WO2017021867A1

WO2017021867A1 - Oscillating wing power generator

Info

Publication number: WO2017021867A1
Application number: PCT/IB2016/054619
Authority: WO
Inventors: Hendrik Jacobus BURGER; Willem Abraham BURGER; Schalk Du Plessis BURGER
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2015-07-31
Filing date: 2016-08-01
Publication date: 2017-02-09
Anticipated expiration: 2018-01-31

Abstract

An oscillating wing power generator for converting wind or water flow into electrical or mechanical energy is provided, the generator comprising an oscillating frame arrangement that is pivotally mountable to a support base at a first pivot point; a wing pivotally fitted to the frame arrangement at a second pivot point, the second pivot point being spaced apart from the first pivot point, with the wing, in the presence of wind or water flow, being arranged to exert an aerodynamic force on the frame arrangement so as to move an end of the frame arrangement, in proximity the second pivot point, between an upper and lower position relative to the support base, and a connecting rod fitted to the oscillating frame arrangement to produce, either directly or indirectly, mechanical or electrical energy, respectively.

Description

OSCILLATING WING POWER GENERATOR

FIELD OF THE INVENTION THIS INVENTION relates to power generation, and in particular to a generator for converting wind or water energy into mechanical or electrical energy. More particularly, the invention relates to an oscillating wing power generator.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

There is a continuous need and focus on renewable energy, which may serve different sectors of any economy, such as agriculture, industrial, residential, transport etc. Wind energy, in particular, may be harnessed for renewable electricity generation from air flow using, in most cases, sails or wind turbines. Wind energy is a renewable clean energy source which provides an alternative to fossil fuels, is widely distributed, available in abundance, requires little land and does not create greenhouse gas emissions. It forms an important source of renewable energy in South Africa (and in many other countries), in particular against the backdrop of the lack of electricity generation capacity currently experienced by the national energy supplier.

Wind speed is not constant, however, and thus wind power generation is generally inefficient and variable. Wind power is therefore typically used in conjunction with other forms of electrical power generation in order to maintain a steady power supply during low wind periods. The variability of the generated wind power can create difficulties in incorporating substantial amounts of wind power into a grid system, whilst still maintaining grid stability. Large areas of South Africa experience a low average wind velocity. Generally, traditional wind turbines start producing energy when the wind speed is above 1 1 m/s, and at lower wind speeds a different form of electrical power generation must be used to compensate for the lack of wind power to supply to the grid. Therefore, a wind turbine that could produce energy at 3 m/s or lower would be very desirable as it would maintain a more steady power output, even at low wind speed levels. Traditional wind turbines are typically detrimental to bird life, may cause noise pollution, and tend to be very expensive to manufacture and construct.

It is therefore an aim of the present invention to provide an oscillating wing power generator to derive mechanical or electrical power from natural wind. The same principle could, however, also be applied to a hydrodynamic wing, operating in a stream of water, for example.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

According to the invention, there is provided an oscillating wing power generator for converting wind or water flow into electrical or mechanical energy, the generator comprising: an oscillating frame arrangement that is pivotally mountable to a support base at a first pivot point; and a wing pivotally fitted to the frame arrangement at a second pivot point, the second pivot point being spaced apart from the first pivot point, with the wing, in the presence of wind or water flow, being arranged to exert an aerodynamic force on the frame arrangement so as to move an end of the frame arrangement, in proximity to the second pivot point, between an upper and lower position relative to the support base, wherein a connecting rod can be fitted to the oscillating frame arrangement to produce, either directly or indirectly, mechanical or electrical energy, respectively.

In an embodiment, the angle of incidence of the wing is changed at the extremity of each upward or downward movement to reverse the direction of the aerodynamic force exerted on it by the flow of wind or water over the wing, so as to exert an upward force on the frame arrangement during its upward motion and a downward force during its downward motion.

In an embodiment, the frame arrangement comprises a pair of spaced apart arms pivotally fitted to a pair of spaced apart support base members with a pair of spaced apart first pivot points, with the wing being pivotally fitted between the ends of the arms with a pair of spaced apart second pivot points.

