Axial Flow Runner Patents (Class 415/4.5)
  • Patent number: 7256512
    Abstract: A wind powered variable area exit aperture electric generating system having configurable, adjustable duct side walls by which means the ratio between the intake cross-sectional aperture area and the exhaust cross-sectional aperture area may be varied for maximum air molecule flow through the duct, leading to ideal maximum electrical output for any given air mass input. The planar characteristic and angular dispersion of the mutually leading edge coupled extended flaps, and the regular square interior housing result in complementary internal vortices developed at the trailing edge of the planar architectural surfaces.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 1, 2006
    Date of Patent: August 14, 2007
    Assignee: Marquiss Wind Power, Inc.
    Inventor: Stanley Marquiss
  • Patent number: 7220096
    Abstract: A habitat friendly, wind energy system is disclosed for safely extracting usable energy from wind. Included are one or more concentrator wings that convert the dynamic pressure of wind into relatively lower static pressure and thereby induces a vacuum that draws wind into an area defined by the concentrator wings. The airflow regulation minimizes or prevents the stalling of, or the generation of a turbulent flow of wind over or between concentrator wings. Further included are multiple impellors, at least one power converter, a riser supporting these component pieces, all positioned within the area defined by the concentrator wings. Accordingly, one or more flow regulators are positioned to assist in promoting laminar flow across or between the concentrator wings and to reduce the dynamic pressure of wind on the riser to thereby increase efficiency of the system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 16, 2004
    Date of Patent: May 22, 2007
    Inventor: Angus J. Tocher
  • Patent number: 7214029
    Abstract: The windmill assembly is a low drag, streamlined body of revolution that captures the kinetic energy content of the accelerated laminar air surrounding the body. The assembly includes a power-generating, wind-driven turbine that is compact, lightweight and capable of producing a substantially greater output than a conventional windmill with a comparable size rotor. The turbine includes a protruding aerodynamic nose and outer cowling that provide a streamlined, wind-collecting inlet section that constricts the incoming air stream and increases its velocity through the turbine blades. The turbine further includes an exit section designed to exhaust the air stream with a minimum of turbulence. One or more generators are coupled to a turbine wheel, and are electrically switched on and off to maximize the energy capture over the full range of ambient winds. The wind turbine assembly may be configured around a blimp-type body having counter-rotating turbine assemblies.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 1, 2004
    Date of Patent: May 8, 2007
    Inventor: Donald L. Richter
  • Patent number: 7210896
    Abstract: An electrical power generation assembly comprising a main body having a low density to provide lift and wind driven means on its surface to generate electrical power. The main body has a part-circular, or a part-elliptical, cross section frontal region. The main body has a first distance and a second distance. The ratio of the first distance to the second distance is equal to or more than 0.5 and equal to or less than 5 according to the shape of the frontal region of the main body. The ratio of the diameter of the wind driven means to the first distance is equal to or less than 0.25.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 27, 2005
    Date of Patent: May 1, 2007
    Assignee: Rolls-Royce plc
    Inventor: David S Knott
  • Patent number: 7186083
    Abstract: A wind energy conversion device includes a propeller in which each of the propeller blades includes a proximal (radially inward) non-airfoil mounting section, a medial section and a distal tip section mounted to pivot relative to the medial section about a pitch axis running lengthwise of the blade. At low wind speeds, each tip section and its associated medial section cooperate to provide a single airfoil. When the propeller rpm exceeds a predetermined threshold, each of the tip sections begins to pivot toward a full governing position, which tends to reduce the propeller rpm. To permit wind tracking, the device is mounted to pivot on a vertical axis. The propeller blades are downwind of the vertical axis, and slightly inclined to define a cone diverging in the downwind direction. The electrical power generating components are located upwind of the propeller and centered about the propeller axis, and have a radius less than the length of the proximal blade sections.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 6, 2002
    Date of Patent: March 6, 2007
    Inventor: Elliott Bayly
  • Patent number: 7168251
    Abstract: A wind energy turbine includes a tower, a nacelle rotatably supported by the tower, a rotor rotatably supported by the nacelle, and at least one unit to be cooled and arranged in the tower and/or the nacelle. The unit is adapted to be cooled by a cooling medium flowing in a cooling circuit from the unit to at least one heat exchanger. The at least one heat exchanger is located outside of the tower and/or nacelle and configured to be cooled by ambient air.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 14, 2005
    Date of Patent: January 30, 2007
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventor: Wilhelm Janssen
  • Patent number: 7147428
