A wind turbine is provided which consists of novel vanes horizontally oriented about a rotating hub connected to a vertical shaft. The vanes are free to pivot about two horizontal hinges such that two vanes connected to each other open when wind force is applied, and close when there is little or no wind force such that there is a minimal amount of resistance to the travel of the vanes when the vanes are against the wind.
A wind power generator comprises a shaft operatively mounted in a support frame for rotation about a substantially vertical axis. A wing arm is fixedly mounted on the shaft and extends radially outward therefrom. Finally, a windtrap assembly is disposed proximal an outer end of the wing arm. The windtrap assembly includes respective upper and lower windtrap panels pivotably connected to the wing arm. The upper and lower windtrap panels are capable of folding together to cooperatively assume a low-drag configuration when the windtrap assembly is moving in an up-wind direction, and further capable of opening away from each other to cooperatively assume a high-drag configuration when the windtrap assembly is moving in a down-wind direction.
Windmill (10) having a plurality of hydrodynamic, folding blades (12, 14, 16 and 18) secured to a hub (64). The blades are propelled by wind current such that the windmill rotates about a central axis of a shaft (20) on which a hub (64) is journalled. Each folding blade extends radially from the hub and includes a lower blade portion (24) attached to the hub and an upper blade portion (22) pivotally attached to the lower blade portion. The lower blade portion includes a hydrodynamic surface extending from a first edge(43) and terminating at a trailing edge (42). The upper blade portion is hydrodynamically contoured so as to form a nose cone (44). An apex of the nose cone forms a leading edge (40) of the upper blade portion that is opposite a trailing edge (41). The nose cone is weighted such that the trailing edge of the upper blade portion balances in a position slightly separate from the trailing edge of the lower blade portion when the fluid current fails to flow at a speed that exceeds a minimum threshold. However, when the fluid current impinges the trailing edge of the upper blade portion and the fluid current flows at a speed that exceeds a minimum threshold, the weighted nose cone of the upper blade portion causes the upper blade portion to pivot away from the lower blade portion so that the trailing edge of the upper blade portion is separated from the trailing edge of the lower blade portion at an acute angle. Accordingly, when the fluid current ceases to impinge the trailing edge of the upper blade portion, the weighted nose cone of the upper blade portion causes the upper blade portion to pivot toward the lower blade portion such that the trailing edge of the upper blade portion approaches the trailing edge of the lower blade portion.
A turbine system (10) for capturing energy from a fluid stream includes a torque arm (12). At least a pair of, preferably symmetrical clam shell, turbine blades (14) with the upper (16) and lower (18) halves are oppositely connected to the torque arm (12). A coordinating system (46) is connected to the symmetrical clam shell turbine blades (14). The coordinating system (46) further comprises a first system (48) and second system (52). The first system (48) is connected to control and regulate opening and closing of the upper (16) and lower (18) halves of each individual clam shell turbine blade (14). The second system (52) is connected between each pair of the symmetrical clam shell turbine blades (14) so that as one clam shell turbine blade (14) closes the opposite clam shell turbine blade (14) is forced open.
A turbine system (10) for capturing energy from a fluid stream includes a torque arm (12). At least a pair of, preferably symmetrical clam shell, turbine blades (14) with the upper (16) and lower (18) halves are oppositely connected to the torque arm (12). A coordinating system (46) is connected to the symmetrical clam shell turbine blades (14). The coordinating system (46) further comprises a first system (48) and second system (52). The first system (48) is connected to control and regulate opening and closing of the upper (16) and lower (18) halves of each individual clam shell turbine blade (14). The second system (52) is connected between each pair of the symmetrical clam shell turbine blades (14) so that as one clam shell turbine blade (14) closes the opposite clam shell turbine blade (14) is forced open.
A windmill is provided wherein the windmill comprises a central rotating shaft with an upper and a lower end opposite thereto. A blade arm is provided with an inward and an outward end opposite thereto, wherein the inward end of the blade arm is connected to the upper end of the rotating shaft. An aerodynamically shaped foil connects to the outward end of the blade arm. A cam frame connects to the central rotating shaft such that the cam frame remains substantially stationary when the central rotating shaft rotates. An outer tilted cam track connects to the cam frame, and an inner tilted cam track connects to the cam frame and is located inside the outer tilted cam track, wherein an axis of tilt of the outer cam track and an axis of tilt of the inner cam frame are transversely aligned. A roller unit is provided comprising an arm connected to the blade arm and extending downward and a pivotable roller connected thereto, wherein the pivotable roller is in operable contact with the inner and the outer cam track such that when the blade arm rotates the pivotable roller pivots between the axes of the inner and outer cam tracks. A tilt assembly connects to the roller unit and to the foil for tilting the foil in response to movement of the roller on the axes of the inner and outer cam tracks in order to maintain an appropriate angle of attack relative to the wind.