In an embodiment, the wing is mounted to the pair of spaced apart arms of the oscillating frame through a lateral shaft at the aerodynamic centre of the wing, which is at approximately 25% of the wing chord, about which it can rotate.

In an embodiment, adjustment means is provided to change the wing incidence angle about a lateral axis, defined by the lateral shaft, relative to the horizontal to optimize the wing incidence angle during the oscillation of the frame arrangement.

In an embodiment, the adjustment means comprises a rotating cam with a pushrod to a lever on the wing, the pushrod in turn being connected to the connecting rod. In a first version, the connecting rod, under the influence of the oscillating frame arrangement, provides a substantially linear motion, which can be used directly to perform mechanical work.

In a second version, the connecting rod may be fitted to a crankshaft to translate the linear motion of the connecting rod, under the influence of the oscillating frame arrangement, into a rotational motion.

In a first version, the wing comprises a single, unitary body having a solid symmetrical wing profile. In a second version, the wing comprises an articulated wing comprising a plurality of wing components movably fitted together, with the adjustment means being arranged to adjust at least one of the wing components relative to each other. In a first example of the articulated wing version, the wing is fitted with a single articulated flap, with the adjustment means being arranged to control the flap angle relative to the wing. In a second example of the articulated wing version, the wing is fitted with two articulated flaps, with the adjustment means being arranged to control the angles of the two flaps relative to the wing.

In both the first and second versions described above, end plates may be fitted to the wing/s.

In an embodiment, the oscillating wing power generator is assembled in a self- aligning aerodynamic duct which can swivel about a vertical axis. Directional control means may be provided to turn the duct to face into the current wind direction at any time.

In a first embodiment, the oscillating wing power generator takes the form of a single wing configuration comprising a single oscillating frame and a single wing. In the first embodiment, a flywheel is provided to carry the wing through the neutral point during oscillation. In this embodiment, a starting means, such as a spring loaded device or an electric motor, may be provided to initiate or kick start the oscillating motion, with the flywheel then ensuring the continued oscillating motion of the generator.

In one particular version of the single wing configuration, the wing power generator includes an aileron that is movably mounted to an opposite/trailing end of the wing, such that a change in the orientation of the aileron relative to the wing results in a change of the flow of air onto the wing which in turn causes a change in the direction of travel of the wing between the upper and lower position relative to the support base. In this particular version, the oscillating wing power generator includes a counterweight, attached at an opposite end of the pivoting frame arrangement. In an embodiment, the orientation of the aileron is controllable remotely via a radio controlled actuator, typically a servo motor, or by any other electronic or mechanical means. The radio controlled servo motor may be built into the wing. The wing may include sensors which indicate when the first end of the wing has reached the first and the second position. The sensors may take the form of guide pins.

In a second embodiment, the oscillating wing power generator includes two wings in tandem comprising a single oscillating frame and a pair of wings, corresponding to a front wing and a rear wing, at opposite ends of the oscillating frame, with the first pivot point of the support base being positioned substantially in the middle between the pair of wings.

In this second embodiment, the angle of incidence of the rear wing is approximately 180 degrees out of phase with that of the front wing, so that both wings contribute to the oscillation movement of the attachment frame in phase.

In a third embodiment, the oscillating wing power generator includes two stacked pairs of tandem wings comprising: a first single oscillating frame and a pair of wings, corresponding to a first front wing and a first rear wing, at opposite ends of the first oscillating frame, with the first pivot point of the support base being positioned substantially in the middle between this pair of wings; and a second single oscillating frame positioned below or above the first single oscillating frame, and also pivotally mounted to the support base by means of a second pivot point, and also including a pair of wings, corresponding to a second front wing and a second rear wing, at opposite ends of the second oscillating frame, with the second pivot point of the support base being positioned substantially in the middle between this pair of wings.

In this third embodiment, the two oscillating frames are connected to a common crankshaft approximately 90 degrees out of phase, which ensures that when any one wing pair passes through the zero-lift point the other wing pair is at the maximum lift point of its cycle.

