CA1069828A - Higher efficiency wind motor with receptors of diminished drag characteristics - Google Patents
Higher efficiency wind motor with receptors of diminished drag characteristicsInfo
- Publication number
- CA1069828A CA1069828A CA275,616A CA275616A CA1069828A CA 1069828 A CA1069828 A CA 1069828A CA 275616 A CA275616 A CA 275616A CA 1069828 A CA1069828 A CA 1069828A
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- CA
- Canada
- Prior art keywords
- receptor
- wind
- wall
- receptors
- shrouding
- Prior art date
- Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
- Expired
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- 230000033001 locomotion Effects 0.000 claims abstract description 14
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- 238000006243 chemical reaction Methods 0.000 abstract 1
- 102000005962 receptors Human genes 0.000 description 67
- 238000010276 construction Methods 0.000 description 3
- 230000006872 improvement Effects 0.000 description 3
- 239000000463 material Substances 0.000 description 3
- 230000004048 modification Effects 0.000 description 2
- 238000012986 modification Methods 0.000 description 2
- 241000252073 Anguilliformes Species 0.000 description 1
- 239000004677 Nylon Substances 0.000 description 1
- 102000016979 Other receptors Human genes 0.000 description 1
- 239000006096 absorbing agent Substances 0.000 description 1
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- 229910045601 alloy Inorganic materials 0.000 description 1
- XAGFODPZIPBFFR-UHFFFAOYSA-N aluminium Chemical compound [Al] XAGFODPZIPBFFR-UHFFFAOYSA-N 0.000 description 1
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- 238000005259 measurement Methods 0.000 description 1
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Classifications
-
- Y—GENERAL TAGGING OF NEW TECHNOLOGICAL DEVELOPMENTS; GENERAL TAGGING OF CROSS-SECTIONAL TECHNOLOGIES SPANNING OVER SEVERAL SECTIONS OF THE IPC; TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC CROSS-REFERENCE ART COLLECTIONS [XRACs] AND DIGESTS
- Y02—TECHNOLOGIES OR APPLICATIONS FOR MITIGATION OR ADAPTATION AGAINST CLIMATE CHANGE
- Y02E—REDUCTION OF GREENHOUSE GAS [GHG] EMISSIONS, RELATED TO ENERGY GENERATION, TRANSMISSION OR DISTRIBUTION
- Y02E10/00—Energy generation through renewable energy sources
- Y02E10/70—Wind energy
- Y02E10/72—Wind turbines with rotation axis in wind direction
Landscapes
- Structures Of Non-Positive Displacement Pumps (AREA)
- Wind Motors (AREA)
Abstract
HIGHER EFFICIENCY WIND MOTOR WITH
RECEPTORS OF DIMINISHED DRAG CHARACTERISTICS
ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE
A wind motor for the conversion of wind power to mechanical or electrical power or other form thereof includes a plurality of self-adjusting wind receptors which have openings therein for the passage of air therethrough during operation of the wind motor, especially when the receptors are moving against the wind, so as to diminish air resistance (drag) opposing such movement, thereby increasing the efficiency of the wind motor.
RECEPTORS OF DIMINISHED DRAG CHARACTERISTICS
ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE
A wind motor for the conversion of wind power to mechanical or electrical power or other form thereof includes a plurality of self-adjusting wind receptors which have openings therein for the passage of air therethrough during operation of the wind motor, especially when the receptors are moving against the wind, so as to diminish air resistance (drag) opposing such movement, thereby increasing the efficiency of the wind motor.
Description
~L~691!328 ~ ',:
Horlzontal windmills or wind motors, wherein wind receptors or sails rotate in a horizontal plane about a vertical axis, possess an important ~unctional advantage over conventional windmills because the receptors thereof are always capable of being turned by the wind and the mill does not have to be espec~ally positioned to face it. Such horizontal windmills, preferably havlng a plurallty of curvlform receptors ~oined by horizontal arms to a vertical shaft, i~ fixed in position with ~-respect to such shaft, have the wind exerting a drag thereon when they are moving against it. Accordin~ly, the energy available from such wind motors is proportional to the difference between that imparted to the receptors or sails when they are moving in the direction of the wind and that opposing such move-ment when they are moving against it, less rrictional losses.
