WIND TURBINE ROTOR BLADE JOINT

• US 20120141287A1
• Filed: 08/29/2011
• Published: 06/07/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 08/29/2011
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: General Electric Company
• Original Assignee: General Electric Company
• Inventors: Hynum, Daniel Alan, Seeley, Charles Erklin, Busbey, Bruce Clark, Gerber, Brandon Shane, Baehmann, Peggy Lynn, Johnson, Roger Neal
• Application Number:
  US13/220,044
• Publication Number:
  US 20120141287A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 416/235
• CPC Class Codes: F03D 1/0675 of the blades
• CPC Class Codes: F05B 2230/60 Assembly methods
• CPC Class Codes: F05B 2240/302 Segmented or sectional blades
• CPC Class Codes: F05B 2260/301 Retaining bolts or nuts
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 10/72 Wind turbines with rotation axis in wind direction
• CPC Class Codes: Y02P 70/50 Manufacturing or production processes characterised by the final manufactured product

Abstract

A joint for connecting a first blade segment and a second blade segment of a wind turbine rotor blade is disclosed. The joint includes a body, the body including an outer surface and an inner surface. The outer surface has an aerodynamic contour that generally corresponds to an aerodynamic contour of the first blade segment and the second blade segment. The body includes a pressure side and a suction side extending between a leading edge and a trailing edge. In some embodiments, the joint further includes a channel defined in the outer surface of the body. The channel includes a generally continuous base wall extending between opposing sidewalls. The inner surface includes the base wall. In other embodiments, the joint further includes a channel defined in the body, and a shell extending from the body in a generally span-wise direction.

Claims

1. A joint for connecting a first blade segment and a second blade segment of a wind turbine rotor blade, the joint comprising:

a body comprising an outer surface and an inner surface, the outer surface having an aerodynamic contour that generally corresponds to an aerodynamic contour of the first blade segment and the second blade segment, the body comprising a pressure side and a suction side extending between a leading edge and a trailing edge; and

,

a channel defined in the outer surface of the body, the channel comprising a generally continuous base wall extending between opposing sidewalls, the inner surface comprising the base wall.

2. The joint of claim 1, further comprising a plurality of channels, the plurality of channels defined in a generally chord-wise array.

3. The joint of claim 2, wherein one of the plurality of channels extends continuously through the leading edge and at least a portion of the pressure side and the suction side in a generally chord-wise direction.

4. The joint of claim 1, wherein the channel is continuous in a generally chord-wise direction.

5. The joint of claim 1, wherein one of the opposing sidewalls defines a bore hole.

6. The joint of claim 5, further comprising a mechanical fastener adapted to extend through the bore hole and fasten the joint to one of the first blade segment or the second blade segment.

7. The joint of claim 1, further comprising a shell extending from the body in a generally span-wise direction and having a generally aerodynamic contour, a thickness of the shell tapering from the body in the generally span-wise direction.

8. The joint of claim 7, wherein the thickness of the shell further tapers in a generally chord-wise direction.

9. The joint of claim 7, wherein the shell is adapted for bonding to one of the first blade segment or the second blade segment.

10. The joint of claim 1, further comprising a cover skin connected to the outer surface and covering the channel.

11. A joint for connecting a first blade segment and a second blade segment of a wind turbine rotor blade, the joint comprising:

a body comprising an outer surface and an inner surface, the outer surface having an aerodynamic contour that generally corresponds to an aerodynamic contour of the first blade segment and the second blade segment, the body comprising a pressure side and a suction side extending between a leading edge and a trailing edge;

a channel defined in the body; and

,

a shell extending from the body in a generally span-wise direction and having a generally aerodynamic contour, a thickness of the shell tapering from the body in the generally span-wise direction.

12. The joint of claim 11, further comprising a plurality of channels, the plurality of channels defined in a generally chord-wise array.

13. The joint of claim 12, wherein one of the plurality of channels extends continuously through the leading edge and at least a portion of the pressure side and the suction side in a generally chord-wise direction.

14. The joint of claim 11, wherein the channel is continuous in a generally chord-wise direction.

15. The joint of claim 11, wherein the channel comprises a generally continuous base wall extending between opposing sidewalls, the inner surface comprising the base wall.

16. The joint of claim 15, wherein one of the opposing sidewalls defines a bore hole.

17. The joint of claim 16, further comprising a mechanical fastener adapted to extend through the bore hole and fasten the joint to one of the first blade segment or the second blade segment.

18. The joint of claim 11, wherein the thickness of the shell further tapers in a generally chord-wise direction.

19. The joint of claim 11, wherein the shell is adapted for bonding to one of the first blade segment or the second blade segment.

20. The joint of claim 11, further comprising a cover skin connected to the outer surface and covering the channel.