# US 10,309,374 B2 · Energy kite winching using buoyancy

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- Number: US 10,309,374 B2
- Document ID: US10309374B2
- Status: Granted
- Kind: B2
- Application number: 15/366,830
- Filed: 2016-12-01
- Published: 2018-06-07
- Granted: 2019-06-04
- Earliest claimed: 2016-12-01
- Assignees: Makani Technologies LLC
- Applicants: Makani Technologies LLC
- Inventors: Robert Nelson; Brian Hachtmann
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US10309374B2

## CPC

- F03D 9/32: on moving objects, e.g. vehicles
- B63B 21/50: Anchoring arrangements {or methods} for special vessels, e.g. for floating drilling platforms or dredgers
- B64F 3/02: with means for supplying electricity to aircraft during flight
- B64U 10/60: Tethered aircraft
- F03D 5/00: Other wind motors (controlling thereof F03D7/00)
- F03D 7/00: Controlling wind motors (supplying or distributing electrical power H02J, e.g. arrangements for adjusting, eliminating or compensating reactive power in networks H02J3/18; controlling electric generators H02P, e.g. arrangements for controlling electric generators for the purpose of obtaining a desired output H02P9/00)
- F03D 9/008: {the wind motor being combined with water energy converters, e.g. a water turbine}
- F03D 9/25: the apparatus being an electrical generator (F03D9/22 takes precedence)
- F03D 13/25: specially adapted for offshore installation
- B63B 35/50: Vessels or floating structures for aircraft (aircraft carriers B63G11/00; flying-boat hulls, other flotation means for aircraft B64)
- B63B 2205/00: Tethers
- B64D 2221/00: Electric power distribution systems onboard aircraft
- B64U 70/30: for capturing UAVs in flight by ground or sea-based arresting gear, e.g. by a cable or a net
- B64U 2101/10: for generating power to be supplied to a remote station, e.g. UAVs with solar panels
- F05B 2240/921: kept aloft due to aerodynamic effects
- F05B 2240/93: on a structure floating on a liquid surface
- Y02E 10/70: Wind energy
- Y02E 10/72: Wind turbines with rotation axis in wind direction
- Y02E 10/727: Offshore wind turbines
- F03D: WIND MOTORS
- B63B: SHIPS OR OTHER WATERBORNE VESSELS; EQUIPMENT FOR SHIPPING (arrangements of vessel ventilation, heating, cooling, or air-conditioning B63J2/00; floating substructures as supports of dredgers or soil-shifting machines E02F9/06)
- B64F: GROUND OR AIRCRAFT-CARRIER-DECK INSTALLATIONS SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR USE IN CONNECTION WITH AIRCRAFT; DESIGNING, MANUFACTURING, ASSEMBLING, CLEANING, MAINTAINING OR REPAIRING AIRCRAFT, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR; HANDLING, TRANSPORTING, TESTING OR INSPECTING AIRCRAFT COMPONENTS, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
- B64U: UNMANNED AERIAL VEHICLES [UAV]; EQUIPMENT THEREFOR
- B64D: EQUIPMENT FOR FITTING IN OR TO AIRCRAFT; FLIGHT SUITS; PARACHUTES; ARRANGEMENT OR MOUNTING OF POWER PLANTS OR PROPULSION TRANSMISSIONS IN AIRCRAFT
- F05B: INDEXING SCHEME RELATING TO WIND, SPRING, WEIGHT, INERTIA OR LIKE MOTORS, TO MACHINES OR ENGINES FOR LIQUIDS COVERED BY SUBCLASSES F03B, F03D AND F03G
- Y02E: REDUCTION OF GREENHOUSE GAS [GHG] EMISSIONS, RELATED TO ENERGY GENERATION, TRANSMISSION OR DISTRIBUTION

## Abstract

Offshore airborne wind turbine systems with an aerial vehicle connected via a tether to an adjustably buoyant body. The tether may be coupled to an underwater mooring through which it may move, or it may be coupled to a floating platform through which it may move. The buoyancy of the buoyant body may be adjusted to change the tension in the tether or for other purposes.

## Claims

### Claim 1

An offshore airborne wind turbine system, comprising:
an aerial vehicle;
an underwater mooring;
an adjustably buoyant body, wherein the adjustably buoyant body is underwater; and
a tether coupled to the underwater mooring and configured to move through the underwater mooring, the tether comprising:
a first portion extending upwards from the underwater mooring and coupled to the aerial vehicle, and
a second portion extending upwards from the underwater mooring and coupled to the adjustably buoyant body.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The system of claim 1, further comprising:
an electrical junction electrically connected to a power system external to the offshore airborne wind turbine system; and
a first insulated conductor electrically coupled to the electrical junction,
wherein the tether comprises a second insulated conductor electrically coupled to the first insulated conductor and to the aerial vehicle.

### Claim 3 (depends on 2)

The system of claim 2, wherein the first insulated conductor is coupled to the second insulated conductor at the adjustably buoyant body.

### Claim 4 (depends on 1)

The system of claim 1, further comprising:
a pressurized air source; and
an air line connected between the pressurized air source and the adjustably buoyant body, wherein the pressurized air source is configured to transfer air via the air line between the pressurized air source and the adjustably buoyant body for adjusting the buoyancy of the adjustably buoyant body.

### Claim 5 (depends on 1)

The system of claim 1, wherein the underwater mooring comprises an anchor at a seabed.

### Claim 6 (depends on 1)

The system of claim 1, wherein the underwater mooring comprises:
a submerged mooring anchored above a seabed; and
a mooring line extending to the seabed.

### Claim 7 (depends on 1)

The system of claim 1, further comprising a floating platform configured as a landing platform for the aerial vehicle.

### Claim 8

An offshore airborne wind turbine system, comprising:
an aerial vehicle;
a floating platform configured as a landing platform for the aerial vehicle;
an adjustably buoyant body; and
a tether coupled to the floating platform and configured to move through the floating platform, the tether comprising:
a first portion extending upwards from the floating platform and coupled to the aerial vehicle, and
a second portion extending downwards from the floating platform and coupled to the adjustably buoyant body.

### Claim 9 (depends on 8)

The system of claim 8, further comprising:
an electrical junction electrically connected to a power system external to the offshore airborne wind turbine system; and
a first insulated conductor electrically coupled to the electrical junction,
wherein the tether comprises a second insulated conductor electrically coupled to the first insulated conductor and to the aerial vehicle.

### Claim 10 (depends on 9)

The system of claim 9, wherein the first insulated conductor is coupled to the second insulated conductor at the adjustably buoyant body.

### Claim 11 (depends on 8)

The system of claim 8, further comprising a first insulated conductor electrically coupled to the floating platform, wherein the tether comprises a second insulated conductor electrically coupled to the first insulated conductor and to the aerial vehicle.

### Claim 12 (depends on 11)

The system of claim 11, wherein the first insulated conductor is coupled to the second insulated conductor at the adjustably buoyant body.

### Claim 13 (depends on 8)

The system of claim 8, further comprising:
a pressurized air source; and
an air line connected between the pressurized air source and the adjustably buoyant body, wherein the pressurized air source is configured to transfer air via the air line between the pressurized air source and the adjustably buoyant body for adjusting the buoyancy of the adjustably buoyant body.

### Claim 14 (depends on 8)

The system of claim 8, wherein the floating platform comprises a mooring line extending to a seabed.