount pivotally coupled to the base frame. The leg mount may be configured to be coupled to a bottom end of a support leg of the tower section such that, when each of the support legs is coupled to its respective leg mount, the support legs are supported above the tower assembly fixture at a substantially vertical orientation.

The present subject matter is directed to a lattice tower covering and/or assembly for a wind turbine. The lattice tower assembly includes a plurality of structural members connected together to define an open lattice tower. The structural members include a plurality of supports and a plurality of inner and outer cross-support members. The inner and outer cross-support members are connected between the supports so as to define one or more openings. The lattice tower assembly also includes a tower covering having one or more panel elements retained in position between the supports. Further, the panel elements are configured with an exterior side of the outer cross-support members so as to cover at least a portion of one or more of the openings. In addition, the lattice tower covering includes a surface area defined by the plurality of supports and the one or more panel elements.

Lattice tower covering for a wind turbine

The present subject matter is directed to a lattice tower covering and/or assembly for a wind turbine. The lattice tower assembly includes a plurality of structural members connected together to define an open lattice tower. The structural members include a plurality of supports, a plurality of inner cross-support members, and a plurality of outer cross-support members. The inner and outer cross-support members are connected between the supports so as to define one or more openings. The lattice tower covering includes one or more panel elements. Each of the panel elements are retained in position between the supports and cover at least a portion of one or more of the openings. Further, the lattice tower covering has a surface area defined by the plurality of supports and the one or more panel elements.

Lattice tower assembly for a wind turbine

One of the major structural components in a space frame tower is the tower leg. A novel and nonobvious tower leg structure is provided which provides significant advantages and benefits over previously available structures.

Structural shape for wind tower members

An apparatus and method for mounting a wind turbine and blade assembly on the upper end of a wind turbine tower. In one aspect the apparatus generally includes a ginpole that is used to assemble the tower and a lifting frame or truss that is removably secured to a top bay assembly of the tower using the ginpole. The lifting frame or truss is operated using either cables or hydraulic rams and extends fore of the tower when the frame or truss is in a first position and generally above the tower when in a second position. When in the first position, a wind turbine or blade assembly can be hoisted to the top of the tower. The wind turbine or blade assembly is then moved into position for mounting to the tower as the frame or truss is pivoted to a second position. When the turbine and blade assembly are secured to the tower, the frame or truss is disconnected from the tower and lowered to the ground followed by the ginpole being lowered to the ground.

Lifting system and apparatus for constructing and enclosing wind turbine towers

An apparatus used for maintaining a wind tower structure wherein the wind tower structure may have a plurality of legs and may be configured to support a wind turbine above the ground in a better position to interface with winds. The lift structure may be configured for carrying objects and have a guide system and drive system for mechanically communicating with a primary cable, rail or other first elongate member attached to the wind tower structure. The drive system and guide system may transmit forces that move the lift relative to the cable and thereby relative to the wind tower structure. A control interface may be included for controlling the amount and direction of the power into the guide system and drive system thereby causing the guide system and drive system to move the lift relative to said first elongate member such that said lift moves relative to said wind tower structure.

Wind tower service lift

An integrated shield wrap suitable for use in an electronic device including electronic circuitry. The integrated shield wrap includes an insulator section composed of an electrically insulative material, as well as a shield section joined to the insulator section and composed of an electrically conductive material. The integrated shield wrap can be configured as necessary to suit a particular application and, in general, serves to electrically insulate the electronic circuitry from other circuitry and components within the electronic device while simultaneously implementing a shielding functionality that permits management of electromagnetic emissions from some or all of the electronic circuitry.

Integrated shield wrap

A chip component assembly is provided that includes a plurality of chip components each having respective first and second terminal elements, the first terminal elements being joined to corresponding solder pads on a printed circuit board, the solder pads being in communication with electronic circuitry of the printed circuit board, and the second terminal elements being joined together by an array ground plane of a grounding device. The grounding device additionally includes a ground path structure which physically and electrically connects the array ground plane, and thus the chip components, to a ground pad located on the printed circuit board so as to provide a ground path from the chip components. Preferably, the array ground plane additionally includes a plurality of resilient contact elements which provide for substantial and continuous contact between the array ground plane and an ancillary ground plane, such as the top cover of a PC card. The grounding device serves to foreclose electrostatic discharge or EMI by the chip components and in some applications further serves to direct undesirable noise to ground. The relatively small size of the grounding device permits the use of a relatively smaller ground pad on the printed circuit board, thereby conserving valuable printed circuit board surface area. Finally, the ground path structure is configured for automated attachment to the chip components, and the chip component assembly thus formed is well suited for installation on the printed circuit board by pick-and-place manufacturing techniques.

