公开(公告)号：EP3087273A1

公开(公告)日：2016-11-02

申请号：EP14875457.5

申请日：2014-12-22

Applicant: Google Inc.

Inventor： VANDER LIND, Damon ,  PATTEN, Elias Wolfgang ,  HACHTMANN, Brian

IPC: F03D13/00 ,  F03D9/00 ,  F03D1/02 ,  B64C39/02 ,  B64F3/00

CPC classification number: B65H54/28 ,  B65H54/2896 ,  B65H55/04 ,  B65H75/265 ,  B65H2701/3914 ,  F03D9/007 ,  F03D9/25 ,  F03D9/30 ,  F05B2240/921 ,  H02S10/12 ,  Y02E10/725 ,  Y02P70/30

Abstract: Methods and systems are provided to wrap a faired tether around a drum. The tether may be connected to an aerial vehicle. The method may involve guiding a faired tether around an exterior surface of a drum, wherein the drum comprises a helical shaped step around the exterior surface that is configured to mate with at least part of the faired tether, and to stack subsequent layers of wrapped tether in a staggered manner along the longitudinal axis of the drum. The faired tether may be guided onto the step using one or more level winds.

Abstract translation: 提供方法和系统以围绕鼓包裹一个流线型的系绳。 系绳可以连接到飞行器。 该方法可以包括引导围绕鼓的外表面的流线型系绳，其中滚筒包括围绕外表面的螺旋形台阶，其构造成与至少部分流线型的系绳匹配，并且堆叠后续的包裹系绳层 沿着滚筒的纵向轴线交错排列。 可以使用一个或多个等级的风将引导的系绳引导到台阶上。

公开(公告)号：EP3084211A1

公开(公告)日：2016-10-26

申请号：EP14871651.7

申请日：2014-12-03

Applicant: Google Inc.

Inventor： VANDER LIND, Damon ,  HACHTMANN, Brian

IPC: F03D13/00 ,  F03D1/02 ,  F03D9/00

CPC classification number: H01R35/02 ,  B64C39/022 ,  B64C2201/021 ,  B64C2201/148 ,  F03D5/00 ,  F05B2240/917 ,  F05B2240/921 ,  H01R39/64 ,  Y02E10/70 ,  Y02E10/728

Abstract: Wind energy systems, such as an Airborne Wind Turbine ("AWT"), may be used to facilitate conversion of kinetic energy to electrical energy. An AWT may include an aerial vehicle that flies in a path to convert kinetic wind energy to electrical energy. The aerial vehicle may be tethered to a ground station via a tether. As a result of continuous circular flights paths, the tether may rotate continuously in one direction. Thus, it may be desirable to have a cable management apparatus that allows for tether rotation and helps reduce strain on the tether.

公开(公告)号：WO2016061000A1

公开(公告)日：2016-04-21

申请号：PCT/US2015/055170

申请日：2015-10-12

Applicant: GOOGLE INC.

Inventor： GILROYSMITH, Bryan, Christopher ,  PATTEN, Elias, Wolfgang ,  HACHTMANN, Brian

IPC: F03D9/00 ,  F03D9/02 ,  F03D11/00 ,  H01B9/00 ,  H01B7/00 ,  B64F3/00

CPC classification number: F03D13/20 ,  F03D1/02 ,  F03D9/255 ,  F03D80/70 ,  F05B2240/921 ,  Y02E10/728

Abstract: An Airborne Wind Turbine ("AWT") may be used to facilitate conversion of kinetic energy to eiectrieai energy. An AWT may include an aerial vehicle ihai flies in a path to convert kinetic wind energy to electrical energy. The aerial vehicle may be tethered to a ground station with a tether that terminates at a tether termination mount, in one aspect, the tether has a core and at least one electrical conductor. The tether core may be terminated at a first location in a tether termination mount along an axis of the termination mount, and the at least one electrical conductor may be terminated at a second location in the tether termination mount along the same axis that the core is terminated. This termination configuration may focus tensile stress on the tether to the tether core, and minimize such stress on the at least one electrical conductor during aerial vehicle flight.

Abstract translation: 可以使用机载风力发电机（“AWT”）来促进动能转化为电能。 AWT可能包括一架航空器在海上飞行，将动能风能转化为电能。 航空器可以被束缚到具有终止于系绳终端安装件的系绳的地面站，在一个方面，系绳具有芯和至少一个电导体。 系绳芯可以沿着终端安装件的轴线终止在系绳终端安装件中的第一位置处，并且至少一个电导体可以沿着与芯部相同的轴线在系绳终端安装件中的第二位置处终止 终止。 该终端配置可以将系绳上的拉伸应力集中到系绳芯，并且在空中飞行器飞行期间使至少一个电导体上的这种应力最小化。

公开(公告)号：WO2016003713A1

公开(公告)日：2016-01-07

申请号：PCT/US2015/037284

申请日：2015-06-23

Applicant: GOOGLE INC.

