Abstract: An airborne centrifugally stiffened and cyclically controlled system which uses airfoils which rotate around a central hub, similar to the mechanics of an autogyro. The airfoils may achieve speeds significantly above the wind speed feeding the system. The airfoils may be linked to the central hub by flexible radial tethers which stiffen considerably as the speed of the airfoil increases, or may be linked to the central hub by rigid radial links. The central hub may be linked to the ground with an extendible main tether. Power generation turbines may reside on the airfoils and utilize the high apparent wind speed for power generation. The generated power may travel down the radial tethers and across a rotating power conduit to the main tether and to the ground. The system may use autorotation, similar to the mechanics of an autogyro.

Abstract: A rotor for a helicopter, having a drive shaft rotating about a first axis; a hub angularly integral with the drive shaft about the first axis; and at least two blades projecting from the hub on opposite sides of the first axis and elongated along respective second axes crosswise to the first axis; each blade is movable with respect to the hub and to the other blade about a respective third axis crosswise to the respective second axis; the rotor has at least two dampers for damping oscillation of respective blades about the respective third axes, and which have respective first portions movable integrally with the respective blades about the respective third axes; and the dampers have respective second portions connected elastically to the respective first portions and functionally to each other.

Abstract: Rotor apparatus and methods for vertical lift aircraft are disclosed. In one embodiment, a bearing assembly adapted for rotatably coupling a rotor blade to a support member includes an inner housing annularly disposed about a portion of the support member, an outer housing annularly disposed about at least part of the inner housing and is rotatably coupled to the inner housing by an annular bearing device, and a flexible member adapted to be coupled to the support member and including an engagement portion adapted to engage the outer housing and to at least partially relax a side force exerted on the annular bearing device by a bending of at least one of the rotor blade and the support member.

Abstract: Described herein is a rigid rotor assembly configured to allow rotation of helicopter rotor blades attached to the rigid rotor assembly from a deployed position to a stowed position. The rigid rotor assembly includes a base including a shaft extending therethrough, a first spindle configured to engage the shaft, and a second spindle configured for placement onto the shaft. The second spindle is operable to maintain a first position with respect to the first spindle via an attachment mechanism therebetween, the second spindle further operable to maintain a second position with respect to the first spindle via the attachment mechanism.

Abstract: An apparatus may comprise a housing, a first member, and a second member. The housing may have a first end, a second end, a first side, a second side, an opening located in the first end, and a passage extending from the opening. The first member may extend from the first side. The first member may have a first channel in communication with the passage and the channel has a first center axis. The second member may extend from the first side. The second member may have a second channel in communication with the passage and the second channel has a second center axis substantially aligned with the center axis of the channel in the first member.

Abstract: A propeller assembly is provided for mounting on a propeller shaft of a watercraft. The propeller assembly includes a housing structure having a plurality of blades projecting radially therefrom. A bushing assembly translates rotational movement of the propeller shaft to the housing structure. The bushing assembly includes a spindle having an inner surface that meshes with the outer surface of a propeller shaft and a resilient bushing molded over the spindle. A plurality of spaced, longitudinally extending keys extend along the outer surface of the spindle. In the event that the propeller blades become fixed during operation of the watercraft, the keys fragment from the outer surface of spindle so as to disengage the spindle from the housing structure. In such manner, damage to the engine and to the drive system of the marine vehicle may be avoided.

Abstract: The invention relates to an underwater power plant, comprising a propeller-shaped water turbine in horizontal rotor configuration with a plurality of rotor blades which are fastened to a revolving unit, with each rotor blade being associated with a swivel axis which extends substantially along the respective rotor blade, with the rotor blades being arranged elastically about the swivel axis at least in sections of the longitudinal extension concerning a torsion and/or the fastening of the rotor blades to the revolving unit enabling a rotation of the rotor blades about the swivel axis, and the position of the swivel axis is chosen relative to the profile shape of the rotor blades in such a way that hydrodynamic forces acting during operation on the rotor blade generate a moment which is directed in the feathered pitch position and the centrifugal forces originating during the rotation cause restoring centrifugal moments on the rotor blade against the feathered pitch position.