., ~
. :
;, :
10~5 8~
In my U.S . Patent 3,897,170, there was described a wind motor having receptors which moved between power and feathering positions duriny rotation so as to receive full power from the wind when moving with it and to diminish drag when moving against it. Diminution of drag during ~eathering was effected by presenting lesser areas o~ the recepkors to the wind than would have been the case had the receptors been stationary with respect to the rota~ing arms. Although the use of quch receptors in the horiæontal wind motor, which receptors were curviform and conformed in contour to the curvatures of arms on which they were movably mounted, increased the efficiency of the wind motor sub5tantially, in some cases, between 30 and 50%, further èXperimentatiOn ; has indicated still greater efficiency of operation can be obtained by additional diminution of drag on the receptors, especially when they are moving against the wind and across ~` it.
It is an object of the present invention to increase the efficiency of operation of horiztontal windmills by 20 providing receptor structures which diminish receptor drag, : ,-especially when the receptors are moving again~ the wind (or at an angle to it).
In accordance with one aspect of the present invention a self-adjusting wind motor cornprises a plurality of wind receptors that rotate in a horizontal plane with said mounting means which automatically are presented to the wind in positions of higher resistance to the wind when moving in a direction of the wind and move into : positions o~ lower resistance to the wind when moving againsk it, said automatic adju~tmenk of positions being caused by the action of the wind and centrifugal force on the receptors, said receptors each beiny walled and having an opening therein for passage of wind therethxough during operation thereof when moving across the wind and against the wind to diminish resistance to sa.id movement~ and a plurality of arms held to the rotatable mounting means, said wind receptors being mounted on said arms, so that the receptors and arms rotate substantially horizontally with the mounting means in response to wind pressure, with the receptors being pivoted with respect to the mounting arms so as to move in a horizontal plane and with the pivot locations being on portions of ~e receptor walls away from the mounting means when the receptor is in a position of higher resistance to the wind.
In one preferred embodiment of the invention the opening in the receptor is a shrouded vertical opening of a certain type in the receptor wall.
In another aspect of the invention the opening may be made by movable louv~rs.
The invention will be readily understood by reference to the description in this specification, taken in conjunction with the drawing in which :
Fig. 1 is a partial perspective view of the essential parts of a preferred embodim~nt of the wind motor, including receptors shown in two position~, during rotation, movîng with the wind and moving across it (others go against it) ~nd rotatable shaft m~ans, rotated by wind action on the receptors, and connecting arm~, ~rom which shaft mechanical, electrical or other ~orm oE energy may be obtained.
:
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.
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In FI~T 1 numeral 11 ~es~gnates a prererred ernbodiment of the wlnd motor of this invention which includes ver~ical cylindrical sha~t 13, collar 15 fastened to the shaft by set screws, a key-key~ay combination, a pin t~lrough matching openings, friction fits, weld~ng or other suitable means, not illustrated, arm holders 17 affixed to collar 13 and arms 19 and 21 of cross-sectional shape essentially the same as that of the internal openings in holders 17, positioned in such holders and held firmly wlth respect thereto by set screws 23, which arms are connected to receptor 25 by mounting bracket 27 and hinge pin 29. Mcunting bracket 27 is held to a portion 31 of the "closed" side 33 of receptor 25. Another, usually smaller portion of side 33, the "shrouding" portion, is designated by 35 and edge 37 of it covers a part of portion 31, leaving an opening, as at 39, between them for passage of air or wind, ~rhen desired. The ends of the side portion, designated by numerals 41 and L13 may be considered as the ends of the receptor, with top 45 (omitted from the illustration of the "upper"
receptor for clarity of exposition, particularly with respect to the overlapping of the side portions) and bottom 47 comprising the other elements of the substantially rectangular cross-sectional curviform side-ends receptor.
As illustrated, collar 15 is positively fastened to rotatable shaft 13, which converts to rotational motion the normally rectilinear wind motion, and from the shaft revolutions electricity, mechanical motion, heat energy or chemical energy or other form of energy may be produced. In some embodlments of the invention shaft 13 may be stationary and collar 15 may move about it, transmitting rotational motion from the collar to other means for converting it to a more use~ul energy form or ' ';
, -.
