Abstract: A support spoke for a windmill for supporting blade rings of a windmill. The support spoke for a windmill includes an elongate rod with opposite first and second ends and a longitudinal axis extending between the ends. The first end is coupled to an outer ring of a fan portion of a windmill. The second end is adapted for threadable coupling to a hub of the fan portion of the windmill. An arm is rotatably coupled to the rod and is adapted for coupling to an inner ring of the fan portion of the windmill. A holding portion selectively prevents rotation of the arm about the rod to prevent loosening of the rod.

Abstract: Wind turbine apparatus is described for converting wind energy into electrical energy. The apparatus includes a rotatable central shaft, a plurality of rotor blades attached to the central shaft, and a plurality of convex airfoils spaced around the periphery of the rotor blades. The ratio of the number of rotor blades to the number of airfoils is at least 1.25 to 1. The size of the apparatus may vary, and the apparatus is useful in a variety of applications and environments. It is very efficient in converting wind energy to electrical energy. It may be operated even in very high wind conditions.

Abstract: A fan blade assembly having a plurality of arranged about a central hub having an axis of rotation, the blades projecting from the hub radially outward from the axis of rotation. Each blade has a blade length, with a proximal end attached to the central hub and a distal end radially outward from the central hub. The assembly has at least one vane member with a plurality of vane segments, each vane segment joining a first blade with an adjacent second blade at a place along the blade length located radially inward from the distal end and radially outward from the proximal end of the blades. The assembly further having a plurality of recesses in the central hub adapted to receive the proximal end of blades of an adjacent blade assembly to permit stacking of like assemblies.

Abstract: A pultruded composite blade for a Darrieus-type vertical axis wind turbine is disclosed, along with a method for fabricating such a blade. The blade is a composite structure with a uniform cross-section with reinforcing fibers at least some of which extend parallel to a lengthwise central axis and run continuously from end to end. The composite blade is pultruded straight and, when installed on the tower, the blade is elastically bent into a curved shape that approximates a troposkein. The composite structure includes a skin composed of multiple layers of resin-coated glass fabric that define an airfoil shape. The composite structure also includes one or more internal ribs or spars composed of multiple layers of resin-coated glass fabric.

Abstract: A wind line power system in which a series of rigid rods are connected end-to-end to permit relative angular movement and transmission of axial torque from one rod to the next, with propellers extending laterally from and coaxial with each rod to convert wind force vectors substantially parallel to the rods to cumulative unidirectional axial torque on all of the rods which in turn drives an electrical generator.

Abstract: Dual-plant blade construction for wind turbine rotors having a horizontal shaft having a rotor hub adapted to be mounted on the horizontal shaft and having a horizontal axis. First and second sets of straight blades are secured to said rotor hub in circumferentially equally spaced apart positions on the rotor hub. Each of said sets of blades include first and second blades having tip and root portions with the root portions of the blades being secured to the rotor hub at spaced apart positions along the axis of the rotor hub and the tip portions of the blades being secured to each other whereby there is generated substantially equal and opposite cyclic spanwise forces and minimal cyclic flatwise moments in the first and second blades in response to non-steady aerodynamic normal forces acting on these blades in non-uniform turbulent winds.

Abstract: The present invention refers to a rotor for a fluid-kinetic machine comprising a rotatably supported hub, the support being provided with axial bearing means, an outer ring which is indirectly supported on said hub, and rotor blades which are arranged in an area between said hub and said outer ring. In order to provide a possibility of utilizing the influence of the gyroscopic effects, which occur during operation of the rotor, for the purpose of stabilizing the rotor, it is suggested in accordance with the invention that the outer ring should be composed of a plurality of arcuate sections in the circumferential direction and should be arranged essentially in the plane of rotation of the axial bearing means, and that the arcuate sections of the outer ring should be under the action of flexible tension elements which embrace said arcuate sections at least partly and which are secured to a carrier ring.

Abstract: An air turbine including a plurality of elongated rotor blades extending from a hub, first and second airfoils interconnecting the blades, and a vane element positioned between the airfoils, said airfoils and vane element being concentrically disposed about the hub.

Abstract: This invention relates to a flexible tethered wind turbine useful, among other things, for generating electricity. A flexible shaft supported by guy wires is provided at its upper end with a flexible rotor and an airfoil assembly. Rotation of the airfoils in response to wind creates centrifugal force and tension which causes the rotor to become rigid during use. The light flexible shaft easily follows the rotating sails, which permits the entire turbine to automatically track the wind as it changes direction. As the rotor spins, its rotational energy is transferred to the shaft, which rotates along its entire flexible length.

