The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Apr. 22, 2008
Filed:
Dec. 07, 2005
Howard D. Driver, Greer, SC (US);
Howard D. Driver, Greer, SC (US);
General Electric Company, Schenectady, NY (US);
Abstract
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.