The word 'wing' as used in the specification is meant to include but not be limited to conventional wings, any aerodynamic device, airfoil or aerofoil.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS shows a three dimensional view of a single wing configuration of an oscillating wing power generator, according to an embodiment of the invention; shows a side view of the oscillating wing power generator shown in Figure 1 ; shows a top view of the oscillating wing power generator shown in Figure 1 ; shows a three dimensional view of a tandem wing configuration of an oscillating wing power generator, according to another embodiment of the invention; shows a side view of the oscillating wing power generator shown in Figure 4; shows a three dimensional view of a portion of the oscillating wing power generator shown in Figure 4; Figure 7 shows a top view of the oscillating wing power generator shown in

Figure 4; Figure 8 shows a three dimensional view of a stacked tandem wing configuration of an oscillating wing power generator, according to a further embodiment of the invention; Figure 9 shows a side view of the oscillating wing power generator shown in

Figure 8;

Figure 10 shows a top view of the oscillating wing power generator shown in

Figure 8;

Figure 11 shows a three dimensional view of an oscillating wing power generator according to yet a further embodiment of the invention;

Figure 12 shows a side view of the oscillating wing power generator shown in

Figure 1 1 ;

Figure 13 shows a three dimensional view of a first example of an articulated wing version, the wing being fitted with two articulated flaps, with adjustment means being arranged to control the flap angle relative to the wing;

Figure 14 shows a three dimensional view of the embodiment shown in Figure 1 , wherein the wing is fitted with end plates; Figure 15 shows a three dimensional view of the embodiment shown in Figure 4,

wherein the wing is fitted with end plates;

Figure 16 shows a three dimensional view of the embodiment shown in Figure 8, wherein the wing is fitted with end plates; and

Figure 17 shows a three dimensional view of a self-aligning aerodynamic duct which can swivel about a vertical axis, which may accommodate any of the embodiments of the invention. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

Referring first to Figures 1 to 3, an oscillating wing power generator 1 0 for converting wind or water flow into electrical or mechanical energy is shown. Although the generator 10 will be described further below with particular reference to wind, as indicated above, it could equally be applied to flowing water, for example.

The generator 1 0 comprises an oscillating frame arrangement 12 that is pivotally mountable to a support base 14 at a first pivot point 16. The support base 14 typically takes the form of an A-frame body.

A substantially horizontal wing 18 (or any aerodynamic surface) is pivotally fitted to the frame arrangement 1 2 at a second pivot point 20, with the second pivot point 20 being spaced apart from the first pivot point 16.

The wing 1 8, in the presence of wind (or water flow) is arranged to exert an aerodynamic force on the frame arrangement 12 so as to move an end 22 of the frame arrangement 1 2, in proximity to the second pivot point 20, between an upper and lower position relative to the support base 14.

The generator 10 further comprises a substantially vertically extending connecting rod 24 fitted to (or at least extending from) the oscillating frame arrangement 1 2 to produce, either directly or indirectly, mechanical or electrical energy, respectively. In a first version, the connecting rod 24, under the influence of the oscillating frame arrangement 12, provides a substantially linear motion, which can be used directly to perform mechanical work (i.e. produce mechanical energy) on a piston 25, of the type shown in Figures 1 1 and 1 2, for example. In a second version, the connecting rod 24 may be fitted to a crankshaft 26 to translate the linear motion of the connecting rod 24, under the influence of the oscillating frame arrangement 12, into a rotational motion. This may be used, for example, to drive a generator (not shown) in order to generate electricity. In this version, the crankshaft 26 provides the primary power output of the generator 10. The crankshaft 26 may be housed within a protective box 28, which may in turn be secured to the support base 14 with a securing beam 30. Conveniently, the angle of incidence of the wing 18 changes at the extremity of each upward or downward movement to reverse the direction of the aerodynamic force exerted on it by the flow of wind (or water) over the wing 18, so as to exert an upward force on the frame arrangement 12 during its upward motion and a downward force during its downward motion. The force generated by the action of airflow over the wing 18 is a function of wind speed, wing area and the incidence angle of the airflow on the wing 1 8. At the extremities of the frame motion (i.e. at the extreme upper and lower positions of the frame arrangement 1 2), the wing incidence passes through a neutral position where the force acting on it is small or zero whilst it changes direction.