Abstract: The present invention refers to a rotor for a fluid-kinetic machine comprising a rotatably supported hub, the support being provided with axial bearing means, an outer ring which is indirectly supported on said hub, and rotor blades which are arranged in an area between said hub and said outer ring. In order to provide a possibility of utilizing the influence of the gyroscopic effects, which occur during operation of the rotor, for the purpose of stabilizing the rotor, it is suggested in accordance with the invention that the outer ring should be composed of a plurality of arcuate sections in the circumferential direction and should be arranged essentially in the plane of rotation of the axial bearing means, and that the arcuate sections of the outer ring should be under the action of flexible tension elements which embrace said arcuate sections at least partly and which are secured to a carrier ring.

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.

Abstract: A new design for large wind turbines permitting a substantial reduction in weight and cost. Lightweight airfoils comprising the turbine blades are supported within an extensive space frame system which eliminates the large bending moments to which the blades of a conventional wind turbine are subject. The turbine's useful power output is produced by lightweight electrical generators mounted inside nacelles located at the wind turbine's rotational perimeter. The nacelle-mounted generators are driven by separate, pivotable, high RPM retropellers whose high RPM is made possible by the resultant high airstream velocity encountered at the turbine perimeter.

Abstract: A collapsible structure comprising a non-rigid helicoidal sheet braced by light-weight members according to one of several methods. The structure is used in the construction of a wind turbine, wherein a flexible fabric sheet (21) is reinforced by wires (42) sewn into its edges, and may be further reinforced by ribs or battens (30) sewn crosswise into the sheet. One end of the turbine is cnnected via a swivel (24) to a fixed mast (22) while the other end is conneced to the shaft (26) of an alternator. The electrical output of the alternator is connected through a rectifier/regulator (34) to a storage battery (38), thereby providing constant DC power. An alternative method of bracing employs ribs (30) along with counterhelical cables (64).

Abstract: Instead of the usual heavy structural elements or large collection of guy wires, a lightweight, portable frame for a wind turbine includes three inverted L-shaped inner frame sections supported by generally disc-shaped, heavy feet, and connected together at their top ends by a Y-shaped coupler, and three smaller inverted L-shaped outer frame sections also supported by feet and connected at their top ends to the inner frame sections, the inner and outer frame sections defining a Y-shaped structure when viewed from above. Additional strength is achieved be extending cables between the frame sections, i.e. by running a cable around the top and bottom of the Y-shaped structure.

Abstract: A windmill having a rotatable vertical shaft and a rotor secured thereto. The rotor has a plurality of base circumferential wings for collecting the wind. Each wing includes a vertically extending cylindrically curved surface, preferably a half cylinder, and top and bottom end plates. Each curved surface has a plurality of vertical metal reinforcing strips on its concave side extending from top to bottom. These reinforcing strips strengthen the windmill and improve its efficiency. Rotation of the shaft and motor generates power which may be used to drive an electric generator, an air compressor, or other energy transducer devices.

Abstract: The invention relates to a wind-driven generating plant for utilizing the energy contained in land and sea winds with at least one blade rotatable about a rotation axis, which is arranged in oblique-angled manner to the horizontal and is optionally connected to a pylon arranged so as to rotate coaxially to the rotation axis of the blade or blades, whereby the hub thereof used for receiving the blade base with associated energy transmission means is connected to a supporting member. Each rotor blade is at an angle .beta. of approximately 40.degree. to 80.degree. to the rotation axis of the rotor, which is oriented at an angle .alpha. of approximately 30.degree. to 70.degree. to the horizontal. The supporting member is arranged on a frame so as to rotate about a vertical axis or at an axis arranged in oblique-angled manner to the vertical.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to improved apparatus for incorporation in buildings and structures particularly useful in converting the energy of the wind to other usable energy forms. A rotor comprising a plurality of successively longer wind wheels interconnected along a common axis of rotation is disclosed. More particularly, an improved wind wheel construction useful in wind-driven rotors comprising a plurality of wind wheels is disclosed. Maximum power is developed by a wind wheel comprising some vanes located substantially parallel to the axis of rotation for maximum power development and other vanes located substantially perpendicular to the axis of rotation for both power development and stress reduction. A rotor comprising a plurality of wind wheels characterized by rotationally misaligned vanes reduces fluctuations in the rotational velocity of the rotor. Further, apparatus useful in providing both improved structural strength and support for exterior protective glazing is disclosed.