    Abstract: A water driven turbine has a divergent cone coupled to the exit end of the housing in which diameter of the cone increases with increasing distance from the exit end of the housing. A diverter formed of rigid material surrounds the free end of the cone and defines an annular space therebetween through which a flow of water passes to accelerate the flow exiting the turbine housing. The diverter is shorter in the length than the divergent cone and longitudinally overlaps the divergent cone. The diverter also has straight walls which are sloped to extend in the longitudinal direction away from the exit end of the housing at an inward incline between the leading end and the trailing end thereof.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 26, 2004
    Date of Patent: December 12, 2006
    Inventor: John S. Lamont
  • Patent number: 7131812
    Abstract: A sky turbine, having impeller blades with a plurality of panels that can telescope inward and outward. The pitch of the panels can be adjusted, and the pitch of each panel on a blade, passing from the innermost panel to the outermost panel, differs from the pitch of the previous panel by a certain adjustable amount. The sky turbine is preferably mounted above a city at a sufficiently high elevation that air current will be generally faster than just above the ground. In the preferred embodiments, a wing with two pods is pivotally mounted on a tower. Each pod has front and rear shafts, from which four blades extend. Servomotors cause the wing to turn so that its center of symmetry is parallel to the direction the sky is moving, cause the pitch of the panels of the blades to change, and cause the panels of the blades to telescope.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 1, 2005
    Date of Patent: November 7, 2006
    Inventor: Manfred Karl Brueckner
  • Patent number: 7094018
    Abstract: A wind power generator has an arcuate converging-diverging flow passage and a support body that is prolate in shape and is located in the flow passage. The support body is rotatably supported and a plurality of rotor blades are mounted on the support body. The support body and the flow passage define a converging-diverging flow area through which wind passes to drive the support body via the rotor blades.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 7, 2004
    Date of Patent: August 22, 2006
    Inventor: Kelly W. Grubb
  • Patent number: 7074011
    Abstract: A wind power installation comprising at least two rotors which are arranged one behind the other and of which the first rotor which is arranged in front of the second rotor is of a smaller diameter than the second rotor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 14, 2000
    Date of Patent: July 11, 2006
    Inventor: Aloys Wobben
  • Patent number: 7066709
    Abstract: The present invention discloses a wind driven power generator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 19, 2004
    Date of Patent: June 27, 2006
    Inventors: Dong Yong Kim, Yeong Min Kim
  • Patent number: 7042109
    Abstract: A wind turbine for generating electrical power from wind energy includes a turbine rotor mounted for rotation in wind, and having multiple blades for converting energy in the wind into rotational energy. A generator is coupled with said turbine rotor such that said turbine rotor drives said generator. The generator has a stationary air core armature that is located in a magnetic airgap between two generator rotor portions. The generator rotor portions have circumferential arrays of multiple alternating polarity permanent magnets attached to ferromagnetic back irons such that the permanent magnets drive magnetic flux back and forth between each rotor portion and through the stationary air core armature. The stationary air core armature has multiple phase windings of multiple individually insulated strand conductor wire that is wound with two separate portions including an active length portion and an end turn portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 30, 2003
    Date of Patent: May 9, 2006
    Inventor: Christopher W. Gabrys
  • Patent number: 7018167
    Abstract: An object is to improve the durability of wings and suppress vibration of the wings and generation of noise. A fluid machine includes a rotatably supported wing support, and a plurality of wings (21) formed on the wing support at a plurality of circumferential locations and protruding radially outward. The wings (21) each include a first wing element extending radially outward from a first attachment position on the wing support, a second wing element extending radially outward from a second attachment position on the wing support, and a third wing element connecting the first and second wing elements. In this case, the first and second wing elements are formed in such a manner to protrude radially outward from the wing support, and are mutually connected by means of the third wing element. This structure prevents damage to the wings (21), which damage would otherwise occur, for example, upon reception of external force, and thus improves the durability of the wings (21).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 26, 2001
    Date of Patent: March 28, 2006
    Assignee: Y & Y Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Minoru Yoshida
  • Patent number: 7018166
    Abstract: The performance of a turbine in a duct having a convergent and a divergent surface is enhanced by controlling the fluid flow pattern along the inner duct surface. For this purpose a free rotor redistributes part of the inner fluid stream through a ring into the outer stream to prevent premature separation of the inner stream from the divergent duct surface. The turbine and rotor are driven by distinct fluid streams that are separated by a duct.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 20, 2002
    Date of Patent: March 28, 2006
    Assignee: FreeGen Research Ltd.
