Fluid Turbine Featuring Improved Blade Mounting Structure
A fluid turbine comprising a rotor, having an axis of rotation, comprising at least two rotor blades disposed at a radius from the axis of rotation, each rotor blade having a pitch axis and a variable pitch angle. The fluid turbine comprises a mechanism comprising an actuation rod secured to an internal portion of each rotor blade, operable to control the pitch angle of at least one rotor blade about its pitch axis and to vary the pitch angle of the rotor blade between various pitch angles as the blade moves circumferentially about the axis of rotation of the rotor.
According to a first aspect, the present disclosure relates to a fluid turbine comprising a rotor having an array of rotor blades disposed circumferentially thereabout. The rotor has an axis of rotation, and comprises at least two rotor blades disposed at a radius from the axis of rotation, each rotor blade having a pitch axis and a variable pitch angle. A pitch control mechanism is operable to control the pitch angle of at least one rotor blade about its pitch axis and to vary the pitch angle of the rotor blade from a first pitch angle at a first circumferential location about the axis of rotation to a second pitch angle at a second circumferential location about the axis of rotation. The pitch of each rotor blade is controlled via an actuating rod running from the blade to the rotor hub.
According to a second aspect, the present disclosure relates to a fluid turbine comprising a rotor and a pitch angle control mechanism. The rotor has an axis of rotation, and comprises at least two rotor blades disposed at a radius from the axis of rotation, each rotor blade having a first end, a second end, a first mounting point, a second mounting point, a pitch axis and a variable pitch angle, each of the first and second mounting points being disposed inboard of the first and second ends. The pitch angle control mechanism is operable to control the pitch angle of at least one rotor blade about its pitch axis and to vary the pitch angle of the rotor blade from a first pitch angle at a first circumferential location about the axis of rotation to a second pitch angle at a second circumferential location about the axis of rotation.
According to a third aspect, the present disclosure relates to a fluid turbine comprising a rotor and a pitch angle control mechanism. The rotor has an axis of rotation and comprises a first hub, a second hub, an array of at least two struts, having strut covers disposed thereabout, extending from each of the first and second hubs, and at least two rotor blades, each secured to the distal end of a strut and having a pitch axis and a variable pitch angle. The mechanism is operable to control the pitch angle of at least one rotor blade about its pitch axis and to vary the pitch angle of the rotor blade from a first pitch angle at a first circumferential location about the axis of rotation to a second pitch angle at a second circumferential location about the axis of rotation.
A system and method of the present patent application will now be described with reference to various examples of how the embodiments can best be made and used. Like reference numerals are used throughout the description and several views of the drawings to indicate like or corresponding parts, wherein the various elements are not necessarily drawn to scale.
As seen in
In order to improve aerodynamic efficiency and protect the structural integrity of the mechanism, each strut 104 and actuation rod 208 are disposed within a strut cover 212. Certain embodiments of strut covers are shown in
It is believed that the operation and construction of the embodiments of the present patent application will be apparent from the detailed description set forth above. While the exemplary embodiments shown and described may have been characterized as preferred, it should be readily understood that various changes and modifications could be made therein without departing from the scope of the present invention as set forth herein.
Claims
1. A fluid turbine comprising:
- a rotor, having an axis of rotation, comprising at least two rotor blades disposed at a radius from the axis of rotation, each rotor blade having a pitch axis and a variable pitch angle; and
- a mechanism comprising an actuation rod secured to an internal portion of each rotor blade, operable to control the pitch angle of at least one rotor blade about its pitch axis and to vary the pitch angle of the rotor blade from a first pitch angle at a first circumferential location about the axis of rotation to a second pitch angle at a second circumferential location about the axis of rotation.
2. The fluid turbine of claim 1, wherein the mechanism comprises a cam-and-follower mechanism.
3. The fluid turbine of claim 1, further comprising at least one strut rod for each rotor blade.
4. The fluid turbine of claim 3, wherein the strut rod is parallel and adjacent to the actuation rod.
5. The fluid turbine of claim 4, wherein the strut rod and actuation rod connect to a bearing block, and wherein the bearing block is mated to a pocket in the rotor blade.
6. The fluid turbine of claim 1, wherein the pitch control mechanism is a cam and follower mechanism, and wherein each follower is operably connected to at least one actuation rod.
7. The fluid turbine of claim 1, further comprising a set of strut rod covers operable to protect and improve the efficiency of the strut rods.
8. A fluid turbine comprising:
- a rotor, having an axis of rotation, comprising at least two rotor blades disposed at a radius from the axis of rotation, each rotor blade having a first end, a second end, a first mounting point, a second mounting point, a pitch axis and a variable pitch angle, each of the first and second mounting points being disposed inboard of the first and second ends; and
- a mechanism comprising an actuation rod secured to an internal portion of each rotor blade, operable to control the pitch angle of at least one rotor blade about its pitch axis and to vary the pitch angle of the rotor blade from a first pitch angle at a first circumferential location about the axis of rotation to a second pitch angle at a second circumferential location about the axis of rotation.
9. The fluid turbine of claim 8, wherein the mechanism comprises an array of actuating rods.
10. The fluid turbine of claim 8, wherein each rotor blade is connected to at least two struts.
11. The fluid turbine of claim 8, wherein the pitch of each rotor blade is controlled by an actuating rod extending from a rotor hub to a rod end secured to the rotor blade.
12. The fluid turbine of claim 11, wherein each actuating rod is disposed adjacent to a strut.
13. The fluid turbine of claim 8, wherein each rotor blade is secured to struts at pivot points.
14. The fluid turbine of claim 8, wherein mechanism operable to control the pitch angle of at least one rotor blade comprises a cam-and-follower mechanism.
15. A fluid turbine comprising:
- a rotor, having an axis of rotation, comprising a first hub, a second hub, an array of at least two struts, having strut covers disposed thereabout, extending from each of the first and second hubs, and at least two rotor blades, each secured to the distal end of a strut and having a pitch axis and a variable pitch angle; and
- a mechanism comprising an actuation rod secured to an internal portion of each rotor blade, operable to control the pitch angle of at least one rotor blade about its pitch axis and to vary the pitch angle of the rotor blade from a first pitch angle at a first circumferential location about the axis of rotation to a second pitch angle at a second circumferential location about the axis of rotation.
16. The fluid turbine of claim 15, wherein at least one strut cover has an aerodynamic shape.
17. The fluid turbine of claim 15, wherein at least one strut cover comprises a centrally-located and axially-aligned aperture.
18. The fluid turbine of claim 17, wherein at least one strut is disposed within at least one centrally-located and axially-aligned aperture within at least one strut cover.
19. The fluid turbine of claim 15, wherein the rotor further comprises an actuating rod disposed adjacent to at least one strut.
20. The fluid turbine of claim 19, wherein the actuating rod is disposed within an aperture in the strut cover.
Type: Application
Filed: Nov 28, 2010
Publication Date: May 31, 2012
Inventors: Brandon D. Brantley, JR. (Grand Prairie, TX), Francis Dudley (Arlington, TX), Robert Clifton Vance (Arlington, TX)
Application Number: 12/954,895
International Classification: F01D 7/00 (20060101);