IP Library Granted Patent US 10,316,818
Granted Patent B2
US 10,316,818 · App. 15/075,303 · Granted Jun 11, 2019

Thermoset component having a weldable thermoplastic interface

Inventors: Christopher Daniel Caruso (Greenville, SC); Aaron A. Yarbrough (Greenville, SC); Daniel Alan Hynum (Simpsonville, SC)
Assignee: General Electric Company
F03D1/0675B29C70/021B29D99/0025F05B2280/6003Y02E10/721Y02P70/523
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 10,316,818
App. No.
15/075,303
Granted
Jun 11, 2019
Kind
B2
Abstract

The present disclosure is directed to a method for manufacturing a thermoset component having a weldable thermoplastic interface. The method includes forming a polymerized thermoplastic component having a removable protective layer on a portion thereof. Another step includes placing a plurality of dry plies and the thermoplastic component into a mold of the thermoset component with the removable protective layer facing an outer surface of the thermoset component mold. Thus, the method further includes co-infusing the dry plies and thermoplastic component with a resin material so as to form the thermoset component having a weldable thermoplastic interface.

Claims (26)

1. A method for manufacturing a rotor blade of a wind turbine, the method comprising:

forming a polymerized thermoplastic component for the rotor blade having a removable protective layer on a portion thereof;

placing a plurality of dry plies and the thermoplastic component into a blade mold of the rotor blade with the removable protective layer facing an outer surface of the rotor blade;

co-infusing the plurality of dry plies and the thermoplastic component with a resin material so as to form the rotor blade;

removing the removable protective layer from the thermoplastic component; and

welding an additional thermoplastic blade component to the thermoplastic component of the rotor blade.

2. The method of claim 1 , wherein the resin material comprises a thermoset material.

3. The method of claim 1 , wherein the removable protective layer comprises at least one of a peel ply, one or more disposable plies, a coating, or an adhesive.

4. The method of claim 3 , wherein the removable protective layer comprises a peel ply and one or more disposable plies configured atop the peel ply.

5. The method of claim 4 , further comprising removing the one or more disposable plies and the removable protective layer before welding.

6. The method of claim 3 , wherein the coating comprises a releasing agent.

7. The method of claim 1 , wherein the thermoset resin comprises at least one of polyesters, polyurethanes, esters, or epoxies.

8. The method of claim 1 , wherein the thermoplastic component is constructed from at least one of styrenes, vinyls, cellulosics, polyesters, acrylics, polysulphones, imides, polyolefins, polyamides, fluropolymer, ethyl-methyl acrylate, polyesters, polycarbonates, or acetals.

9. The method of claim 1 , wherein the plurality of dry plies comprise at least one fiber material, wherein the fiber material comprises at least one of glass fibers, carbon fibers, polymer fibers, ceramic fibers, nanofibers, or metal fibers.

10. A method for manufacturing a thermoset component having a weldable thermoplastic interface, the method comprising:

forming a polymerized thermoplastic component having a removable protective layer on a portion thereof;

placing a plurality of dry plies and the thermoplastic component into a mold of the thermoset component with the removable protective layer facing an outer surface of the thermoset component mold;

co-infusing the plurality of dry plies and the thermoplastic component with a thermoset resin so as to form the thermoset component;

removing the removable protective layer from e thermoplastic component; and

welding a thermoplastic component to the thermoplastic component of the thermoset component.

11. The method of claim 10 , wherein the removable protective layer comprises at least one of a peel ply, one or more disposable plies, a coating, or an adhesive.

12. The method of claim 11 , wherein the removable protective layer comprises a peel ply and one or more disposable plies configured atop the peel ply.

13. The method of claim 12 , further comprising removing the one or more disposable plies and then removing the removable protective layer before welding.

14. The method of claim 11 , wherein the coating comprises a releasing agent.

15. The method of claim 10 , wherein the thermoset component comprises a rotor blade.

16. The method of claim 10 , wherein the plurality of dry plies comprise at least one fiber material, wherein the fiber material comprises at least one of glass fibers, carbon fibers, polymer fibers, ceramic fibers, nanofibers, or metal fibers.

Assignments (3)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Mar 22, 2024
From: LM WIND POWER US TECHNOLOGY APS
To: GE INFRASTRUCTURE TECHNOLOGY LLC
Reel/Frame 066869/0770 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Nov 9, 2023
From: GENERAL ELECTRIC COMPANY
To: LM WIND POWER US TECHNOLOGY APS
Reel/Frame 065531/0160 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Mar 21, 2016
From: CARUSO, CHRISTOPHER DANIEL; YARBROUGH, AARON A.; HYNUM, DANIEL ALAN
To: GENERAL ELECTRIC COMPANY
Reel/Frame 038045/0160 →
Continuity (1)
Related Publication 20170268479A1 · Sep 21, 2017