Wind turbine
US4729716A · kind A · utility
Assignee
Inventor
Key dates
| Filing date | Feb 25, 1986 |
| Grant date | Mar 8, 1988 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Feb 25, 2006 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC Y)Emerging Cross-Sectional Technologies
- CPC primaryY02E10/74
- WIPO fieldEngines, pumps, turbines
- WIPO sectorMechanical engineering
Abstract
The disclosed wind turbine has a circular turbine wheel with a plurality of soft, furlable and unfurlable airfoils depending between a rim and hub. Each airfoil has associated with it a stepping motor for selectively furling and unfurling the airfoils. The turbine wheel is supported on a carriage which is in turn supported in a cantilevered manner from a central anchor which allows for revolving of the carriage, and therefore the turbine wheel, about the anchor. Control is provided for rotating the turbine wheel into a position upwind and normal to the wind direction. An upstanding pylon mounted on the anchor maintains the turbine wheel in an upright position. The pylon allows for revolving and rotating of the turbine wheel. It also provides for pivoting of the turbine wheel about a generally horizontal axis parallel to and spaced from the plane of the turbine wheel. A plurality of generators are driven by power take-off wheels mounted on the carriage which directly support the turbine wheel rim. Turbine wheel rotational speed control is maintained by varying the number of generators driven by the power take-off wheels and by furling and unfurling the airfoils.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.