Chip component assembly

A communications card allows computers to be electrically connected to electronic devices and communications systems. The communications card includes a modular jack with a plurality of contact pins. The contact pins include a plug engaging portion that does not include any sections that are angled more than about 90&deg; in order to minimize the stresses in the contact pins. The contact pins also include a connector portion that allows the contact pins to be electrically connected to a printed circuit board disposed within the communications card. Preferably, the plug engaging portion includes an elongated arm that aids in absorbing stress and deflection of the contact pins. Advantageously, the contact pins are designed to minimize the height of the modular jack such that the modular jack can be used with communications cards that comply with the PCMCIA Type III standards.

Contact pin design for a modular jack

An integrated modular plug receptacle package is disclosed wherein one or more modular plug receptacles, or jacks, are defined by bringing two or more PC cards into operable communication, such as within the card slot cavity of a portable computer, for instance. Each PC card has formed on a posterior edge thereof one or more modular jack portions. The jack portions on one card coordinate with complimentary jack portions on the other card(s) to form an integrated modular jack to which may be connected a modular plug, such as an RJ series connector. In addition to PC cards, various electronic device components may have formed on a surface thereof modular jack portions enabling them to be operably connected to a similarly equipped component, thereby also defining a modular connector.

Modular plug receptacles defined by multiple electronic components

A communication card includes a retractable connector that is smoothly extendable and retractable. A torsion spring is positioned within a slot that receives the retractable connector and the torsion spring assists the extension of the retractable platform and counter forces that may otherwise cause the platform to bind as it extends and retracts. A flexible circuit is attached to the torsion spring and it allows electrical communication between the retractable connectors and the communication card. The flexible circuit is preferably attached to the retractable connector and the communication card by zero insertion force connectors. Because the flexible circuit is bonded to the torsion spring, the movement of the circuit is constrained and that helps protect the circuit from damage.

Retractable connector for use with electronic devices

The modular jack allows a RJ series connector plug to be attached to a communications card that conforms to the PCMCIA requirements for a Type III card. The modular jack includes a main body portion including a top surface, a bottom outer surface and a front surface. The receptacle is disposed entirely within the front surface of the modular jack such that no portion of the plug extends through either the top surface or the bottom surface of the main body portion of the modular jack. Thus, the modular jack allows the communications card to be connected to standard RJ series plugs without deviating from the Type III PCMCIA card height requirement, even when the plug is inserted into the jack. Desirably, the main body portion has a height measured from the top surface to the bottom surface that is generally equal to or less than about 10.5 mm. Additionally, the receptacle preferably includes an upper inner surface and a lower inner surface that are separated by a distance that is generally equal to or less than about 10.1 mm. The modular jack may also include a latching area that securely holds the connector plug within the receptacle, but allows the connector plug to be removed from the receptacle without the user depressing a biased clip of the connector plug if a predetermined force is applied to a body of the connector plug.

Modular jack for type III PCMCIA cards

An electrical jack system is operable with an electrical plug, such as an RJ-type plug. In one embodiment, the electrical plug is at least partially translucent. The jack system includes a housing bounding a socket. The socket is configured to receive the electrical plug. A light source is coupled with the housing so as to selectively illuminate the socket and/or the translucent electrical plug when the translucent electrical plug is received within the socket of the housing. In one embodiment, the light source is a light emitter, such as an LED, mounted on the housing so as to be at least partially exposed to the socket of the housing. In an alternative embodiment, an opening is formed on the housing in communication with the socket. A light emitter is disposed a distance from the opening on the housing. A conduit extends between the light emitter and the opening. The conduit, such as a light pipe, is configured to channel light from the light emitter to the opening on the housing.

Illuminating electrical jack system

A modular jack, for coupling with a physical/electrical media plug, comprises a frame, a rocker arm, electrical contacts, and a retractable cover guard for protecting the electrical contacts during nonuse. The retractable cover guard moves from a protective position to a retracted position when a physical/electrical media plug is inserted into the modular jack and returns to the protective position when the physical/electrical media plug is removed. While only a shallow insertion depth of the physical/electrical media plug is permitted, the rocker arm aligns and mechanically secures the physical/electrical media plug within the modular jack.

Growing community of inventors

West Valley City, UT, United States of America

David D Oliphant