In an embodiment, the frame arrangement 12 comprises a pair of spaced apart arms 32 pivotally fitted to a pair of spaced apart support base members 34, with a pair of spaced apart first pivot points 1 6. The wing 1 8 is pivotally fitted between the ends of the arms 32 with a pair of spaced apart second pivot points 20. In particular, the wing 18 is mounted to the pair of spaced apart arms 32 of the oscillating frame 12 through a lateral shaft 36 at the aerodynamic centre of the wing 18, which is at approximately 25% of the wing chord, corresponding to the second pivot point 20, about which it can rotate. This position of the shaft 36 is on or close to the aerodynamic centre of the wing 1 8. Aerodynamic loads generated by the wing 18 are therefore transferred to the oscillating frame 1 2 without a significant pitching moment of the wing 18 about its lateral axis of rotation (defined by the shaft 36).

Advantageously, adjustment means 38 may be provided to change the wing's incidence angle about a lateral axis, defined by the lateral shaft 36, relative to the horizontal to optimize the wing's incidence angle during the oscillation (cycle) of the frame arrangement 12.

In an embodiment, the adjustment means 38 comprises a rotating cam 40 with a pushrod 42 to a lever 44 on the wing 18, the pushrod 42 in turn being connected to the connecting rod 24. Thus, in this particular version, the connecting rod 24 is indirectly fitted to the frame arrangement 12, via the adjustment means 38. Instead of the rotating cam 40 and pushrod 42, a cam and belt arrangement may be used instead.

A number of variations are possible with the wing configuration.

In a first version, the wing 1 8 comprises a single, unitary body having a solid symmetrical wing profile, as shown in Figures 1 to 3.

In a second version, the wing 1 8 comprises an articulated wing comprising a plurality of wing components movably fitted together, with the adjustment means 38 being arranged to adjust each wing component relative to each other. In a first example of the articulated wing version, the wing 18 is fitted with a single articulated flap, with the adjustment means 38 being arranged to control the flap angle relative to the wing 1 8. This occurs during the oscillation cycle in order to augment the aerodynamic force developed by the wing/flap combination by varying the effective wing camber. In particular, in this

In a second example of the articulated wing version, as shown in Figure 1 3, the wing 18' is fitted with two articulated flaps 70, 71 , with the adjustment means 38 being arranged to control the angles of the flaps 70, 71 relative to the wing 18'. This occurs during the oscillation cycle in order to augment the aerodynamic force developed by the wing/flap combination by varying the effective wing camber. In particular, in this version, the adjustment means 38 comprises a first pushrod 72, the one end of which is secured to a fixed point on the frame arrangement 12, the other end of which is fitted to a lever 74, similar to lever 44 described above, fitted to middle flap 71 , in order to control the angle of the middle flap 71 relative to the wing 18', along a hinge line defined by hinge point 75. A rotating cam 76 is fitted to the middle flap 71 , with a second pushrod 78 extending between the cam 76 and a lever 80 on the end flap 70, to control the angle of the end flap 70 relative to the middle flap 71 , along a hinge line defined by hinge point 82. In a second example of the articulated wing version, the wing 18 is fitted with two articulated flaps, with the adjustment means 38 being arranged to control the angles of the two flaps relative to the wing. The first flap thus operates as described above in the first example. A second smaller flap can be utilized to further increase the effective camber and so further augment the aerodynamic forces developed. The second smaller flap may alternatively be used to unload the aft part of the wing 1 8 to counter the pitching moment developed by the wing 18 and to smooth the airflow in the wake of the wing 18. This may be beneficial to the single and/or stacked tandem wing configuration, which will be described further below, in which rear wing operates in the wake of a front wing, and also to the entire assembly when it operates in an aerodynamic duct, which feature will also be described in more detail further below.