Abstract: An assembly for providing flexure to a blade of a rotary blade system, the assembly including an upper support plate having an upper curved surface, a lower support plate having a lower curved surface, and a yoke positioned therebetween. At least one of the upper and lower yoke surfaces having a layer of cushioning material positioned thereon and secured thereto. The layer of cushioning material extending along and following the general contour of yoke surface, and the layer of cushioning material directly contacting a support plate. Another embodiment is an assembly for providing flexure to a blade of a rotary blade system, including, an upper support plate having an upper curved surface, a lower support plate having a lower curved surface, and a yoke positioned therebetween and directly contacting the support plates wherein one of the curved surfaces is a non-circular arc that does not form part of the circumference of a circle.

Abstract: A ceiling fan is disclosed having a blade iron mounting system (14) coupled to the bottom mounting plate (15) of an motor (13). The blade iron mounting system includes an annular mounting plate (24), an annular array of blade iron anti-rotation blocks (25), and an annular array of blade irons (26) having a blade (27) coupled thereto. The mounting plate also includes an annular array of inner five pulley mounts and an annular array of outer five pulley mounts (29). The blade iron is allowed to move radially relative to the mounting plate. A blade iron five pulley mount (49) is coupled to blade iron mounting hole (45). Lastly, a series of five cables (50), equal in number to the number of blade irons, is interwoven between a number of inner pulley mounts (28), outer pulley mounts (29) and blade iron pulley mounts (49).

Abstract: A horizontal axis wind turbine apparatus includes a turbine assembly comprising a generator mounted in a housing, a rotor operative to rotate the generator in response to wind forces, and a tail extending rearward from the housing, and a base adapted to be mounted on a tower. The housing is pivotally attached to the base about a horizontal pivot axis oriented substantially perpendicular to a rotational axis of the generator and located rearward of a center of gravity of the turbine assembly such that the housing can pivot upward about the pivot axis from a lowered position to a raised position. A spring is operative to exert a downward bias force on the housing to urge the housing toward the lowered position.

Abstract: A vertical axis type wind power station and a blade manufacturing process, which can stabilize the turning motions of blades and can raise the power generation efficiency by lightening the blades to smoothen the turning motions of the blades; a structure and method for mounting the wind-driven device of a wind power station, by which the wind-driven device can be easily disposed at the upper portion of a building; and a windbreak wind power plant for breaking the wind by using the vertical axis type wind power stations or wind-driven devices arranged along the shoreline or the like.

Abstract: A rotor head includes a hub and two joint members. The hub has opposite tubular end portions, each formed with a socket that extends inwardly from an end face thereof along a tube axis and that has inner and outer socket sections. Each of the joint members includes a link and a vibration absorbing component. The link has a hub coupling segment retained rotatably in the inner socket section of a respective socket, an intermediate segment extending from the hub coupling segment and disposed movably in the outer socket section of the respective socket, and a blade coupling segment extending from the intermediate segment and outwardly of the outer socket section. The vibration absorbing component is mounted on the intermediate segment, and is disposed in the outer socket section.

Abstract: A propeller for a boat includes a propeller shaft having a shaft hole, a shaft sleeve mounted in the shaft hole of the propeller shaft and provided with a metal core with a through hole for insertion of a driving shaft of the boat, and a shock-absorbing member covering an outer surface of the metal and having an outer surface contacted with an inner surface of the propeller shaft that surrounds the shaft hole; and a lock unit mounted on the driving shaft for fixing the driving shaft in the through hole of the shaft sleeve, so that the propeller is rotatable by the driving shaft. When the propeller bumps hard things during rotation to result in vibration to the propeller, the shock-absorbing member can absorb the vibration so as to protect the driving shaft from damage.

