GB2097864A

GB2097864A - Wind and water power converter

Info

Publication number: GB2097864A
Application number: GB8113300A
Authority: GB
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1981-04-30
Filing date: 1981-04-30
Publication date: 1982-11-10

Abstract

The converter consists of a rotor with two or more arms at the ends of which are mounted revolvable sails 3 which turn one half a revolution to every revolution of the rotor. This is achieved through pulleys 4 fixed to the sail spindles 5, and stationary pulleys half their size 6 fixed to the central column 7 in which the rotor spindle 8 turns. These 2:1 ratio pulleys are connected with belts or chains 9. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Wind and water power converter A new development in wind and water power conversion.

A vertical or horizontal axis, slow sleed, high torque, self starting wind and water power converter which may be constructed cheaply from metal, wood or fibre glass and does not require the high precision of the high-speed Darrieus or Reading windmills.

Depending on iocation, it may be mounted on a relatively low guyed tower, and the vertical axis model could be mounted on a roof or on the ground of a hill top in open areas.

It has complete universal control from nil to maximum torque with automatic orientation.

As it is 2-directional it would operate in fast flowing tidal water, as well as in any fast flowing stream.

It could be adapted to drive a land or water vehicle, as it is well suited for wind power direction conversion.

The invention consists of a rotor with two or more arms radiating from the centre, turning a horizontal or vertical axis at the centre. At the ends of each arm a revolvable sail is arranged on a spindle. By means of a discrete arrangement of gear wheels, toothed belts and grooved wheels, or chain sprockets and chains, which is the method shown in the illustrations, these sails are caused to turn one half a revolution to every one revolution of the rotor. In doing so they offer themselves in a one directional drive situation in relation to the wind, except for one, which is in a neutral situation. (This can be seen best in Fig. 9).

A sprocket for each sail is fixed to the supporting frame or tower concentrically with the axis of the rotor and does not revolve except for control purposes. (See Fig. 1. Page 2) Another sprocket giving a 2:1 reduction, i.e. double the size of the centre sprocket, is fitted to the spindle of each sail (See Figs. Pages 2 8 3). When the stationary centre sprocket is linked to the sail sprocket by a chain and the rotor is revolved, it will be found that for every one revolution of the rotor, the sail completes one half a revolution.

When the chains are fitted to the two-sail rotor, the sails are fixed at right-angles to each other. In the case of a multi-sail rotor, it is best to select one point in the 360 degrees described by the rotor and set one sail in line with the rotor arm and fit the chain. Then turn the rotor so that the next sail takes up the selected position, place the sail in line with the rotor arm and fit the chain, and so on until all the sails are in position as in Fig. 9.

Although the device is two-directional, it will still be necessary to orient the sails to the wind.

This is done simply by turning the centre sprockets to bring one sail to a position of right angles to the wind direction. To reduce speed or torque, simply move sails out of orientation by turning centre sprockets. This may be done automatically or electronically with a wind direction vane and a wind velocity vane or anemometer. The device has in fact, fully universal control, unlike conventional windmills.

It is possible to encase the device in a turnable housing allowing for wind entry and exit. Sail area is readily increased or decreased. It may be scaled up or down. It need not obtrude upon the environment. Non-pollution characteristics are already appreciated.

1. An inventive step in windmill design with vertical or horizontal axis.

2. A dual purpose device for wind and water power conversion.

3. A low speed, high torque, fully controllable, self-starting windmill with variable geometry.

**WARNING** end of DESC field may overlap start of CLMS **.

Claims

**WARNING** start of CLMS field may overlap end of DESC **. SPECIFICATION Wind and water power converter A new development in wind and water power conversion. A vertical or horizontal axis, slow sleed, high torque, self starting wind and water power converter which may be constructed cheaply from metal, wood or fibre glass and does not require the high precision of the high-speed Darrieus or Reading windmills. Depending on iocation, it may be mounted on a relatively low guyed tower, and the vertical axis model could be mounted on a roof or on the ground of a hill top in open areas. It has complete universal control from nil to maximum torque with automatic orientation. As it is 2-directional it would operate in fast flowing tidal water, as well as in any fast flowing stream. It could be adapted to drive a land or water vehicle, as it is well suited for wind power direction conversion. The invention consists of a rotor with two or more arms radiating from the centre, turning a horizontal or vertical axis at the centre. At the ends of each arm a revolvable sail is arranged on a spindle. By means of a discrete arrangement of gear wheels, toothed belts and grooved wheels, or chain sprockets and chains, which is the method shown in the illustrations, these sails are caused to turn one half a revolution to every one revolution of the rotor. In doing so they offer themselves in a one directional drive situation in relation to the wind, except for one, which is in a neutral situation. (This can be seen best in Fig. 9). A sprocket for each sail is fixed to the supporting frame or tower concentrically with the axis of the rotor and does not revolve except for control purposes. (See Fig. 1. Page 2) Another sprocket giving a 2:1 reduction, i.e. double the size of the centre sprocket, is fitted to the spindle of each sail (See Figs. Pages 2 8 3). When the stationary centre sprocket is linked to the sail sprocket by a chain and the rotor is revolved, it will be found that for every one revolution of the rotor, the sail completes one half a revolution. When the chains are fitted to the two-sail rotor, the sails are fixed at right-angles to each other. In the case of a multi-sail rotor, it is best to select one point in the 360 degrees described by the rotor and set one sail in line with the rotor arm and fit the chain. Then turn the rotor so that the next sail takes up the selected position, place the sail in line with the rotor arm and fit the chain, and so on until all the sails are in position as in Fig. 9. Although the device is two-directional, it will still be necessary to orient the sails to the wind. This is done simply by turning the centre sprockets to bring one sail to a position of right angles to the wind direction. To reduce speed or torque, simply move sails out of orientation by turning centre sprockets. This may be done automatically or electronically with a wind direction vane and a wind velocity vane or anemometer. The device has in fact, fully universal control, unlike conventional windmills. It is possible to encase the device in a turnable housing allowing for wind entry and exit. Sail area is readily increased or decreased. It may be scaled up or down. It need not obtrude upon the environment. Non-pollution characteristics are already appreciated. CLAIMS

1. An inventive step in windmill design with vertical or horizontal axis.

2. A dual purpose device for wind and water power conversion.