.-' ' ror otherwlse ap~l.ying the rotat:lonal methanical ener~y of the collar and dolng work with lt.
In FIa. 1 aI ms 19 are both fastened to the receptor via mounting means 27 but it ls w~thin the invention to utillæe one, three or another number of such supporting arms per receptor.
Preferably, however, two such arms are employed and both are curved or shaped near the ends thereof, as at 119, to con~orm to the shape o~ the receptor 25 or its mountlng brackets 19 and 21 in full power maxlmum reslstance posltion thereor~ as when it is moving with the wind.
In operatlon, wlth the wind blowlng directly at the open portion of lower receptor 25 (nearer to the vlewer) in the direction of arrow 51~ receptor 25 is pressed by the wind against bent and fitted port~on 49 of arm 19 and against a simllar portlon of arm 21. The wind thereby causes a clockwise (viewed from above) revolution of sha~t 13. As arms 19 and 21 continue to rotate to the position 90 farther on ln a clockwlse direction the receptor will rotate due to wind action and centrlfugal force to a position about 180 f'rom that which it assumed when it was pressed agalnst arms l9 and 21 by the wind. This posltion is shown in the drawing (FIG. 1) for the other receptor. In some instances, it may not have moved that f`ar but usually it will no longer be conforming to arms 19 and 21. As rotation continues the receptor 25 will be in approxlmately the same position with respect to the arms after another 90 movement, as it is in the illustrated upper position in FIG. 1 and will be ln a position similar to the power position with respect to the arms another 90 further on. These latter two positions corr-espond to locatlons of' the arms likc tho~c indicatcd ln FIG. 1 (whlch do not show the ad~ltlonal receptor~ at thc en~s o~ the arms). rrhus, lt is seen that to diminlsh wlnd resistance receptors 25 move durlnF, rotation o~ the wlndmill and thereby they cut the wind resistance when moving against the wind or across the wind, compared to what it would have been for receptors fixed in position with respect to the arms. Still, as is seen from the upper receptor shown in FI~t. 1, durin~
rotation there will be times when a substantial proportion of the receptor is mo~ing against the wind or across its path and the wind resi~tance to such movement will tend to cut down on operating efficiency of the windmill. ~ccordingly, openings like that shown at 39 are provided to allow passage of air throu~h the receptor wall, breaking any vacuum that might oppose the clockwise motion of the wlndmill (of course the mills can be designed for opposite motion, too) and increasing operating efficiency. A similarly desirable effect may be obtained even when the receptor is in a position of maximum resistance to the wind (when it is moving with the wind) as in the position of the nearer receptor in FIG. 1. As is seen from the drawing, when the wind strikes against the shroudin~ portion of the receptor wall it pushes the receptor in a clockwlse direction and spills from the outer (away from the shaft) portion of the receptor. In doing this, it creates a partial vacuum and the passage of air through the vertical thin rectangular passageway or opening 39, relieves any back-side pressurs on the receptor that would otherwise oppose its . motion. The gap between main receptor wall and shrouding receptor portion may be hinged or otherwise built to be ad~ustable, which allows additlonal opening thereo~ during high winds, to slow the mill.
In actual usage the described wlnd motor will be most suitable for employment in winds ranging from about 5 to 70 ~6~j9E~'~8 kilometers per hour and will often be of sizes from about 0.5 to lO meters hir~h by about 0.2 to 5 meters wide, preferably
Horlzontal windmills or wind motors, wherein wind receptors or sails rotate in a horizontal plane about a vertical axis, possess an important ~unctional advantage over conventional windmills because the receptors thereof are always capable of being turned by the wind and the mill does not have to be espec~ally positioned to face it. Such horizontal windmills, preferably havlng a plurallty of curvlform receptors ~oined by horizontal arms to a vertical shaft, i~ fixed in position with ~-respect to such shaft, have the wind exerting a drag thereon when they are moving against it. Accordin~ly, the energy available from such wind motors is proportional to the difference between that imparted to the receptors or sails when they are moving in the direction of the wind and that opposing such move-ment when they are moving against it, less rrictional losses.
