GB2031072A - Wind motor - Google Patents

Abstract

The motor has a vertical axis and at least three blades constituted by hemispherical bulbs 1 disposed on at least one level, each one fixed on a support arm 2, there being means permitting regulation of the radius of gyration of the bulb from the shaft 4. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Wind motor The invention concerns a wind motor having a vertical axis to produce mechanical energy under the action of wind, and which energy can be converted into electricity.

There are already known numerous types of wind motors with vertical axes. This kind of wind motor has the inconvenience of not having all its surface active to the wind. Due to this its starting up necessitates generally a wind of several metres per second.

The wind motor according to the invention has for its object to obviate this disadvantage by offering a possibility of adjusting the torque as a function of the mean force of the dominant wind, and on the other hand, according to a preferred version, of reducing in large proportions the starting torque in order to permit the setting in rotation by very light winds, less than one metre per second.

These objects are attained according to the invention, in a first construction by using blades constituted by fixed hermispherical bulbs, on at least one level by mechanical means permitting the regulation of the radius of gyration R, each one on a support arm fixed with respect to a hub on the input shaft of a torque motor. These bulbs are at least 3 but their number, above 3 is a function of the radius of gyration and of the torque to be obtained, this being directly a function of the radius of gyration.

According to a second construction of the invention the support arms for the bulb are articulated on a fork joint on a hub fixed with respect to the input shaft, in such manner that in the absence of wind they rest by gravity in a stop position at the base in a manner such that the radius of gyration r is the lowest possible in order to be able to present the weakest resistance torque. Progressively as the wind force and its speed increase, the support arms are raised under the action of centrifugal force up to a position of equilibrium at the horizontal which represents the torque and the maximum efficiency of the system.

Other characteristics and advantages of the present invention will be better understood from a reading of the description which follows, making reference to the attached drawings, given by way of a non-limitive example in which: Figure 1 is a section in elevation illustrating the process according to the invention.

Figures 2 and 3 show an example of regulatable securing of the bulbs on their support arms.

Figure 4 shows a plan view of the bulbs mounted according to the minimum radius of gyration r.

Figure 5 illustrates a perpendicular method of construction of the support arms of the bulb.

Figure 6 is a plan view of a hub receiving the fork joints of the support arms of the bulb.

As is represented in Fig. 1 the wind motor comprises four hemispherical bulbs 1, each fixed on a support arm 2. This type of wind motor comprises a minimum of three bulbs and according to the radius of gyration R this number can be multiplied as a function of the desired torque preferably in odd numbers.

The support arm 2 is constituted by a metallic rod embedded in a hub 3 fixed to the driven shaft 4 of the torque motor. A pin or a bolt 5 immobilises the rod 2 in the hub. The said rod 2 traverses the bulb from one side to the other in the neighbourhood of its spherical diameter. These bulbs are constructed of thermo plastics material by thermo-forming or also of pressed sheet metal. Two bearings in rubber 6, 7 analogous to grommets used in electricity are disposed in the passage holes in the bulb for the rod 2 in order to damp damaging vibrations on the walls of the bulbs.

A vertical perpendicularly arranged rod 8 of very small section, (see also Fig. 3) in contact with the rod 2, traverses also the bulb from one side to the other. The rods 2 and 8 are fixed together by a piece 9 comprising a first slot 10 receiving, at the base, the rod 2. The exterior of the piece 9 is threaded in order to receive a threaded plug 1 2 screwed on the latter. The securing of the two rods one on the other is assured by the intermediary of a spacer 1 3 bearing on the one hand on the base of the plug and on the other hand on two elastic deformable metal washers of the Bellville type, bearing themselves on the rod 2 which, in order for more security, can be serrated in a manner in order to prevent the rotation of the bulb arond the rod 2.These serrations can be disposed according to a convenient pitch in order to permit the adjustment of the position of the bulb as a function of the radius of gyration R desired according to the mean force of the dominant winds. The rod 8 is fixed at its two extremities on a wall of the bulb.

The input shaft 4 is disposed in a cylindrical housing 13 comprising a cross piece 14 supporting a plate 1 5 on which is fixed the upper bearing 1 6 of the shaft 4 which co-operates with the lower bearing 1 7 fixed on a plate 1 8 immobilised by members 1 9 rigid with the base of the housing 1 3.

A plate 18 receives in addition an intermediate bearing assembly 20 on which turn freely two sets of two chain gears rigidly connected together and comprising a pinion 21 and a wheel 22. The pinion 21 is rotated by means of a chain 23 engaging a wheel 24 fixed on the shaft 4. The wheel 22 is driven by the pinion 21, and rotates by the intermediary of another chain, the pinion 25 fixed on the input shaft of an electrical generator 26 converting the mechanical energy which is gathered into electricity. Obviously the torque motor developed on the shaft 4 can, without going outside the invention, be utilised directly without conversion for example by the driving of pumps or other known mechanical receiver.

The generator 26 is fixed on a plate 27 secured to the plate 1 8 by means of spacers 28. An oil bath fills the bottom of the housing 1 3 and operates to lubricate the chains and pinions permanently.

