Wind turbine
The present invention is a wind turbine that includes a mandrel, a plurality of supporting arms or trusses, and a plurality of umbrella-like vanes. The wind mandrel is adapted for rotating in a generally circular orientation with respect to a vertical axis of a turbine-receiving structure during operation wherein the circular orientation is generally parallel to a ground surface.
The present invention generally relates to devices, components, apparatuses, and systems related to wind turbines. More specifically, the present invention is a wind turbine that includes a mandrel, a plurality of supporting arms or trusses, and a plurality of umbrella-like vanes. The wind turbine is adapted for rotating in a generally circular orientation with respect to the vertical axis of a turbine-receiving structure during operation wherein the circular orientation is generally parallel to a ground surface.
Description of the Related ArtDevices, components, apparatuses, and systems related to wind turbines are well known in the art.
The Applicant is unaware of inventions or patents, taken either singly or in combination, which are seen to describe the present invention as claimed.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTIONThe present invention is a wind turbine that includes a mandrel, a plurality of supporting arms or trusses, and a plurality of umbrella-like vanes. The wind turbine is adapted for rotating in a generally circular orientation with respect to the vertical axis of a turbine-receiving structure during operation wherein the circular orientation is generally parallel to a ground surface.
It should be understood that the above-attached figures are not intended to limit the scope of the present invention in any way.
Referring to
Preferably, the wind turbine comprises six (6) umbrella-like vanes 6,7 that are proportionally positioned relative to the mandrel 3 to provide an efficient energy-producing apparatus when the wind turbine is secured upon the tower or pole 2.
It is to be understood that the present invention is not limited to the embodiments and non-limiting examples described above or as shown in the attached figures, but encompasses any and all embodiments within the spirit of the invention.
Claims
1. A turbine comprising:
- a mandrel,
- wherein said mandrel is adapted for being secured for operation to a turbine-receiving structure having a generally vertical axis and a sufficient height;
- a plurality of supporting arms extending laterally away from said mandrel,
- wherein each of said plurality of supporting arms comprises a first end, a second end, and a body extending from said first end to said second end, and
- wherein said first end of said each of said plurality of supporting arms is located proximate said rotating mandrel; and
- a plurality of umbrella-like vanes,
- wherein each of said plurality of umbrella-like vanes comprises a face side and a back side and is adapted for being alternatively placed in an open configuration and a closed configuration during operation,
- wherein said each of said plurality of umbrella-like vanes is secured at a location along a corresponding supporting arm of said plurality of supporting arms,
- wherein said plurality of supporting arms and said plurality of umbrella-like vanes are adapted for rotating in a generally circular orientation with respect to the vertical axis of the turbine-receiving structure during operation wherein said circular orientation is generally parallel to a ground surface, and
- wherein said each of said plurality of umbrella-like vanes, when opened or in said open configuration, provides a solid surface for the wind to act upon but, as said plurality of umbrella-like vanes rotate around the vertical axis of the turbine-receiving structure, said each of said plurality of umbrella-like vanes provides said back side for the wind to act upon and to give little resistance to the wind so as to return said each of said plurality of umbrella-like vanes to said closed configuration as said each of said plurality of umbrella-like vanes rotates into position to be opened and acted upon again, repetitively, as solid rotatable surfaces.
2. The wind turbine according to claim 1, wherein at least one supporting arm of said plurality of supporting arms forms an angle of about ninety degrees with the vertical axis of the turbine-receiving structure.
3. The wind turbine according to claim 1, wherein said each of said plurality of umbrella-like vanes is secured proximate said second end of a corresponding supporting arm of said plurality of supporting arms.
4. The wind turbine according to claim 1, wherein the turbine-receiving structure is a tower or pole.
5. The wind turbine according to claim 1, wherein speed of rotation of said rotating mandrel is directly proportional to speed of the wind.
6. The wind turbine according to claim 1, wherein power produced is directly proportional to size, in square feet surface, of said plurality of vanes times force or speed of the wind, and wherein torque is proportional to length of said plurality of supporting arms.
7. The wind turbine according to claim 1, wherein said plurality of umbrella-like vanes are at least six umbrella-like vanes.