., ~
. :
;, :
10~5 8~
In my U.S . Patent 3,897,170, there was described a wind motor having receptors which moved between power and feathering positions duriny rotation so as to receive full power from the wind when moving with it and to diminish drag when moving against it. Diminution of drag during ~eathering was effected by presenting lesser areas o~ the recepkors to the wind than would have been the case had the receptors been stationary with respect to the rota~ing arms. Although the use of quch receptors in the horiæontal wind motor, which receptors were curviform and conformed in contour to the curvatures of arms on which they were movably mounted, increased the efficiency of the wind motor sub5tantially, in some cases, between 30 and 50%, further èXperimentatiOn ; has indicated still greater efficiency of operation can be obtained by additional diminution of drag on the receptors, especially when they are moving against the wind and across ~` it.
It is an object of the present invention to increase the efficiency of operation of horiztontal windmills by 20 providing receptor structures which diminish receptor drag, : ,-especially when the receptors are moving again~ the wind (or at an angle to it).
In accordance with one aspect of the present invention a self-adjusting wind motor cornprises a plurality of wind receptors that rotate in a horizontal plane with said mounting means which automatically are presented to the wind in positions of higher resistance to the wind when moving in a direction of the wind and move into : positions o~ lower resistance to the wind when moving againsk it, said automatic adju~tmenk of positions being caused by the action of the wind and centrifugal force on the receptors, said receptors each beiny walled and having an opening therein for passage of wind therethxough during operation thereof when moving across the wind and against the wind to diminish resistance to sa.id movement~ and a plurality of arms held to the rotatable mounting means, said wind receptors being mounted on said arms, so that the receptors and arms rotate substantially horizontally with the mounting means in response to wind pressure, with the receptors being pivoted with respect to the mounting arms so as to move in a horizontal plane and with the pivot locations being on portions of ~e receptor walls away from the mounting means when the receptor is in a position of higher resistance to the wind.
In one preferred embodiment of the invention the opening in the receptor is a shrouded vertical opening of a certain type in the receptor wall.
In another aspect of the invention the opening may be made by movable louv~rs.
The invention will be readily understood by reference to the description in this specification, taken in conjunction with the drawing in which :
Fig. 1 is a partial perspective view of the essential parts of a preferred embodim~nt of the wind motor, including receptors shown in two position~, during rotation, movîng with the wind and moving across it (others go against it) ~nd rotatable shaft m~ans, rotated by wind action on the receptors, and connecting arm~, ~rom which shaft mechanical, electrical or other ~orm oE energy may be obtained.
:
C
.
~o~
In FI~T 1 numeral 11 ~es~gnates a prererred ernbodiment of the wlnd motor of this invention which includes ver~ical cylindrical sha~t 13, collar 15 fastened to the shaft by set screws, a key-key~ay combination, a pin t~lrough matching openings, friction fits, weld~ng or other suitable means, not illustrated, arm holders 17 affixed to collar 13 and arms 19 and 21 of cross-sectional shape essentially the same as that of the internal openings in holders 17, positioned in such holders and held firmly wlth respect thereto by set screws 23, which arms are connected to receptor 25 by mounting bracket 27 and hinge pin 29. Mcunting bracket 27 is held to a portion 31 of the "closed" side 33 of receptor 25. Another, usually smaller portion of side 33, the "shrouding" portion, is designated by 35 and edge 37 of it covers a part of portion 31, leaving an opening, as at 39, between them for passage of air or wind, ~rhen desired. The ends of the side portion, designated by numerals 41 and L13 may be considered as the ends of the receptor, with top 45 (omitted from the illustration of the "upper"
receptor for clarity of exposition, particularly with respect to the overlapping of the side portions) and bottom 47 comprising the other elements of the substantially rectangular cross-sectional curviform side-ends receptor.
As illustrated, collar 15 is positively fastened to rotatable shaft 13, which converts to rotational motion the normally rectilinear wind motion, and from the shaft revolutions electricity, mechanical motion, heat energy or chemical energy or other form of energy may be produced. In some embodlments of the invention shaft 13 may be stationary and collar 15 may move about it, transmitting rotational motion from the collar to other means for converting it to a more use~ul energy form or ' ';
, -.
