Abstract: A continuously variable transmission is disclosed for use in rotationally or linearly powered machines and vehicles. The single axle transmission provides a simple manual shifting method for the user. An additional embodiment is disclosed which shifts automatically dependent upon the rotational speed of the wheel. Further, the practical commercialization of traction roller transmissions requires improvements in the reliability, ease of shifting, function and simplicity of the transmission. The disclosed transmission may be used in vehicles such as automobiles, motorcycles, and bicycles. The transmission may, for example, be driven by a power transfer mechanism such as a sprocket, gear, pulley or lever, optionally driving a one way clutch attached at one end of the main shaft.

Abstract: A wind turbine which varies an active annular plane area by composing such that blades are attached to a cylindrical rotor movable in the radial direction of the rotor, the blades being reciprocated in the radial direction by means of a blade shifting mechanism connected to the root of each blade, or the blade itself is divided so that the outer one of the divided blade is movable in the radial direction. With the construction, the wind turbine can be operated with a maximum output within the range of evading fatigue failure of the blades and rotor by adjusting the active annular plane area in accordance with wind speed.

Abstract: A wind powered turbine has a conduit. A middle conduit portion is located between inlet and outlet conduit portions, having a main inlet and outlet of the conduit, respectively. A rotor having a shaft with blades extending therefrom is located in the middle conduit portion. The blades are located completely within the middle conduit portion. Preferably, a splitter is located in the inlet conduit portion to provide upper and lower sub-tunnels that both feed into the middle conduit portion. Upper and lower interior walls of the middle conduit portion have substantially circular plane shapes that are substantially centered at the rotational axis of the shaft. Upper and lower clearance gaps are located between the blades and the upper and lower interior walls, respectively. The main outlet is preferably higher than the main inlet. Preferably, a generator is located on each side of the conduit and rotatably coupled to the shaft.

Abstract: A wind driven power generator is designed for mobile applications and locates the generator in a power housing at the base of the unit on an adjustable mounting arrangement. A lightweight high strength hollow column is supported in the power housing and supports a wind driven turbine at the opposite end of the column. A drive shaft within the column transfers power from the turbine to the generator and causes rotation thereof. Preferably the column provides the only support of the turbine and the column is not supported by guide wires.

Abstract: In an integrated vane 1 for use in wind or water, main blades 3 arranged around an axial shaft 2 of the vane and support blades 4 for joining the main blades to the axial shaft are integrally formed with light and high strength fiber material such as glass fibers and carbon fibers. The main blade is symmetrical or asymmetrical in its cross sectional view and the support blade is symmetrical in its cross sectional view. The upper support blade may be asymmetrical in its cross sectional view and the lower support blade may have an up-and-down reversed shape of that of the upper support blade. A mountain-shaped portion may be formed at the ends of the main blade for reducing noise. The strength of crossing portions between the main and support blade of the vertical axis vane for use in wind or water is thus improved.

Abstract: A wind turbine blade made of a fixed blade section with an integral mounting flange for attachment to a wind turbine hub. A moveable blade section is attached to the fixed blade section and is free to move in a longitudinal direction relative to the fixed blade section. A positioning device controllably positions the moveable blade section to vary the overall length of the blade. This allows the wind turbine's rotor diameter to be adjusted. The rotor diameter can be increased in order to provide high power output in low wind conditions and it can be decreased in order to minimize loads in high wind conditions.

Abstract: A structure of an upwind type wind turbine and the operating method thereof capable of preventing the occurrence of damage of the blades by evading excessive irregular loads from acting on the blades in the slanting direction in the event of power failure when strong wind blows, are provided.

Abstract: A downstream wind turbine for converting wind energy into electrical energy. In a preferred embodiment the downstream wind turbine adapted to respond to high winds and gyroscopic precession. The downstream wind turbine comprises a support tower; a yaw bearing attached to the support tower; a support frame operably linked to the bearing; at least one swing arm with one end pivotally attached to the support frame; an elongated carry member pivotally attached to the other end of the swing arm; a wind driven energy conversion system balanced on and attached to the carry member so that the carry member is biased to maintain an approximately horizontal orientation with respect to the support frame and in response to wind proportionally swings downstream, and which responds to gyroscopic precession forces by tilting up or down; and a governor device for modifying at least one dynamic characteristic of the turbine.

