IPC분류정보
국가/구분 |
United States(US) Patent
등록
|
국제특허분류(IPC7판) |
|
출원번호 |
US-0784163
(2010-05-20)
|
등록번호 |
US-8714925
(2014-05-06)
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발명자
/ 주소 |
- Kamen, Dean
- Langenfeld, Christopher C.
- Smith, III, Stanley B.
- Werner, Christopher M.
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출원인 / 주소 |
- DEKA Products Limited Partnership
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대리인 / 주소 |
|
인용정보 |
피인용 횟수 :
2 인용 특허 :
8 |
초록
▼
An aerodynamic brake assembly for use with an airfoil such as the blade of a wind turbine rotor comprises deployable upper and/or lower spoiler plates incorporated in or attached to the airfoil. The spoiler plates can deploy under the influence of centrifugal forces when the rotating airfoil or roto
An aerodynamic brake assembly for use with an airfoil such as the blade of a wind turbine rotor comprises deployable upper and/or lower spoiler plates incorporated in or attached to the airfoil. The spoiler plates can deploy under the influence of centrifugal forces when the rotating airfoil or rotor blade reaches a pre-determined rotational speed. The aerodynamic brake assembly may be integrated within the airfoil or attached to the tip of the airfoil such that, when not deployed, the upper and lower spoiler plates have a profile that approximately conforms to the profile of the part of the airfoil to which it the brake assembly is attached. Thus in a non-deployed state, the spoiler plates have a non-detrimental effect on the performance of the airfoil, and may even contribute to its aerodynamic lift properties. A weighted arm linked to the spoiler plate mechanism can be held in position electromagnetically or by solenoid, until an electrical signal from a controller causes it to release, leading to deployment of the spoiler plates. Failsafe deployment of the spoiler plates can occur either upon loss of power to the mechanism, or when the centrifugal force associated with an overspeed condition of the rotor overcomes the holding force of the electromagnet or solenoid.
대표청구항
▼
1. A braking assembly for an airfoil, the airfoil configured to rotate about a hub, comprising: a first plate and an opposing second plate, the plates having outside surfaces, opposing inside surfaces, and each having a forward portion with a leading edge and an aft portion with a trailing edge; and
1. A braking assembly for an airfoil, the airfoil configured to rotate about a hub, comprising: a first plate and an opposing second plate, the plates having outside surfaces, opposing inside surfaces, and each having a forward portion with a leading edge and an aft portion with a trailing edge; anda linkage assembly between the first and second plates, the linkage assembly hingedly interconnecting the forward portions of the inside surfaces of the first and second plates to a first end of an elongate driving member configured to move fore and aft; wherein the inside surface of the forward portion of each plate is hingedly connected to a frame, allowing the aft portions of the plates to pivot away from or retract toward each other;wherein forward movement of the driving member toward the leading edges of the plates causes the aft portions of the plates to retract toward each other, and aft movement of the driving member away from the leading edges of the plates causes the aft potions of the plates to pivot away from each other;and wherein said frame is attachable to a section of the airfoil such that the outside surfaces of the plates when retracted conform approximately to the contour of a section of the airfoil to which the braking assembly can be attached. 2. The braking assembly of claim 1 wherein the frame comprises an elongate spar having a long axis bounded by a proximal end and a distal end, situated in a space bounded by the inside surfaces of the retracted plates, the long axis of the spar oriented approximately perpendicular to the forward to aft direction of the plates; and the braking assembly further comprising: a weighted member having:a first pivotal connection to the spar, said first pivotal connection having an axis of rotation approximately perpendicular to the surfaces of the retracted plates,a second pivotal connection to a second end of the driving member, the axis of rotation of said second pivotal connection being approximately parallel to and non-coincident with the axis of the first pivotal connection, whereinrotation of the weighted member about the first pivotal connection causes a fore or aft movement of the driving member. 3. The braking assembly of claim 2 wherein the weighted member has a center of mass that is non-coincident with the axis of the first pivotal connection of the weighted member to the spar, such that a centrifugal force acting generally from the proximal end toward the distal end of the spar can cause rotation of the weighted member about the first pivotal connection. 4. The braking assembly of claim 3, wherein the weighted member comprises an elongate arm wherein the first pivotal connection is located near a first end of the arm, and a second end of the arm comprises an arm weight, the arm weight having a latching feature. 5. The braking assembly of claim 4, wherein the latching feature can reversibly couple with a latch connected to a plunger of a solenoid secured to the frame when the arm weight is in a retracted position proximal to the first pivotal connection of the arm. 6. The braking assembly of claim 5, wherein electrical activation of the solenoid places the latch in a position to couple with the arm weight. 7. The braking assembly of claim 6, wherein the solenoid plunger further comprises a plunger weight, said plunger weight selected to overcome the electromagnetic pull on the plunger by the solenoid upon the application of a pre-determined amount of centrifugal force acting on the plunger weight. 8. The braking assembly of claim 6, further comprising an electronic controller, said controller configured to receive a signal representing the rotational speed of the airfoil, and configured to interrupt electrical power to the solenoid upon the airfoil reaching a pre-determined rotational speed. 9. The braking assembly of claim 6, further comprising an electrical switch responsive to a pre-determined centrifugal force, said switch capable of interrupting electrical power to the solenoid in response to said centrifugal force. 