# US 7,608,939 B2 · Methods and apparatus for assembling and operating monocoque rotary machines > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 7,608,939 B2 - Document ID: US7608939B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 11/619,722 - Filed: 2007-01-04 - Published: 2008-07-10 - Granted: 2009-10-27 - Earliest claimed: 2007-01-04 - Assignees: General Electric Company - Inventors: Bharat Sampathkumaran Bagepalli; Peter Rogall; James Patrick Francis Lyons - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US7608939B2 ## CPC - F03D 80/00: Details, components or accessories not provided for in groups F03D1/00 - F03D17/00 - F03D 13/20: Arrangements for mounting or supporting wind motors; Masts or towers for wind motors - F03D 80/60: Cooling or heating of wind motors - F05B 2230/60: Assembly methods - F05B 2240/14: Casings, housings, nacelles, gondels or the like, protecting or supporting assemblies there within - F05B 2240/90: Mounting on supporting structures or systems - Y02E 10/72: Wind turbines with rotation axis in wind direction - Y02E 10/728: Onshore wind turbines - Y02P 70/50: Manufacturing or production processes characterised by the final manufactured product - Y10T 29/4932: Turbomachine making - F03D: WIND MOTORS - F05B: INDEXING SCHEME RELATING TO WIND, SPRING, WEIGHT, INERTIA OR LIKE MOTORS, TO MACHINES OR ENGINES FOR LIQUIDS COVERED BY SUBCLASSES F03B, F03D AND F03G - Y02E: REDUCTION OF GREENHOUSE GAS [GHG] EMISSIONS, RELATED TO ENERGY GENERATION, TRANSMISSION OR DISTRIBUTION - Y02P: CLIMATE CHANGE MITIGATION TECHNOLOGIES IN THE PRODUCTION OR PROCESSING OF GOODS - Y10T: TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER US CLASSIFICATION ## Abstract A method and apparatus of assembling a rotary machine includes providing at least one component. The component is at least one of a rotating member and a stationary member. The method and apparatus also includes coupling the component to a monocoque nacelle structure. The monocoque nacelle structure includes an outer shell that extends over at least a portion of the component. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A method of assembling a rotary machine, said method comprising: providing at least one component, the component is at least one of a rotating member and a stationary member; and coupling the at least one component to a monocoque nacelle structure comprising an outer shell extending over at least a portion of the component further comprising stamping at least one sheet member to for at least one mounting portion in the outer shell. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) A method according to claim 1 further comprising coupling a plurality of sheet members together by at least one of retention hardware and welding to form the outer shell, and coupling the component to the outer shell. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) A method according to claim 1 wherein stamping at least one sheet member to form at least one mounting portion comprises stamping at least one channel within the outer shell. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) A method according to claim 1 wherein stamping at least one sheet member to form at least one mounting portion comprises stamping a plurality of v-shaped channels within the outer shell. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) A method according to claim 1 further comprising nesting the at least one mounting portion within a separate nesting mounting portion. ### Claim 6 A wind turbine generator comprising: at least one component, said component comprises at least one of a rotating member and a stationary member; and a monocoque nacelle structure coupled to said component, said monocoque nacelle structure comprising an outer shell extending over at least a portion of said component. ### Claim 7 (depends on 6) A wind turbine generator according to claim 6 wherein said outer shell comprises a plurality of sheet members coupled together by at least one of retention hardware and welding, and wherein said component is coupled to said outer shell. ### Claim 8 (depends on 6) A wind turbine generator according to claim 6 further comprising at least one mounting portion stamped into at least one sheet member forming said outer shell. ### Claim 9 (depends on 8) A wind turbine generator according to claim 8 wherein said mounting portion comprises at least one channel. ### Claim 10 (depends on 8) A wind turbine generator according to claim 8 wherein said mounting portion comprises a plurality of v-shaped channels. ### Claim 11 (depends on 8) A wind turbine generator according to claim 8 further comprising a nesting mounting portion, said nesting mounting portion comprising a channel that nests said stamped mounting portion within said channel. ### Claim 12 (depends on 6) A wind turbine generator in accordance with claim 6 wherein said outer shell further comprises at least one dimple stamped into at least one sheet member forming said outer shell. ### Claim 13 A monocoque nacelle for a rotary machine, said monocoque structure comprising: at least one component, said component comprises at least one of a rotating member and a stationary member; and an outer shell coupled to said component, said outer shell extending over at least a portion of said component, wherein said outer shell comprises a plurality of sheet members coupled together by at least one of retention hardware and welding. ### Claim 14 (depends on 13) A monocoque nacelle according to claim 13 further comprising at least one mounting portion stamped into at least one sheet member forming said outer shell. ### Claim 15 (depends on 14) A monocoque nacelle according to claim 14 wherein said mounting portion comprises at least one channel. ### Claim 16 (depends on 14) A monocoque nacelle according to claim 14 wherein said mounting portion comprises a plurality of v-shaped channels. ### Claim 17 (depends on 14) A monocoque nacelle according to claim 14 further comprising a nesting mounting portion, said nesting mounting portion comprising a channel that nests said stamped mounting portion within said channel. ### Claim 18 A monocoque nacelle for a rotary machine, said monocoque structure comprising: at least one component, said component comprises at least one of a rotating member and a stationary member; and an outer shell coupled to said component, said outer shell extending over at least a portion of said component, wherein said outer shell further comprises at least one dimple stamped into at least one sheet member forming said outer shell.