公开(公告)号：US20180273172A1

公开(公告)日：2018-09-27

申请号：US15989173

申请日：2018-05-24

Applicant: X DEVELOPMENT LLC

Inventor： Erik Christopher Chubb ,  Damon Vander Lind

IPC: B64C39/02 ,  F03D5/00 ,  F03D13/20 ,  G05D1/08 ,  F03D9/25

Abstract: A method includes operating an aerial vehicle in a hover-flight orientation. The aerial vehicle is connected to a tether that defines a tether sphere having a radius based on a length of the tether, and the tether is connected to a ground station. The method includes positioning the aerial vehicle at a first location that is substantially on the tether sphere. The method includes transitioning the aerial vehicle from the hover-flight orientation to a forward-flight orientation, such that the aerial vehicle moves from the tether sphere. And the method includes operating the aerial vehicle in the forward-flight orientation to ascend at an angle of ascent to a second location that is substantially on the tether sphere. The first and second locations are substantially downwind of the ground station.

公开(公告)号：US09879655B1

公开(公告)日：2018-01-30

申请号：US14587279

申请日：2014-12-31

Applicant: X Development LLC

Inventor： Damon Vander Lind ,  Gregor Cadman

IPC: B64C31/06 ,  F03D9/32 ,  B64C39/02 ,  B64F3/02 ,  F03D1/06 ,  F03D7/02 ,  F03D9/00 ,  B64C1/26

CPC classification number: F03D9/32 ,  B64C1/26 ,  B64C39/022 ,  B64F3/02 ,  F03D1/0666 ,  F03D9/002 ,  F05B2240/921

Abstract: An apparatus is provided that includes a top clamshell having a first contoured surface that is configured to capture at least a portion of a top surface of a wing of an airborne wind turbine (AWT). The apparatus further includes a bottom clamshell having a second contoured surface that is configured to capture at least a portion of a bottom surface of the wing. The first contoured surface and the second contoured surface are configured to restrain the wing between the top clamshell and the bottom clamshell. The top clamshell is configured to be coupled to the fuselage attachment via a fastener at an aft end of the attachment apparatus.

公开(公告)号：US20170218925A1

公开(公告)日：2017-08-03

申请号：US15491619

申请日：2017-04-19

Applicant: X Development LLC

Inventor： Damon Vander Lind ,  George Edward Homsy

IPC: F03D9/32 ,  B64F3/02 ,  B64C39/02 ,  F03D5/00 ,  F03D9/25

CPC classification number: F03D9/32 ,  B64C39/022 ,  B64C39/024 ,  B64C2201/021 ,  B64C2201/12 ,  B64F3/02 ,  F03D1/0666 ,  F03D1/0691 ,  F03D5/00 ,  F03D9/25 ,  F05B2240/921 ,  F05B2240/923 ,  F05B2280/10 ,  F05B2280/6003 ,  Y02E10/70 ,  Y02E10/721 ,  Y02E10/725

Abstract: A rotor for use with an airborne wind turbine, wherein the rotor comprises a front flange, a can, a rear flange, and a rigid insert comprising a propeller mount, wherein the front flange, can, and rear flange comprise one of carbon fiber and spun aluminum, wherein a rear end of the front flange is attached to a front end of the can, and the rear flange is mounted to a rear end of the can, wherein the rigid insert is bonded to the front flange; and wherein the rigid insert comprises a tube that axially extends within the rotor to allow for the positioning of a driveshaft therethrough.

公开(公告)号：US20170213617A1

公开(公告)日：2017-07-27

申请号：US15006104

申请日：2016-01-25

Applicant: X Development LLC

Inventor： Elias Wolfgang Patten ,  Damon Vander Lind

IPC: H01B7/00

CPC classification number: H01B7/0045 ,  D07B1/147 ,  F03D13/20 ,  F03D80/85 ,  F05B2240/917 ,  F05B2240/921 ,  H01B7/043 ,  Y02E10/728

Abstract: A tether may include a core, a hybrid layer surrounding the core, and a jacket surrounding the hybrid layer. The hybrid layer may include a plurality of strength members, and a plurality of electrical conductor bundles. Each electrical conductor bundle of the plurality of electrical bundles may include a compliant element, a plurality of electrical conducting elements surrounding the compliant element, and an insulating layer surrounding the plurality of electrical conducting elements.

