General Electric Company
FOLDABLE BLADE FOR A WIND TURBINE AND METHOD OF USE

Abstract:

A wind turbine including a plurality of foldable rotor blades coupled to a rotatable hub. A mechanical actuation structure is coupled to the plurality of foldable rotor blades to move the plurality of foldable rotor blades to a deployed state, substantially perpendicular to the horizontal rotor axis, to capture kinetic energy from an incoming fluid flow and move the plurality of foldable rotor blades to a non-deployed state, substantially parallel to the horizontal rotor axis. The mechanical actuation structure including a plurality of toothed wheels, each coupled to one of the plurality of foldable rotor blades at a single fixed rotation point, a threaded rod disposed in cooperative engagement with each of the plurality of toothed wheels and a spring disposed proximate the threaded rod and configured to compensate for the static wind load on each of the plurality of foldable rotor blades. A method is also disclosed.