# US 11,441,289 B2 · Hybrid foundation for offshore wind turbines > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 11,441,289 B2 - Document ID: US11441289B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 17/282,890 - Filed: 2019-10-07 - Published: 2022-01-06 - Granted: 2022-09-13 - Earliest claimed: 2018-10-05 - Assignees: Case Western Reserve University - Applicants: Case Western Reserve University - Inventors: Xiangwu Zeng; Xuefei Wang; Xu Yang; Xinyao Li - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US11441289B2 ## CPC - E02D 27/425: {specially adapted for wind motors masts (wind motors per se F03D1/00)} - E02D 27/525: {using elements penetrating the underwater ground (sinking work pieces E02D15/08, sinking caissons E02D23/02)} - F03D 13/22: {Foundations specially adapted for wind motors} - F03D 13/25: specially adapted for offshore installation - Y02E 10/72: Wind turbines with rotation axis in wind direction - Y02E 10/727: Offshore wind turbines - E02D: FOUNDATIONS; EXCAVATIONS; EMBANKMENTS (specially adapted for hydraulic engineering E02B); UNDERGROUND OR UNDERWATER STRUCTURES {(tunnels, tunnelling, mining E21)} - F03D: WIND MOTORS - Y02E: REDUCTION OF GREENHOUSE GAS [GHG] EMISSIONS, RELATED TO ENERGY GENERATION, TRANSMISSION OR DISTRIBUTION ## Abstract A hybrid offshore wind turbine includes a monopile, friction wheel, and suction bucket. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A hybrid foundation for an offshore wind turbine comprising: an elongated monopile extending from a first end to a distal second along an axis, the first end configured to be inserted into a sea floor, a friction wheel having an outer annular surface and an inner annular surface that defines an opening through which the elongated monopile extends, the friction wheel extending transverse to the axis and being configured to increase lateral load bearing capacity of the elongated monopile upon insertion into the sea floor, and an annular suction bucket that extends from the friction wheel towards the first end of the elongated monopile, the suction bucket configured to be driven into the sea floor by pressure differentiation within the bucket during installation of the hybrid foundation. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The hybrid foundation of claim 1, wherein an upper surface of the friction wheel is configured to extend above the sea floor upon installation of the hybrid foundation. ### Claim 3 (depends on 2) The hybrid foundation of claim 2, wherein the upper surface of the friction wheel extends from the outer annular surface to the inner annular surface. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The hybrid foundation of claim 1, wherein the outer annular surface is defined by an outer annular member and the inner annular surface is defined by an inner annular member. ### Claim 5 (depends on 4) The hybrid foundation of claim 4, wherein the outer annular member and the inner annular member define an annular cavity in the friction wheel that is configured to receive and/or be filled with stone, rock, and/or gravel during installation of the hybrid foundation, the stone, rock, and/or gravel configured to provide vertical load to the hybrid foundation. ### Claim 6 (depends on 4) The hybrid foundation of claim 4, wherein the friction wheel includes at least one radially extending stiffener plate that prevents the friction wheel from buckling during and/or after installation of the hybrid foundation. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The hybrid foundation of claim 1, wherein a lower surface of the friction wheel is configured to extend substantially parallel to the sea floor. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The hybrid foundation of claim 1, wherein the friction wheel is coupled to the suction bucket. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) The hybrid foundation of claim 1, wherein the suction bucket includes an annular wall that defines a cavity through which the first end of the elongated monopile extends, the annular wall extending along the axis. ### Claim 10 (depends on 9) The hybrid foundation of claim 9, wherein the friction wheel and the suction bucket have the same diameter. ### Claim 11 (depends on 10) The hybrid foundation of claim 10, wherein the friction wheel is integral with the suction bucket. ### Claim 12 (depends on 9) The hybrid foundation of claim 9, wherein the suction bucket is divided into several compartments to increase a stiffness of the suction bucket and maintain balance by controlling a vacuum in different compartments during installation. ### Claim 13 (depends on 1) The hybrid foundation of claim 1, wherein the friction wheel and the suction bucket are coupled to elongated monopile such that resisting moment created by the friction wheel and the suction bucket after installation of the hybrid foundation transfers to the elongated monopile and tower. ### Claim 14 An offshore wind turbine comprising: a hybrid foundation the hybrid foundation including: an elongated monopile extending from a first end to a distal second along an axis, the first end configured to be inserted into a sea floor, a friction wheel having an outer annular surface and an inner annular surface that defines an opening through which the elongated monopile extends, the friction wheel extending transverse to the axis and being configured to increase lateral load bearing capacity of the elongated monopile upon insertion into the sea floor, and an annular suction bucket that extends from the friction wheel towards the first end of the elongated monopile, the suction bucket configured to be driven into the sea floor by pressure differentiation within the bucket during installation of the hybrid foundation. ### Claim 15 (depends on 14) The offshore wind turbine of claim 14, wherein an upper surface of the friction wheel is configured to extend above the sea floor upon installation of the hybrid foundation. ### Claim 16 (depends on 15) The offshore wind turbine of claim 15, wherein the upper surface of the friction wheel extends from the outer annular surface to the inner annular surface. ### Claim 17 (depends on 14) The offshore wind turbine of claim 14, wherein the outer annular surface is defined by an outer annular member and the inner annular surface is defined by an inner annular member. ### Claim 18 (depends on 17) The offshore wind turbine of claim 17, wherein the outer annular member and the inner annular member define an annular cavity in the friction wheel that is configured to receive and/or be filled with stone, rock, and/or gravel during installation of the hybrid foundation, the stone, rock, and/or gravel configured to provide vertical load to the hybrid foundation. ### Claim 19 (depends on 17) The offshore wind turbine of claim 17, wherein the friction wheel includes at least one radially extending stiffener plate that prevents the friction wheel from buckling during and/or after installation of the hybrid foundation. ### Claim 20 (depends on 14) The offshore wind turbine of claim 14, wherein a lower surface of the friction wheel is configured to extend substantially parallel to the sea floor.