.-' ' ror otherwlse ap~l.ying the rotat:lonal methanical ener~y of the collar and dolng work with lt.
In FIa. 1 aI ms 19 are both fastened to the receptor via mounting means 27 but it ls w~thin the invention to utillæe one, three or another number of such supporting arms per receptor.
Preferably, however, two such arms are employed and both are curved or shaped near the ends thereof, as at 119, to con~orm to the shape o~ the receptor 25 or its mountlng brackets 19 and 21 in full power maxlmum reslstance posltion thereor~ as when it is moving with the wind.
In operatlon, wlth the wind blowlng directly at the open portion of lower receptor 25 (nearer to the vlewer) in the direction of arrow 51~ receptor 25 is pressed by the wind against bent and fitted port~on 49 of arm 19 and against a simllar portlon of arm 21. The wind thereby causes a clockwise (viewed from above) revolution of sha~t 13. As arms 19 and 21 continue to rotate to the position 90 farther on ln a clockwlse direction the receptor will rotate due to wind action and centrlfugal force to a position about 180 f'rom that which it assumed when it was pressed agalnst arms l9 and 21 by the wind. This posltion is shown in the drawing (FIG. 1) for the other receptor. In some instances, it may not have moved that f`ar but usually it will no longer be conforming to arms 19 and 21. As rotation continues the receptor 25 will be in approxlmately the same position with respect to the arms after another 90 movement, as it is in the illustrated upper position in FIG. 1 and will be ln a position similar to the power position with respect to the arms another 90 further on. These latter two positions corr-espond to locatlons of' the arms likc tho~c indicatcd ln FIG. 1 (whlch do not show the ad~ltlonal receptor~ at thc en~s o~ the arms). rrhus, lt is seen that to diminlsh wlnd resistance receptors 25 move durlnF, rotation o~ the wlndmill and thereby they cut the wind resistance when moving against the wind or across the wind, compared to what it would have been for receptors fixed in position with respect to the arms. Still, as is seen from the upper receptor shown in FI~t. 1, durin~
rotation there will be times when a substantial proportion of the receptor is mo~ing against the wind or across its path and the wind resi~tance to such movement will tend to cut down on operating efficiency of the windmill. ~ccordingly, openings like that shown at 39 are provided to allow passage of air throu~h the receptor wall, breaking any vacuum that might oppose the clockwise motion of the wlndmill (of course the mills can be designed for opposite motion, too) and increasing operating efficiency. A similarly desirable effect may be obtained even when the receptor is in a position of maximum resistance to the wind (when it is moving with the wind) as in the position of the nearer receptor in FIG. 1. As is seen from the drawing, when the wind strikes against the shroudin~ portion of the receptor wall it pushes the receptor in a clockwlse direction and spills from the outer (away from the shaft) portion of the receptor. In doing this, it creates a partial vacuum and the passage of air through the vertical thin rectangular passageway or opening 39, relieves any back-side pressurs on the receptor that would otherwise oppose its . motion. The gap between main receptor wall and shrouding receptor portion may be hinged or otherwise built to be ad~ustable, which allows additlonal opening thereo~ during high winds, to slow the mill.
In actual usage the described wlnd motor will be most suitable for employment in winds ranging from about 5 to 70 ~6~j9E~'~8 kilometers per hour and will often be of sizes from about 0.5 to lO meters hir~h by about 0.2 to 5 meters wide, preferably
2 to 6 meters hir~h by 0.5 to 3 meters wide, wlth the proportion of height to wldth being in the range of about 1.5:1 to 5~
The depth of the curvirorm receptacles will usually be rrom 0.2 to 0.9 times the width, preferably 0.3 to o.6 times such width and the horizontal cross-sectional shape of the receptor will be like a somewhat flattened hemi-cylinder. The passage-way between the shrouding and other portion of the receptor side will normally extend from top to bottom thereof, although passageways covering lO to 90% of such distance, sometimes from 20 to 70% thereo~g are also useful. The cross-sectional area of the passageway will normally be from 2 to 20%, preferably from 3 to 10% of the cross-section of the receptor along the open side thereof and the opening will usually be from 5 to 20% of the depth of the receptor (or the radius of the hemi-cylinder) or l to 20 centimeters. The shrouding overlap is about 2 to 20% of the receptor width, preferably 5 to 10% thereof, usually 5 to 15 cm.