Abstract: The present invention concerns a wind power installation comprising a ring generator and a housing having a heat-conducting housing portion in the region of the ring generator. Previously known structures suffer from the disadvantage that mechanical vibrations and oscillations of the generator can be perceived as acoustic disturbance and interference. The object of the present invention is very substantially to eliminate that disadvantage.

Abstract: A fluid turbine for extraction of power from a moving fluid, and that is particularly suitable for use as a wind turbine. The fluid turbine includes, for example, a rotor mounted to a support structure for rotation about a horizontal axis, the rotor having multiple blades extending forwardly and outwardly from a hub, and may include a ring fairing secured to the blades at their outer ends and rotatable with the blades about the axis. The ring fairing may be cocentric with the axis of rotation and may have, at at least one peripheral location thereon, a radial cross-section shaped to develop in operation a circulatory flow about the cross section in such a direction as to increase the velocity of fluid flow between the ring fairing and said hub. In one preferred embodiment of the turbine, the ring fairing cross-sectional shape is an airfoil-section, with a chamber line that is concave outward and forward. Alternatively, the ring faking cross-sectional shape is arcuate, being concave outward and forward.

Abstract: Vertical and horizontal wind shears, yaw misalignment and/or turbulence act together to produce asymmetric loading across a wind turbine rotor. The resultant load produces bending moments in the blades that are reacted through the hub and subsequently to the low-speed shaft. As a result, the main shaft and main shaft flange are displaced from their at rest or non-aerodynamic load positions. The amount of shaft flange displacement is measured using one or more sensors. The output signals from the sensors are used to determine the magnitude and/or the orientation of the resultant rotor load. This information is used to effect the blade pitch change needed to reduce the load and thereby reduce fatigue and loading on various turbine components.

Abstract: The invention relates to a system for monitoring wind turbines, wherein acoustic monitoring, in particular, is performed.

Abstract: A wind power plant for producing electrical energy on a large scale, comprising a base, a housing, rotatable on said base around vertical axis. A wind tail, attached to the housing, rotate the housing toward direction of the wind, utilizing the power of the wind, and produces additional tunnel suction to the flow of the wind from front side to back side of the housing. A plurality of turbines, equipped with rotors with wide blades, is mounted inside the housing one above another. Deflectors cover from the wind the front side of the rotors above their axis of rotation while computer controlled governors are covering the remaining front side of the rotors below their axis of rotation, keeping steady the speed of rotation of the rotors. Working surfaces of turbines are covered from heavy snow and during the storm and protected from birds. Power plant saves the area of occupied land, utilizing higher speed of wind on higher elevations.

Abstract: A wind turbine with a rotor, a nacelle and a tower. The nacelle comprises a planetary gear (4) with a planetary holder (5), on which the hub (6) of the rotor is rigidly secured, and which can be connected to the shaft of an electric generator. The planetary gear (4) comprises a ring gear (7) fixedly mounted on an engine frame (9) in the nacelle or on the member (8) rigidly connected to said frame. The planetary wheels (17a, 17b) of the planetary gear can run around a centrally arranged sun wheel (14) while engaging the latter. The sun wheel is optionally connected to a parallel gear (30). The planetary holder (5) is rotatably mounted in the ring gear (7) by means of at least two sets (17) of planetary twin wheels (17a, 17b). Each set of planetary twin wheels is mounted on a bogie shaft (19) on the planetary holder.

Abstract: The present invention concerns a rotor blade for a wind power installation and a wind power installation comprising at least one rotor blade according to the invention. The smaller the surface area on which the wind acts, that is to say in particular the rotor blade area, the correspondingly lower is the load level for which the installation has to be designed and the correspondingly more easily can the rotor blade be transported. On the other hand the size of the wind power installation entails minimum dimensions which are unavoidable for operation and below which the installation dimensions may not fall. In order to provide a rotor blade which on the one hand has the aerodynamically required surface area but which on the other hand is so designed that the surface area of the rotor blade and therewith the depth thereof can be reduced in predetermined situations a part of the surface of the rotor blade is deformable or movable.