Abstract: A twist element for a bearingless rotor is made mostly of composite fiber material and has a cross section with a substantially symmetric, flattened shape that has approximately the contour of a horizontal, central section of a double cone. In addition, a bearingless rotor having at least one such twist element, and a rotorcraft, particularly a helicopter, having at least one rotor with at least one such twist element are provided.

Abstract: A wind turbine with at least one blade having a pitch axis that is offset laterally so that the blade does not intersect with an axis of rotation of the wind turbine, and a center of mass and an aerodynamic center are offset from the pitch axis in the direction parallel to the axis of rotation of the wind turbine. The blade is arranged so that the blade can pitch towards stall against the action of a resilient device and also so that the centrifugal loading on at least one of the blade and one or more components optionally attached to the blade, acts against the spring in a direction to shed power by pitching the blade towards stall and also so that the torque loading provided by a power conversion device acts to pitch the blade in the opposite direction, so as to reduce the amount of load shedding whenever the power is being extracted from the wind turbine.

Abstract: A fan penetration fixture consisting of a threaded shaft and a lock nut design. The fixture is designed to take the place of the fan clutch on a fan drive assembly in the vehicle being tested for a desired cooling system performance characteristic at each possible fan penetration. The threaded shaft portion of the fixture bolts to the fan hub. The desired fan is then bolted to the lock nut portion of the fixture. The lock nut can be positioned at any point along the threaded shaft to achieve a desired fan penetration.

Abstract: A mount with replaceable load bearing and rebound members is provided. The mount comprises a housing that defines a first chamber and a second chamber; a load bearing member removably located in said first chamber, said load bearing member comprising a load bearing member contact portion; a rebound member removably located in said second chamber, said rebound member having a rebound member contact portion, the contact portions of the load bearing member and rebound member being in abutment when the members are removably located in the chambers; and means for coupling said load bearing member and rebound member.

Abstract: A rotor blade for a rotor assembly is provided that includes a root, an airfoil, and a damper. The airfoil includes a base, a tip, a pressure side wall, a suction side wall, and at least one cavity disposed therebetween, and a channel. The damper is selectively received within the channel. The channel is disposed within the cavity between a first wall portion and a second wall portion. At least one of the first wall portion and the second wall portion includes a plurality of raised features extending outwardly from the wall into the channel. The features are spaced apart from one another. The raised features extend between the damper and the wall portion from which they extend outwardly. A plurality of tortuous flow passages are formed between the damper, the respective wall portion, and the raised features extending therebetween.

Abstract: A rotor for cooling pumps is provided. The rotor is of the type which includes a core to be assembled on a shaft connected with an engine and a body, fitted in the core, provided with a plurality of radial tabs in flexible material. The core and the body with the tabs are both of a material like rubber, but with different hardness. In particular the core is made of a mixture of neoprene, nitrile, PVC and aramidic fiber. The rotor combines the features of lightness and wearproof of the rotors with a nylon core, but it is as strong and resistant as rotors with a metallic core.

Abstract: The invention is based on an axial fan with a hub region (4, 27) for connecting the axial fan with a driven shaft (20) of an electrical drive (21), whereby the axial fan is statically balanced by means of a balancing weight (26). A flexurally soft connection is formed in the hub region (4, 27) between the axial fan (1) and the driven shaft (20) of an electrical drive (21).

Abstract: The invention relates to a combined ball-and-damper device for mounting between firstly a flexible spar connecting a helicopter blade to a rotor hub and secondly a torque tube for controlling the pitch of said blade, the device comprising two individual modules each comprising a plane laminated damper and a laminated ball, the laminated damper extending between an outer end and an inner end and presenting at its outer end an element for connection to the torque tube for controlling the pitch of said helicopter blade, and the laminated ball presenting a stack of metal and elastomer layers, the laminated damper being secured at its inner end to an outer end of the ball whose own inner end presents an element for fixing to said flexible spar, the device including at least one connection element providing a stiffening connection between the outer ends of the two balls of the two individual modules making up the combined device.

