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Modified rotor blade assemblies with access windows and methods for making the same

Inactive Publication Date: 2015-06-18
GENERAL ELECTRIC CO
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  • Summary
  • Abstract
  • Description
  • Claims
  • Application Information

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

The patent text describes a method and a modified rotor blade for wind turbines. The method involves removing a cutout section from the rotor blade shell to create an access window to the interior support section and then sealing the cutout section back to the shell to close the access window. This allows for better maintenance and inspection of the interior of the rotor blade. The modified rotor blade includes an interior support section, a shell, and a cutout section that is sealed to the shell. This results in improved durability and stability of the rotor blade.

Problems solved by technology

However, it may become necessary to gain access to the interior of the rotor blade after it is manufactured or even installed.
While the shell may be partially removed to gain access to said interior, the repair and replacement of removing the shell may be labor and cost intensive.

Method used

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  • Modified rotor blade assemblies with access windows and methods for making the same
  • Modified rotor blade assemblies with access windows and methods for making the same
  • Modified rotor blade assemblies with access windows and methods for making the same

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Embodiment Construction

[0021]One or more specific embodiments of the present invention will be described below. In an effort to provide a concise description of these embodiments, all features of an actual implementation may not be described in the specification. It should be appreciated that in the development of any such actual implementation, as in any engineering or design project, numerous implementation-specific decisions must be made to achieve the developers' specific goals, such as compliance with system-related and business-related constraints, which may vary from one implementation to another. Moreover, it should be appreciated that such a development effort might be complex and time consuming, but would nevertheless be a routine undertaking of design, fabrication, and manufacture for those of ordinary skill having the benefit of this disclosure.

[0022]When introducing elements of various embodiments of the present invention, the articles “a,”“an,”“the,” and “said” are intended to mean that ther...

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Abstract

Methods for modifying a rotor blade for a wind turbine include removing a cutout section from a shell of the rotor blade, wherein removing the cutout section provides an access window to an interior support section of the rotor blade, and sealing the cutout section back to the shell to close the access window.

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION[0001]The subject matter disclosed herein relates to wind turbine rotor blades and, more specifically, to wind turbine rotor blades with access windows.[0002]Wind power is considered one of the cleanest, most environmentally friendly energy sources presently available, and wind turbines have gained increased attention in this regard. A modern wind turbine typically includes a tower, generator, gearbox, nacelle, and one or more rotor blades. The rotor blades capture kinetic energy of wind using known airfoil principles. The rotor blades transmit the kinetic energy in the form of rotational energy so as to turn a shaft coupling the rotor blades to a gearbox, or if a gearbox is not used, directly to the generator. The generator then converts the mechanical energy to electrical energy that may be deployed to a utility grid.[0003]The construction of a modern rotor blade generally includes shell components and one or more internal structural components, such as ...

Claims

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Application Information

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IPC IPC(8): F01D5/14
CPCF01D5/141F01D5/12F01D5/14F01D5/148F03D1/0675F05B2230/80Y02E10/72Y10T29/49318Y02P70/50
Inventor OLSON, STEVEN HAINES
Owner GENERAL ELECTRIC CO