Inventor： GILROYSMITH, Bryan, Christopher ,  HACHTMANN, Brian ,  PATTEN, Elias, Wolfgang ,  VANDER LIND, Damon

IPC: F03D11/00 ,  F03D11/04 ,  F03D9/00 ,  F03D1/02 ,  B64C39/02 ,  B64F3/00 ,  F16H7/08

CPC classification number: B64F3/02 ,  F03D7/02 ,  F05B2240/921 ,  Y02E10/723

Abstract: A system may include a tether, a tether gimbal assembly, a drive mechanism, and a control system. The tether may include a distal end, a proximate end, and at least one conductor. The tether gimbal assembly may be connected to the tether. The drive mechanism may be coupled to the tether gimbal assembly and may include a housing, a spindle, and a motor. The housing may be fixed to the tether gimbal assembly. The spindle may be rotatably coupled to the housing, and the tether may be coupled to the spindle and rotate in conjunction with the spindle. The motor may be coupled to the spindle and configured to rotate the spindle and the tether. And the control system may be configured to operate the drive mechanism to control twist in the tether.

Abstract translation: 系统可以包括系绳，系绳万向节组件，驱动机构和控制系统。 系绳可以包括远端，近端和至少一个导体。 系绳万向节组件可以连接到系绳上。 驱动机构可以联接到系绳万向节组件，并且可以包括壳体，主轴和马达。 外壳可以固定在系绳万向节组件上。 主轴可以可旋转地联接到壳体，并且系绳可以联接到主轴并与主轴一起旋转。 马达可以联接到主轴并且构造成使主轴和系绳旋转。 并且控制系统可以被配置为操作驱动机构以控制系绳中的扭转。

公开(公告)号：WO2015100242A1

公开(公告)日：2015-07-02

申请号：PCT/US2014/071907

申请日：2014-12-22

Applicant: GOOGLE INC.

Inventor： VANDER LIND, Damon ,  PATTEN, Elias, Wolfgang ,  HACHTMANN, Brian

IPC: F03D11/00 ,  F03D9/00 ,  F03D1/02 ,  B64C39/02 ,  B64F3/00

CPC classification number: B65H54/28 ,  B65H54/2896 ,  B65H55/04 ,  B65H75/265 ,  B65H2701/3914 ,  F03D9/007 ,  F03D9/25 ,  F03D9/30 ,  F05B2240/921 ,  H02S10/12 ,  Y02E10/725 ,  Y02P70/30

Abstract: Methods and systems are provided to wrap a faired tether around a drum. The tether may be connected to an aerial vehicle. The method may involve guiding a faired tether around an exterior surface of a drum, wherein the drum comprises a helical shaped step around the exterior surface that is configured to mate with at least part of the faired tether, and to stack subsequent layers of wrapped tether in a staggered manner along the longitudinal axis of the drum. The faired tether may be guided onto the step using one or more level winds.

Abstract translation: 提供了方法和系统以围绕鼓包裹一个漫长的系绳。 系绳可以连接到飞行器。 该方法可以包括引导围绕滚筒的外表面的流线型系绳，其中滚筒包括围绕外表面的螺旋形台阶，其构造成与至少部分流线型系绳配合，并且堆叠随后的包裹系绳层 沿着滚筒的纵向轴线交错排列。 可以使用一个或多个等级的风将引导的系绳引导到台阶上。

公开(公告)号：WO2015088971A1

公开(公告)日：2015-06-18

申请号：PCT/US2014/069094

申请日：2014-12-08

Applicant: GOOGLE INC.

Inventor： HACHTMANN, Brian ,  VANDER LIND, Damon

IPC: B64F3/00 ,  B64B1/50 ,  B66D1/28

CPC classification number: B64F3/00 ,  B66D1/39 ,  B66D1/60

Abstract: Unless otherwise indicated herein, the materials described in this section are not prior art to the claims in this application and are not admitted to be prior art by inclusion in this section. Power generation systems may convert chemical and/or mechanical energy (e.g., kinetic energy) to electrical energy for various applications, such as utility systems. As one example, a wind energy system may convert kinetic wind energy to electrical energy.

Abstract translation: 除非另有说明，否则本节中描述的材料不是本申请中权利要求书的现有技术，并且不被认为是包含在本节中的现有技术。 发电系统可以将化学和/或机械能（例如，动能）转换成各种应用的电能，例如公用事业系统。 作为一个示例，风能系统可将动能风能转换为电能。