Abstract: A flexible metal disk used to mount the fan to the fan drive. The metal disk is a resilient mounting, and as such reduces vibration levels between the fan and fan drive, thereby preventing damage to various components within the cooling system. The flexible metal disk also functions to self align the fan and the fan drive. The flexible metal disk is also durable, and therefore offers improved creep and deterioration resistance as compared with typical elastomeric mountings. In another preferred embodiment, multiple flexible metal disks may be coupled together and used to mount the fan to the fan drive to provide additional damping as compared with single disk systems.

Abstract: A propeller or fan, in particular a cooling fan, such as for the radiator of a motor vehicle or electric equipment, for civil or industrial plants, comprising shape-memory actuator means to regulate the direction and/or shape of the blades, for example according to variations in temperature.

Abstract: A flexible metal disk used to mount the fan to the fan drive. The metal disk is a resilient mounting, and as such reduces vibration levels between the fan and fan drive, thereby preventing damage to various components within the cooling system. The flexible metal disk also functions to self align the fan and the fan drive. The flexible metal disk is also durable, and therefore offers improved creep and deterioration resistance as compared with typical elastomeric mountings. In another preferred embodiment, multiple flexible metal disks may be coupled together and used to mount the fan to the fan drive to provide additional damping as compared with single disk systems.

Abstract: A sail-type windmill wheel is provided in which the area of the wheel facing into the wind is adjusted by an automatic variation of the blade angle of the sails. The wind wheel comprises a hub (22) with a plurality of radially extending spars (18), substantially triangular sails (10) secured along one edge to said arms, the clew of said sails secured through a sheeting cable (24) to drawbar extension springs (28), and the drawbar extension springs secured to the tip of the next adjacent arm. During high wind speeds the automatic blade angle adjustment reduces the frontal area of the wind wheel with a corresponding reduction in the force of the wind upon the wheel. During normal working wind speeds the present invention maintains the sails within an optimum blade angle range for extracting energy from the wind.

Abstract: A propeller assembly that includes, in an exemplary embodiment, a spring for securing a propeller to a propeller shaft is described. In the exemplary embodiment, the propeller assembly includes a thrust bearing which tightly fits to an inclined surface of the propeller shaft. The thrust bearing includes a hub mating surface which forms a tight fit with one end of a hub of the propeller. The propeller hub has a cylindrical shape, and a plurality of blades extend from an outer surface of the hub. A bore extends through the propeller hub, and the spring fits securely within the hub bore. The spring is located within the propeller hub bore and is secured, e.g., welded, at one end to an interior surface of the hub. The assembly further includes a washer and a nut which engages to a threaded end of the propeller shaft.

Abstract: The rotor consists of two airfoils symmetrically disposed around an axis of rotation. Each airfoil consists of an outer vane having a leading edge and a trailing edge and an inner vane having a trailing edge and having a leading edge attached to the trailing edge of the outer vane. The outer vane has a radius R and extends not more than 90 degrees around the axis of rotation. The inner vane extends 180 degrees around an axis that is parallel to but displaced from the axis of rotation. The radius of the inner vane is a fraction, between 0.6 and 0.8, of the radius of the outer vane. Automatic limitation of the speed of rotation is achieved in one embodiment by letting centrifugal force deform the inner vanes so as to reduce the cross sectional area of the air flow path through the rotor.

Abstract: A pump has a rotor with two or more flexible vanes forming one or more compartments between adjacent vanes. The rotor is mounted offset relative to a rotor sleeve such that the volume of the compartments varies as the rotor rotates in the sleeve. Incoming fluid is supplied to the compartments along a plane perpendicular to the plane of rotation of the vanes. Fluid is discharged from the compartments through discharge slots in the sleeve leading into a discharge outlet which is tangential relative to the plane of rotation of the vanes. Each flexible vane is formed from at least two thin leaf springs separated by a layer of laminate and joined to a shoe which engages the inner surface of the sleeve as the rotor rotates. The pump in accordance with the present invention is energy efficient and uses significantly less power than comparable known devices.

