Abstract: A high torque windmill is provided for use in converting wind power to usable energy, having a vertical axis about which a plurality of flexible vanes are journaled for rotation and spaced radially therefrom. The vanes are circumferentially spaced and mounted on a rigid circular, multi-sided support member which comprises the rotor journaled for rotation about the vertical mounting axis. Each vane comprises a conical member made of a dacron material and open at opposed ends thereof. A plurality of rods are held in pockets located about the conical surface for maintaining the desired conical configuration. These rods extend beyond each pocket at the smaller end of the cone, for fitting into tubular members fastened to the rotor to hold the vanes in place. Adjacent vanes are offset from the plane of rotation by 15 degrees in opposite directions (that is, up and down) in order to maximize the amount of captured wind power. The foregoing design provides a low speed high torque multi-directional windmill unit.

Abstract: A solar absorber to be mounted on the roofs of buildings, the absorber having the form of a pyramid with the heat absorbing elements mounted across the upward extending faces of the pyramid and the base formed to conform to the contour of the roof so that the solar absorber may be fixedly mounted on the roof of a building.In a modified form of my invention each face of the pyramid is independently equipped with a heat sensor which is electrically connected to a water valve and water circulator so that water circulates only through the faces exposed to sunlight.