Abstract: The present invention concerns a method of controlling a wind power installation at very high wind speeds, in which there is predetermined a first wind speed at which the rotor blades of the wind power installation are put into a first predetermined setting.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a wind turbine having a generator with stator and rotor in a machine house that is disposed at the top of the wind turbine tower, wherein the stator has a support construction comprising a plurality of support arms. The generator of the wind turbine is a ring generator.

Abstract: The present invention concerns a wind power installation comprising a pylon and a rotor arranged on the pylon and having at least one individually adjustable rotor blade, comprising a device for detecting the wind direction and a device for detecting the azimuthal position.

Abstract: A wind or water flow energy converter comprising a wind or water flow actuated rotor assembly. The rotor comprises a plurality of blades, wherein the blades of are variable in length to provide a variable diameter rotor. The rotor diameter is controlled to fully extend the rotor at low flow velocity and to retract the rotor as flow velocity increases such that the loads delivered by or exerted upon the rotor do not exceed set limits.

Abstract: A wind energy converter includes a support arm or post rotatably mounted on a base and having an upper free end; a pivot arm is pivotally mounted on the free end and has an end remote from the support arm; a pair of vanes are mounted on a pivot rod carried at the end of the pivot arm so that the vanes are free to rotate about the pivot rod; abutment arms are provided on the end of the pivot arm to limit the arc through which the vanes may rotate; at the other end of the pivot arm a linkage structure is provided to connect the other end of the pivot arm to an electrical generator.

Abstract: The present invention concerns a wind power installation having a rotor with at least one blade and an adjusting device for the rotor blade. An adjusting device with more than one drive for one rotor blade is provided. By virtue of that arrangement each drive only has to furnish a corresponding fraction of the power output, it can be of a correspondingly smaller design configuration, and it imposes a correspondingly lower loading on the subsequent components.

Abstract: A blade of a wind turbine is presented. This blade is provided with a root section for connecting the blade to the shaft or hub of the turbine. The blade also contains a wind-energy-absorbing profile which is optimized for wind flow. The output of the wind turbine is increased by providing the root section with a member that is designed in such a way that the assembly consisting of the member and the root section can absorb wind energy and will increase the overall efficiency of the wind turbine.

Abstract: As compared to a conventional wind turbine, in the turbine utilized in this invention, one or more large external ring exists at the end-point of the blades. These rings are firmly connected, in an X-shaped construct, to the end-point of the central axle, by way of a system of truss-type tensile cables. Other paired cables, extended from the large external ring, are connected to the mid-point of the central axle. The sheets, which cover these paired cables, constitute the stretched blades. The said paired cables are installed, in oblique angle relative to the surface of the ring, so that the wind current would push them in a direction opposite to the angle of pressure. The set of these stretched blades, that fill the space between the large ring and the central angle, constitute the wind turbine.

Abstract: The invention concerns an installation comprising a turbine (1) equipped with a wheel (11, 13) mobile in rotation about an axis (X-X′), and a tank (3) feeding the turbine, said feed tank having, projecting on a plane globally perpendicular to the axis (X-X′), an external spiral shape. The feed tank (3) forms a helico-convergent duct (41) centred on the axis (X-X′) and convergent towards the turbine (1). Said duct (41) is bordered by an outer partition (34), and inner partition (35) and at least an intermediate partition (36, 42) contributing to the stiffening of the tank (3).

Abstract: The invention provides a fluid turbine for extraction of power from a moving fluid, and that is particularly suitable for use as a wind turbine. The fluid turbine 30 includes a rotor 32 mounted to a support structure 31 for rotation about a horizontal axis 39, the rotor having multiple blades 37 extending forwardly and outwardly from a hub 36, and a ring fairing 38 secured to the blades at their outer ends and rotatable with the blades about the axis. The ring fairing is concentric with the axis of rotation and has, at at least one peripheral location thereon, a radial cross-section shaped to develop in operation a circulatory flow 60 about the cross section in such a direction as to increase the velocity of fluid flow between the ring fairing and said hub. In one preferred embodiment of the turbine, the ring fairing cross-sectional shape is an airfoil-section 40, with a camber line 55 that is concave outward and forward.

Abstract: A coaxial wind turbine apparatus which includes a pair of rearward-mounted, spring-loaded fins to orient the air inlet opening to face the direction of the oncoming wind and close a damper panel or shutter array at the air inlet opening during very high wind conditions. Thereby, the pair of rearward-mounted, spring-loaded fins stabilizes the apparatus during strong ambient wind conditions and minimizes damage to the rotating turbine wheel in the presence of a strong wind.