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.

Abstract: A propeller with pivoting blades is provided as a cleaning tool (1) for the work area of metal cutting machines, where the angle of adjustment for the pivoting blades is such that an air jet is generated supporting the propeller blades (15) in folding open. The propeller blade (15) is arranged in a tool changer stacker instead of a common tool or on a tool spindle and serves to automatically clean the work area by a blowing process.

Abstract: A propeller is made up of a propelling unit having a plurality of blades, a driving unit for driving the propelling unit, and a plurality of deformable transmission units located between the propelling unit and the driving unit such that the transmission units are retained in the retaining slots of the propelling unit and the driving unit. The transmission units are tubular in shape and capable of deforming to absorb an impact force exerting on the transmission units in a direction perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the transmission units, so as to safeguard the structural integrity of the propeller at such time when the propeller in motion is impacted on by a foreign object.

Abstract: An automatic flap that uses on each wing two adjacent fins, one of which is smaller and is located on the middle or front of the wing, the other, which is larger, on the bottom rear of the wing, with a shaft in the common eccentric zone linking the two fins, said shaft being parallel to the axis of the wing, having the fins different resistance to the ram air, creating a rotation torque as a function of the aircraft's speed, when retracted, they are shaped so that the front or top fin adapts to the upper surface of the wing and the rear or bottom fin adapts to the lower surface so that, together with the wing, they form an aerodynamic profile, there are attachment arms between the two fins, and bands or springs to assist or complement the action of the smaller fin whose resistance is such that, at low speed, the flap remains extended.

Abstract: The present invention relates to an improved helicopter rotor system including a contoured flexure strap having a simplified geometrical configuration. The flexure strap serves to join the rotary hub assembly with the rotor blades and is formed of fiberglass. The primary load carrying fibers of the flexure strap preferably extend in the same direction as the spanwise axis of the flexure strap in order to withstand the centrifugal forces acting on the strap. The inboard end portion of the flexure strap includes two separate ends, with one of the ends extending in a vertically upward direction and the other end in a vertically downward direction. This allows the ends of flexure straps positioned on opposite sides of the rotary hub assembly to overlap one another and be retained in place by a single pin and bolt assembly.

Abstract: A rotary fan includes a rotatable base plate, a plurality of fan blades mounted rotatably on the base plate at a peripheral portion thereof by means of supporting studs, and a blade angle adjusting mechanism mounted in association with each of the fan blades for allowing the fan blade to rotate pivotally about the supporting stud under a centrifugal force acting on the fan blade such that the rate of increase of the air quantity produced by the fan blade decreases as a rotation number of the rotatable base plate increases within a predetermined high-speed rotation range of the rotatable base plate, while in other rotation speed range outside of the high-speed rotation range, the blade angle adjusting mechanism acts to suppress the rotation of the fan blade around the supporting stud. Noise generated by the rotary fan can significantly be reduced while ensuring a sufficient quantity of air flow.

Abstract: A wind turbine apparatus having a frame assembly consisting of a hub and an outer rim interconnected by a series of spokes. Several wind vanes are rotatably secured within the frame assembly so as to extend from the hub radially outwardly around the frame assembly. Each wind vane consists of an impeller and an impeller shaft, the impeller shaft being positioned so that it does not pass through the center of wind moment of the impeller. Thus, when a wind vector reaches the impeller, the impeller and shaft rotate in direct accordance with the wind's velocity, thus ensuring that the impeller faces optimally into the wind. A biasing device is attached to each impeller shaft, the biasing device serving to retard the rotation of the wind vanes when the wind vector exceeds a given velocity, thus ensuring that the impellers maintain a constant rotational speed. A link means interconnects the adjacent impeller shafts so as to ensure that the wind vanes rotate simultaneously.