Abstract: A rotor system for horizontal-axis wind turbines is provided having compound coning and a sweep angle to improve the rotor system's yaw responsiveness and stability and to reduce vibration and stress. To further improve wind turbine performance and rotor durability blades with the load-bearing function and airfoil function separated are disclosed and are particularly useful in rotor systems having compound coning or compound coning and sweepback. The load-bearing function and support function of the rotor hub are separated to improve rotor system durability and to provide a rotor hub for use with a pitch change mechanism for altering the pitch of rotor system blades.

Abstract: A spindle assembly for a soft airfoil wind turbine wheel having an elongate support cable connected in tension between the rim and hub of the wheel, an elongate, rotatable spindle mounted adjacent the elongate support member and a constraint mechanism for constraining the spindle against excessive bowing in response to wind pressure. The constraint mechanism includes a plurality of clamps mounted to the elongate support member which loosely surround the spindle and any airfoil furled therearound except for a slot for passage of the airfoil. Rollers are located adjacent the slots to guide the airfoil therethrough and are mounted to rotate about members interconnecting the clamps so that the wind pressure exerted by the soft airfoil is distributed along the length of the support members. Bracing cables connected to the elongate support member further distribute the wind pressure forces to the wheel structure and ground.

Abstract: A wind motor is disclosed wherein mounted on a support structure is a shaft carrying a rotor comprising blades connected with the shaft and extending longitudinally relative thereto at an angle to the longitudinal axis thereof. Each of the blades is connected to the shaft through a girder having the shape of a triangular pyramid with one of the rods making up this pyramid extending from an apex thereof along the longitudinal axis of the blade to be connected therewith and with the end of the shaft at the outlet of the windstream, whereas two other rods extending from this apex are secured on a hub positioned at the end of the shaft which faces the windstream tangentially to this hub.

Abstract: Apparatus for furling, unfurling, and controlling a flexible airfoil for use in connection with a wind turbine wheel, comprising a rotatably mounted spindle journaled at one of its ends (the head end) to the hub of a wind turbine wheel, and at its other end (the foot end) in a foot plate bracket adjacent the rim of the wheel. The bracket is attached to a diametral bracing cable, and a soft airfoil is furled on the spindle. The foot plate is rotatably mounted so that the spindle foot can swing through a small arc about a centerline defined by the outer end of the cable. A "V"-shaped boom is rotatably secured to the foot plate and the bracing cable at its free ends such that the boom is pivotable with the spindle about a common axis spaced from the rotational axis of the spindle. A pulley is affixed to the outer, apex end of the boom.

Abstract: A wind-adjustable air turbine consisting of: 1. a tetrahedral support structure, 2. at least one blade extending into opposite tetrahedral edges, and 3. an axis of rotation extending from the structure's center and movable into any of the edges' centers, whereby the blade's rotation and/or drag is changed.

Abstract: An improved wind collecting apparatus utilized for transforming wind energy to rotary motion. The rotary motion then can be utilized for driving an electric generator, for example. The apparatus generally comprises four semi-cylindrically shaped wind collecting blades connected to a shaft which is mounted for rotation about an axis of rotation and includes blade and cable support systems for reducing the effect of various destructive forces and for providing structural integrity, the apparatus also including flexibly connected joints to provide some flexibility in the supporting structure while maintaining the required structural integrity.

Abstract: A wind turbine system utilizes a bicycle wheel type turbine having airfoils mounted on various spoke pairs. The vertical yaw axis lies in the horizontal projection of the airfoils to offer better control of the system; for example, automatic stowage in the case of excessive wind is provided since the superstructure of the turbine provides a torque around the vertical yaw axis which moves the wheel into a stowed position. At the same time, the wheel diameter can be made larger and thus heavier since the drive connection to the generator also helps support the weight of the wheel, since it is a rim drive. Greater electrical generation is also provided since an air scoop facing into the wind allows the effective generator capacity to be increased with air velocity. Lastly, the radial rate of change of the angle of the airfoils can be closely controlled.

Abstract: There is disclosed in the present application a wind wheel having a set of movable vanes whose orientation with respect to the plane of the wheel is changed automatically to limit the speed to a safe level in winds of high velocity. The wheel is constructed and shipped in segments and is especially adapted for ease of assembly and truing for minimal eccentricity and lateral run-out.

Abstract: A vertical axis wind turbine is provided based on my co-pending application Ser. No. 890,998, filed Mar. 28, 1978, now U.S. Pat. No. 4,204,805. In this improved system the centrifugal forces of rotation produce no bending moments in the air foil spars. Also, the center of mass, the center of useful aerodynamic pressure and the center of main bearing supported are located at the same point to the support structure.

Abstract: A wind turbine on an essentially vertical mast converting wind power to electric power for the propulsion motors of a screw propelled ship. The turbine is omnidirectional and capable of being reefed for speed control.