Abstract: A rotor including soft rotor structures fixed to the rotor shaft, which rotor structures are of a soft material such as canvas or the like. The rotor structure is a loop arranged to form an asymmetrical cone when an air or water current flows through the loop.

Abstract: A hydroelectric power generation apparatus includes a hydroelectric power generation module, a supporting part, and a bar. The hydroelectric power generation module includes a rotary blade and a power generator that generates power by rotation of the rotary blade. The supporting part supports the hydroelectric power generation module. The supporting part can be installed at a water channel. The bar is connected to the supporting part to protrude from the supporting part. With one end of the bar closer to the supporting part or a portion of the supporting part serving as a center, the other end of the bar opposite to one end of the bar can be pivoted to switch a first state to a second state and vice versa.

Abstract: A rotor assembly (5) for a rotorcraft, such as a helicopter, includes rotors (7) rotatable about a hub (17). The assembly (5) is operable to vary the angular speed of the rotors (7) about the hub (17), relative to one another. The assembly (5) may include a drive operable to drive each of the rotors (7) at a different radial distance from the hub.

Abstract: A rotor assembly for a turbine includes a substantially enclosed, cylindrical outer housing that is shaped to define an interior cavity into which a rotor is disposed. The rotor includes a main rotatable shaft in coaxial alignment with the outer housing and a plurality of pivotable blades, each blade being connected to the shaft by upper and lower spokes. In use, fluid flow enters into the interior cavity through a selectively enclosable inlet port in the outer housing, applies force to blades within the primary fluid flow path which causes the main shaft to rotate, and exits the interior cavity though a selectively enclosable outlet port in the outer housing. As the main shaft rotates within the outer housing, a control mechanism maintains each blade in a position of limited resistance when located outside the primary fluid flow path in order to maximize efficiency.

Abstract: A cycloidal rotor system having airfoil blades travelling along a generally non-circular, elongated and, in most embodiments, dynamically variable orbit. Such non-circular orbit provides a greater period in each revolution and an optimized relative wind along the trajectory for each blade to efficiently maximize lift when orbits are elongated horizontally, or thrust/propulsion when orbits are vertically elongated. Most embodiments, in addition to having the computer system controlled actuators to dynamically vary the blade trajectory and the angle of attack, can also have the computer system controlled actuators for dynamically varying the spatial orientation of the blades; enabling their slanting motion upward/downward and/or backsweep/forwardsweep positioning to produce and precisely control a variety of aerodynamic effects suited for providing optimum performance for various operating regimes, counter wind gusts and enable the craft to move sideways.

Abstract: 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.

Abstract: A cycloidal propeller including a so-called slider-crank mechanism. The couplers of the slider-crank mechanism are attached to a control ring which is attached to a ball socket located at the lower end of a control rod. The required torsional retention relative to the rotor housing is accomplished by a dual parallel guide, which is mounted by revolute joint connections to the control ring on one side and by revolute joint connections to the rotor housing on the other side.

Abstract: A vehicle compressed air energy converter has been developed for use along vehicular roadways, railways and airfield runways to collect wind pressure developed by the vehicles, trains and aircraft moving through the atmosphere and convert such air motion to other useful forms of energy. The converter is activated by the force of the compressed air movement entering the converter and pushing the retractable air fins of the converter in a circular motion. That circular motion is transferred to a central shaft set in bearings at either end of a housing. As the multiplicity of air fins held in place by hinges on a circular rotating base move within the converter housing, the fins move into a retracted posture so as to offer less air resistance as they circulate within the portion of the converter not subject to movement of air from the exterior of the housing.

Abstract: An omnidirectional variable thrust propeller for a vehicle includes a hub, plurality of blades, and a plurality of shafts. Each shaft is coaxially rotatably connected to a respective blade and extends through the hub at an acute angle to a hub longitudinal axis. Each shaft has a lever arm and an inner end portion which terminates inside the hub. A reciprocably moveable device engages the inner end portions of the blade shafts to uniformly rotate the blades in one direction when the device moves longitudinally in one direction and uniformly rotate the blades in an opposite direction when the device moves in an opposite direction to enable a change of thrust. Another device pivotally supports the reciprocably movable device at a variable acute angle to the longitudinal axis. Another device selectively move the reciprocably movable device about the pivot point to nonuniformly change the rotation or pitch of the blade that alters the propeller's thrust direction.

Abstract: A wind drive mechanism (10), comprising a housing (16) with a wind entry opening (25) and a wind outlet opening (26). In the housing (16) a rotor (30) is arranged with a vertically extending rotor shaft (31). The rotor shaft (31) is offset from the middle and is provided with rotor rotating arms (37). The rotor rotating arms (37) are slidable relative to the rotor shaft (31). Sails (32) are fixed to the rotor shaft (31) and to the take-up shafts (35), the sails being rolled in and out during each rotation of the rotor (30) with the help of electric motors (29).

Abstract: A wind driven device for driving an electrical generator to produce electricity having a base, an anchor pole stationarily affixed to the base, and a drive assembly support rotatably mounted around the anchor pole. A plurality of gears engage the lower portion of the drive assembly support. The device also includes an upper exterior wind column support and a lower exterior wind column support. A plurality of attachment beams are connected to the drive assembly. A plurality of wind panel support columns connect to at least one of the attachment beams and to the upper and lower exterior support. A plurality of wind panels pivotally engage the wind panel support columns and is responsive to the wind such that the force of the wind against the wind panel causes the drive assembly support and the attached gears to revolve to provide for a power take off from the revolving gears to drive the electrical generator.

Abstract: A vertical axis windmill, having a plurality of propelling blades, or vanes, supported in a vertical position by horizontal support bars extending outward from a rotatable tube concentric with a main support pipe. In operation the blades remain down-wind or at an angle to the wind, and are never flat side to the wind. A cam controlled by a wind vane operates a linkage that acts to position the blades to the proper angle. Each blade is supported on a shaft that has a crank arm attached, and a device is provided to rotate the arm past center. Spring pressure is equalized on the cam rollers to reduce the reaction of the cam on the wind vane. The blades are wind directional and act somewhat as a wind vane. As the wind load on a blade increases, the angle of the blade changes and the blade adjusts itself to maintain a regulated rotating speed for the windmill.