Abstract: An autogyro aircraft has freewheeling rotor blades that provide lift. A separate pusher propeller provides forward thrust. The rotor system (20) has a collective arm (30) as a control for selectively setting and maintaining a tension force on a collective cable to regulate the rotor blade angle of attack or pitch angle between a no-lift attitude and a positive lift angle. The collective arm (30) sets a tension on collective cable against a coil spring biasing. The collective arm is connected to pivot or tilt a pitch change horn assembly and, in turn, connected rotor blades. The collective arm can be selectively set and maintained and released and reset both on the ground and in flight.

Abstract: A flexbeam helicopter rotor having an improved connection between the flexbeam and the hub of the connecting pin variety but in which the high tensile fibers of the flexbeam do not wrap around the connecting pin, wherein the blade centrifugal loads and the blade lead-lag loads are reacted by the connecting pin at a station where it passes through drilled holes in the flexbeam inner end, and wherein the blade flapping motion imposed loads are reacted through two load paths in the flexbeam-to-hub connection, the first load path being created by a prying reaction between the flexbeam and the hub connecting flanges, and the second load path being created by the differential bending reaction between the flexbeam at the station of the drilled holes and the connecting bolts.

Abstract: An undesirably long axial length of a ram air turbine may be reduced in a construction including a hub (110) mounted for rotation about a rotational axis (112), at least one turbine blade (114) rotatably mounted on the hub (110) for rotation between coarse and fine pitch positions about a blade pitch axis (116) which is different from the rotational axis (112) and a counterweight assembly (120) for each turbine blade (114) and mounted on the hub (110) for rotation between coarse and fine pitch positions about the blade pitch axis (116) in spaced relation to the rotational axis (114) and disposed when rotated about the rotational axis (112) to bias the turbine blade (114) towards its coarse pitch position. A limited lost motion connection (143, 144, 145, 146, 147, 148, 150) is located between the turbine blade (114) and the counterweight assembly (120).

Abstract: A shock absorbing hub for a marine propeller assembly includes an inner spindle telescoped onto the splined drive shaft of the engine, an outer sleeve spaced radially outwardly of the spindle, and a molded-in-place core of elastomeric material filling the space between the spindle and the sleeve to transmit torque between the two while cushioning torsional shock. A housing carrying propeller blades is keyed to the outer sleeve and may be removed therefrom for repair or replacement without taking any retaining components off of the drive shaft.

Abstract: A windmill includes a hub assembly (13) connected to a shaft (3) and having a plurality of blades (6) extending therefrom. Each blade comprises an inner section (6a) hingeably connected to a hub member (14) along a first axis (8) and an outer section (6b) hingeably connected to the inner portion along a second hinge axis (7) extending from a point on the trailing edge (11) of the blade adjacent the first hinge axis to a point on the leading edge (12) remote from the first hinge axis. The blades are resiliently biased towards a rest position wherein the inner section of each blade lies in a plane at an angle to the plane of rotation of the blades and the outer sections extend outwardly in a plane at an angle to the plane of the inner section and at a pitch angle to the plane of rotation.

Abstract: An assembly or coupling arrangement for an impeller associated with a drive shaft. The impeller is supported by the drive shaft by a radial bearing having a small radial clearance. The bearing allows relative rotary motion between the impeller and shaft. In addition, an elastic or resilient element is mounted between the shaft and the impeller to transmit the torque from the shaft to the impeller while preventing or reducing transmission of torque pulsations.

Abstract: The invention relates to a propeller assembly, particularly suitable for use with axial flow pumps. The propeller assembly is provided with a cam-operated rotatable propeller blade compression shaft which rotates in response to a detected increase load on the propeller blade. An elongated rod connected to a power source transmits movement to a spring which, in turn, transmits the movement to the cam. To accommodate tilting of the propeller blade during changing of the pitch, a hub outer surface is formed convex and the inner surface of the enclosing shroud is formed concave. The radii of curvature of the hub and the shroud are generally complementary to the radius of curvature of the inner and outer surfaces of the propeller blade, respectively.

