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US 12,473,891 B2Granted
Roll control for airborne wind energy system
AssigneeWindlift LLC
InventorsAndy Stough, Mark Aull, Bryce Phillips, Chris Gibson
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A bridle system and roll control sheave for quickly and accurately directing the roll of an airborne wing in an airborne wind energy system is disclosed. A pair of medial bridle segments are connected to a sheave which is placed within the fuselage. A roll control motor is preferably connected to the sheave and is controlled by an electronic controller to rotate and change the relative lengths of the medial bridle segments.
Claims19
An airborne wind energy system connected to a power output comprising:
- an airborne unit comprising:
- a wing bearing at least one rotor motor configured to generate electrical power and having a left end and right end;
- a fuselage attached to the wing between the left and right ends of the wing;
- a roll control motor secured within the fuselage;
- and
- a roll control sheave connected to and rotatably driven by the roll control motor;
- an electrified tether electrically connecting the airborne unit with the power output;
- and
- a bridle system having a first segment and a second segment connected to the roll control sheave wherein the rotation of the roll control sheave lengthens one of the first and second segments and shortens the other, thereby inducing the airborne unit to roll.
6 more elements
An airborne wind energy system:
- an airborne unit comprising:
- a wing bearing at least one rotor motor configured to generate electrical power and having a left end and right end;
- a fuselage attached to the wing between the left and right ends of the wing;
- a roll control motor secured within the fuselage;
- and
- a roll control sheave connected to and rotatably driven by the roll control motor;
- a base unit comprising a power output;
- an electrified tether electrically connecting the airborne unit with the power output;
- and
- a bridle system comprising:
- a left lateral segment with a distal end and a proximal end fixed to the wing between the left end of the wing and the fuselage;
- a right lateral segment with a distal end and a proximal end fixed to the wing between the right end of the wing and the fuselage;
- a left medial segment with a proximal end fixed to the roll control sheave and a distal end fixed to the distal end of the left lateral segment;
- a right medial segment with a proximal end fixed to the roll control sheave and a distal end fixed to the distal end of the right lateral segment;
- a lower left segment with a proximal end fixed to a tether connection and a distal end fixed to the distal end of the left lateral segment and the distal end of the left medial segment;
- and
- a lower right segment with a proximal end fixed to the tether connection and distal end fixed to the distal end of the right lateral segment and the distal end of the right medial segment.
14 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.