Systems and apparatus for tether termination mount for tethered aerial vehicles
US9216824B2 · kind B2 · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Feb 12, 2015 |
| Grant date | Dec 22, 2015 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Feb 12, 2035 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC Y)Emerging Cross-Sectional Technologies
- CPC primaryY02E10/728
- WIPO fieldTransport
- WIPO sectorMechanical engineering
Abstract
Wind energy systems, such as an Airborne Wind Turbine (“AWT”), may be used to facilitate conversion of kinetic energy to electrical energy. An AWT may include an aerial vehicle that flies in a path to convert kinetic wind energy to electrical energy. The aerial vehicle may be tethered to a ground station with a tether that terminates at a tether termination mount. In one aspect, the tether may be a conductive tether that can transmit electricity and/or electrical signals back and forth between the aerial vehicle and the ground station. The tether termination mount may include one or more gimbals that allow for the tether termination mount to rotate about one or more axis. In a further aspect, the tether termination mount may include a slip ring that allows for rotation of the tether without twisting the tether.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.