10. The braking assembly of claim 9, further comprising a mechanism for operating the electrical switch comprising: a weighted actuator pivotally connected to the frame and capable of rotating into and out of contact with the switch, anda spring connecting the weighted actuator to the frame and applying a biasing force to urge the weighted actuator into contact with the switch, whereinthe weighted actuator has a center of mass that is non-coincident with the axis of rotation of the weighted actuator, such that application of a pre-determined centrifugal force on the weighted actuator overcomes the biasing force of the spring to reduce the contact force of the weighted actuator against the switch. 11. The braking assembly of claim 10, further comprising: a cable connecting the weighted member to an anchor pivotally connected to the frame, wherein a pre-determined degree of travel by the weighted member causes the cable to move the anchor into contact with the weighted actuator and overcome the biasing force of the spring to reduce the contact force of the weighted actuator against the switch. 12. The braking assembly of claim 4, wherein the ferromagnetic component can magnetically immobilize the weight next to a pole of an electromagnet secured to the frame when the arm weight is in a retracted position proximal to the first pivotal connection of the arm. 13. The braking assembly of claim 12, wherein the electromagnet is selected to produce an electrically induced magnetic force attracting the ferromagnetic component of the arm weight that can be overcome by a pre-determined amount of centrifugal force acting on the arm weight. 14. The braking assembly of claim 12, further comprising an electronic controller, said controller configured to receive a signal representing the rotational speed of the airfoil, and configured to interrupt electrical power to the electromagnet upon the airfoil reaching a pre-determined rotational speed. 15. The braking assembly of claim 12, further comprising an electrical switch responsive to a pre-determined centrifugal force, said switch capable of interrupting electrical power to the electromagnet in response to said centrifugal force. 16. The braking assembly of claim 15, further comprising a mechanism for operating the electrical switch comprising: a weighted actuator pivotally connected to the frame and capable of rotating into and out of contact with the switch, anda spring connecting the weighted actuator to the frame and applying a biasing force to urge the weighted actuator to contact the switch, whereinthe center of mass of the weighted actuator is non-coincident with the axis of rotation of the weighted actuator, such that application of a pre-determined centrifugal force on the weighted actuator overcomes the biasing force of the spring to reduce the contact force of the weighted actuator against the switch. 17. The braking assembly of claim 16, further comprising: a cable connecting the weighted member to an anchor pivotally connected to the frame, wherein a pre-determined degree of travel by the weighted member causes the cable to move the anchor into contact with the weighted actuator and overcome the biasing force of the spring to reduce the contact force of the weighted actuator against the switch. 18. The braking assembly of claim 1 wherein: the frame comprises an elongate spar connecting a first rib to a second rib, the spar being approximately perpendicular to the first and second ribs, and whereineach rib is oriented to have a forward leading edge, an aft trailing edge and an upper and lower surface defining a contour approximately conforming to the forward to aft contour of the section of the airfoil to which the braking assembly can be attached. 19. A braking assembly for an airfoil, the airfoil configured to rotate about a hub, comprising: a) a plate having an outside surface, inside surface, and having a forward portion with a leading edge and an aft portion with a trailing edge; the inside surface of the forward portion of the plate being hingedly connected to a frame, allowing the aft portion of the plate to pivot away from or retract toward the frame;said frame being attachable to a section of the airfoil such that the outside surface of the plate when retracted conforms approximately to the contour of a section of the airfoil to which the braking assembly can be attached;b) a linkage assembly hingedly interconnecting the inside surface of the forward portion of the plate to a first end of an elongate driving member configured to move fore and aft; wherein forward movement of the driving member toward the leading edge of the plate causes the aft portion of the plate to retract toward the frame, and aft movement of the driving member away from the leading edge of the plate causes the aft portion of the plate to pivot away from the frame; andc) a weighted member having: a first pivotal connection to the frame, said first pivotal connection having an axis of rotation approximately perpendicular to the surface of the retracted plate, anda second pivotal connection to a second end of the driving member, the axis of rotation of said second pivotal connection being approximately parallel to and non-coincident with the axis of the first pivotal connection, whereinrotation of the weighted member about the first pivotal connection causes a fore or aft movement of the driving member, and retraction or deployment of the plate. 20. An assembly for operating an electrical switch attached to a frame comprising: a weighted actuator pivotally connected to the frame and capable of rotating into and out of contact with the switch,a spring connecting the weighted actuator to the frame and applying a biasing force to urge the weighted actuator to contact the switch, anda cable connected to an anchor pivotally connected to the frame wherein the weighted actuator has a center of mass that is non-coincident with the axis of rotation of the weighted actuator, such that application of a pre-determined centrifugal force on the weighted actuator overcomes the biasing force of the spring to reduce the contact force of the weighted actuator against the switch, and whereina pre-determined pulling force by the cable against the anchor can cause the anchor to apply a force against the weighted actuator and overcome the biasing force of the spring to reduce the contact force of the weighted actuator against the switch.
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