Wind turbine rotor blade joint
AssigneeGeneral Electric Company
InventorDirk Jan Kootstra
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A blade joint for joining a first blade segment and a second blade segment, each having an aerodynamic profile, in a rotor blade is disclosed. The blade joint includes a first joint segment and a second joint segment each having an outer surface, an inner surface, and a thickness therebetween. The outer surface of each joint segment has an aerodynamic profile. The first joint segment and the second joint segment each further have a joint interface end, a blade interface end, and a length therebetween. The joint interface end of the first joint segment and the joint interface end of the second joint segment are configured to couple the first joint segment and second joint segment together.
Claims20
A blade joint for joining a first blade segment and a second blade segment, each having an aerodynamic profile, in a rotor blade, the blade joint comprising:
- a first joint segment and a second joint segment each having an outer surface, an inner surface, and a thickness therebetween, the outer surface of each joint segment having an aerodynamic profile, the first joint segment and the second joint segment each further having a joint interface end, a blade interface end, and a length therebetween,
- wherein the joint interface end of the first joint segment and the joint interface end of the second joint segment are configured to couple the first joint segment and second joint segment together.
A blade segment for a rotor blade having an aerodynamic profile and formed from a plurality of blade segments, the blade segment comprising:
- a shell segment having a generally aerodynamic profile and a length, the shell segment further defining a cutaway portion;
- a plurality of spar caps extending at least partially through the length of the shell segment, each of the spar caps having a width and a thickness;
- and,
- a joint segment disposed in the cutaway portion and bonded to the shell segment and the plurality of spar caps, the joint segment having an outer surface, an inner surface, and a thickness therebetween, the outer surface of the joint segment having an aerodynamic profile corresponding to the aerodynamic profile of the shell segment, the joint segment further having a joint interface end, a blade interface end, and a length therebetween.
A rotor blade comprising:
- a first blade segment comprising:
- a shell segment having a generally aerodynamic profile and a length, the shell segment further defining a cutaway portion;
- a plurality of spar caps extending at least partially through the length of the shell segment, each of the spar caps having a width and a thickness;
- and,
- a joint segment disposed in the cutaway portion and bonded to the shell segment and the plurality of spar caps, the joint segment having an outer surface, an inner surface, and a thickness therebetween, the outer surface of the joint segment having an aerodynamic profile corresponding to the aerodynamic profile of the shell segment, the joint segment further having a female joint interface end, a blade interface end, and a length therebetween;
- and,
- a second blade segment comprising:
- a shell segment having a generally aerodynamic profile and a length, the shell segment further defining a cutaway portion;
- a plurality of spar caps extending at least partially through the length of the shell segment, each of the spar caps having a width and a thickness;
- and,
- a joint segment disposed in the cutaway portion and bonded to the shell segment and the plurality of spar caps, the joint segment having an outer surface, an inner surface, and a thickness therebetween, the outer surface of the joint segment having an aerodynamic profile corresponding to the aerodynamic profile of the shell segment, the joint segment further having a male joint interface end, a blade interface end, and a length therebetween,
- wherein the aerodynamic profile of the first blade segment corresponds to the aerodynamic profile of the second blade segment, and wherein the female joint interface end and the male joint interface end are configured to couple the first blade segment and the second blade segment together.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.