General Electric Company

Howard Daniel Driver

Jamie Thomas Livingston

Stefan Herr

Waseem Ibrahim Faidi

Nilesh Tralshawala

Changting Wang

Amir Riahi

Aparna Chakrapani Sheila-Vadde

Jan Willem Bakhuis

Mandar Diwakar Godbole

Andrzej Michal May

Andrew Billen

Sjef Van Breugel

Steven Haines Olson

Thomas B Jenkins

The invention provides a drive coil and measurement probe comprising the drive coil. The measurement probes can be used, for example, in in-situ, non-destructive testing methods, also provided herein.

Drive coil, measurement probe comprising the drive coil and methods utilizing the measurement probe

A method of making a composite material article includes, in an exemplary embodiment, providing a pre-impregnated preform formed from a plurality of reinforcing fibers and a polymer matrix, positioning the preform on a flat base plate, positioning a pressure bladder on top of the preform, and positioning a bridge tool above the pressure bladder. The bridge tool includes a top plate and at least one support member. The support members are coupled to the base plate with the top plate spaced above the pressure bladder. The method also includes enclosing the preform and bridge tool inside a vacuum bag by sealingly attaching the vacuum bag to the base plate, drawing a vacuum in the vacuum bag to remove air and volatiles from the preform, and then applying pressure to the preform by inflating the pressure bladder to consolidate the preform.

Apparatus and method of making composite material articles

A method and system for assembling large wind turbine blades that includes providing a plurality of wind turbine blade segments. An adhesive distribution arrangement is disposed on a surface of at least one of the plurality of the wind turbine blade segments. The adhesive distribution arrangement includes a bonding grid having a plurality of adhesive distribution openings. The wind turbine blade segments are directed together and sufficient adhesive is provided to the bonding grid to substantially fill an area between the wind turbine segments. The adhesive is then cured to form a bonded joint, the bonding grid being incorporated into the bonded joint. A bonding grid for use with the method and system and a segmented wind turbine blade are also disclosed.

Wind blade joint bonding grid

A spar cap for a wind turbine rotor blade. The spar cap may include multiple preform components. The multiple preform components may be planar sheets having a swept shape with a first end and a second end. The multiple preform components may be joined by mating the first end of a first preform component to the second end of a next preform component, forming the spar cap.

Preform spar cap for a wind turbine rotor blade

A trailing edge cap for a blade includes a body configured to mount on at least two differently at least one of sized and shaped blades such that the body at least partially covers an original trailing edge portion of the blade. The body has a body edge portion for forming a new trailing edge portion of the blade when the body is mounted on the blade.

Methods and apparatus for producing wind energy with reduced wind turbine noise

The transducers are incorporated in or laminated to wind blades and electrically connected to a self-powered electrical circuit. The transducers in combination with the self-powered electrical circuit improve the wind blades' response to changing wind conditions by reducing loads, at least until the turbines pitch axis system can alter the lie of the blades. Thus, when there is a change in wind conditions, the resultant twisting or bending of the wind blade during the impact of the wind (gust) on the wind blade is used to extract energy from the transducers. This energy is then transferred to the electrical circuit which in turn sends a signal back to the transducers to actuate them so as to resist the imposed load.

Growing community of inventors

Greer, SC, United States of America

Howard Daniel Driver