8. The wind turbine according to claim 1, wherein said plurality of umbrella-like vanes are secured on said plurality of supporting arms that are connected by bridging so that turning action is transmitted from any one of said plurality of umbrella-like vanes into and through a system of said plurality of supporting arms.
9. The wind turbine according to claim 1, wherein said plurality of supporting arms are made of a lightweight material.
10. The wind turbine according to claim 9, wherein said lightweight material is aluminum.
11. The wind turbine according to claim 1, wherein said plurality of umbrella-like vanes are made of a lightweight material.
12. The wind turbine according to claim 11, wherein said lightweight material is selected from the group consisting of sail cloth and parachute cloth.
13. The wind turbine according to claim 1, wherein said plurality of umbrella-like vanes are made of a strong material that is sun and weather resistant.
14. The wind turbine according to claim 1, wherein said rotating mandrel is centrally positioned with respect to said plurality of supporting arms.
15. The wind turbine according to claim 1, further comprising a turbine-receiving structure.
16. The wind turbine according to claim 15, wherein said turbine-receiving structure is a tower or pole.
17. A turbine comprising:
- a rotating mandrel,
- wherein said rotating mandrel is adapted for being rotatably secured for operation to a turbine-receiving structure having a generally vertical axis and a sufficient height;
- a plurality of supporting arms extending laterally away from said rotating mandrel,
- wherein each of said plurality of supporting arms comprises a first end, a second end, and a body extending from said first end to said second end,
- wherein said first end of said each of said plurality of supporting arms is located proximate said rotating mandrel, and
- wherein at least one supporting arm of said plurality of supporting arms forms an angle of about ninety degrees with the vertical axis of the turbine-receiving structure; and
- a plurality of umbrella-like vanes,
- wherein each of said plurality of umbrella-like vanes comprises a face side and a back side and is adapted for being alternatively placed in an open configuration and a closed configuration during operation,
- wherein said each of said plurality of umbrella-like vanes is secured proximate said second end of a corresponding supporting arm of said plurality of supporting arms,
- wherein said rotating mandrel, said plurality of supporting arms and said plurality of umbrella-like vanes are adapted for rotating in a generally circular orientation with respect to the vertical axis of the turbine-receiving structure during operation wherein said circular orientation is generally parallel to a ground surface, and
- wherein said each of said plurality of umbrella-like vanes, when opened or in said open configuration, provides a solid surface for the wind to act upon but, as said plurality of umbrella-like vanes rotate around the vertical axis of the turbine-receiving structure, said each of said plurality of umbrella-like vanes provides said back side for the wind to act upon and to give little resistance to the wind so as to return said each of said plurality of umbrella-like vanes to said closed configuration as said each of said plurality of umbrella-like vanes rotates into position to be opened and acted upon again, repetitively, as solid rotatable surfaces.
18. The wind turbine according to claim 17, further comprising a turbine-receiving structure.
19. The wind turbine according to claim 17, wherein at least one supporting arm of said plurality of supporting arms forms an angle of about ninety degrees with the vertical axis of the turbine-receiving structure.
20. The wind turbine according to claim 17, wherein said each of said plurality of umbrella-like vanes is secured proximate said second end of a corresponding supporting arm of said plurality of supporting arms.
4365935 | December 28, 1982 | Zukeran |
4496283 | January 29, 1985 | Kodric |
5570997 | November 5, 1996 | Pratt |
6857846 | February 22, 2005 | Miller |
8133023 | March 13, 2012 | Reitz |
8272840 | September 25, 2012 | Yan |
20070014658 | January 18, 2007 | Mollinger |
20150118050 | April 30, 2015 | Joosten |
Type: Grant
Filed: Oct 18, 2016
Date of Patent: Aug 20, 2019
Patent Publication Number: 20180106239
Inventor: Bruce Logan Shrewsbury (El Paso, TX)
Primary Examiner: Sunit Pandya
Application Number: 15/297,078
International Classification: F03D 7/04 (20060101); F03D 3/06 (20060101); F03D 9/25 (20160101); F03D 9/28 (20160101);