The above measurements and proportions also apply ; when the receptor of Fig. l is of definite airfoil shape, with the leading edge thereo~ outermost in high power position and with the pressure relieving opening nearer to the trailing edge.
Such air~oils may be strengthened by horizontal ribs internally positioned therein, which essentially convert them into a plurality of airfoil receptors.
The materials of construction for the wlndmills may be any suitable such materlals normally emplo,~Jed for light-weirr,ht but sufficiently strong windmill part~. Amonrg these are fiberglass-reinforced polyesters, other fiber-reinforced polymeric .~
.
.
16)~;98Z~3 materials, aluminum, nylon, ~ngineering reslns and specially stron~ tempered or alloy st,eels~ the latter two preferably belng light in construction to compensate for their higher densities. Various other such materials are descrlbed in my U.S Patent 3,897,170, and various modifications and applications of the present wlndmills are also described therein, which may be employed ln con~unction with the presently described invention. For example, tethers may be employed to limit the swings o~ the receptors in responses to centrifugal forces and the wind, and shock absorbers may be utili~ed. Also, in some variations of the apparatus the receptors described may be replaced by dish-like or similar receptors so long as openin~s are provided to allow air flows through the recsptors and the accompanying relief of pressure opposing receptor movements. Instead of ~our receptors per unit, from three to eight and sometimes more may be utilized and a plurality of banks of receptors may be present on the same shaft or collar. Surfaces of the receptors may be coated with polytetra~luoroethylene or similar lubricat~ng or smooth coatin~ to diminish frictional losses and to prevent sticking of snow, soot and other deposits to the receptor surfaces, Also 7 the present wind motors, while most useful in "stationary" form, may also be employed as propulsion means, either directly or through motor-generator combinations, to drive automobiles, trucks, shlps, all-terrain veh1cles and amphibian vehicles. Furthermore, modifications of the present receptor and arm structures may be made so as to make it poss-; ible readily to move the receptors inwardly tow~rd the ver-tical sh~ft at low wind speeds and outwardly when wind speeds are higher.
.
.~ .
z~
Although the improvements in efficiencies of the present apparatuses ma~ be only on the order of 3-15%~ sometimes 5-10%, thls increase in e~ficiency ls obkained with essentially no additional expense ln apparatus construction costs and there-~ore the new structure is a useful improvement over that Or my mentioned patent. The use of such new structure is especially desirable when wind velocities are low because the dif~erences in efficiencies obtained are often sufflcient to start the mill movin~ (to overcome static friction), making it possible to operate for greater proportions of the time in which the wind is blowing at low speed and thereby to increase th~ power avail-able from the wind mill by even more than the 3 to 15% efficiency improvement mentioned.
The invention has been described wi~h respect to illus- ~:
trations of various embodiments thereof but is not to be llmited to these because it is evident that one of skill in the art, with the present specification before him, wlll be able to utilize substitutes and equlvalents without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention.
.`'` '~
. ~ .
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The depth of the curvirorm receptacles will usually be rrom 0.2 to 0.9 times the width, preferably 0.3 to o.6 times such width and the horizontal cross-sectional shape of the receptor will be like a somewhat flattened hemi-cylinder. The passage-way between the shrouding and other portion of the receptor side will normally extend from top to bottom thereof, although passageways covering lO to 90% of such distance, sometimes from 20 to 70% thereo~g are also useful. The cross-sectional area of the passageway will normally be from 2 to 20%, preferably from 3 to 10% of the cross-section of the receptor along the open side thereof and the opening will usually be from 5 to 20% of the depth of the receptor (or the radius of the hemi-cylinder) or l to 20 centimeters. The shrouding overlap is about 2 to 20% of the receptor width, preferably 5 to 10% thereof, usually 5 to 15 cm.
The above measurements and proportions also apply ; when the receptor of Fig. l is of definite airfoil shape, with the leading edge thereo~ outermost in high power position and with the pressure relieving opening nearer to the trailing edge.
Such air~oils may be strengthened by horizontal ribs internally positioned therein, which essentially convert them into a plurality of airfoil receptors.