Abstract: A plurality of wind turbine blades (3) are distributed equiangularly within a plane perpendicular to a horizontal rotating shaft (2) and around a hub (1) provided on the horizontal rotating shaft (2); the blade body of each turbine blade includes therewithin a tip auxiliary blade (6) housed to be capable of extending toward and retracting away from a tip of the blade, and an auxiliary blade extension-and-retraction unit (8) for protruding the tip auxiliary blade (6) to increase the overall length of the blade; and when an airflow comes in at a low speed, the tip auxiliary blades (6) are protruded toward the tips to generate even greater rotating torque, thereby increasing a power generation output by the wind turbine.

Abstract: A plant for utilizing the energy in the waves which are present at a given time in a section of a water area, such as an ocean or a lake. The plant comprises a base located in this section and in the shape of a platform or raft and a wave converter placed on the base and serving for transforming the wave motion of the water into whirling motion. The plant furthermore comprises a number of adjacent wave catches each having at least one catch plate for catching at least part of the water of the waves and making this water flow down along the catch plate from a top front edge to a bottom rear edge on the plate, and a whirl pipe for each wave catch for, via a slot extending along the rear edge of the at least one catch plate, taking up the water flowing along the catch plate so that this water will describe a whirling motion in the whirl pipe. The plant can utilize the average energy in the waves better and with less construction costs than known so far.

Abstract: A wind power plant for producing electrical energy on a large scale, comprising a base, a housing, rotatable on said base around vertical axis. A wind tail, attached to the housing, rotate the housing toward direction of the wind, utilizing the power of the wind, and produces additional tunnel suction to the flow of the wind from front side to back side of the housing. A plurality of turbines, equipped with rotors with wide blades, is mounted inside the housing one above another. Deflectors cover from the wind the front side of the rotors above their axis of rotation while computer controlled governors are covering the remaining front side of the rotors below their axis of rotation, keeping steady the speed of rotation of the rotors. Working surfaces of turbines are covered from heavy snow and during the storm and protected from birds. Power plant saves the area of occupied land, utilizing higher speed of wind on higher elevations.

Abstract: A series of horizontal axis type rotors is distributed along the upper section of an elongate torque transmitting tower/driveshaft. The tower/driveshaft projects upward at its base, supported by a cantilevered bearing means, so it is free to rotate about its own axis. The tower/driveshaft is bent downwind, until the coaxially attached horizontal axis rotors become sufficiently aligned with the wind to rotate the entire tower/driveshaft. Power is drawn from the rotating shaft at the base. Surface mount, subsurface mount, and marine installations are disclosed, including a sailboat that can sail upwind, and store energy while moored. Vertical axis rotor blades may be attached to the lower, substantially vertical section of the tower/driveshaft and even to the distal section of the tower/driveshaft, should it hang in a sufficiently vertical direction for such blades to contribute toward rotation.

Abstract: Wind machines are disclosed in which the pressure energy of the wind is converted into electrical energy. A nozzle unobstructed by any turbine or propeller bearing a significant load is made to face the wind. The nozzle converts the pressure energy of the wind into kinetic energy. In one embodiment a turbine is disposed around the throat of the nozzle and air sucked through the turbine and exhausted through the throat of the nozzle. An obstruction at the turbine inlets is placed in such a way as to cause a pressure variation on either side of the obstruction, causing the turbine to rotate. In a second embodiment a small turbine within the throat of the nozzle is made to revolve several three way ball valves. These valves open and close passage-ways so as to admit or evacuate air from one side of pistons in cylinders of an atmospheric engine. The low pressure in the volume of the nozzle throat serves as an energy sink. The other side of the pistons are open to the atmosphere.

Abstract: A modular wind energy device for converting wind energy into mechanical energy, which includes a support structure configured for placement onto a support surface (36) and defining an axis of rotation (23) generally parallel thereto; one or more panemone type rotors (16) mounted onto the support structure for free rotation about the axis of rotation, having a pair of wing elements, of which, during rotation of the rotor in response to an airflow, at all times, one of the wing elements faces in an upstream direction and the other of the wing elements faces in a downstream direction; a power take off element associated with the one or more rotors; and shroud apparatus (10) for reducing resistance against the returning wing surfaces, and for directing the airflow toward the effective wing surfaces.