In both the first and second versions described above, with reference now to Figure 14, end plates 90 may be fitted to the wing/s 18. The end plates 90 have the effect of increasing the effective aspect ratio and consequently reducing the aerodynamic losses (tip losses) of the wing/s 18. The remaining components in Figure 14 are the same as those in Figures 1 to 3, and will thus not be described again. Turning now to Figure 17 in particular, the oscillating wing power generator 10 may be assembled or housed in a self-aligning aerodynamic duct 92 which can swivel about a vertical axis 94, so as to define a turntable on a pedestal arrangement. Directional control means, in the form of a self aligning fin 93, may be provided to turn the duct 92 to face into the current wind direction at any time. This arrangement ensures that the wing/s 18 are orientated such that the direction of flow of wind, via an inlet fairing 95 of the duct 92, is at a right angle to the leading edge/s of the wing/s 18.

The oscillating wing power generator of the present invention, in general, may be arranged in any one of a number of different configurations utilizing the basic mechanism described above, based on the number of oscillating wings employed.

In a first embodiment, as shown in Figures 1 to 3, the oscillating wing power generator 10 takes the form of a single wing configuration comprising a single oscillating frame 1 2 and a single wing 18. In this configuration, it is necessary to ensure that the frame 1 2 and crankshaft 26 (if used) are in balance to avoid a bias position from which small aerodynamic forces on the wing 1 8 cannot get the oscillating motion going. This configuration may also not be 'self-starting' as there are two neutral points/positions in the oscillation cycle, as described above, where the wing incidence passes through zero, thereby resulting in a zero aerodynamic force.

In the first embodiment, a flywheel (not shown) is provided to carry the wing 1 8 through the neutral point/position during oscillation. In this embodiment, a starting means may be provided to initiate the oscillating motion, with the flywheel then ensuring the continued oscillating motion of the frame of the generator.

In one particular version of the single wing configuration, as shown in Figures 1 1 and 12, a wing power generator 100 includes an aileron 102 that is movably mounted to an opposite/trailing end of a wing 104, such that a change in the orientation of the aileron 102 relative to the wing 104 results in a change of the flow of air onto the wing 1 04 which in turn causes a change in the direction of travel of the wing 104 between the upper and lower position relative to a support base 106. In this particular version, the oscillating wing power generator 1 00 includes a counterweight 108, attached at an opposite end of a pivoting frame arrangement 1 10.

In an embodiment, the orientation of the aileron 102 is controllable remotely via a radio controlled actuator 1 12, typically a servo motor, or by any other electronic or mechanical means. The radio controlled servo motor 1 12 may be built into the wing 104. The wing 104 may include sensors 1 14 which indicate when an end of the wing 104 has reached the extreme upper or lower positions, with the aileron 102 then being adjustable with an actuating arm 1 16. The sensors may take the form of guide pins.

In a second embodiment, with reference to Figures 4 to 7, the oscillating wing power generator 50 includes two wings in tandem comprising a single oscillating frame 12 and a pair of wings 18, corresponding to a front wing 18.1 and a rear wing 18.2, at opposite ends of the oscillating frame 1 2. The first pivot point 16 of the support base 14 is positioned substantially in the middle between the pair of wings 18.1 , 18.2. Thus, in this configuration, a second wing 18.2 is placed on the opposite end of the same oscillating frame 12.

In this second embodiment, the angle of incidence of the rear wing 18.2 is approximately 1 80 degrees out of phase with that of the front wing 1 8.1 , so that both wings 1 8.1 , 18.2 contribute to the oscillating movement of the attachment frame 12 in phase. This configuration requires a single crankshaft 26 and connecting rod 24, and suffers from the same "self-start" deficiency described above with reference to the single wing configuration in Figures 1 to 3.

Advantageously, adjustment means 38' may be provided to change the second wing's incidence angle about its own lateral axis, defined by lateral shaft 36', relative to the horizontal to optimize the wing's incidence angle during the oscillation (cycle) of the frame arrangement 12, in unison with the operation of adjustment means 38.