The housing 1 3 is protected against bad weather by an umbrella cover 29 immobilised on the shaft 4 by means of a screw threaded collar 30 mounted on the hub of the said cover which because of this fact is rotated with the shaft 4. An extension to the hub 31 ensures the stability of the assembly and receives the extremity of blades 32 fixed on the lower wall of the cover 29. These blades form a ventilator arranged to induce a circulation of air in co-operation with a breathing hole (not represented) situated above the level of oil and protected from rain and dust by a cover.

This circulation of air has as its object the cooling of the whole of the receiver at large speeds of rotation.

Fig. 4 shows in plane view the disposition of the bulbs and particularly the minimum radius of gyration; for a diameter D of the bulb, the minimum radius r= 1.5D. The arrow V shows the direction of the wind while the arrow S shows the direction of rotation.

Fig. 5 shows a second method of fixing the bulbs on input shafts. The support arms 2, in place of being embedded in the hub, are rigidly fixed to the cover 33 articulated at 34 on the hub 35 fixed on shaft 4.

Fig. 6 shows, in plan view, an example of the disposition of various fixings for a mounting with four bulbs. This, as on Figs. 1 and 3, can be regulated in order to adjust the radius r as necessary.

In the example in Fig. 5 the radius of gyration varies from more than single to double between r and R. Progressively as the radius of gyration is increased, this relation increases proportionally due to the fact that r remains constant. The torque is directly proportional to the radius of gyration and to the speed of wind. This type of wind motor does not turn quickly, of the order of 40 turns per minute, its speed is always proportional to that of the wind whatever its direction. In order to drive the electric generator, it is necessary to utilise mechanical gearing to increase the speed. In the example of Fig. 1 the gear is constructed of at least two stages of reduction by pin ions and chains, the relation is to the order of 6/1. The housing 13 is fixed to the summit of a pylon not represented.

The regulation of the minimum radius of gyration r = 1.5D is obtained by means of an adjuster 36 regulatable itself in height on the shaft 4. This adjuster is constituted by a cylindrical piece equipped with a hub of small thickness having means for screwing it on the shaft. In the case where the adjuster 36 is constructed of plastics material the screwing can be obtained with a simple screw threaded collar. This regulation of r is obtained by ascending or descending the adjuster with reference to the boss 33 on the arm 2 in order to adjust r at each modification of R in Fig. 5.

Claims (9)

1. A wind motor with a vertical axis adapted to produce mechanical energy which may or may not be convertable into electrical energy, and having a mechanical or electromechanical receiving system of which the input shaft, disposed vertically, receives the torque generated by the action of wind on the blades, comprising at least three blades constituted by hemispherical bulbs disposed on at least one level, each one fixed on a support arm by the intermediary of mechanical means permitting the regulation of the radius of gyration of the bulb from the shaft the arms being fixed with respect to the input shaft.

2. A wind motor as claimed in claim 1 in which the hemispherical bulbs are constructed in thermo forming plastics material or in sheet metal.

3. A wind motor as claimed in claim 1 or claim 2 in which the support arms for the bulb are constituted each by a metallic rod fixed with respect to a hub on the input shaft.

4. A wind motor as claimed in claim 1, 2 or 3 in which the bulbs are engaged on the support arms by the intermediary of a hole pierced diametrically, and immobilised by a mechanical means which may or may not be demountable and a second rod disposed perpendicularly with reference to the first traversing also the bulb from one side to another and fixed at its extremities on the wall of the bulb, the second rod being maintained rigidly against the said first rod by means of a mechanical assembly comprising a cylindrical piece having at least two cruxiformably arranged slots of appropriate depth, the one receiving the rod of the smaller section, and the other rod constituting the support arm in which the extremity of the said piece, on the interior side of the bulb, is slotted internally or externally in order to receive a corresponding screw threaded plug, developing a screwing torque distrinctly above the maximum centrifugal force generated by the rotation of the blades, and in which an annexed mechanical means is provided in order to prevent the unscrewing of the plug under the effect of the vibrations.

5. A wind motor as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 4 in which the means for prevent ing unscrewing of the plug is constituted by the addition of at least one elastically deformable washer of appropriate rigidity, disposed in direct or indirect engagement, on the one hand on the base of the plug on the other hand on the rod of the support arm.

6. A wind motor as claimed in any one of the preceding claims in which the bulb support arms are each fixed rigidly on a cover, of appropriate mechanical resistance, articulated on a corresponding hub fixed to the input shaft in a manner to form an assembly of perpendicular arms being able to rise from a vertical plane up to a horizontal position under the effect of centrifugal force.

7. A wind motor as claimed in claim 6 in which the lower position of the perpendicular arms supporting the bulb is limited for each by a cylindrical stop regulatable in height on the receiving shaft in such a manner that for an exterior diameter D of the bulbs, the minium radius of gyration is at least 1.5D.

8. A wind motor as claimed in any one of the preceding claims in which the mechanical or electro-mechanical receiver of the torque is disposed in a preferably cylindrical housing, closed at its upper part by an umbrella cover fixed in a movable manner on the input shaft, and in which the said cover comprises on the internal face of the casing, ventilator blades arranged in a manner to provoke air circulation in the housing in co-operation with at least one additional ventilating aperture situated in the lower part and protected from bad weather by a cover.

9. A wind motor substantially as described herein with reference to and as shown in the accompanying drawings.