US 11,946,448 B2
System for contactless displacement measurement of a blade root of a wind turbine
Bart Jan Veldkamp, Salzbergen (DE); and Till Hoffmann, Salzbergen (DE)
Assigned to General Electric Company, Schenectady, NY (US)
Filed by General Electric Company, Schenectady, NY (US)
Filed on Oct. 15, 2020, as Appl. No. 17/071,090.
Claims priority of application No. 19204128 (EP), filed on Oct. 18, 2019.
Prior Publication US 2021/0115904 A1, Apr. 22, 2021
Int. Cl. F03D 17/00 (2016.01); F03D 7/02 (2006.01); F03D 7/04 (2006.01); F03D 80/70 (2016.01); G01B 11/24 (2006.01); G01B 21/00 (2006.01); G01M 5/00 (2006.01); G01M 11/08 (2006.01)
CPC F03D 17/00 (2016.05) [F03D 7/0224 (2013.01); F03D 7/024 (2013.01); F03D 7/042 (2013.01); F03D 80/70 (2016.05); G01B 11/24 (2013.01); G01B 21/00 (2013.01); G01M 5/0041 (2013.01); G01M 11/081 (2013.01); F05B 2240/50 (2013.01); F05B 2260/70 (2013.01); F05B 2270/328 (2013.01); F05B 2270/80 (2013.01)] 9 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A system of a wind turbine, the system comprising:
a hub, the hub comprising a non-rotating component of a pitch bearing;
a rotor blade comprising a blade root, the blade root comprising a blade root end and a rotating ring component of the pitch bearing affixed to the blade root end;
a plurality of non-contact displacement sensors operably facing the rotor blade and fixed directly or indirectly to the hub;
a respective reference plane associated with each of the plurality of non-contact displacement sensors, the respective reference planes defined by the rotor blade or a component that moves with the rotor blade as the rotor blade moves relative to the hub;
wherein each of the plurality of non-contact displacement sensors detects relative movement between the respective reference plane and the hub without being physically connected to the component defining the respective reference plane; and
wherein the plurality of displacement sensors are mounted opposite to and facing their respective reference plane.