Wind Turbine Blades with Noise-Reducing Serrated Edges
This patent describes a wind turbine blade design that reduces noise by attaching a special serrated plate to its trailing edge, integrated directly into one of the blade's outer surfaces.
Original patent title: “Wind turbine blade and wind power generator using the same”
This patent describes a wind turbine blade design that reduces noise by attaching a special serrated plate to its trailing edge, integrated directly into one of the blade's outer surfaces. Granted to Mitsubishi Heavy Industries in 2015 with 9 claims and 20 forward citations, and it is expected to expire in 2028.
Coverage
What does this patent actually cover?
The patent describes a wind turbine blade made from a "back skin" and a "front skin" bonded together. To reduce noise, a "serrated plate" is attached to the "trailing edge" (the back edge) of the blade. This plate has a wavy, saw-tooth-like "serrated portion" on its rear side. A key part of the design is how this plate is attached: it's formed as a single piece with either the back or front skin (ClaimclaimA numbered sentence at the end of a patent that legally defines what the inventor owns. The most important section.Read more → 1 specifies it's part of the back skin). The other skin then has a "fitting portion" (a semicircular bump) that locks into a "fitting groove" (a semicircular dip) on the serrated plate, securing the plate firmly. This specific attachment method ensures the serrated plate is precisely positioned to smooth airflow and suppress noise. For example, a wind turbine blade could have this serrated plate integrated directly into its back surface, with the front surface snapping into place to complete the blade and secure the noise-reducing feature.
The gap
What does this patent NOT cover?
- Serrated plates that are simply glued or bolted onto the trailing edge without the specific "fitting groove" and "fitting portion" described in ClaimclaimA numbered sentence at the end of a patent that legally defines what the inventor owns. The most important section.Read more → 1.
- Serrated plates that are separate components and not formed integrally with one of the blade skins.
- Noise reduction methods for wind turbines that do not involve a serrated plate at the trailing edge.
- Serrated plates that do not have a serrated portion on their rear side.
- Blades where the serrated plate is not disposed along the wind flow at the trailing edge.
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 the specific, integrated attachment mechanism for the serrated plate. By forming the serrated plate integrally with one blade skin and using a precise fitting groove and portion for the other skin, the patent ensures robust attachment and accurate positioning of the noise-reducing feature, which is critical for aerodynamic performance and durability.
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
Modern large-scale wind turbine blades
Offshore wind farm turbines
Wind turbines designed for urban or suburban areas
Turbine blades from manufacturers like Siemens Gamesa, Vestas, GE Renewable Energy
Why it matters
The bigger picture
Wind turbine noise, especially from the blade tips, is a significant concern for communities near wind farms. This patent addresses that issue by proposing a specific design for noise reduction. Quieter turbines can lead to broader acceptance and allow wind farms to be built closer to populated areas, increasing renewable energy capacity.
Filed
August 6, 2008
Granted
January 13, 2015
Market context
Who's building on this
Companies in this space
Major wind turbine manufacturers like Vestas, Siemens Gamesa, GE Renewable Energy, and Goldwind are continuously researching and implementing noise reduction technologies, including variations of trailing edge serrations. Mitsubishi Heavy Industries, the original assigneeassigneeThe entity that owns the patent — usually the inventor's employer or a company.Read more →, continues to be a player in heavy machinery and energy, including wind turbines.
Market impact
This patent contributed to the ongoing efforts in the wind energy industry to reduce noise emissions from wind turbines. By offering a specific, robust method for integrating noise-reducing serrations, it helped enable the development of quieter, more publicly acceptable wind turbine designs. This is crucial for expanding wind power into new regions and increasing the overall market for renewable energy.
Claim 1 — Plain English
What this patent covers
The patent describes a wind turbine blade made from a "back skin" and a "front skin" bonded together. To reduce noise, a "serrated plate" is attached to the "trailing edge" (the back edge) of the blade. This plate has a wavy, saw-tooth-like "serrated portion" on its rear side. A key part of the design is how this plate is attached: it's formed as a single piece with either the back or front skin (Claim 1 specifies it's part of the back skin). The other skin then has a "fitting portion" (a semicircular bump) that locks into a "fitting groove" (a semicircular dip) on the serrated plate, securing the plate firmly. This specific attachment method ensures the serrated plate is precisely positioned to smooth airflow and suppress noise. For example, a wind turbine blade could have this serrated plate integrated directly into its back surface, with the front surface snapping into place to complete the blade and secure the noise-reducing feature.
The clever bit
The novelty lies in the specific, integrated attachment mechanism for the serrated plate. By forming the serrated plate integrally with one blade skin and using a precise fitting groove and portion for the other skin, the patent ensures robust attachment and accurate positioning of the noise-reducing feature, which is critical for aerodynamic performance and durability.
What it does not cover
- Serrated plates that are simply glued or bolted onto the trailing edge without the specific "fitting groove" and "fitting portion" described in Claim 1.
- Serrated plates that are separate components and not formed integrally with one of the blade skins.
- Noise reduction methods for wind turbines that do not involve a serrated plate at the trailing edge.
- Serrated plates that do not have a serrated portion on their rear side.
- Blades where the serrated plate is not disposed along the wind flow at the trailing edge.
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
Early stage
Citation count
26/40
Moderately cited
Claim breadth
6/20
Moderate scope
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
$36K – $115K
Midpoint $72K · 2.1 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.
Claim text not yet imported for this patent
The original legal language
Original claims
9 claims as filed with the patent office.
Concepts involved
Citations
Patent lineage
Cite this patent
Nishino, H., & Hayashi, K. (2015). Wind Turbine Blades with Noise-Reducing Serrated Edges (U.S. Patent No. 8,932,024). U.S. Patent and Trademark Office. https://patentbrief.org/patent/us/8932024/wind-turbine-blade-and-wind-power-generator-using-the-same
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 Noise-Reducing Serrated Edges cover?
This patent describes a wind turbine blade design that reduces noise by attaching a special serrated plate to its trailing edge, integrated directly into one of the blade's outer surfaces.
Who owns patent US 8932024?
Mitsubishi Heavy Industries owns this patent, granted in 2015.
When does this patent expire?
This patent is expected to expire on August 6, 2028, when the invention enters the public domain.
What is patent US 8932024 cited by?
This patent has been cited by 20 later patents that build on its ideas.
What problem does this patent solve?
Wind turbine noise, especially from the blade tips, is a significant concern for communities near wind farms. This patent addresses that issue by proposing a specific design for noise reduction. Quieter turbines can lead to broader acceptance and allow wind farms to be built closer to populated areas, increasing renewable energy capacity.
What does this patent NOT cover?
Serrated plates that are simply glued or bolted onto the trailing edge without the specific "fitting groove" and "fitting portion" described in Claim 1.
Patent monitoring