Abstract: A water driven impulse turbine has a barrel rotatably mounted upon an axle, with a plurality of runner blades extending tangentially from said barrel. Side plates secure the runner blades on opposite sides thereof. A breastplate is maintained in concentric juxtaposition with the wheel so defined. A penstock is interposed between a water source and the breastplate to pass water into the runner blades. The turbine may consist of a plurality of axially interconnected wheel sections of similar or dissimilar nature to optimize performance.

Abstract: The present invention concerns a wind turbine device having two or more vertical blades as generally used to generate power that gives a self-regulating angular speed using a collective blade-pitch control system with common biasing springs indirectly connected to each of the blades. A multiple retainer struts attachment system is disclosed for each blade to limit the effects of bending stresses on the latter. A new robust blade mounting, construction and design method is also described for use in the present wind turbine device.

Abstract: A horizontal axis wind turbine is designed to operate under low wind velocities. It includes a substantially horizontal turntable frame mounted for rotation on a vertical pivot, a pair of laterally spaced vertical support legs fixed to and extending upwardly from the turntable frame and, a horizontal, rotatable shaft extending across between and horizontally journaled to the upper ends of the vertical support legs. A wind rotor is fixed to the rotatable shaft and includes at least four pairs of oppositely disposed arms radiating outwardly from the rotatable shaft with one or two concave surfaced wind catching bucket mounted across between each pair of arms. Each bucket is spaced outwardly along the arms at a distance at least twice the width of the bucket, and a wind direction vane is connected to the turntable frame for directing the wind rotor normal to the oncoming wind.

Abstract: A rotary driving apparatus using air bubbles comprises multiple rotating turbine wheels arranged one above the other and supported to be horizontally rotatable supported by sides of a tank having a gas inlet at the bottom thereof and a gas outlet at the top thereof, multiple vanes of each turbine wheel being curved or bent so that ascending gas bubbles contact the inner enclosed surface of each vane, and the multiple turbine wheels are interlocked to each other by means of gears, a chain or a belt. A rotary driving apparatus using gas bubbles also comprises one or more screws rotatably supported at the top and bottom ends of a tank having a gas inlet at the bottom thereof and a gas outlet at the top thereof, the screw or screws being placed where ascending gas bubbles contact the screw flight. The gas is introduced into a liquid and the buoyancy of the resulting gas bubbles is used to generate a rotary driving force.

Abstract: The polygonal windmill is essentially a windmill with the blade components contained within a rigid polygonal frame, preferably cubic in shape. The polygonal windmill relies on its much larger wind surface area rather than high speeds for energy production. The simple design of the frame and the blades allow the windmill to be constructed with off-the-shelf components and materials, i.e. minimal engineering and manufacturing costs, and minimal labor to construct the windmill. No special cutting or shaping of the blades is needed in the production of the polygonal windmill.

Abstract: An oscillating fluid flow motor and a fluid flow power system that converts the energy in the flowing fluid to mechanical energy through a vane that automatically sweeps back and forth across the flow. In one embodiment of the oscillating fluid flow motor, the motor includes (1) a support structure, (2) an elongated swing arm pivotably and rotatably mounted to the support structure, (3) a vane having a concave face, (4) an elastic link operatively coupled in tension between the swing arm and a support, and (5) a direction control mechanism operatively coupled to the swing arm. The vane is connected to the swing arm so that, upon rotation of the swing arm about its longitudinal axis, the orientation of the concave face of the vane changes relative to the flow of a fluid confronting the face. The direction control mechanism is operative to selectively re-orient the face of the vane at each of two points that define the ends of the bidirectional stroke of the swing arm.

Abstract: A water driven impulse turbine has a barrel rotatably mounted upon an axle, with a plurality of runner blades extending tangentially from the barrel. Side plates secure the runner blades on opposite sides thereof. A breastplate is maintained in concentric juxtaposition with the wheel so defined. A penstock is interposed between a water source and the breastplate to pass water into the runner blades. The turbine may consist of a plurality of axially interconnected wheel sections of similar or dissimilar nature to optimize performance.