    Inventor: Christopher Norman Gaskell
  • Patent number: 7008172
    Abstract: A multiplicity of horizontal axis rotors are coaxially attached, at spaced intervals, to an elongate driveshaft. This driveshaft with attached rotors is aimed, not directly into the wind, but at a slightly offset angle, allowing each rotor to encounter a wind stream having fresh wind, substantially undisturbed by the wake of upwind rotors. That offset angle may be in the horizontal plane, and is maintained by a passive arrangement of components that may include a tail. In high winds the turbine is allowed to turn across the wind or furl sideways to protect it from overspeed. The space between rotors allows the turbine to be mounted atop an elevating structure wider than a normal tower. Such a wider mount may be a tripod tower, a guyed tower with guy wires attached to the tower at a point higher than the lowest point reached by the blades, or even a building.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 17, 2004
    Date of Patent: March 7, 2006
    Inventor: Douglas Spriggs Selsam
  • Patent number: 6979179
    Abstract: The invention relates to a wind turbine rotor blade which in its tip (1) is provided with a lightning receptor (2) and a drain passage (6; 16; 26; 36; 46; 56) connecting the blade interior (11, 12) with the blade exterior, the drain passage (6; 16; 26; 36; 46; 56) and the lightning receptor (2) having a common interface. The invention further relates to a lightning receptor provided with a drain passage (6; 36; 46; 56).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 11, 2001
    Date of Patent: December 27, 2005
    Assignee: LM Glasfiber A/S
    Inventor: Flemming Møller Larsen
  • Patent number: 6972498
    Abstract: A system and method for changing wind turbine rotor diameters to meet changing wind speeds and control system loads is disclosed. The rotor blades on the wind turbine are able to adjust length by extensions nested within or containing the base blade. The blades can have more than one extension in a variety of configurations. A cable winching system, a hydraulic system, a pneumatic system, inflatable or elastic extensions, and a spring-loaded jack knife deployment are some of the methods of adjustment. The extension is also protected from lightning by a grounding system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 28, 2002
    Date of Patent: December 6, 2005
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Peter McKeich Jamieson, Chris Hornzee-Jones, Emilian M. Moroz, Ralph W. Blakemore
  • Patent number: 6957946
    Abstract: A kaleidoscopic wind machine for visual entertainment and other uses. The framework of the wind machine includes a vertical mast and a horizontal axle that can swivel about the mast. One or more wheel structures are rotatably attached to the horizontal axle. Each wheel structure includes a rim, a hub, and a plurality of stays extending between and attached to the rim and hub. A plurality of jib sails are attached to each wheel framework in a manner adapted to cause the wheel to rotate about the axle when the wind blows against the sails. A positioning vane is rotatably attached to the downwind end of the axle and is adapted to point the upwind end of the axle into the wind when the wind blows.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 11, 2003
    Date of Patent: October 25, 2005
    Inventor: Christopher J. Vander Kley
  • Patent number: 6951443
    Abstract: A wind turbine capable of driving multiple electric generators having a ring or shroud structure for reducing blade root bending moments, hub loads, blade fastener loads and pitch bearing loads. The shroud may further incorporate a ring gear for driving an electric generator. In one embodiment, the electric generator may be cantilevered from the nacelle such that the gear on the generator drive shaft is contacted by the ring gear of the shroud. The shroud also provides protection for the gearing and aids in preventing gear lubricant contamination.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 8, 2000
    Date of Patent: October 4, 2005
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventor: Ralph W. Blakemore
  • Patent number: 6945747
    Abstract: A dual rotor wind turbine according to the present invention includes a rotatable drive shaft, a first rotor assembly connected to the drive shaft, a second independently-rotating rotor assembly coupled to the drive shaft rearward of the first rotor assembly, a first stage generator coupled to the drive shaft, a second stage generator operatively connected to the second rotor assembly, a housing wherein the generators are situated, a rotary base, and a tail. In use, the rotary base allows the tail to optimally position the rotors for collecting wind. Wind rotates the first rotor assembly, causing the drive shaft to rotate and operate the first stage generator. Wind passing through and directed off the first rotor assembly rotates the second rotor assembly, independent of the first rotor assembly, operating the second stage generator. The two stage generators are any combination of AC or DC electrical generators, pumps, and compressors.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 26, 2004
    Date of Patent: September 20, 2005
    Inventor: Willis F. Miller
  • Patent number: 6935841
    Abstract: A fan assembly includes a vertical axis wind turbine (VAWT) which is coupled to an air extraction or air supply fan. The VAWT is located above and is coupled coaxially to the fan. The fan assembly also includes an auxiliary turbine to provide start-up torque to initiate rotation of the VAWT. The VAWT is typically a Darrieus-type turbine and the auxiliary turbine is typically a Savonius-type turbine. In the preferred embodiments, the fan assembly includes a rotational speed governor to avoid damage to the turbine and/or fan in high winds.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 4, 2001
    Date of Patent: August 30, 2005
    Inventor: Michael Mark Rainbow
  • Patent number: 6932561
    Abstract: A wind power system is provided including at least one generator fan having a front face and a rear face. The system also includes a first wind capturing device positioned proximate to the front face. The wind capturing device can be configured to capture wind to create a first pressure proximate to the front face that is greater than a second pressure proximate to the rear face. The pressure difference causes the captured wind to flow across the at least one generator fan from the front face to the rear face.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 1, 2003
    Date of Patent: August 23, 2005
    Assignee: WaferMasters, Inc.
