The present invention preferably relates to a joined blade rotor system having substantially a horizontal axis for a wind turbine including a number of joined blade assemblies extending substantially radially from a central hub wherein each joined blade assembly includes a first blade and a second blade or more blades in different planes that are connected by one or more brace systems to each other. Each central hub includes an operating member to effect pitch rotation of the joined blade assembly or directly the first blade pitch rotation and the second blade pitch rotation about the respective blade axis. A bearing provides a relative rotation between the first or second blade and brace strut while pitch angles change.

The invention relates to a device for converting wind energy into electrical energy. The device is comprised of four legs. One of the legs of the frame has an external recess for mounting on a roof ridge. The frame has a horizontally positioned rotor with a hub and at least two vanes and a generator functionally coupled to the rotor arranged in a central area of the opening formed by the frame. The axis of rotation of the rotor is perpendicular to a plane extending through the legs of the frame.

The present disclosure is directed to a rotor blade assembly for a wind turbine that controls pitch bearing load distribution. The assembly includes a rotor blade having a body shell extending between a blade root and tip, a pitch bearing at an interface between the blade root and a hub of the wind turbine, and plurality of blade bolts coupling the blade root to the hub through the pitch bearing. The pitch bearing includes an outer bearing race and an inner bearing race rotatable relative to the outer race. Thus, in one embodiment, the blade bolts couple the blade root to the hub through the inner race of the pitch bearing. Further, each of the blade bolts has a first end and a second end defining a length therebetween and at least two of the blade bolts have varying lengths so as to distribute loads experienced by the pitch bearing.

A structure adapted to traverse a fluid environment includes an elongate body having a root, a wingtip, a leading edge and a trailing edge; and a plurality of rigid projections each extending from a respective position along the leading edge and/or the trailing edge generally along the same plane as a front surface of the body.

A rotor hub for a wind turbine may generally include a hub body defining both a plurality of blade flanges and a plurality of access ports spaced apart from the blade flanges. In addition, the rotor hub may include a ladder assembly extending within an interior of the hub body. The ladder assembly may include a plurality of platforms, with each platform defining a planar surface and being circumferentially aligned with a respective one of the plurality of access ports. The ladder assembly may also include a connecting frame extending between each pair of adjacent platforms so as to couple the adjacent platforms to one another. The connecting frame may extend lengthwise along a reference line defined between the adjacent platforms. The platforms may be positioned relative to one another such that the reference line extends at a non-perpendicular angle relative to the planar surfaces defined by the adjacent platforms.

The invention provides a hub for a wind turbine, the hub comprising a continuous shell being assembled from at least two shell parts. To improve stiffness of the hub, a plate element is attached within blade flanges of the assembled hub. Due to the combination between shell parts and a plate element, manufacturing and transportation is facilitated while strength and rigidity is ensured.

The present disclosure is directed to a lifting device for a rotor blade of a wind turbine. The lifting device includes at least one cradle and a vacuum sealing system configured with the cradle. The cradle has a profile that corresponds to at least one of the exterior surfaces of the rotor blade so as to support at least a portion of the rotor blade. The vacuum sealing system is configured to secure the rotor blade to the cradle as the rotor blade is lifted and/or lowered from a hub mounted atop a tower of the wind turbine.

A fluid-redirecting structure includes a rigid body having an upstream end, a downstream end, and an axis of rotation, the rigid body incorporating a plurality of troughs each spiralled from a tip at the upstream end to the downstream end about the axis of rotation, the troughs being splayed with respect to the axis of rotation thereby to, proximate the downstream end, direct incident fluid along the troughs away from the axis of rotation.

Systems and methods for increasing operational efficiency of wind turbines, especially offshore wind turbines. The invention discloses systems and methods for reducing the torque needed to rotate a rotor shaft axis with respect to the wind direction. Systems and methods for controlling the rotational speed of the rotor shaft axis are also disclosed.

A hub assembly permits a rotor portion of a horizontal axis, fluid-driven turbine (e.g., with three or more blades) to teeter relative to a hub shaft. An outer hub member configured to receive turbine blades is permitted to rotate relative to the inner hub member. Multiple rocker members interposed between the inner hub member and the outer hub member include curved end surfaces that are configured to permit pivotal movement between the rocker members and corresponding features protruding from a hub shaft of the inner hub member. Torque receiving surfaces associated with features protruding from the hub shaft are permitted to slide relative to torque transmitting surfaces of the rocker members.