HINGED WIND TURBINE BLADE TIPS

• US 20100135806A1
• Filed: 06/22/2009
• Published: 06/03/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 06/22/2009
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: General Electric Company
• Original Assignee: General Electric Company
• Inventors: Benito, Pedro L.
• Application Number:
  US12/488,801
• Publication Number:
  US 20100135806A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 416/147
• CPC Class Codes: F03D 1/0633 of the blades
• CPC Class Codes: F03D 7/0228 of the blade tips only
• CPC Class Codes: F05B 2240/307 Blade tip, e.g. winglets
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 10/72 Wind turbines with rotation axis in wind direction

Abstract

A wind turbine blade includes a plurality fins, each fin rotatably-joined to a tip of the blade.

Claims

1. A wind turbine blade comprising a plurality fins, each fin rotatably-joined to a tip of the blade.

2. The wind turbine blade recited in claim 1, wherein the fins are rotatable in three dimensions.

3. The wind turbine blade recited in claim 1, further comprising an actuator for rotating the fins.

4. The wind turbine blade recited in claim 1, wherein the fins are rotatable-joined by a spherical joint.

5. The wind turbine blade recited in claim 2, further comprising an actuator for rotating the fins.

6. The wind turbine blade recited in claim 2, wherein the fins are rotatable-joined by a spherical joint.

7. The wind turbine blade recited in claim 4, further comprising an actuator for rotating the fins.

8. A wind generator, comprising:

a tower for supporting a drive train with a rotor;

a gearbox, connected to the rotor, for driving an electrical generator;

at least one blade, connected to the rotor, for driving the gearbox;

wherein the blade comprises a plurality fins, each fin rotatably-joined to a tip of the blade.

9. The wind generator recited in claim 8, wherein the fins are rotatable in three dimensions.

10. The wind generator recited in claim 8, further comprising an actuator for rotating the fins.

11. The wind generator recited in claim 8, wherein the fins are rotatable-joined by a spherical joint.

12. The wind generator recited in claim 9, further comprising an actuator for rotating the fins.

13. The generator recited in claim 9, wherein the fins are rotatable-joined by a spherical joint.

14. The wind generator recited in claim 11, further comprising an actuator for rotating the fins.