General Electric Company

Ge Infrastructure Technology, LLC

General Electric Renovables Espana, S.l.

Jon Stuart Wright

Scott Jacob Huth

Ashley Simone Wilford

Andrew Mitchell Rodwell

Scott Iverson Shillig

Rohit Agarwal

Matthew Brian Dudon

A rotor blade includes first and second blade segments extending in opposite directions from a chord-wise joint. The first blade segment includes a beam structure that connects with the second blade segment via a receiving section. A chord-wise gap exists between an edge of the beam structure and an edge of the receiving section. The beam structure defines a first pin joint slot, whereas the receiving section defines a second pin joint slot that aligns with the first pin joint slot. First and second bushings are arranged in first ends of the first and second pin joint slots, each having a flange extending within the chord-wise gap. As such, the flanges abut against each other within the chord-wise gap so as to fill the chord-wise gap with a predetermined defined gap or interference. Further, a chord-wise extending pin is positioned through the bushings so as to secure the first and second blade segments together.

Jointed wind turbine rotor blade with chord-wise extending pin bushings designed to minimize chord-wise gap

A rotor blade for a wind turbine includes a first blade segment and a second blade segment extending in opposite directions from a chord-wise joint. Each of the first and second blade segments includes at least one shell member defining an airfoil surface and an internal support structure. The first blade segment includes a beam structure extending lengthwise that structurally connects with the second blade segment via a receiving section. The rotor blade also includes at least one chord-wise extending pin positioned through the chord-wise joint so as to secure the first and second blade segments together. Further, the chord-wise extending pin includes a hollow cross-section that extends from a trailing edge end to a leading edge end thereof.

Wind turbine jointed rotor blade having a hollow chord-wise extending pin

A span-wise extending pin for joining blade segments of a rotor blade includes a distal portion having a length defined by a first end and an opposing, second end. The distal portion has a conical shape extending for at least a portion of the length thereof for providing ease of insertion of the pin into a pin joint slot of one of the first and second blade segments. The pin also includes a pin portion adjacent to the distal portion. The pin portion includes a first section and a second section. The second section is configured for securing within a beam structure of the first blade segment. The first section extends span-wise from a receiving end of the beam structure. The pin also includes a proximal portion having at least a rod member that extends span-wise through and secures together the pin portion and the distal portion.

Span-wise extending pin for joining rotor blade segments

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Greenville, SC, United States of America

Jon Stuart Wright