In the second embodiment, with reference now to Figure 15, end plates 96 may be fitted to the wing/s 18.1 , 1 8.2. The end plates 96 have the effect of increasing the effective aspect ratio and consequently reducing the aerodynamic losses (tip losses) of the wing/s 1 8.1 , 18.2. The remaining components in Figure 15 are the same as those in Figures 4 to 7, and will thus not be described again.

In a third embodiment, as shown in Figures 8 to 10, the oscillating wing power generator 60 includes two stacked pairs of tandem wings comprising: a first single oscillating frame 12 and a pair of wings 18 corresponding to a first front wing 18.1 and a first rear wing 1 8.2, at opposite ends of the first oscillating frame 12, with the first pivot point 16 of the support base 14 being positioned substantially in the middle between the pair of wings 18.1 , 18.2; and a second single oscillating frame 12' positioned below (or above) the first single oscillating frame 12, and also pivotally mounted to the support base 14 by means of a second pivot point 62, and also including a pair of wings 18' corresponding to a second front wing 18.1 ' and a second rear wing 18.2', at opposite ends of the second oscillating frame 12', with the second pivot point 62 of the support base 14 being positioned substantially in the middle between this pair of wings 18.1 ', 18.2'.

In this configuration, the tandem wings configuration described above with reference to Figures 4 to 7 is thus duplicated with a vertical separation between the two oscillating frames 12, 12'. This configuration thus employs two oscillating frames and four wings, driving a common crankshaft 26 through two connecting rods 24, 24'.

In this third embodiment, however, the generator 60 is "self-starting". To achieve this, the two oscillating frames 12, 12' are connected to the common crankshaft approximately 90 degrees out of phase, which ensures that when any one wing pair 18.1 , 18.1 ' passes through the zero-lift point, the other wing pair 18.2, 18.2' is at the maximum lift point of its cycle.

In the third embodiment, with reference now to Figure 16, end plates 98 may be fitted to the wing/s 18.1 , 18.2, 18.1 ' and 18.2'. The end plates 98 have the effect of increasing the effective aspect ratio and consequently reducing the aerodynamic losses (tip losses) of the wing/s 18.1 , 18.2, 18.1 ' and 18.2'. The remaining components in Figure 16 are the same as those in Figures 8 to 1 0, and will thus not be described again.

Claims

1 . An oscillating wing power generator for converting wind or water flow into electrical or mechanical energy, the generator comprising: an oscillating frame arrangement that is pivotally mountable to a support base at a first pivot point; and a wing pivotally fitted to the frame arrangement at a second pivot point, the second pivot point being spaced apart from the first pivot point, with the wing, in the presence of wind or water flow, being arranged to exert an aerodynamic force on the frame arrangement so as to move an end of the frame arrangement, in proximity the second pivot point, between an upper and lower position relative to the support base, wherein a connecting rod can be fitted to the oscillating frame arrangement to produce, either directly or indirectly, mechanical or electrical energy, respectively.

The oscillating wing power generator of claim 1 , wherein the angle of incidence of the wing is changed at the extremity of each upward or downward movement to reverse the direction of the aerodynamic force exerted on it by the flow of wind or water over the wing, so as to exert an upward force on the frame arrangement during its upward motion and a downward force during its downward motion.

The oscillating wing power generator of either claim 1 or claim 2, wherein the frame arrangement comprises a pair of spaced apart arms pivotally fitted to a pair of spaced apart support base members with a pair of spaced apart first pivot points, with the wing being pivotally fitted between the ends of the arms with a pair of spaced apart second pivot points.

The oscillating wing power generator of claim 3, wherein the wing is mounted to the pair of spaced apart arms of the oscillating frame through a lateral shaft at the aerodynamic centre of the wing, which is at approximately 25% of the wing chord point, about which it can rotate.

The oscillating wing power generator of claim 4, wherein adjustment means is provided to change the wing incidence angle about a lateral axis, defined by the lateral shaft, relative to the horizontal to optimize the wing incidence angle during the oscillation of the frame arrangement.