公开(公告)号：US20170088259A1

公开(公告)日：2017-03-30

申请号：US15376651

申请日：2016-12-12

Applicant: X DEVELOPMENT LLC

Inventor： Erik Christopher Chubb ,  Damon Vander Lind

IPC: B64C39/02 ,  F03D5/00 ,  F03D13/20 ,  G05D1/08

CPC classification number: B64C39/022 ,  B64C2201/021 ,  B64C2201/12 ,  B64C2201/148 ,  F03D5/00 ,  F03D9/25 ,  F03D13/20 ,  F05B2240/921 ,  G05D1/0866 ,  Y02E10/70 ,  Y02E10/728

Abstract: A method involves operating an aerial vehicle in a hover-flight orientation. The aerial vehicle is connected to a tether that defines a tether sphere having a radius based on a length of the tether, and the tether is connected to a ground station. The method involves positioning the aerial vehicle at a first location that is substantially on the tether sphere. The method involves transitioning the aerial vehicle from the hover-flight orientation to a forward-flight orientation, such that the aerial vehicle moves from the tether sphere. And the method involves operating the aerial vehicle in the forward-flight orientation to ascend at an angle of ascent to a second location that is substantially on the tether sphere. The first and second locations are substantially downwind of the ground station.

公开(公告)号：US09994314B2

公开(公告)日：2018-06-12

申请号：US15376651

申请日：2016-12-12

Applicant: X DEVELOPMENT LLC

Inventor： Erik Christopher Chubb ,  Damon Vander Lind

IPC: B64C39/02 ,  F03D5/00 ,  G05D1/08 ,  F03D13/20

CPC classification number: B64C39/022 ,  B64C2201/021 ,  B64C2201/12 ,  B64C2201/148 ,  F03D5/00 ,  F03D9/25 ,  F03D13/20 ,  F05B2240/921 ,  G05D1/0866 ,  Y02E10/70 ,  Y02E10/728

Abstract: A method includes operating an aerial vehicle in a hover-flight orientation. The aerial vehicle is connected to a tether that defines a tether sphere having a radius based on a length of the tether, and the tether is connected to a ground station. The method includes positioning the aerial vehicle at a first location that is substantially on the tether sphere. The method includes transitioning the aerial vehicle from the hover-flight orientation to a forward-flight orientation, such that the aerial vehicle moves from the tether sphere. And the method includes operating the aerial vehicle in the forward-flight orientation to ascend at an angle of ascent to a second location that is substantially on the tether sphere. The first and second locations are substantially downwind of the ground station.

公开(公告)号：US09947434B2

公开(公告)日：2018-04-17

申请号：US15006104

申请日：2016-01-25

Applicant: X Development LLC

Inventor： Elias Wolfgang Patten ,  Damon Vander Lind

IPC: H01B7/00 ,  D07B1/14 ,  H01B7/04 ,  F03D13/20 ,  F03D80/80

CPC classification number: H01B7/0045 ,  D07B1/147 ,  F03D13/20 ,  F03D80/85 ,  F05B2240/917 ,  F05B2240/921 ,  H01B7/043 ,  Y02E10/728

Abstract: A tether may include a core, a hybrid layer surrounding the core, and a jacket surrounding the hybrid layer. The hybrid layer may include a plurality of strength members, and a plurality of electrical conductor bundles. Each electrical conductor bundle of the plurality of electrical bundles may include a compliant element, a plurality of electrical conducting elements surrounding the compliant element, and an insulating layer surrounding the plurality of electrical conducting elements.

