Back to results
US 8,921,698 B2Granted
High strength windable electromechanical tether with low fluid dynamic drag and system using same
AssigneeGoogle Inc.
InventorsDamon Vander Lind, Jacob Felser
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A tether, and system using such a tether, adapted to provide mechanical and electrical coupling of an airborne flying platform to the ground. The tether may have a center structural core with electrical conductors on or near the outer diameter of the tether. The tether may utilize exterior configurations adapted to reduce drag.
Claims17
A high strength tether adapted for electrical conduction and tensile loading, said tether comprising:
- a central core, said central core comprising:
- a plurality of core layers, said core layers comprising a plurality of individual core elements, where the core elements of a core layer are helically wound along the length of said tether;
- a low bulk modulus strain relief layer wound concentrically around the central core;
- and
- a plurality of electrical conductors, said plurality of conductors located along the exterior of the low bulk modulus strain relief layer and said central core.
2 more elements
A high strength tether adapted for electrical conduction and tensile loading, said tether comprising:
- a central core;
- a low bulk modulus strain relief layer wound concentrically around the central core;
- and
- a plurality of electrical conductors, said plurality of conductors located along the exterior of the low bulk modulus strain relief layer and said central core, wherein said plurality of electrical conductors are helically wound along the exterior of said central core.
1 more element
A system for power generation with a tethered kite, said system comprising:
- a ground station;
- a kite, said kite comprising:
- a main wing;
- and
- a plurality of turbine driven generators;
- and
- a tether, said tether attached to said ground station on a first end and to a kite on a second end, said tether comprising:
- a central core, said central core comprising:
- a plurality of core layers, said core layers comprising a plurality of individual core elements, where the core elements of a core layer are helically wound along the length of said tether;
- a low bulk modulus strain relief layer wound concentrically around the central core;
- and
- a plurality of electrical conductors, said plurality of conductors located along the exterior of the low bulk modulus strain relief layer and said central core.
9 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.