General Electric Company

Ge Infrastructure Technology, LLC

Lm Wind Power A/s

Rohit Agarwal

Andrew Mitchell Rodwell

Scott Jacob Huth

Amir Riahi

Thomas Merzhaeuser

Donald Joseph Kasperski

Jianqiang Chen

Scott Iverson Shillig

Mohammad Salah Attia

Jon Stuart Wright

Ashley Simone Wilford

Graham Andress Aldinger

A method of joining first and second blade components of a rotor blade includes arranging the first blade component and the second blade component together at an interface. The first and second blade components are formed of different materials having different stiffnesses. The method further includes providing a gap at the interface of the blade components. Further, the method includes securing the blade components together by at least partially filling the gap with a filler material. Moreover, the method includes further securing the blade components together via an infusion process, wherein, during the infusion process, additional filler material further fills the gap or covers at least a portion of the filler material. In addition, the method includes allowing the filler material(s) to cure. Thus, upon curing, the filler material(s)—smoothly transitions a load between the different materials of the blade components, thereby limiting an associated stress at the interface.

Jointed wind turbine rotor blade having improved transitions between varying material combinations

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. The rotor blade also includes one or more pin joints for connecting the first and second blade segments at the chord-wise joint. The pin joint(s) includes one or more pin joint tubes received within the pin joint slot(s). The pin joint slot(s) are secured within a bearing block. Further, a gap is defined between the pin joint slot(s) and the bearing block. Moreover, the rotor blade includes a shim within the gap between the pin joint slot(s) and the bearing block so as to retain the pin joint slot(s) within the bearing block. In addition, the shim is constructed of a liquid material that hardens after being poured into the gap.

Method for installing and retaining a bushing in a bearing block of a rotor blade joint

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Simpsonville, SC, United States of America

Rohit Agarwal