US 12,215,667 B2 · Longitudinal edge extension

Abstract

A system and method for manufacturing a wind turbine blade. The wind turbine blade includes a shell structure defining a leading edge and a trailing edge. The wind turbine blade also includes a longitudinal edge extension arranged to extend at least partially along the leading edge or at least partially along the trailing edge to modify an aerodynamic characteristic of the wind turbine blade. The longitudinal edge extension includes a center section and a peripheral section comprising attachment means, and the shell structure is arranged to engage with the attachment means to secure the longitudinal edge extension.

Claims32

Dependent claims

A wind turbine blade comprising:

a shell structure defining a leading edge and a trailing edge;
a longitudinal edge extension arranged to extend at least partially along said leading edge or at least partially along said trailing edge to modify an aerodynamic characteristic of said wind turbine blade, wherein said longitudinal edge extension comprises a center section and at least one peripheral section comprising attachment means, and the shell structure is arranged to engage with the attachment means to secure the longitudinal edge extension;
and
at least one clamp covering at least one of said leading edge and said trailing edge.

1 more element

A method of manufacturing a wind turbine blade, said method comprising:

providing a shell structure defining a leading edge and a trailing edge;
extending a longitudinal edge extension at least partially along the leading edge or at least partially along the trailing edge, wherein said longitudinal edge extension comprises a center section and at least one peripheral section comprising attachment means;
arranging said shell structure to engage with the attachment means to secure the longitudinal edge extension;
covering at least one of said leading edge and said trailing edge with at least one clamp;
and
modifying an aerodynamic characteristic of the wind turbine blade.

3 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Facts

Application

17/610,099Filed 8 May 2020 · us provisional application

Priority

10 May 2019

Published

US 2022/0235736 A128 Jul 2022

Granted

4 Feb 2025

Term ends

Not estimatedThe source records don’t support an estimate.

Classification16 codes

F03D 1/0675
Characterised by their construction elements: of the blades
B29D 99/0028
Producing blades or the like, e.g. blades for turbines, propellers, or wings: hollow blades
B29L 2031/085
Blades, e.g. for helicopters: wind turbine blades
F05B 2230/23
Essentially without removing material: by permanently joining parts together

Longitudinal edge extension

Life of this patent

Longitudinal edge extension

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims32