US 12,012,925 B2
Floating airborne wind energy system with submersible platform
Rob Creighton, Durham, NC (US); and Andrew Stough, Cary, NC (US)
Filed by Windlift, Inc., Durham, NC (US)
Filed on Jan. 31, 2022, as Appl. No. 17/589,756.
Application 17/589,756 is a continuation of application No. 16/942,603, filed on Jul. 29, 2020, granted, now 11,236,728.
Claims priority of provisional application 62/880,273, filed on Jul. 30, 2019.
Prior Publication US 2022/0154697 A1, May 19, 2022
This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.
Int. Cl. F03D 13/25 (2016.01); F03D 5/02 (2006.01); F03D 9/25 (2016.01)
CPC F03D 13/25 (2016.05) [F03D 5/02 (2013.01); F03D 9/255 (2017.02); F05B 2240/9174 (2020.08); F05B 2240/92 (2013.01); F05B 2240/95 (2013.01)] 17 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. An airborne power generation assembly comprising:
an airborne power generation unit;
a submersible platform comprising:
a submersible platform winch;
an electrified tether winch;
a ballast pump adapted for pumping water into and out of the submersible platform; and
a first electronic controller in electronic communication with the submersible platform winch and the ballast pump;
a sea bed tether adapted at a first end for attachment to the sea bed and adapted at a second end for attachment to the submersible platform winch;
and
an electrified tether connecting between the electrified tether winch and the airborne power generation unit,
wherein the first electronic controller is configured to actuate at least one of the submersible platform winch and the ballast pump to fully submerge the submersible platform while the airborne power generation unit is airborne.