公开(公告)号：US09899127B2

公开(公告)日：2018-02-20

申请号：US14928850

申请日：2015-10-30

Applicant: X Development LLC

Inventor： Elias Wolfgang Patten ,  Damon Vander Lind ,  Leo Casey

IPC: H01B7/00 ,  H01B9/00 ,  D07B1/14 ,  H01B7/04 ,  H02G11/00 ,  D07B5/00 ,  F03D5/00 ,  F03D80/00

CPC classification number: H01B9/006 ,  D07B1/147 ,  D07B1/148 ,  D07B5/006 ,  D07B2201/2087 ,  D07B2201/2088 ,  D07B2201/209 ,  D07B2201/2094 ,  D07B2205/2003 ,  D07B2205/201 ,  D07B2205/2046 ,  D07B2205/2064 ,  F03D1/02 ,  F03D5/00 ,  F03D9/25 ,  F03D9/30 ,  F03D13/20 ,  F03D80/00 ,  F05B2240/917 ,  F05B2240/921 ,  H01B7/043 ,  H02G11/00 ,  Y02E10/725 ,  D07B2801/22

Abstract: A tether may include a core, a plurality of electrical conductors wound around the core, and a jacket surrounding the plurality of electrical conductors. The plurality of electrical conductors may include at least two groups of electrical conductors. Each group of electrical conductors of the at least two groups of electrical conductors may define a respective electrical path, where the respective electrical path is different from the electrical paths defined by other groups of electrical conductors of the at least two groups of the electrical conductors. Moreover, each group of electrical conductors of the at least two groups of electrical conductors is located around a respective portion of the core, such that a cross-section of each group of electrical conductors of the at least two or more electrical conductors defines a respective arc around the respective portion of the core.

公开(公告)号：US09884692B2

公开(公告)日：2018-02-06

申请号：US14586909

申请日：2014-12-30

Applicant: X Development LLC

Inventor： Elias Wolfgang Patten ,  Damon Vander Lind ,  Bryan Christopher GilroySmith ,  Brian Hachtmann

IPC: B64F3/02 ,  F03D7/02 ,  B64C39/02

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

Abstract: A system may include a tether, a slip ring, a tether gimbal assembly, a drive mechanism, a control system. The tether may include a distal tether end coupled to an aerial vehicle, a proximate tether end, and at least one insulated electrical conductor coupled to the aerial vehicle. The slip ring may include a fixed portion and a rotatable portion, where the rotatable portion is coupled to the tether. The tether gimbal assembly may be rotatable about at least one axis and is coupled to the fixed portion of the slip ring. The drive mechanism may be coupled to the slip ring and configured to rotate the rotatable portion of the slip ring. And the control system may be configured to operate the drive mechanism to control twist in the tether.

公开(公告)号：US09828091B2

公开(公告)日：2017-11-28

申请号：US14933765

申请日：2015-11-05

Applicant: X Development LLC

Inventor： Damon Vander Lind ,  Eric Chin ,  Kurt Hallamasek

IPC: H01R43/00 ,  B64C39/02 ,  H02G3/04 ,  B64C3/26 ,  F03D5/00 ,  H01R43/02 ,  H01R43/04 ,  H01R43/20

CPC classification number: B64C39/022 ,  B64C3/26 ,  B64C39/02 ,  F03D5/00 ,  F05B2240/917 ,  F05B2240/921 ,  H01R43/02 ,  H01R43/04 ,  H01R43/20 ,  H02G3/0406 ,  Y02E10/70 ,  Y02E10/725 ,  Y02E10/728 ,  Y10T29/49117 ,  Y10T29/49176

Abstract: Systems and methods are provided for a wiring harness for an aerial vehicle. A wing of the aerial vehicle comprises a pocket for insertion of the wiring harness. The wiring harness provides wiring and associated connections capable to attach to and power various components.