The materials of construction for the wlndmills may be any suitable such materlals normally emplo,~Jed for light-weirr,ht but sufficiently strong windmill part~. Amonrg these are fiberglass-reinforced polyesters, other fiber-reinforced polymeric .~
.
.
16)~;98Z~3 materials, aluminum, nylon, ~ngineering reslns and specially stron~ tempered or alloy st,eels~ the latter two preferably belng light in construction to compensate for their higher densities. Various other such materials are descrlbed in my U.S Patent 3,897,170, and various modifications and applications of the present wlndmills are also described therein, which may be employed ln con~unction with the presently described invention. For example, tethers may be employed to limit the swings o~ the receptors in responses to centrifugal forces and the wind, and shock absorbers may be utili~ed. Also, in some variations of the apparatus the receptors described may be replaced by dish-like or similar receptors so long as openin~s are provided to allow air flows through the recsptors and the accompanying relief of pressure opposing receptor movements. Instead of ~our receptors per unit, from three to eight and sometimes more may be utilized and a plurality of banks of receptors may be present on the same shaft or collar. Surfaces of the receptors may be coated with polytetra~luoroethylene or similar lubricat~ng or smooth coatin~ to diminish frictional losses and to prevent sticking of snow, soot and other deposits to the receptor surfaces, Also 7 the present wind motors, while most useful in "stationary" form, may also be employed as propulsion means, either directly or through motor-generator combinations, to drive automobiles, trucks, shlps, all-terrain veh1cles and amphibian vehicles. Furthermore, modifications of the present receptor and arm structures may be made so as to make it poss-; ible readily to move the receptors inwardly tow~rd the ver-tical sh~ft at low wind speeds and outwardly when wind speeds are higher.
.
.~ .
z~
Although the improvements in efficiencies of the present apparatuses ma~ be only on the order of 3-15%~ sometimes 5-10%, thls increase in e~ficiency ls obkained with essentially no additional expense ln apparatus construction costs and there-~ore the new structure is a useful improvement over that Or my mentioned patent. The use of such new structure is especially desirable when wind velocities are low because the dif~erences in efficiencies obtained are often sufflcient to start the mill movin~ (to overcome static friction), making it possible to operate for greater proportions of the time in which the wind is blowing at low speed and thereby to increase th~ power avail-able from the wind mill by even more than the 3 to 15% efficiency improvement mentioned.
The invention has been described wi~h respect to illus- ~:
trations of various embodiments thereof but is not to be llmited to these because it is evident that one of skill in the art, with the present specification before him, wlll be able to utilize substitutes and equlvalents without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention.
.`'` '~
. ~ .
,;
~ . _ g . - ` - ~` ` . ~ ~
Claims (9)
1. A self-adjusting wind motor comprising a substantially vertical and rotatable mounting means, a plurality of wind receptors that rotate in a horizontal plane with said mounting means which automatically are presented to the wind in positions of higher resistance to the wind when moving in a direction of the wind and move into positions of lower resistance to the wind when moving against it, said automatic adjustment of positions being caused by the action of the wind and centrifugal force on the receptors, said receptors each being walled and having an opening therein for passage of wind there-through during operation thereof when moving across the wind and against the wind to diminish resistance to said movements and a plurality of arms held to the rotatable mounting means, said wind receptors being mounted on said arms, so that the receptors and arms rotate substantially horizontally with the mounting means in response to wind pressure, with the receptors being pivoted with respect to the mounting arms so as to move in a horizontal plane and with the pivot locations being on portions of the receptor walls away from the mounting means when the receptor is in a position of higher resistance to the wind.
2. A wind motor according to Claim 1 wherein the mounting means is vertical and each of the receptors includes a concave-convex wind-receiving surface, a concave surface of which is presented to the wind when the receptors are moving with the wind and an edge of which wall is presented to the wind when the receptors are moving against the wind.
3. A wind motor according to Claim 2 wherein the receptors are of substantially hemi-cylindrical shape with substantially vertical axes and the openings therein are passageways extending in a vertical direction.