Abstract: An improved clevis joint capable of withstanding substantial pivotal motion between its joined members and loading along its axis. An improved clevis joint wherein the parts joined thereby are pivotally connected by two sets of elastomeric bearings which are free to rotate about the joint axis and which envelope and support a free floating centering pin from the joined members so that during motion between the joined members, said elastomeric bearing sets share the rotary motion due to the rotating of the connecting pin.

Abstract: The invention concerns a connector, in an aircraft engine, for mounting a ring to a turbine rotor which the ring surrounds. The ring carries propeller blades, and the connector transmits both thrust and torque loads between the ring and the rotor, without significant deformation. However, the connector does deform in order to accommodate differential thermal growth between the ring and the rotor.

Abstract: A wind turbine generator blade includes a movable front portion, extending from the faster-moving blade tip in a span-wise direction along the blade, and mounted on a pivot axis permitting the front portion to be displaced to a "high drag" position in which it has a high negative angle of incidence which will in turn give rise to a high negative angle of attack to the relative airflow and hence an increased drag tending to slow down an overspeeding blade, but will also give rise to an increased lift which assists in slowing down the overspeeding blade. It has been found that a truncated aerofoil section such as that used for the front blade portion has a relatively high stalling angle, allowing its use in conditions such that the angle of attack may approach 30.degree. without stalling of the front blade portion, but in the presence of a considerably increased total drag on the blade.

Abstract: The invention relates to a regulating device for maintaining constant the rotary speed in turbines of the type comprising a turbine hub and a number of turbine blades which are axially, but rotatably connected to the hub and have such a shape and are so aranged that each turbine blade in a flowing medium and by the action thereof is acted on by a torque about its longitudinal axis against the action of a spring device and acts on the turbine hub by a torque acting about the axis of rotation of the turbine.

Abstract: A rotor system according to this invention includes a structurally flexible coupling for transmitting rotor torque and other rotor loads to a rotor hub. The rotor hub is adapted to have rotor blades mounted thereon and is mounted by an elastomeric spherical bearing whose center is located at the rotor center. A flexible coupling made from fiber reinforced resin matrix material, connected to the bearing at a connection located below the bearing center, extends vertically from that location through the bearing to a position located above the center where it is connected to a connecting member fixed to the rotor hub. The flexible coupling is structurally stiff with respect to the mode in which it transmits rotor torque compared to the rotor torque stiffness of the other components. However, the bending stiffness and axial stiffness of the flexible coupling is substantially less compared to the mode in which rotor moments and forces are transmitted from the other components to the rotor shaft.

Abstract: A wind power plant construction includes a turbine with at least two blades, a shaft, and blade angle control apparatus. According to the wind power plant construction shown, supports are rigidly connected to the shaft substantially radially thereto, and are coordinated with the blades. At the extreme ends of the supports are flapping pivots, to which the blades are attached. The blade extends from the flapping pivot towards the shaft; that portion of the blade doing so constitutes an arm to which a control means is connected. The blade is weighted so that the centroid line and axis of rotation of the blade lie closer to the leading edge of the blade than does the buoyancy center.

Abstract: An axial fan construction wherein individual blade assemblies are secured within apertures in the fan hub. Fasteners extend between a retaining member and a blade base, with each blade base including a shoulder overlying a bearing surface on the hub and with resilient members positioned between the blade base shoulders and hub bearing surfaces. A spacer maintains the blade base shoulders and retaining members a preselected distance apart to allow prestressing of the fasteners while limiting the compressive force applied to the resilient member. The blade base shoulders and hub bearing surfaces are configured to cooperate with the resilient member to impart a centering force on the blade base relative to a hub aperture when the resilient member is compressed between the blade shoulder and hub bearing surface.

Abstract: The invention relates to a wind turbine having arm members each comprising an inner and outer portion at an angle of near 90.degree.. A vane is pivotally attached to each outer arm portion and biased at a desired pitch angle to the inner arm portion. Springs are provided to allow the vanes to move toward a neutral wind position when high wind conditions threaten the integrity of the structure.