Neptco, Inc.

Senvion Gmbh

Ethan Franklin

Joel David Gruhn

Kameshwaran Narasimhan

Craig A Bahlmann

David M Braun

Tom Siekierka

Philip Shows

Galen Mark Gareis

Douglas Lindstrand

Gary Hemmelgarn

Joel D Gruhn

A method of forming a structural element for a wind turbine blade includes fixing a plurality of parallel strength rods to a carrier layer to form a preform layer of material, storing the preform layer in a coiled length, then dispensing the preform layer from the coiled length, partially grinding and then cutting across a width of the preform to form a plurality of cut perform layers, and then stacking them and then fixing them together using a liquid bonding resin material.

Wind turbine rotor blade components and methods of making same

A composite beam for a wind turbine blade includes a preform layer, the preform layer including multiple elongate strength rods arranged longitudinally relative to one another in a single layer, each strength rod being disposed adjacent to and spaced from at least one adjacent strength rod. Each strength rod has a rectangular cross section and includes multiple, substantially straight collimated structural fibers fixed in a solidified matrix resin. The preform layer includes at least one carrier layer to which the multiple strength rods are joined by an adhesive. The carrier layer spaces adjacent strength rods a fixed distance apart to facilitate the flow of liquid bonding resin between adjacent strength rods of the preform layer to its joined carrier layer, the carrier layer being of a permeable material suitable to facilitate the flow of liquid bonding resin through the carrier layer.

Structural preform layers of multiple rigid unidirectional strength elements or rods are constructed and arranged for use in fabricating load-bearing support structures and reinforcements of wind turbine blades. Individual preform layers include multiple elongate unidirectional strength elements or rods arranged in a single layer along a longitudinal axis of the preform layer. Each preform layer includes one or more fibrous carrier layers to which the multiple strength elements or rods are joined and arranged in the single layer. Each strength element or rod is longitudinally oriented and adjacent to other elements or rods. Individual strength elements or rods include a mass of substantially straight unidirectional structural fibers embedded within a matrix resin such that the elements or rods have a substantially uniform distribution of fibers and high degree of fiber collimation. The relative straightness of the fibers and fiber collimation provide strength elements or rods and the preform layers with high rigidity and significant compression strength.

The invention provides a water blocking tape for use in a variety of cable designs, such as power cable, data communications cable and telecommunications cable. A water blocking tape according to the invention includes layers of lightweight nonwoven fabric with one or more swellable water blocking compounds, such as water absorbent polymers, disposed between the layers. The nonwoven fabric layers are bonded in a pattern using an ultrasonic bonding technique. The bonding pattern helps to contain and to restrain movement of the water blocking compounds between the layers. The bonding pattern compartmentalizes the water blocking compounds to prevent pooling of the compounds and to facilitate a substantially consistent distribution of the compounds between the layers such that when a tape contacts water, the tape achieves a substantially consistent swell height. A substantially consistent swell height permits a tape to serve as a reliable water barrier to prevent damage and degradation of a cable and its components. Ultrasonic bonding of the multilayer tape eliminates the need and use of adhesives and bonding agents to form the tape that can have inhibiting effects on a swelling action of the tape.

Water blocking cable tape and methods for making same

The invention provides a composite wrapping and shielding tape for use in cable manufacture. Embodiments of the composite tape comprise a single tape configuration to separate and shield individual pairs of insulated conductors housed within a cable such as a high-speed data communications cable. The single tape configurations of the invention are multifolded and assembled from foil/film laminates to form a plurality of longitudinal channels or grooves to accommodate one or more pairs of insulated conductors and a variety of cable designs. During cable manufacture, one or more pairs of insulated conductors is wrapped within a continuous shield provided by each longitudinal channel or groove, thereby separating and shielding each pair of insulated conductors and, hence, isolating or at least substantially reducing crosstalk between pairs of insulated conductors contained within the cable. The invention also provides methods for making a multifolded composite tape. The invention further provides a communications cable comprising a multifolded composite tape to separate and shield insulated conductors.

Multifolded composite tape for use in cable manufacture and methods for making same

The invention provides a composite wrapping and shielding tape for use in cable manufacture. Embodiments of the composite tape include a single tape configuration to separate and shield individual pairs of insulated conductors housed within a cable such as a high-speed data communications cable. The single tape configurations of the invention are multifolded and assembled from foil/film laminates to form a plurality of longitudinal channels or grooves to accommodate one or more pairs of insulated conductors and a variety of cable designs. During cable manufacture, one or more pairs of insulated conductors is wrapped within a continuous shield provided by each longitudinal channel or groove, thereby separating and shielding each pair of insulated conductors and, hence, isolating or at least substantially reducing crosstalk between pairs of insulated conductors contained within the cable. The invention also provides methods for making a multifolded composite tape. The invention further provides a communications cable including a multifolded composite tape to separate and shield insulated conductors.

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Morganton, NC, United States of America

Ethan Franklin