Wind Turbine Blades with a Deeply Curved Front Surface
This patent describes a wind turbine blade designed with a deeply curved, concave front surface and a high camber ratio to potentially capture more wind energy.
Original patent title: “Wind turbine blade and assembly”
This patent describes a wind turbine blade designed with a deeply curved, concave front surface and a high camber ratio to potentially capture more wind energy. Granted to Individual in 2009 with 88 claims and 6 forward citations, and it is expected to expire in 2027.
Coverage
What does this patent actually cover?
This patent details a wind turbine blade with a specific aerodynamic shape. The blade's front surface, which faces the wind (the "windward direction"), is designed to be "substantially concave in shape" (ClaimclaimA numbered sentence at the end of a patent that legally defines what the inventor owns. The most important section.Read more → 1). This means it curves inwards, like the inside of a spoon. Additionally, the blade's "camber ratio," a measure of its overall curvature, must be "greater than or equal to approximately 4%" (Claim 1), and can be as high as 50% (Claim 3). For example, a blade could have this concave front surface combined with a convex (outwardly curved) rear surface (Claim 2), creating a highly asymmetric profile (Claim 5) to optimize how the blade interacts with and captures energy from the wind.
The gap
What does this patent NOT cover?
- Does not cover wind turbine blades where the front surface facing the wind is not substantially concave.
- Does not cover blades with a camber ratio less than 4%.
- Does not cover blades whose primary design features are symmetrical airfoils.
- Does not cover blades where the concavity of the front surface does not extend above the chord line within the specified range (ClaimclaimA numbered sentence at the end of a patent that legally defines what the inventor owns. The most important section.Read more → 27).
These exclusions are unique to PatentBrief — derived from the actual claim language, not patent-office boilerplate.
Key facts
What made this novel
The noveltynoveltyThe requirement that an invention be different from anything publicly known before its priority date.Read more → lies in combining a high camber ratio with a substantially concave front surface on a wind turbine blade. Unlike many traditional airfoils that might have a convex upper surface for lift, this design proposes a 'scoop' or 'cup' shape on the windward side to interact with the wind in a distinct way.
The Patent Drawing
Schematic visualization of the patent's claim structure. Hand-drawn diagrams in progress for each landmark patent.
Where you've seen this
Real-world examples
Large-scale utility wind turbines
Offshore wind farm turbines
Residential wind turbines
Experimental blade designs for improved efficiency
Why it matters
The bigger picture
Wind energy is a crucial and expanding field in renewable power generation. Improving the efficiency of wind turbine blades, even by small amounts, can significantly increase the amount of electricity generated from the same wind resources. This patent focuses on a specific aerodynamic design choice that could contribute to more efficient energy capture, making wind power more competitive and sustainable.
Filed
December 24, 2007
Granted
November 10, 2009
Market context
Who's building on this
Companies in this space
Major wind turbine manufacturers like Vestas, Siemens Gamesa, GE Renewable Energy, and Nordex are continuously innovating blade designs. Specialized companies and research institutions also focus on advanced aerodynamics for wind energy, seeking to optimize blade performance and efficiency.
Market impact
This patent contributes to the ongoing evolution of wind turbine blade design, a critical area for the wind energy market. Innovations in blade aerodynamics directly impact the efficiency and cost-effectiveness of wind power, making it more competitive with other energy sources. The development of more efficient blades helps reduce the levelized cost of energy for wind farms, supporting the industry's growth and expansion into new markets.
Claim 1 — Plain English
What this patent covers
This patent details a wind turbine blade with a specific aerodynamic shape. The blade's front surface, which faces the wind (the "windward direction"), is designed to be "substantially concave in shape" (Claim 1). This means it curves inwards, like the inside of a spoon. Additionally, the blade's "camber ratio," a measure of its overall curvature, must be "greater than or equal to approximately 4%" (Claim 1), and can be as high as 50% (Claim 3). For example, a blade could have this concave front surface combined with a convex (outwardly curved) rear surface (Claim 2), creating a highly asymmetric profile (Claim 5) to optimize how the blade interacts with and captures energy from the wind.
The clever bit
The novelty lies in combining a high camber ratio with a substantially concave front surface on a wind turbine blade. Unlike many traditional airfoils that might have a convex upper surface for lift, this design proposes a 'scoop' or 'cup' shape on the windward side to interact with the wind in a distinct way.
What it does not cover
- Does not cover wind turbine blades where the front surface facing the wind is not substantially concave.
- Does not cover blades with a camber ratio less than 4%.
- Does not cover blades whose primary design features are symmetrical airfoils.
- Does not cover blades where the concavity of the front surface does not extend above the chord line within the specified range (Claim 27).
Patent timeline
Application submitted to the patent office
Application published, typically 18 months after filing
Patent officially issued
Patent enters public domain
PatentBrief Score
Impact Score
Moderate
Citation count
17/40
Early citations
Claim breadth
20/20
Very broad protection
Recency
5/20
Granted 10–20 years ago
Assignee scale
0/20
Independent or smaller assigneeassigneeThe entity that owns the patent — usually the inventor's employer or a company.Read more →
PatentBrief Impact Score — based on citation count, claim breadth, recency, and assignee scale. Not a legal assessment.
Heuristic Value Estimate
What this patent might be worth
$38K – $123K
Midpoint $77K · 1.4 yr remaining · industry baseline
Heuristic only — blends forward/backward citation counts, claim scope, time remaining, litigation history, and CPC-derived industry baseline. Real valuations need a professional appraisal.
Patent Claims
0 independent claims · 1 dependent
Claims are the legal boundaries of the patent. An independent claim stands alone. A dependent claim adds limitations to its parent, narrowing — but not broadening — the scope.
The original legal language
Original claims
88 claims as filed with the patent office.
Concepts involved
Citations
Patent lineage
Cite this patent
Clark, P. G. (2009). Wind Turbine Blades with a Deeply Curved Front Surface (U.S. Patent No. 7,614,852). U.S. Patent and Trademark Office. https://patentbrief.org/patent/us/7614852/wind-turbine-blade-and-assembly
Auto-generated from the patent record. Double-check author order and the issue date against the official USPTO document before submitting.
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Common Questions
Frequently Asked Questions
What does Wind Turbine Blades with a Deeply Curved Front Surface cover?
This patent describes a wind turbine blade designed with a deeply curved, concave front surface and a high camber ratio to potentially capture more wind energy.
Who owns patent US 7614852?
Individual owns this patent, granted in 2009.
When does this patent expire?
This patent is expected to expire on December 24, 2027, when the invention enters the public domain.
What is patent US 7614852 cited by?
This patent has been cited by 6 later patents that build on its ideas.
What problem does this patent solve?
Wind energy is a crucial and expanding field in renewable power generation. Improving the efficiency of wind turbine blades, even by small amounts, can significantly increase the amount of electricity generated from the same wind resources. This patent focuses on a specific aerodynamic design choice that could contribute to more efficient energy capture, making wind power more competitive and sustainable.
What does this patent NOT cover?
Does not cover wind turbine blades where the front surface facing the wind is not substantially concave.
Same assignee
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