Systems and apparatus for tether termination mount for tethered aerial vehicles

摘要

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.

主权项

1. A tether termination mount, comprising:
a gimbal system, comprising:
a first gimbal, comprising a primary bearing system and wherein the first gimbal is configured for movement substantially about a primary axis;a second gimbal, comprising a secondary bearing system, wherein the second gimbal is configured for movement substantially about a secondary axis, and wherein the first gimbal is coupled to the second gimbal; a slip ring, comprising a stationary portion and a rotatable portion, wherein the stationary portion of the slip ring is coupled to the gimbal system, wherein the stationary portion and rotatable portion are electrically coupled, and wherein the rotatable portion is electrically coupled to a tether; and a spindle, comprising a proximate spindle end and a distal spindle end, wherein the spindle is configured to constrain a portion of the tether, and wherein the proximate spindle end is coupled to the rotatable portion of the slip ring.