    Inventor: Woo Sik Yoo
  • Patent number: 6887031
    Abstract: A habitat friendly, pressure conversion, wind energy extraction system is disclosed for safely extracting usable energy from wind. The system includes one or more shrouds or concentrator wings that convert the dynamic pressure of wind into relatively lower static pressure and thereby induces a vacuum that draws wind into a turbine centralized within the shrouds or concentrator wings. As such, the turbine impellor blades may be significantly smaller than the large diameter rotor blades of current popular designs and may be enclosed within the shrouds or concentrator wings that present themselves as highly visible objects and as such are easily avoided by birds in flight. The novel system in particular includes a device and method of airflow regulation than minimizes or prevents the stalling, or the generation of a turbulent flow of wind over or between the shrouds or concentrator wings.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 16, 2004
    Date of Patent: May 3, 2005
    Inventor: Angus J. Tocher
  • Patent number: 6755608
    Abstract: A wind power generation apparatus of the present invention includes a wind turbine having a rotor diameter and a hub height. An artificial mound adjacent to the wind turbine has a length, a width and a height. The artificial mound is positioned to enhance the performance of the wind turbine by focusing wind on the turbine rotor. The dimensions of the artificial mound are determined according to the characteristics of the wind turbine.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 22, 2002
    Date of Patent: June 29, 2004
    Inventor: Morris William Boughton
  • Patent number: 6717285
    Abstract: A wind powered generating device comprises a tube cluster, a collector assembly, and a turbine assembly. The collector assemblies utilize sails that can be rotated to direct wind down through an inlet tube to a central outlet tube. The central outlet tube is narrowed at a portion, and a turbine is mounted at this narrowed portion to take advantage of the Venturi effect that accelerates the air as it passes the turbine. This permits reliable and efficient operation in areas that were not formerly considered windy enough to be economically feasible for the deployment of wind powered generating devices. Alternative embodiments of the invention include mechanisms for dealing with violent weather conditions, a first of which allows excess wind to bleed off beneath and between the sails, and a second which collapses and covers the sail with a protective sheath/sock.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 14, 2001
    Date of Patent: April 6, 2004
    Inventor: Michael Ferraro
  • Publication number: 20040052640
    Abstract: A new modification in conventional wind mills wherein the wings are tilted between 95 degree to 159 degrees and their wings are modified, having thicker supporting shafts at the base and gradual thinner shafts towards their tips at their outermost circumference These wings are made with flexible material in metal or plastics to flex the wings with the wind gusts and reduce their sweep area and angle of attack in sync with wind speed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 12, 2002
    Publication date: March 18, 2004
    Inventor: Ghazi Khan
  • Patent number: 6703720
    Abstract: A wind powered generating device comprises a tube cluster, a collector assembly, and a turbine assembly. The collector assemblies utilize sails that can be rotated in the direction of the wind to direct wind down through an inlet tube to a central outlet tube. The central outlet tube is narrowed at a portion, and a turbine is mounted at this narrowed portion to take advantage of the venturi effect, which accelerates the air as it passes the turbine. This permits reliable and efficient operation in areas that were not formerly windy enough to be economically feasible. Alternative embodiments of the invention include mechanisms for dealing with violent weather conditions, a first of which allows excess wind to bleed off behind and between the sails, and a second which collapses and covers the sails with a protective sheath/sock.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 28, 2000
    Date of Patent: March 9, 2004
    Inventor: Michael Ferraro
  • Publication number: 20040042895
    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.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 20, 2003
    Publication date: March 4, 2004
    Inventor: Kazuichi Seki
  • Patent number: 6626638
    Abstract: The ribbon drive generation apparatus is comprised of a ribbon-like curved shape, composed either of metal or other suitable material, attached to a central axle with the complete apparatus being contained in a tube having a constant diameter for the length of the tube. A front portion of the tube has a pivot or tether and the rear portion of the tube has a drag means, such as fins, so as to cause rotation of the tube until it is oriented parallel to the flow. In another embodiment of the present invention, the electrical output of the ribbon drive generation apparatus is connected to a storage battery so as to store energy in times of high flow and make up for generating deficiencies during times of lesser flow. In yet another embodiment of the present invention, plural generating stages are serially arranged to adapt to flow variation and provide smooth start-up. Bypass vents and coupling means are located between each stage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 25, 2002
