Wind turbine blade with uncoupled trailing edge
OwnerMichael L. Barrowsinventor
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A blade for a wind turbine has a hollow or exoskeleton blade body. The blade body has a leading edge and a trailing edge along a span thereof. The blade body includes a first blade portion and a second blade portion wherein the first blade portion and the second blade portion are integrated with one another along at least 90% of the leading edge, and are in uncoupled contact at the trailing edge. The uncoupled contact permits the first blade portion and second blade portion to experience relative movement at the trailing edge when the blade body twists.
Claims14
A blade for a wind turbine, comprising an exoskeleton blade body having a leading edge and a trailing edge along a span of said blade body, said blade body having a first blade portion and a second blade portion wherein said first blade portion and said second blade portion are integrated with one another along at least 90% of said leading edge, and wherein said first blade portion and said second blade portion are in unbonded and non-integrated contact at said trailing edge for supporting relative movement between said first blade portion and said second blade portion all along said span of said blade body at said trailing edge when said blade body twists wherein, when oscillating torsional loads are generated as said blade body undergoes cyclic twisting, said unbonded and non-integrated contact causes said oscillating torsional loads to be directed through said leading edge and not through said trailing edge.
A blade for a wind turbine, comprising a hollow blade-shaped body having a root and a tip, said blade-shaped body having a leading edge and a trailing edge wherein said leading edge and said trailing edge extend from said root to said tip, said blade-shaped body having a first blade portion and a second blade portion wherein said first blade portion and said second blade portion are integrated at said leading edge and are in unbonded and non-integrated contact at said trailing edge for supporting relative movement between said first blade portion and said second blade portion all along said span of said blade body along all of said trailing edge when said blade body twists wherein, when oscillating torsional loads are generated as said blade body undergoes cyclic twisting, said unbonded and non-integrated contact causes said oscillating torsional loads to be directed through said leading edge and not through said trailing edge.
A blade for a wind turbine, comprising a hollow blade-shaped body having a root and a tip, said blade-shaped body having a leading edge and a trailing edge wherein said leading edge and said trailing edge extend from said root to said tip, said blade-shaped body having a first blade portion and a second blade portion wherein said first blade portion and said second blade portion are integrated with one another along at least 90% of said leading edge and are in an unbonded and non-integrated contact relationship at said trailing edge, said blade-shaped body adapted to be coupled to a hub of a wind turbine wherein said first body portion and said second body portion remain in said unbonded and non-integrated contact relationship at said trailing edge for supporting relative movement between said first blade portion and said second blade portion all along said span of said blade body along all of said trailing edge when said blade body twists wherein, when oscillating torsional loads are generated as said blade body undergoes cyclic twisting, said unbonded and non-integrated contact relationship causes said oscillating torsional loads to be directed through said leading edge and not through said trailing edge.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.