4. A wind motor according to Claim 3 wherein in each receptor the opening is a vertical passageway in the wall thereof, which wall includes a shrouding portion nearer to the mounting means at the position of higher wind resistance and which partially shrouds a closed portion of the receptor wall farther away from the shaft at such position.
5. A wind motor according to Claim 4 wherein the substantially hemi-cylindrical receptor includes a top and a bottom and the opening between the receptor wall portions is of a cross-sectional area between about 2 and 20% of the cross-sectional area of the receptor.
6. A wind motor according to Claim 5 wherein the mounting means is a vertical shaft with a collar thereon which is rotatable about the shaft, the opening in the receptor is a vertical opening located in the receptor's curved wall nearer to the side of the receptor nearer to the shaft when the receptor is in position of greatest resistance to the wind than to the other side of the receptor, the receptor is mounted on a pair of arms fastened to the collar, said mounting is pivotal mounting by means of a mounting member held to the closed portion of the receptor wall and the shrouding portion of the receptor wall is held in position with respect to the closed portion thereof by being fastened to top and bottom members fastened to said closed portion of the receptor wall so as to produce a passageway between receptor wall portions which is of elongated vertical rectangular shape, with the shrouding receptor wall portion shrouding or covering the closed wall portion when the receptor is in a position of high wind resistance and is moving parallel to the wind.
7. A wind motor according to Claim 6 wherein the passageway between the closed and shrouding wall portions is of a cross-sectional area between 3 and 10% of the cross-sectional area of the receptor, the shrouding receptor wall portion shrouds a corresponding closed wall portion a distance which is from about 2 to 20% of the width of the receptor, the receptor is of greater height than width, with the height:width ration being in the range of 1.5:1 to 5:1 and the mounting arms are curved or bent near the receptor and shaped so as to maintain it in a position of maximum resistance to the wind when the receptor is moving with the wind.
8. A wind motor according to Claim 5 wherein the mounting means is a rotatable vertical shaft, the opening in the receptor is a vertical opening located in the receptor's curved wall nearer to the side of the receptor nearer to the shaft when the receptor is in position of greatest resistance to the wind than to the other side of the receptor, the receptor is mounted on a pair of arms fastened to the shaft, said mounting is pivotal mounting by means of a mounting member held to the closed portion of the receptor wall and the shrouding portion of the receptor wall is held in position with respect to the closed portion thereof by being fastened to top and bottom members fastened to said closed portion of the receptor wall so as to produce a passageway between receptor wall portions which is of elongated vertical rectangular shape, with the shrouding receptor wall portion shrouding or covering the closed wall portion when the receptor is in a position of high wind resistance and is moving parallel to the wind.
9. A wind motor according to Claim 8 wherein the passageway between the closed and shrouding wall portions is of a cross-sectional area between 3 and 10% of the cross-sectional area of the receptor, the shrouding receptor wall portion shrouds a corresponding closed wall portion a distance which is from about 2 to 20% of the width of the receptor, the receptor is of greater height than width, with the height:width ratio being in the range of 1.5:1 to 5:1 and the mounting arms are curved or bent near the receptor and shaped so as to maintain it in a position of maximum resistance tothe wind when the receptor is moving with the wind.
Priority Applications (1)
| Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
|---|---|---|---|
| CA275,616A CA1069828A (en) | 1977-04-05 | 1977-04-05 | Higher efficiency wind motor with receptors of diminished drag characteristics |
Applications Claiming Priority (1)
| Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
|---|---|---|---|
| CA275,616A CA1069828A (en) | 1977-04-05 | 1977-04-05 | Higher efficiency wind motor with receptors of diminished drag characteristics |
Publications (1)
| Publication Number | Publication Date |
|---|---|
| CA1069828A true CA1069828A (en) | 1980-01-15 |
Family
ID=4108335
Family Applications (1)
| Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| CA275,616A Expired CA1069828A (en) | 1977-04-05 | 1977-04-05 | Higher efficiency wind motor with receptors of diminished drag characteristics |
Country Status (1)
| Country | Link |
|---|---|
| CA (1) | CA1069828A (en) |
-
1977
- 1977-04-05 CA CA275,616A patent/CA1069828A/en not_active Expired
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| Date | Code | Title | Description |
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| MKEX | Expiry |