The oscillating wing power generator of claim 5, wherein the adjustment means comprises a rotating cam with a push rod to a lever on the wing, the pushrod in turn being connected to the connecting rod.

The oscillating wing power generator of any preceding claim, wherein the connecting rod, under the influence of the oscillating frame arrangement, provides a substantially linear motion, which can be used directly to perform mechanical work.

The oscillating wing power generator of any of preceding claims 1 to 6, wherein the connecting rod may be fitted to a crankshaft to translate the linear motion of the connecting rod, under the influence of the oscillating frame arrangement, into a rotational motion.

The oscillating wing power generator of any preceding claim, wherein the wing comprises a single, unitary body having a solid symmetrical wing profile.

The oscillating wing power generator of either of preceding claims 5 or 6, wherein the wing comprises an articulated wing comprising a plurality of wing components movably fitted together, with the adjustment means being arranged to adjust at least one of the wing components relative to each other.

The oscillating wing power generator of claim 10, wherein, in a first example of the articulated wing version, the wing is fitted with a single articulated flap, with the adjustment means being arranged to control the flap angle relative to the wing.

12. The oscillating wing power generator of claim 10, wherein, in a second example of the articulated wing version, the wing is fitted with two articulated flaps, with the adjustment means being arranged to control the angles of the two flaps relative to the wing.

13. The oscillating wing power generator of any preceding claim, wherein the oscillating wing power generator takes the form of a single wing configuration comprising a single oscillating frame and a single wing.

14. The oscillating wing power generator of claim 13, wherein a flywheel is provided to carry the wing through the neutral point during oscillation.

15. The oscillating wing power generator of claim 13, wherein the wing power generator includes an aileron that is movably mounted to an opposite/trailing end of the wing, such that a change in the orientation of the aileron relative to the wing results in a change of the flow of air onto the wing which in turn causes a change in the direction of travel of the wing between the upper and lower position relative to the support base.

16. The oscillating wing power generator of claim 15, wherein the oscillating wing power generator includes a counterweight, attached at an opposite end of the pivoting frame arrangement.

17. The oscillating wing power generator of either claim 15 or claim 16, wherein the orientation of the aileron is controllable remotely via a radio controlled actuator.

18. The oscillating wing power generator of any of preceding claims 1 to 12, wherein the oscillating wing power generator includes two wings in tandem comprising a single oscillating frame and a pair of wings, corresponding to a front wing and a rear wing, at opposite ends of the oscillating frame, with the first pivot point of the support base being positioned substantially in the middle between the pair of wings.

19. The oscillating wing power generator of claim 18, wherein the angle of incidence of the rear wing is approximately 180 degrees out of phase with that of the front wing, so that both wings contribute to the oscillation movement of the attachment frame in phase.

20. The oscillating wing power generator of any of preceding claims 1 to 1 2, wherein the oscillating wing power generator includes two stacked pairs of tandem wings comprising: a first single oscillating frame and a pair of wings, corresponding to a first front wing and a first rear wing, at opposite ends of the first oscillating frame, with the first pivot point of the support base being positioned substantially in the middle between this pair of wings; and a second single oscillating frame positioned below or above the first single oscillating frame, and also pivotally mounted to the support base by means of a second pivot point, and also including a pair of wings, corresponding to a second front wing and a second rear wing, at opposite ends of the second oscillating frame, with the second pivot point of the support base being positioned substantially in the middle between this pair of wings.

21 . The oscillating wing power generator of claim 20, wherein the two oscillating frames are connected to a common crankshaft approximately 90 degrees out of phase, which ensures that when any one wing pair passes through the zero-lift point the other wing pair is at the maximum lift point of its cycle.

22. The oscillating wing power generator of any preceding claim, wherein end plates are fitted to the wings. The oscillating wing power generator of any preceding claim, wherein the oscillating wing power generator is assembled in a self-aligning aerodynamic duct which can swivel about a vertical axis.