    Date of Patent: September 30, 2003
    Inventor: Jonathan B. Rosefsky
  • Patent number: 6612810
    Abstract: Wind turbine blade comprises a first (1) and a second (2) electric conductor extending in the longitudinal direction of the blade (25), and one or more electric heating elements (4) for heating the surface of the blade. The heating elements (4) are connected to the first and the second electric conductor. At its tip the wind turbine blade (25) is provided with a lightning receptor 5 for catching lightning, and the lightning receptor (5) is electrically connected to a third (3) conductor earthed so as to be able to carry the current from a stroke of lightning to the earth. The first and the second conductor are connected to the lightning receptor through spark gaps adjacent said lightning receptor and connected to earth through spark gaps adjacent the blade root.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 6, 2002
    Date of Patent: September 2, 2003
    Assignee: LM Glasfiber A/S
    Inventors: Kaj Olsen, Flemming Møller Larsen, Peter Grabau, John Ellermann Jespersen
  • Patent number: 6602045
    Abstract: The present invention is a system and method for enhancing the generation of power with a windmill. It comprises a horizontal axis rotating propeller with a large hub, mounted on a lift-generating device which also acts as the support structure. By adding a lift-generating device around the support structure, lower rotational speeds for the windmill propeller are possible without the penalty of excessive swirl losses in the wake. The lower design speed reduces parasitic losses and improves the overall power output of the windmill. The present invention also uses a large hub to increase the relative speed of the air over the windmill propeller near the hub, further enhancing power generation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 1, 2001
    Date of Patent: August 5, 2003
    Inventor: Robert Ives Hickey
  • Publication number: 20030138315
    Abstract: A sky turbine mounted atop a high rise city. Capable of protecting itself from high sky speeds by telescoping its impeller blades into a smaller diameter. Providing all mankind with clean, abundant electric power, too cheap to meter.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 18, 2002
    Publication date: July 24, 2003
    Inventor: Manfred K. Brueckner
  • Patent number: 6582196
    Abstract: A windmill rotor of the front-runner type and airfoil type wind blades therefor in which the blade tips have a longitudinally forwardly curved configuration. The curvature solves the problem of inward flexure of the blade in strong wind conditions, without requiring modification of the manner in which the rotor as a whole is mounted in order to avoid having the blade strike the windmill tower under such strong wind conditions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 3, 2000
    Date of Patent: June 24, 2003
    Assignee: LM Glassfiber A/S
    Inventors: Søren Andersen, Henrik Albertsen, Peter Grabau
  • Patent number: 6520737
    Abstract: An offshore wind turbine is disclosed wherein the power transmission in the nacelle is cooled by means of a liquid conducted to the nacelle from the tower on which the nacelle is pivotally arranged around a vertical yawing axis. The liquid transfers heat to the seawater near the turbine which is used as a heat sink of low temperature and enormous heat capacity as compared to traditional air cooling. The liquid is conducted in a closed circuit and the cooling system may comprise more than one cooling circuit. The flow of cooling-liquid may be conducted between the tower and the nacelle through a heat transfer unit having a first part that is stationary with respect to the tower and a second part that is stationary with respect to the nacelle. The parts have at least one annular passageway for a liquid flow defined between abutting surfaces of the parts.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 26, 2002
    Date of Patent: February 18, 2003
    Assignee: NEG Micon A/S
    Inventors: Torsten Fischer, Niels Vilsbøll
  • Publication number: 20030026684
    Abstract: A column airflow power apparatus for creating mechanical power is provided. The column airflow power apparatus comprises a column structure having an open first end and an open second end with airflow moving through the column structure from the first end to the second end. A rotatable blade is mounted within the column structure with the airflow rotating the rotatable blade. A power shaft is connected to the rotatable blade with the power shaft rotating with the rotatable blade. A rotatable turret device is mounted to the second end of the column structure and an adjustable airfoil mounted to the rotatable turret. An air concentrator can be mounted within the column structure between the first end and the rotatable blade.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 6, 2001
    Publication date: February 6, 2003
    Inventor: Jerry W. Bohn
  • Publication number: 20020192070
    Abstract: A multiplicity of horizontal axis rotors are coaxially attached, at spaced intervals, to an elongate driveshaft. This driveshaft with attached rotors is aimed, not directly into the wind, but at a slightly offset angle, allowing each rotor to encounter a wind stream having fresh wind, substantially undisturbed by upwind rotors, reducing wind shadow effects from rotor to rotor. That offset angle may be in the vertical plane, horizontal plane, or oblique. The shaft is held with rotational freedom at or near its midsection by a cantilevered bearing means, and drives a load, such as an electrical generator. This cantilevered bearing means, along with the rotor laden driveshaft which it supports, is allowed to pivot, as an entire unit, about the vertical axis of a supporting tower. Certain embodiments comprise an active aiming means, others are configured to have more wind resistance from a downwind section than an upwind section, and so are self-aiming, like a weathervane.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 23, 2001
    Publication date: December 19, 2002
    Inventor: Douglas Spriggs Selsam
  • Publication number: 20020114692
    Abstract: A wind power generation apparatus of the present invention includes a wind turbine having a rotor diameter and a hub height. An artificial mound adjacent to the wind turbine has a length, a width and a height. The artificial mound is positioned to enhance the performance of the wind turbine by focusing wind on the turbine rotor. The dimensions of the artificial mound are determined according to the characteristics of the wind turbine.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 22, 2002
    Publication date: August 22, 2002
    Inventor: Morris William Boughton
  • Patent number: 6382904
    Abstract: A wind power unit, that uses the power of wind, is made as a support installed power-generating unit comprising at least one turbine with a nozzle apparatus mechanically connected to a generator, a central shell, an annular front shell having at least one input channel of the turbine that forms with the central shell an output channel of the turbine, and annular outside shell that forms with the central shell diffuser output channel. The power-generating unit is equipped with an additional annular shell forming with external surfaces of the front and central shells narrowing-expanding first intermediate channel connected in its intermediate part to turbine output channel, while, with the internal surface of the outside shell, a second intermediate channel connected long with the first intermediate channel is used to diffuse the output channel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 16, 1999
    Date of Patent: May 7, 2002
    Inventors: Igor Sergeevich Orlov, Emmanuil Avraamovich Sobol, Mikhail Andreevich Egorov
  • Patent number: 6270308
    Abstract: A wind generator with a rotor which rotates in the horizontal direction and has a plurality of rotor blades, wherein the rotor blades are surrounded in some areas by a fairing, the fairing being aligned according to the wind direction so that the rotor blades which are running in the opposite direction to the wind direction are always protected. The wind generator is provided preferably for subsequent fixing on already existing masts wherein the device has an annular bearing ring on which the rotor rotates on bearings, the bearing ring extending around the mast and being fixed by connecting braces on the mast.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 11, 1999
    Date of Patent: August 7, 2001
    Inventor: Wilhelm Groppel
  • Patent number: 6227803
    Abstract: An apparatus for generating electric power using wind force which is capable of generating good quality electric power by combining the apparatus with the inventor's water wave force-based electric power generating apparatus and installing this combined apparatus in the sea.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 10, 1999
    Date of Patent: May 8, 2001
    Inventor: Hyun Jin Shim
  • Patent number: 6224338
    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.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 31, 2000
    Date of Patent: May 1, 2001
    Inventor: Samuel Edward Christaldi
  • Patent number: 6176675
    Abstract: A damping coupling is provided to reduce the oscillations of the yawing device of a wind power plant. The damping coupling transmits forces from a driving device to a yaw drive, and the damping coupling is arranged and positioned in such a way that the transmitted moment is dependent on the difference in the rotational speeds between the input and the output shafts of the coupling. The damping coupling is preferably a hydrodynamic coupling.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 19, 1999
    Date of Patent: January 23, 2001
    Inventor: Staffan Engström